African Cashew Alliance

What African Cashew Alliance does

The African Cashew Alliance (ACA) is a member-based, nonprofit industry association founded in 2006 and headquartered in Accra, Ghana. It convenes more than 130 member companies spanning the full African cashew value chain — producers, processors, traders, and international buyers — across 15+ cashew-producing countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, The Gambia, and Togo). ACA's purpose is to promote a globally competitive African cashew industry by reducing fragmentation, improving quality standards, and connecting African suppliers to international markets. Its core services include a Market Information System (price, seasonal, freight, and exchange-rate data), the ACA Quality & Sustainability Seal certification program, business advisory services for processors, investor support, access-to-finance facilitation, country profiles, member directories, a Cashew Expert Database, the bimonthly AfriCashewSplits market report, the Cashew Barometer benchmarking tool, an ACA Cashew App, and an annual rotating conference that draws 250–350 participants from 30+ countries. The technology stack is non-proprietary — standard website, password-protected member portal, reporting tool, and a mobile app that stores credentials locally and does not collect analytics. ACA does not develop proprietary technology or AI/ML capabilities.

ACA's business model combines recurring annual membership fees from African and international companies with advertising revenue from website and newsletter placements (e.g., US$330 for a three-month website banner; US$1,200 for a full-year large newsletter banner across six issues) and conference sponsorship. Membership pricing is not publicly disclosed. A significant portion of programmatic activity is financed through project grants and co-financing from development partners — GIZ, the European Union, the MOVE Programme, USAID, the Walmart Foundation, the African Development Bank, and Swiss SECO — covering initiatives such as capacity building for processors, market competitiveness, and smallholder farmer support. The organization maintains formal coordination with national regulators including Ghana's Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) and the Cashew Council Ghana. Recent strategic activity has focused on capitalizing on China's June 2026 opening of its cashew market to all African producers with diplomatic ties to Beijing, deepening Ghana-focused capacity building under the UCC–USIBRAS partnership, and convening industry around value-addition opportunities such as cashew-shell biochar in Côte d'Ivoire.

Name

African Cashew Alliance

Legal name

African Cashew Alliance

Website

https://africancashewalliance.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The African Cashew Alliance is a member-based nonprofit industry association, founded in 2006 and headquartered in Accra, Ghana, that convenes 130+ cashew producers, processors, traders, and international buyers across 15+ African countries through market information, quality certification, advisory services, and annual conferences.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Accra

HQ country

Ghana

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: ACA generates revenue through annual membership fees from African and international companies across the cashew value chain, including producers, processors, traders, and international buyers. Membership provides access to market information, business advisory services, networking, and the ACA Quality and Sustainability Seal.
2. Advertising and Sponsorship: ACA sells advertising space on its website and in the Africashew newsletter publication, generating revenue from companies seeking to reach cashew industry stakeholders. Conference sponsorship also provides revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

African Cashew Alliance (ACA) is a pan-African industry association founded in 2006 that provides market information, business advisory, quality certification, investor support, and access-to-finance services to its 130+ member companies across the cashew value chain. It operates the ACA Quality & Sustainability Seal, the Cashew Barometer benchmarking platform, the bimonthly AfriCashewSplits newsletter, and an Annual Cashew Conference rotating across African producing countries.

Product overview

African Cashew Alliance (ACA) is an industry association platform offering a suite of services to support the African cashew value chain. The core offerings include a Market Information System providing price data and seasonal updates, the ACA Quality & Sustainability Seal for product certification, Business Advisory Services for processors, Investor Support, Access to Finance facilitation, and the Cashew Barometer for industry benchmarking. Additional services include the AfriCashewSplits bimonthly newsletter, Annual Cashew Conference for networking, member directories (processors, manufacturers, traders, producers), Country Profiles with detailed country-specific data, and a Cashew Expert Database. ACA also offers the ACA Cashew App as a mobile application. The organization brings together over 130 member companies across the cashew value chain.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ACA Cashew App: Mobile application for ACA services
• Cashew Barometer
• ACA Quality & Sustainability Seal
• AfriCashewSplits

Products and services

• Market Information System Provides market data, price information, and seasonal updates on cashew nuts across African producing countries for members.
• ACA Quality & Sustainability Seal A quality and sustainability certification program for cashew products meeting specified standards.
• Business Advisory Services for Processors Advisory support services helping cashew processors improve operations, efficiency, and competitiveness.
• Investor Support Services assisting investors interested in the African cashew sector with market intelligence and introductions.
• Access to Finance Facilitates access to financing opportunities for cashew value chain actors.
• Cashew Barometer An online platform providing industry metrics and benchmarking data for the cashew sector.
• AfriCashewSplits Newsletter Bimonthly market report newsletter providing cashew industry news, price updates, and analysis in print and electronic formats.
• Annual Cashew Conference Annual industry conference bringing together cashew stakeholders globally for networking, knowledge sharing, B2B meetings, and exhibitions.

