Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería
Agronómica, Alimentaria y de Biosistemas

June 2023

Sofía Fernández Juan, with a career in architecture, studied the MSc Degree in Gardening and Landscaping at the School of Agricultural, Food and Biosystems Engineering (ETSIAAB). In this interview, the ETSIAAB alumna tells us how this NGO enriches her and why it may interest our students.

How did you learn about the NGO 'OAN International' is attractive for ETSIAAB's students?

A friend of mine started cooperating with them, and eventually, I became interested in their work.

Graphic design was crucial. In one of OAN's social entrepreneurship ideas that became the project 'Nikarit', they were looking for someone to help them with social media and graphic design, which is closely related to my background as an architect, and I love it. So I didn't hesitate and started to help them. I have worked on more tasks for four years, such as product logistics or website redesign. Nikarit aims to promote fair trade in shea butter. Shea-based cosmetics are sold thanks to the social brand. It was the perfect combination of design and social work.

Sansii Gandoo cooperative with shea nuts

In your opinion, why the NGO 'OAN International' is attractive for ETSIAAB's students?

As a small NGO, keeping a close eye on the projects is possible not only on the theory but also on the development and evolution of the projects, always with our colleagues from Nikki. We work with projects in different areas, improving access to water, health, social policies, and agronomy, where ETSIAAB's students might be most interested. In agronomy, projects are developed to promote food sovereignty, with activities like creating and monitoring vegetable gardens, conserving endangered trees and studying alternatives to fertilisers. You can discover a lot by learning how to approach agronomy in other countries, facing different climates, other plant species, both horticultural and indigenous, and many other tools and types of soils.

Can every student join OAN International, or are specific requirements/qualifications needed?

Anyone can become a member. But to actively join the NGO's projects, you must know about the specific project, and if it involves direct contact with Nikki's colleagues, you must speak French. However, speaking French is optional if you are only devoted to the Spanish part. Some people cooperate sporadically, helping us in the street markets we arrange with Nikarit or participating in the activities.

Sofía Fernández Juan at the women's cooperative in Monnon and Younussa

Why does your NGO focus on such a localised area in Benín?

Daniel Alfaro, founder and current president of the NGO, visited this commune during voluntary work in 2013. He realised the many potential improvements in how NGOs related to the population. We focused on this region to make a diverse, more coherent, better analysed and reviewed cooperation. It can also be a replicable model for other organisations with similar contexts.

Tell us about NGO's most important projects and how the committees work?

We endorse a horizontal structure, so there is no barrier between committees and projects. Any person within the organisation, whether in Benin or Spain, can participate transversally in any NGO's activities. For instance, the bio-health committee is closely linked to access to water, as is the engineering committee, so both committees work on the same project in this particular case.

This horizontality can also be seen in the main projects carried out currently:

• The malnutrition project, related to food security, carries out information campaigns on accurately feeding children and babies in rural areas. It also promotes the creation of vegetable gardens and the conservation of indigenous trees such as shea and baobab. People from different committees, such as agronomy, bio-health and social policy, are involved in this project.
  
  
• The project related to the empowerment and autonomy of women works with shea butter women's cooperatives (Nikarit project) and with Nikki women's groups, supporting the startup of small businesses. Both actions are focused on women's economic empowerment. In this case, the social policy committee is mainly involved.
  
  
• The project related to water is working together with the Nikki Town Council. It surveys the condition of existing pumps and wells to monitor and implement repairs. It is linked to the engineering committee and the bio-sanitary committee.

Crushing shea butter

Is it feasible to apply these projects to other places?

Yes, by studying the particularities of each one of them. Other NGOs are currently carrying out this type of project in other countries. It is also in OAN's interest that the lessons learned are helpful to other organisations and that our successful models can be copied elsewhere. In the same way, the experience may be beneficial to prevent mistakes.

One of your pillars is cooperation with the university through carrying out Bachelor's or Master's Theses and NGO projects.

The students' theses are a significant boost for the NGO, especially in its beginnings, because they were the seed to develop some of the projects we have worked on. Some of them are still active, such as the Nikarit project, which arose from Beatriz Vázquez's Bachelor's Thesis in 2015, and who is currently the general project coordinator.

Usually, the student proposes a new topic/project to be developed, a current topic that concerns the Nikki commune. According to the student's background, the project can represent different fields. The NGO can also focus on other issues. The support of students in projects with a real focus and impact is beneficial. Afterwards, the NGO's board evaluates the proposal and meets with the student to discuss the approach, see if it can be implemented, and if it interests both parties.