With a focus on organic, handspun cotton dyed naturally, ATA is helping to position artisans in Senegal to take advantage of emerging global eco-markets. From 2007 to 2008, ATA collaborated with UNIDO to provide training, develop a Senegal Artisan Directory and bring international buyers to Senegal.

Accomplishments

  • Senegal Artisan Directory was developed and is now available on ATA’s website in French and English.
  • A Natural Dye Workshop was conducted to strengthen the capacity of Senegalese dyers.
  • Introduction of village-level hand-spinning technology and the continued development of organic hand-spun yarn.
  • Four US and European buyers traveled to Senegal to begin business relationships with artisan businesses.
  • Intensive costing and pricing workshops were conducted with nearly 100 artisans in four locations.
  • ATA exhibited Senegalese products at ATA’s booth in the New York International Gift Fair in 2007.

Partners & Collaborators
USAID
USAID Economic Growth
IRG (International Resource Group)
UNIDO

ATA’s artisan enterprise partners, social enterprises all, are also numerous, such as:
Aissa Dione, Soli Sen, Maam Samba, 10,000 Girls (WHEPSA), ACOMA, and many others.

Contributors
ATA would like to thank the following organizations for providing funding
for efforts in Senegal:
United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
And many individual donors