Bunge Strengthens Supplier Relationships in West Africa

In recognition of the vital role suppliers play in both our business and to the economic empowerment of rural women, Bunge launched the Supplier's Day initiative in 2024 to strengthen our relationships with our key suppliers in West Africa.

The Bunge Supplier's Day, held recently, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, was designed to ultimately help promote high-quality shea nuts and purposefully build a strong community of women shea collectors. Participants learned about a variety of cross-cutting topics through presentations from the Bunge team, contributions from partners, collaborative group work, and roundtable discussions. Key themes included the impact of Bunge’s “Where Life Grows” activities in Burkina Faso, safety and health, Bunge's Global Code of Conduct, how to improve nut quality, preventing deforestation, human rights, and child labor.

Zachariah Adomako, HR Manager for West Africa, delivered a presentation on the crucial role businesses play in respecting human rights. During his address, he urged Bunge's partners to uphold and advance human rights principles in their sourcing practices, aligning with Bunge's Global policies and international human rights regulatory frameworks. Following this call to action, our key shea partner expressed appreciation, stating, "I am grateful to Bunge for highlighting the significance of human rights in sustaining our business and for the positive impact they bring to West Africa’s shea communities through their 'Where Life Grows' program."

The conference also marked an important milestone in Bunge's efforts around supplier compliance, culminating in the signing of the Bunge Code of Conduct by all participating suppliers.