To the SOMDIAA Group its societal responsability goes beyond the limited circle of its agro-business operating units in Africa. The values conveyed by the SOMDIAA Group are now promoted through its network of foundations forming tailored structures in every country where the Group operates.  The goal of that foundation network is to leverage the joint and social actions that have been undertaken for decades and to manage development project financing. The first fondation was set up in Chad in early March 2010. Each foundation run by the SOMDIAA Group is funded by an affiliate that delegates any action not related to the SOMDIAA Group's industrial and agricultural operations.

The Foundations at the heart of social and economic  development

The main goal of the Foundations is to work towards improving the economic, social and cultural well-being of populations in t the territories they cover.  They support the organization of village interest groups by giving them advice, helping the implement sustainable development projects and providing them with administrative and technical assistance with a view to :

• mitigating inequalities
• fighting against the insecure living conditions of vulnerable people
• promoting income-generating activities

The Foundations are aimed at helping, in particular but not solely, those populations living in the vicinity of Somdiaa Group production sites.

The Foundations are committed in the long term to contributing to improving the living conditions of populations living around their sites. As a matter of course the submitted projects are carefully reviewed in order to favor those with a sustainable impact and in keeping with community principles that generate jobs and income for village populations.

Furthermore, the Foundations are very keen to be involved in the development of cultural and sports activities.

Finally, the Foundations are concerned with the improvement of health conditions in villages and, among other things, work with village communities as well as national and international NGOs involved in those development issues.

A light funding organization for key growth projects

A Policy Committee shared by every Foundation was created in order to help each of them optimize their working conditions and follow a consistent development policy. It is in charge of their setting up on each site, defining their general policy, developing management and governance tools and coordinating their actions.

Within each Foundation is a Project Selection Committee whose staff includes an equal number of men and women. That committee mainly includes associates that are not members of the affiliate steering committee. Its main goal is to manage the daily operations of the Foundation under its responsibility as well as its projects.

In accordance with the statutes and bylaws submitted by each Foundation the Project Selection Committee is in charge of identifying and evaluating the projects to be presented to the Association and works with development project teams in order to improve their profitability and sustainability.

Every member of the Project Selection Committee voluntarily provides their skills and advice to the Foundation. However, they are supported on a daily basis by an outside consultant familiar with African associations and in charge of the daily administrative management of the Foundation. 

Besides those managing and decision-making bodies the Foundations comply with the good governance practices of the most modern associations by organizing general meetings and applying modern, seamless and regular reporting methods.

The resources of each Foundation come from member fees (the affiliate being the primary member), member donations and proceeds stemming from the various activities that are undertaken such as the sale of various equipment or training programs.