Written by Amy Auguston
Since its establishment in 2019, Banque Alimentaire de Côte d’Ivoire (BACI) has served more than 300,000 people in and around the capital city of Abidjan. In a region where food banking is fairly new, BACI is growing quickly, and their team says that support from The Global FoodBanking Network (GFN) is an important reason why.
In 2019, GFN started el Acelerador de Banco de Alimentos, a program that aims to accelerate the development of newer food banks in regions with chronic food insecurity. BACI joined the second cohort of the Acelerador in 2024, and within a year, it had nearly doubled its distribution and nearly tripled the number of people served.The Acelerador provides technical training, mentoring, peer-to-peer learning and partnership opportunities, as well as financial grants to food banks to increase their effectiveness. According to Serge Aka, head of operations and logistics at BACI, the grants from GFN supported the purchasing of vital equipment such as a refrigerated truck to improve their cold chain capabilities. Thanks to the GFN grants, BACI was also able to recruit additional staff, including a dedicated driver for food transportation and a fundraising officer.
Peer-to-peer Communities of Practice give Acelerador members the opportunity to trade experiences, share best practices and learn from each other. “Regular conversations with other food banks have helped us to avoid mistakes and adopt solutions that were already identified elsewhere,” Aka said.
“The regional conferences that we’ve had [through GFN] in Ghana and Nigeria were especially impactful,” Aka continued. “Visiting other food banks’ warehouses taught us new ways to optimize our supply chains.
“AlimentosForward SA [in South Africa] shared how strong data collection can build trust with partners and engage new donors,” said Aka. “As a result, BACI has integrated the approach that FoodForward SA uses into our own operations.”
Reducing Food Waste through Agricultural Recovery Programs
While approximately 673 million people currently face hunger, more than a third of the world’s food is lost or wasted. According to the FAO, half of all fruits and vegetables grown in sub-Saharan Africa are lost, the highest rate globally. Agricultural recovery is a fast, effective approach that brings healthy food to more people, reduces food loss and waste, and supports small-scale farmers.
In 2025, in partnership with agricultural cooperatives and local market stakeholders, BACI launched its own agricultural recovery program. “In Côte d’Ivoire, agricultural losses frequently happen on the farm and in the market,” said Aka. “BACI works directly with agricultural cooperatives to gather surplus production, and to recover unsold products on the market. We collect, transport and redistribute the food so it reaches the people who need it.”
One recent example comes from Abidjan’s central market, where BACI, in partnership with the Société Coopérative Arc-en-ciel Woman Africa y el Société Coopérative des Femmes de Sion, recovered and redistributed more than 2,900 kilograms of fresh fruits and vegetables.
BACI also works closely with major retail chains to recover food and reduce waste and loss. “Grocery chains like Auchan and Carrefour often have large surpluses,” Aka said. “The food is perfectly safe, but the products might be nearing their expiration date or they have packaging defects. BACI helps to distribute this food to those who need it most.”
As part of its reporting requirements, Auchan needs data that quantifies the environmental impact of its support to BACI. To collect and analyze this data, BACI utilizes the FRAME (Food Recovery to Avoid Methane Emissions) methodology. Developed by GFN in partnership with the Global Methane Hub and working with the Carbon Trust, FRAME quantifies avoided emissions and co-benefits from redirecting food loss and waste through food recovery and redistribution operations.
“The FRAME Methodology enables us to show our impact through data,” Aka said. “This kind of data has strengthened our relationships with partners like Auchan and will hopefully attract new donors in the future.”
BACI supports community organizations that serve people in vulnerable circumstances, including single mothers, people with disabilities, elderly people and unaccompanied children in care centers. In addition to reducing food insecurity among these groups, Aka has observed the social benefits of food banking. “Once they have access to food, many people feel more included in their communities. Local social services are more stable because of the consistent food provided by BACI,” he said.
According to Aka, one example of BACI’s impact comes from a local grandfather who was previously unable to contribute regularly to feeding his family. Now he regularly shares the food he receives, and he says that he feels more included and respected in the family. Another example comes from the manager of a school canteen, who explained that the food provided by BACI has kept the canteen open despite insufficient government funding. When school meals are provided in the canteen, the children attend school more regularly and their academic performance improves.
“These testimonies show us that food banking doesn’t just address food insecurity,” said Aka. “It strengthens society as a whole.”
