Case Study: Unique Quality Product Enterprise

Empowering marginalised women in Ghana through reviving the cultivation of indigenous crops

Unique Quality Product Enterprise (UQE) is an eco-inclusive enterprise located in Tamale in northern Ghana. Its business model is based on a market-leading approach to promote the production and processing of the cereal grain fonio. UQE believes in fonio’s commercial potential and identified community members who were still growing the crop for local consumption. The enterprise engaged with local landholders and wider communities to gain access to infertile, unused land for women farmers. UQE promotes the expansion and harvesting of fonio crops using traditional methods. The enterprise established a partnership with a local women’s association to support its activities by employing the women members to process raw fonio. UQE has created a market for fonio by purchasing the crop in bulk from farmers, paying a processing fee to the processors, and then selling the product under the label Dim Fonio to domestic and international markets.

SEED 2018 Case Study Series

This case study is enhanced with short multimedia features that showcase the innovation, the partnership, the support from SEED and the overall impact of the enterprise. It is part of the SEED 2018 Case Study Series, which emanated from the SWITCH Africa Green project "Promoting Eco-Entrepreneurship in Africa", implemented by SEED. This Case Study Series showcases locally-driven, innovative eco-inclusive enterprises which are demonstrating sustainable development on the ground across Africa.