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Essential Oils: UNIDO and R&R Luxury Empowering Women and Preserving Tradition
R&R Luxury is a sustainable beauty brand from Ghana, that creates products that share Africa’s ancient beauty secrets with the rest of the world.
The brand delivers luxury, 100% Natural Skincare, using Africa’s ancient beauty secrets for ageless skin, at an affordable price, whilst simultaneously empowering hundreds of Ghanaian women in rural communities through its supply chain.
The Women of the Savannah Development Project (WSDP)
R&R Luxury has a unique vision to produce essential oils and impact the communities that supply the raw materials for its cosmetics line. To achieve this, the company established the Women of the Savannah Development Project (WSDP), the social arm of R&R Luxury Limited, on a four-acre land in Busunu. The WSDP focuses on empowering the rural women involved in the production process of Shea nuts and other raw materials. The goal is to significantly improve the livelihoods of the communities where R&R operates, thereby alleviating poverty within these beneficiary communities. As part of this vision, an essential oil centre and Shea processing factory were commissioned in October 2021.
The production of aromatic plants encountered significant challenges, including inefficient processing and the under utilization of valuable aromatic resources. This led to considerable financial burdens for local processors, who faced high costs and limited access to advanced processing technology.
Furthermore, the absence of critical infrastructure, such as essential oil distillation units and semi-manual presses, hindered the enhancement of locally produced essential oils at the cluster level.
In response to these challenges, UNIDO took steps to strengthen the quality and standards compliance capacity, thereby facilitating market access for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the essential oils industry, and providing support to R & R's essential oils factory.
The factory now produces high-quality essential oils and promotes best practices and sustainable agriculture.
Valerie Obaze, the creative force behind R & R Luxury and CEO, expressed her deep appreciation to UNIDO and the European Union for their unwavering support of her vision and mission to prioritize ethical sourcing, preserve nature, and generate employment opportunities.
She recounted how the WACOMP Programme has supported her with the right funding and provided equipment to meet market standards and been instrumental in helping her enhance her website, implement effective e-commerce strategies, and realize the WSDP vision, which focuses on uplifting rural women and vulnerable communities.
"I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the UNIDO-WACOMP team for their comprehensive approach and steadfast support. I am truly grateful for the myriad of opportunities provided and for their belief in the potential of West African cosmetics companies. Their support has allowed us to pursue our dream of empowering communities and creating a sustainable legacy across generations. With the cutting-edge machinery at our disposal, including an oil press machine, a pellet mill machine, and a biomass boiler, we are now capable of producing 5 litres of essential oil and 3 tons of butter each day,
She emphasized the profound impact of participating in the e-marketing training organizd by WACOMP for her team. Despite initial reservations about its necessity due to an existing website, she discovered the immeasurable value of the one-on-one coaching sessions.
The training not only provided invaluable insights into their business operations but also shed light on areas for improvement and introduced a wide array of online commerce aspects, including social commerce and e-commerce.
Valerie concluded, "The e-marketing coaching program has been an invaluable asset, and I am tremendously grateful for the opportunity to be part of it!"
Mrs. Valerie Obaze, CEO of R&R Luxury
UNIDO Interventions:
With funding from the European Union, WACOMP – Ghana implemented the following intervention:
- Establishment of a Processing Facility - Equipped with modern processing technology including an oil press, a pellet mill machine, and a biomass boiler. The facility was financed through the WACOMP Sub-Contracting Matching Scheme. It supports the production of essential oils and shea butter, providing a reliable source of income and employment for local communities. Additionally, it serves as an import substitution for many processors in the cosmetics industry, as cosmetic producers import essential oils at significant risk.
- Capacity Building for Local Women - The project focuses on empowering local women by involving them in agricultural activities. About 30 women from the Kawankura and Tailorpe groups were selected to grow lemongrass on a two-acre demonstration farm as a pilot project. These women have also received seeds for lemongrass, ginger oil, and balanites to expand their cultivation for supplying to the processing plant. This initiative not only provides the women with a stable income but also equips them with valuable skills in agriculture and soil management, enhancing their productivity and sustainability practices.
- Advanced Agricultural Techniques - The project emphasizes the dissemination of advanced agricultural knowledge and practices. The women involved are trained in modern techniques such as lemongrass agronomy and green manuring, which help improve yield and ensure the sustainability of their farming practices. This training is further supported by the development and distribution of cultivation manuals, prepared by local and international consultants.
- Technological Empowerment - The installation of advanced steam distillation equipment at the WSDP centre marks a significant technological upgrade. The equipment includes features like a double-chamber distillation unit and a multi-fuel boiler, which are designed to optimize the extraction processes while minimizing the environmental and health impacts on the women workers.
- Quality Control and Market Compliance - Following the installation of equipment, the project conducted multiple test runs and training sessions on equipment use and maintenance. These efforts culminate in the production of high-quality essential oils that comply with the standards set by the Ghana Standards Authority, thereby ensuring that the products are market-ready and competitive both locally and internationally.
These steps demonstrate a comprehensive approach to boosting local production capacities while adhering to quality and safety standards.
"Before this factory, I could only afford to give my child GHS1.00 for school, but now, I can provide her with GHS2.00,helping me to support her in school”
Valerie Obaze (Middle) with some of the women of the of the Savannah Development Project (WSDP)
Ganiu Abu, another beneficiary, echoed Barikisu's sentiments, expressing, “This project has made a significant difference in our lives. The quality of the butter produced here surpasses that of homemade ones. Working in the factory now yields greater profits compared to working from home."
