Madou Fane, 62, president of the Union of Grain Producers of Guessebougou, the old days were a struggle. The 1760 members of his cooperative, including 570 women, faced constant challenges in selling their harvests.

"We often had to sell at a loss to middlemen, without knowing when or at what price we would be able to sell our produce" he recalls. This uncertainty undermined household incomes and put their children's education at risk.

Supported by the Nippon Foundation, SAA has provided them with technical support in areas such as cooperative management, quality control, post-harvest handling, agricultural planning, and financial management. These skills enabled the union to centralize grain collection and ensure consistent quality. These efforts bore fruit in 2024. The local NGO, G-Force, connected them to a stable market—local school canteens—through a new partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP). Now, the union can ensure a regular supply of locally grown cereals like rice, cowpeas, and oil to the schools.

As a result, between 2024 and 2025, three supply operations generated a total profit of $11,760 (CFA 7,409,250). This profit was used for investments as below.

• $3,175 (CFA 2,000,000) was deposited in a term savings account with RMCR (Network of Micro-Institutions for Growth and Income),
• $5,472 (CFA 3,450,000) was distributed as loans to members to prepare for the next agricultural season—$556 each for seven members and $79 each for 20 members—repayable over 10 months with 5% as interest rate,
• The remaining funds were saved or retained to finance future activities.
• Additionally, 870 kg of cowpeas were distributed to members, to be repaid later.

This achievement transformed daily life of Madou and his fellow producers. They can now plan for school fees and improve household food security. "Our members have better lives and can invest in their farms to increase yields" Madou notes.

The partnership has also strengthened the union’s credibility with educational institutions and financial partners, paving the way for new economic opportunities. Moreover, this initiative highlights the importance of structured market access and financing for rural cooperatives. It demonstrates how strong organizational capacities, combined with tailored technical and financial support, can create a virtuous cycle: improving school meals, securing income for producers, and stimulating local socioeconomic development.