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• Valency InternationalminorOthers · 1 January 2025Singapore-based Valency International developed Africa's first industrial-scale biochar plant using cashew nut shells in Attinguié, Côte d'Ivoire. The facility processes 20,000 metric tons of cashew shells annually to produce 6,000 metric tons of biochar. Related to ACA's interest in cashew value addition.
• University of Cape Coast (UCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUCC signed an MoU with USIBRAS Limited under the Ghana Private Sector Competitiveness Programme II, implemented by NIRAS, to provide specialized capacity-building programs for processors in Ghana's cashew value chain. UCC developed competency-based curricula for short professional courses for cashew processors.
• USIBRAS LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSIBRAS partnered with UCC to provide industrial training sites and hands-on experience for cashew processing professionals. This partnership is part of the Ghana Private Sector Competitiveness Programme II, a bilateral initiative between Swiss SECO and the Government of Ghana.
• NIRASmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNIRAS is the implementing organization for the Ghana Private Sector Competitiveness Programme II, which includes the UCC-USIBRAS cashew capacity building initiative.
• Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTCDA is Ghana's regulatory body for cashew (established under the Tree Crops Development Authority Act, 2019). It works with ACA to regulate and develop cashew production, processing and trading in Ghana. ACA collaborates with TCDA on sector development initiatives.
• Cashew Council Ghana (CCG)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Cashew Council Ghana is the umbrella body of Ghana's cashew value chain. A 15-member board was inaugurated in June 2026 to champion industry interests and drive growth in local processing, productivity and investments. ACA works with CCG on industry coordination.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• International Cocoa Organization (ICCO): Intergovernmental organization overseeing the global cocoa economy and producing market reports and statistics. Comparable to ACA via its commodity-level market intelligence and stakeholder convening role, though at a higher governance level.
• Specialty Coffee Association (SCA): Global trade association for specialty coffee professionals running certification, events, and market data services. Comparable to ACA for its membership model, certification programs (e.g., Q-grader), and annual expo, though in a different commodity.
• International Nut & Dried Fruit Council (INC): Global membership association for the nut and dried fruit industry that convenes producers, processors, and traders worldwide. Directly comparable to ACA as a nut-industry trade body with marketing, market intelligence, and congress functions, though it is broader in scope and globally headquartered.

Emerging players

• Solidaridad Network: International civil society organization running supply-chain programs for cashew, cocoa, palm, and other commodities in Africa and Latin America. Partially overlapping with ACA in cashew capacity-building and processor support, with stronger donor-program execution capabilities.
• Fairtrade International: Global certification organization covering cashew and other agricultural commodities. Comparable to ACA's Seal and smallholder farmer focus, though it operates as a transnational standards body rather than an African producer-led alliance.
• Rainforest Alliance: Global sustainability certification body that certifies cashew and other crops. Comparable to ACA via the quality/sustainability Seal concept, but operates as a certification brand rather than a member-driven industry association.

Direct peers

• World Cocoa Foundation: International membership organization supporting cocoa farmer prosperity and supply-chain sustainability. Closely comparable to ACA in structure (member-based, market intelligence, sustainability programming, sub-Saharan Africa focus), but focused on cocoa instead of cashew.
• Global Coffee Platform (GCP): Multi-stakeholder sustainability platform for the coffee sector with strong African producer engagement. Comparable to ACA in convening producers, traders, and development partners around a single African-sourced commodity.
• African Fine Coffees Association (AFCA): Pan-African membership association for coffee producers, exporters, and buyers that runs annual conferences, cupping competitions, and market information services. Highly comparable to ACA in mission, geography, and member-driven trade association model.

Regional players

• Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPCI): India's national body promoting cashew exports and processing. Directly comparable to ACA as a cashew-specific industry body, but operating in a different geography (India is the world's largest processor rather than largest producer) and serving a different member base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/africancashew
• YouTubeyoutube.com/africancashewa
• Facebookfacebook.com/AfricanCashewAlliance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/african-cashew-alliance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about African Cashew Alliance