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Olowo-n'djo Tchala is a social entrepreneur from Togo. He established Alaffia in 2004 and Ayeya in 2022, with a focus on facilitating poverty alleviation and promoting gender equality through the fair trade of African resources.

Biography
Olowo-n'djo, born and raised in Togo, West Africa, was influenced by his upbringing in a low-income environment. He drew inspiration from his mother, who emphasized the importance of community.

Although he left school prematurely, he eventually earned a bachelor's degree in organizational theory from the University of California. Throughout his academic pursuits, he cultivated a passion for improving living standards within communities, including his hometown, by advocating for a more sustainable and equitable future.

He was appointed by the U.S. Trade Representative, Robert Lighthizer, to serve a four-year term as a member of the U.S. Trade Advisory Committee on Africa (TACA).

Olowo-n'djo addresses the social challenges, such as gender inequality and poverty, prevalent in West Africa through initiatives emphasizing sustainable healthcare, education, and environmental initiatives.

Alaffia
Alaffia was established in 2003 within the garage of Olowo-n’djo Tchala and Prairie Rose Hyde, a husband and wife team based in Olympia, Washington. The company specializes in crafting beauty and body care products using traditional African methods. Alaffia holds a "Fair for Life" certification from the Institute for Marketecology (IMO), a highly esteemed international inspection and certification agency recognized for its oversight of organic and fair trade standards.

Over nearly two decades, Alaffia has dedicated itself to the mission of poverty reduction and the promotion of gender equality. This objective is pursued through the ethical trade of indigenous African resources, including unrefined shea butter, African black soap, coconut oil, and neem extract. Profits generated from the sale of Alaffia's products are reinvested into communities in Togo to support initiatives focused on community empowerment and gender equality. These efforts encompass various areas such as maternal healthcare, education, reforestation, and regenerative agriculture.

Alaffia directly provides employment to over 700 women in rural Togo, offering salaries that are four times higher than the average family income. Additionally, the company contracts with over 14,000 women as suppliers.

At Alaffia's fair-trade cooperatives in Togo and Ghana, a range of natural resources, including shea nuts, coconuts, herbs, and grasses, are gathered. These materials serve as the basis for products such as shea butter, coconut oil, baskets, and essences. Subsequently, the raw materials are transported to Alaffia's manufacturing plant in Tumwater. Here, a dedicated workforce of 145 individuals is engaged in refining, packaging, and preparing the products for distribution in the United States and ten other countries.

Currently, Alaffia stands as the second-largest employer in Togo, following the government of Central Togo. The company employs 700 women who hand-craft Alaffia's products across six diverse cooperatives.

Published works
Olowo-n'djo Tchala is featured as the speaker in the TEDx talk titled "Can Africa save herself?" The discussion centers on Africa's ability to address and surmount its challenges autonomously. Olowo-n'djo Tchala offers insights and perspectives on this crucial topic during the TEDx event at The Evergreen State College.

Recognition
In 2019, Olowo-n'djo Tchala received an invitation to the White House, where he engaged in discussions concerning the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative. This initiative, spearheaded by the White House Senior Adviser, operates in collaboration with the U.S. Department of State and the National Security Council.

Recognizing his contributions, Alaffia received the U.S. Secretary of State's 2018 Award for Corporate Excellence in Women's Economic Empowerment.

Additionally, he was acknowledged with the Pacific Northwest EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2018 Award and named a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2018.

In 2017, Olowo-n'djo Tchala was honored as the Whole Foods Market’s Whole Planet Foundation Trailblazer of the Year. Furthermore, he was appointed by the U.S. Trade Representative, Robert Lighthizer, to serve a four-year term as a member of the U.S. Trade Advisory Committee on Africa (TACA).

References/Notes and references
Always cite your sources! No original research!