2018 Global Shea Alliance Executive Committee Meeting March 11, 2018 NAF Conference Center 496 Ahmadu Bello Way, Garki 2, Abuja

Transcription

1 2018 Global Shea Alliance Executive Committee Meeting March 11, 2018 NAF Conference Center 496 Ahmadu Bello Way, Garki 2, Abuja March 11 th Proposed Agenda EC discussion with managing director Lunch EC meeting to conduct regular business Introductions Executive Committee Members USAID Secretariat Staff Audit Review Shea 2017 Conference Overview Speakers Registration Projected Revenues and Expenses General Assembly Agenda Review Sustainability Program Promotion Activities Membership Fundraising Audit Summary Vote to Adopt Annual Report Coffee Break Codex Unrefined Shea Butter Standard Standard Description Committee Organization and Timeline GSA Advocacy Global Shea Alliance Membership Mark Review member request Determine EC position GSA next steps Utrecht Conference Review Theme and speakers Registration US Conference Review Theme and speakers Registration Closing remarks

2 March 11 th Meeting Notes 1. Introductions Presentation: The meeting was opened by the GSA president at 2:00 pm and began with introductions. The EC members present: Badie Marico, Mali Representative (President) Lydie Kambou representing Edwige Hammond, Ivory Coast Representative (Vice President) Kasper Torup-Villadsen, AAK, Industrial Processor Representative (Vice President) Shannon Hess, Burt s Bees, International Brand Representative Kora Memounata, Women s Group Representative Gilles Adamon representing Gladys Tawema, Benin Representative Antoinette Ouedrago, Burkina Faso Representative Jibril Bokani, Nigeria Representative Prince Asante, Ghana Representative Bunge Loders Croklaan, Industrial Processor Representative, was not present due to travel constraint included: The advisory board member present: Cory O Hara, USAID Evelyn Ayivor, USAID The GSA secretariat staff present: Joseph Funt, Managing Director Aaron Adu, Director of Africa Operations Olawunmi Osholake, Director of Sustainability Marie Veyrier, Director of Development Doris Darhuso, Finance Director Discussion/Action: The managing director informed the Executive Committee that he will leave his position at the conclusion of The Executive Committee established a transition plan and formed a subcommittee to recruit the next managing director. Discussion/Action: The GSA President requested members to review the agenda. The members requested the following topics under any other business. Review of GSA s governance structure Review of Togo s request to join EC The agenda was adopted with the inclusion of the above items Audit Review

3 Presentation: The GSA secretariat presented the result of 2017 financial audit conducted by KMPG. The audit was approved and signed by the EC finance sub-committee in time for the meeting. The secretariat highlighted the growth in GSA s accumulated fund, revenues, and expenditures. Further, the secretariat explained that the substantial increase in USAID related expenses during the year was as a result of grants to implement sustainability projects. Discussion/Action: The EC inquired how to increase revenues generated from membership dues, conferences, and administration fees. Recommendation was made to announce that members pay their dues during the 2018 shea conference. Another recommendation was made to review current member dues and present to the EC at the next meeting. 3. Shea 2017 Conference Overview Presentation: The secretariat presented the program for the conference including panel sessions, speakers, training for small businesses and networking activities. There will be a total of 7 panel sessions facilitated by 38 speakers over the 2-day conference. 450 participants are expected during day 1 and 2 of the conference and 150 at the small business sessions on the day 3. The Nigerian organizing committee informed the EC that the Federal ministry of trade, Niger state government and Better-life for rural woman strongly supported the conference and significantly contributed to the funds raised by NASPAN. Nigerian dignitaries and politicians are expected to attend the opening ceremony The secretariat reviewed the projected revenue, expenses and net impact on the GSA s accumulated fund. Discussion/Action: The EC commended members for sponsorship support and the national association for organizing government sponsorships. It was recommended that the secretariat send thank you letters to all sponsors after the conference. It was noted that the secretariat organized a dinner and will be presenting awards to sponsors during the conference as a way of expressing appreciation for their support. The Benin representative inquired about the status of the profit allocation from the 2017 conference due to the Benin national association. It was advised the secretariat of the Benin association initiate a request for payment General Assembly Agenda Review Presentation: The secretariat presented the agenda for the 2018 general assembly and the 2017 GSA annual report, highlighting GSA s sustainability, promotion and quality activities during the year. There were no proposed changes to the GA agenda or the annual report. The agenda was adopted by EC. Discussion/Action: EC member raised questions on the composition of the Executive Committee and the inclusion of an African brand on the EC. It was explained that general consensus at the last EC meeting was to create a position for another women s group

