Global Mamas

Global Mamas, is a non-profit organization which envisions women in Africa to be economically independent. Their purpose is to reduce the economic inequality of women by helping to significantly increase the revenues and profits of women-owned businesses through facilitating the export of Global Mamas fair trade products. This in turn increases wages, generates new jobs and improves the standard of living for women, their families, and the larger community. Global Mamas believes that helping women gain economic independence is the most effective way to create prosperous communities.

Global Mamas also helps small woman-owned businesses in Africa to access global markets and manage their growing businesses. By enabling the economic independence of these women, Global Mamas promotes their traditional skills in producing handmade products. Global Mamas works extensively with each business owner on new product development and quality control and they provide artisans with personalized, hands-on business assistance and computer training to strengthen the capacity of women entrepreneurs to better manage their growing enterprises.

In 2003, Global Mamas was launched with six producers. Today the Global Mamas network is comprised of 108 individually–owned businesses working together to penetrate larger markets while maintaining their operational independence. The women are provided fair and deserved payments for their high-quality work. Sales of the Global Mamas’ products provide dignity to African women who are now able to earn a living wage. The Global Mamas network provides women with financial and management support, including:

• Up-front payments for the production of the high-quality goods by financing cash flow.

• Liz Alig works to source the recycled materials from vendors with in Ghana.

• Management of and training in quality control.

• Practical training in new product development, fair trade business management, computer literacy, strategic planning, bookkeeping, and marketing.