Cashew Processing, Côte d’Ivoire

I visited a cashew processing factory in November 2010 in NE Côte d’Ivoire. I was somewhat shocked by the lengthy and complicated process involved in preparing a cashew to be eaten – I will never again toss one after another into my mouth, without a...
Micro-finance bank in Côte d’Ivoire

Micro-finance bank in Côte d’Ivoire

I visited a women-run micro-finance bank in Bouaké and Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire that mostly caters to women clientele, though all are welcome.  They aim to make loans more accessible to low-income women, and also have a higher than average repayment rate. In...
Election Rally in Côte d’Ivoire

Election Rally in Côte d’Ivoire

A preelection rally in Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) on November 20, 2010, in the town of Divo.  This was between the first round of presidential elections, and the run-off election that was held last weekend.  I was driving on my way back to Abidjan from visiting...
Cashew in Côte d’Ivoire

Cashew in Côte d’Ivoire

I was driven 700KM, which took about 8 hours, to visit this cashew processing plant in Touba in North Eastern Côte d’Ivoire, very near the border with Guinea.  The factory was great – clean, well run, good equipment.  I love cashews, and it was interesting to...