4 representative and not an Africa brand. The second women s group representative will be elected in Further, the EC inquired about the mode of communicating between the secretariat and GSA members on working group activities. To prevent gaps in communication it was recommended that the secretariat inform the respective national associations of upcoming GSA activities and explore disseminating information to national associations through a mobile phone platform. The secretariat will develop a communication platform and work with national associations to ensure information reaches members. The EC inquired about the next location for the conference and when a call for proposals will be published. The secretariat will publish the call for proposals in the upcoming weeks and inform the national associations when its published. The selection of the 2019 host country will take place at the next EC meeting. 5. Codex Unrefined Shea Butter Standard Presentation: The secretariat distributed and presented the recently released Codex standards for unrefined shea butter. The standard was proposed by the Malian government was not reviewed or commented on by the GSA prior to its adoption by the Codex committee of Africa. The secretariat inquired of the EC s position on the standard and if the secretariat should advocate for the standard in the future. Discussion/Action: The EC discussed the benefits and opportunities that could be derived by having such a standard, concluding that the standard would benefit the industry at large. A 3- step approach (with more focus on step 1 and 2) was recommended by EC. Step 1: Correct the errors noted in the codex standards in collaboration with the Malian national association Step 2: Advocate for African countries to adopt the standard into their respective national laws. This initiative should be led by the national associations Step 3: Advocate for an international standard 6. Global Shea Alliance Membership Mark Presentation: The EC reviewed a request for a sustainability partner membership mark from GSA member. The member request expressed the interest of several international cosmetics brands to obtain a GSA sustainability related product mark. Discussion/Action: The EC discussed the pros and cons of having a membership mark. Points raised during the discussion included: (i) increased GSA exposure that could be gained from having a mark, (ii) additional investment into the sustainability program, (iii) challenges in regulating the use of the mark, (iv) limitations to using the mark, and (v) limited human resource at the secretariat to enforce the rules for using the mark. EC members AAK and Burt s Bees will research options and provide update to the EC via e- mail in the coming months.

5 7. Utrecht Conference Review Presentation: The secretariat provided an overview of the Utrecht conference agenda. The conference, scheduled for April 16, 2018, is being supported by GSA members - ICCO, AAK, Bunge Loder Croklaan and Fuji Oil. ICCO will be hosting the conference. The theme for the event is: More Than an Ingredient: Functionality and Sustainability take Industry to New Heights. 60 participants have registered. Discussion/Action: The EC commended the secretariats efforts in organizing the Utrecht conference. There were no changes proposed to the agenda. 8. US Conference Review Presentation: The secretariat provided an overview of the U.S. conference. The conference scheduled for May 14, 2018 will take place in Washington, D.C at Sidley Austin s office. The theme for the cosmetic event is: Shea in U.S. Cosmetics Markets: Positioning for the Next 20 Years. Discussion/Action: The EC commended the secretariats efforts in organizing the U.S. conference. There were no changes proposed to the agenda. 9. Any other business Letter from the National Association of Togo (RIK) Presentation: The secretariat presented a letter from the National Association of Togo (RIK) requesting; (i) to be formally recognized as the National Association, (ii) GSA supports the establishment of its secretariats, and (iii) to have a place on the EC, similar to other national associations. The secretariat asked of the EC for direction on how to proceed on the matter. Discussion/Action: The EC deliberated on the request from the National Association of Togo (RIK) and inquired of additional due diligence that have been conducted by the secretariat, i.e. visiting RIK to verify their legitimacy and ensure there are no other contending associations. The GSA secretariat has engaged RIK as part of the SSI national level strategy meeting. RIK led the organization of the national level strategy meeting. Further, the EC raised that the current by -laws of the GSA does not allow for another national association. In addition, the request for support to establish a RIK secretariat isn t feasible as the GSA has not been able to provide similar support to existing national associations. The EC decided that the request from RIK be heard by the general assembly. As next steps, the EC recommended: (i) that RIK be recognized as a GSA member and as participate in current projects, (ii) a review of the current EC governance structure be conducted, and (iii) benchmarking of other national associations. The EC agreed to further reviewed the request at the November meeting, at which point a decision can be made and/or presented at the next General Assembly

6 10. Governance Structure Discussion/Action: The EC agreed to undertake a review of the current governance structure of the GSA. The project will be led by GSA s managing director, who will undertake a benchmarking analysis and make a proposal to the EC at their next meeting. 11. Membership fee Discussion/Action: The EC agreed to review the membership fee as part of the project to review the current governance structure. 12. Support of National Associations Discussion/Action: The EC discussed ways the GSA can better support the efforts of the National Associations. The EC raised 2 options: (i) building the capacity and mobilizing national associations to raise funds and (ii) supporting government advocacy. Additionally, the President suggested that the GSA supports the Malian National Association in the organization of the upcoming shea market forum. The forum scheduled for May will address issues such as taxes and exports. It was suggested that the shea market forum and the GSA annual conference be better integrated going forward. 13. Women s group representative Discussion/Action: The EC discussed the role of the women s representative. The secretariat will work with the women s group representative to ensure her participation at national level strategy meetings. 14. Closing remarks Discussion/Action: The president thanked the various members for their participation over the last two days and looks forward to collaborating with the EC and secretariat over the course of the next year.