Blue Skies Benin : Social Impact Report

Blue Skies supplies fresh-cut prepared fruit to European grocery chains, via a business model that adds value at source through positive social impacts in the communities where the fruit is grown, harvested, processed, and packaged. This ‘adding value at source’ model is designed not only to deliver better quality products, but also provide opportunities for employment, skills development, and technology transfer within the communities where the fruit is grown. The Benin fresh-cut factory is the latest addition to the Blue Skies’ network, starting operation in February 2020 and processing coconut, mango and the Smooth Cayenne variety of pineapple. The company believes that with the right investment and support, Benin could offer the unique Sugarloaf pineapple for export to the EU. Benin ranks third in West Africa in the World Bank’s government effectiveness index (KfW-Development Bank - Benin, 2023). The government has been pursuing an ambitious and successful development and reform agenda since 2016 (KfW-Development Bank - Benin, 2023).

Poverty remains widespread, and the effects of the coronavirus pandemic and the Ukraine conflict exacerbate the situation (KfW-Development Bank - Benin, 2023). The key challenges lie in overcoming poverty and achieving economic growth in which everyone holds a stake. To meet these challenges, KfW Development Bank, on behalf of the German Federal Government, supports Benin in the following areas:
• Peaceful and inclusive societies
• Sustainable economic development, training and employment
• Protecting the natural basis for local citizen livelihoods

Blue Skies secured funding from DEG Impulse for a project to create a training centre and open market access for Sugarloaf pineapple farmers. The project focused on female entrepreneurship, to generate the tools and confidence to develop regional markets. This report presents the results from the evaluation conducted by the University of Northampton between July 2024 and February 2026.