Presentation about beekeeping, bee products and forests of Cameroon and the social enterprise Guiding Hope, at the Beekeepers Association (Imkersvereniging) Den Haag

1. Guiding Hope Verina Ingram,
Director
Apiculture in Cameroon
NVB Den Haag
10 November 2015

2. WHERE WE WORK

3. Bamenda
highlands

4. Adamaoua
savannah

5. WHO WE ARE
 Guiding Hope (Guide d’Espoir) Cameroonian
enterprise
 Founded in 2005, incorporated in 2007
 Our mission is to develop environmentally and
socially responsible, fair yet profitable trade of
apiculture products
 Hive products: Organic honey, beeswax & propolis
 By-products: Soaps, candles, creams etc.

6. Business Model
 Strategy to
 guide producers with information and training,
 ensuring fair prices, and
 access new, near and distant market opportunities
we ultimately aim to assure the relay between
disadvantaged producers of high-value apiculture
products and equitable markets.

7. Our philosophy
PEOPLE
PLANETPROFIT

8. Commitment to sustainability
 Economic: take a value chain approach to ensure
fair prices & salaries
 Social: work closely with our supplier communities
to empower & equip them and ensure their needs
are addressed in our activities; setting up GH
foundation
 Environmental: production processes strictly
organic & environmentally sustainable; engage in
reforestation and conservation activities

9. APICULTURE: HOW WE DO IT

10. Adamaoua
savanna
hives

11. Bamenda
highlands
Traditional
hives

12. and modern

13. Collecting bamboo for hive production

14. Opportunistic
Higher quantity
propolis
Wild harvest

15. Harvesting

16. Harvesting

17. Traditional and modern

18. Problems

19. Wax – small scale

20. Wax production

21. Wax production

23. Wax – large scale

24. Wax – large scale

25. Storage

26. Quality control
 Filtering
 HMF
 Record keeping
for traceability

27. Collection center inauguration with village suppliers, March 2009

28. Quality and marketing
 Conducting market research
 Work with government and sector representatives
 gain access for Cameroon to export markets
 create national standards for honey production & quality
 establish accountability for apiculture sector
 Obtained Organic, Ethical Trade certification and
Community Trade (Body Shop) for our products
 Lobby for Cameroon honey rights: formed Cameroon
Union of Exporters of Apiculture Products and Apiculture
Interprofession, Apitrade Africa

29.  Processing

30.  Products

31. Transport !

32.  Certified organic production
 Best beekeeping practices with minimal impact
 Raising awareness of forage sources
 Forest protection
 Planting & regeneration - hive materials
 Footprint & Environmental Impact Assessment
 Reducing fuel inputs and waste streams
 Collaborate with others – learn & share
Environmental aspects

33. Community reforestation
Afforestation

34. Guiding Hope in the Netherlands

35. Merci!
guidinghope@yahoo.fr
www.guidinghope.com
“Pa” Paul Nzegha Mzeka,
Director, Apiculture and Nature Conservation Organization
UN Forest Hero 2011