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Value Added in Africa (VAA) is an Irish trade facilitation charity that promotes business between African producers with Irish/UK wholesale buyers. The charity focuses on Sub-Saharan processed goods as this contributes to real poverty reduction. These African companies buy from hundreds of local farmers, others employ woman managers. The charity also offers marketing and communcation facilites in order to sustain business deals between European buyers and African manufacturers. Products are selected according to quality, price and benefit to their community. Products supported by VAA include tea, coffee, jams, sauces, beer, confectionery and beauty products.

Proudly Made In Africa

The charity is also responsible for the Proudly Made in Africa registered trademark, which is acts as an extension of the fair-trade model. The PMIA certified mark is used to for consumers to identfy products that have been processed in Africa.

The charity is registered in the Republic of Ireland under Irish Charity No. CHY 18389.

History Established in Ireland 2008, and recently in the UK; VAA was set up by a small group of people wanting to change the associated trade dynamic of African commodity chains found in rather than supporting the continious exporting of raw materials/ cash crops to other countries, VAA

Ethos

Support African businesses that create products which are
 * Naturally Pure
 * Ethically Produced
 * Creatively designed
 * Competitively Priced

Trading Partners Trading countries include Kenya, Ethiopia, Ghana, Sudan, Lesotho, Sao Tomé

Current Campaigns

Publications O'Caoimh, C & McGauley, P.(2011). Evidence & Opportunity; Ireland's Trade with its Development Programme Countries in Africa.