United Nations recognizes Mali social enterprise for land restoration

Rokiatu Traoré, the president of Herou Alliance, received a Changemaker award at the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals Action Awards in Rome.

Traoré founded her social enterprise to combat dry soil and low harvests in rural Mali. Her organization uses an agroforestry model to restore degraded land while creating jobs for women and youth. The group produces seedlings, trains local farmers, and plants trees to create economic value for rural communities.

Since 2021, Herou Alliance has built commercial value chains centered on the moringa tree, a fast-growing deciduous tree native to South Asia. Traoré and her team process the plant's leaves, flowers, and seeds into various goods for local and international markets. These products include herbal tea, soap, spices, and dietary supplements.