Philsen

Get more out of a coconut!

By using the whole coconut instead of just the fibres or coir, poor Philippine farmers are able to increase and stabilise their income. SharePeople is helping Venture Asia Incorporated (VAI) to improve their business plan and to develop a measuring instrument, with which the farmers can work out for themselves when sales are likely to yield the most profits.

About VAI

In 2007, VAI was set up by Philsen, one of SharePeople's partners in the Philippines. The aim of the organisation is to increase the incomes of farmers by 20%. For the product organisation, VAI is going to purchase the coconuts from the farming co-operatives and launch a range of products onto the market, varying from coconut mats to bio-fuel. VAI wants to export coconut products, such as coconut drinks, coconut milk and coconut oil. 

Business case

VAI is planning to set up a supply chain, which utilises the whole coconut in order to produce a full range of products. SharePeople is helping them to evaluate this plan and to assess the feasibility of their ambitious objectives.

Results

Analysis

The SharePeople team is carrying out the following analyses:

• Stakeholder analysis
• Financial analysis
• Map of supply chain
• SWOT analysis

Advice

• The SharePeople team comes up with a positive evaluation for the plans but advises VAI to make several adjustments.
• Despite the fact that the prioritisation of the actions requires some adjustments here and there, VAI can start building up the supply chain.
• A project group must be started up in order to develop and implement the operational plan and the project group's main objective is to negotiate guaranteed fair prices for the farmers.
• Confirmation of the most important financial assumptions.  
 

Impact on the overseas partners

• By utilising the measuring instrument, which was developed by the SharePeople team, the farmers are able to work out for themselves when coconut sales are likely to yield the most profits. This measuring instrument, in which they can input the variables themselves, is used on a daily basis.
• Shortly after the SharePeople programme, concrete price agreements were fixed with the farmers, which resulted in their income or revenue bridge becoming more stable.
• A team of professionals is available for distance coaching and deliberating on the operational plan, the planning schedule and the objectives.

Impact on the European professionals

• New insights into intercultural communication and the provision of feedback in a multi-cultural setting have had a favourable influence on business at home.
• Insight and experience in how an effective is formed.
• Insight into the importance of social organisations and Fair Trade in reducing poverty in the Philippines.

Impact on the European companies

From the volunteering programme (CSR policy), a participating company ensures that the knowledge of staff members is accessible. The result was satisfactory.