INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR SMES PRODUCING ORGANIC FAIR TRADE DRIED MANGO IN BURKINA FASO: THE ROLE OF SME GROUPS

Abstract

In the current context of reduced African presence in world exports, Burkina Faso’s mango drying SMEs stand out for their proven ability to integrate international organic fair trade channels. This research aims to analyze the support role played by the groups set up by these SMEs to facilitate their internationalization. The methodology consisted mainly of semi-structured interviews with managers of dried mango SMEs, managers of SME groups, and specialized support service providers. The findings show that three factors foster the integration of SMEs into international organic fair trade channels: 1) resource pooling within the groups; 2) groups opting for an integrated support approach oriented toward the international market; 3) the appropriation of the groups by the member SMEs, including through financing. However, the support system encourages SMEs to produce for the Global North, probably at suboptimal prices, given the unfavorable balance of power for these SMEs and the logic of domination that usually characterizes the Northern partners. The neo-colonial orientation is all the more prevalent in that the support for SMEs does not include the development of a local, national, or regional market for organic fair trade dried mango.