Building resilience to external shocks is one of the things that people regularly tell us is a priority. Salome Mbembati’s story shows how having a good job, very rare in many of the countries where FINCA works, is a powerful force in building resilience.
The Tanzanian Cashew Industry
Tanzania is the fourth largest producer of cashews in sub-Saharan Africa. Smallholder farmers grow 85 percent of the country’s cashews. These farmers sell their raw nuts through a government-managed auction system where exporters compete for bids. However, once purchased, 90 percent of cashews are exported for processing in countries like India and Vietnam. Tanzanian laborers lose out on the opportunity to realize much of the market value of the finished product.
The government has made attempts to promote local processing. However, the high cost of processing equipment and lack of financing mean that most processing is done by hand. This results in inefficient and low-quality operations. Tanzanian farmers capture less than ten percent of the final cashew price.
FINCA’s partner, YYTZ Agro-processing, a full-service cashew processing company is changing this. And they’re creating good jobs in the process.
How Salome is Building Resilience
Salome Paulo Mbembati is an employee of YYTZ. YYTZ sources and buys cashews directly from women’s groups and sells the final product under the consumer brand More Than Cashews. FINCA has been partnering with YYTZ since 2020 to support small-scale farmers in Tanzania.
Every morning, Salome wakes up early for her shift at the factory. Her job is to sort the cashews and prepare them for packaging. Salome’s job at YYTZ ensures stability for her and her family and gives her the income she needs to provide for her five children. She’s also saving to build her future home.
Salome’s journey hasn’t been without challenges. When her eldest son fell ill, medical expenses overcame her. Initially unable to cover the costs, through YYTZ’s supportive social enterprise model, Salome took out a loan to help her manage the costs over time. The generosity of her coworkers, who rallied around her during a time of need, reinforced the sense of community that defines their workplace.
Salome’s story exemplifies how the social enterprises that FINCA supports empower individuals. It’s a testament to turning obstacles into opportunities. Through her unwavering determination and the support from her community, Salome is paving the way toward a hopeful future.
Thanks to the support of FINCA’s donors who make our partnership with YYTZ possible, Salome is building resilience, forming relationships and providing for herself and her family.
