Promotion of industrialisation by developing and disseminating gender sensitive technologies to industry, particularly micro, small and medium scale enterprises. It is our vision to become a reputable technology development and skills transfer organisation in Africa. Dissemination of improved stoves in households and communities for street food sellers in urban and rural areas. Reduction in fuel wood utilisation and exposure to smoke as well as empower the women economically.
Contact Information
The GRATIS Foundation has completed a pilot demonstration unit on the extraction biofuel by rural illiterate women to run their engine. We manufacture agri/agro-processing equipment, solid waste containers and spare parts e.g for sanitation equipment. We train women and the youth in engineering skills, operation and maintenance of food processing equipment. The GRATIS Foundation has supported rural women with agro-processing machines to process their farm produce in the ten regions of Ghana. Improved stoves produced have resulted in women's groups having improved air quality, working area sanitation, clean and conducive environment to work in.
Our Experience And Interest In The Four PCIA Central Focus Areas
Targeted training in machine operation and maintenance, skills training for the youth etc has enabled women and girls work in normally male dominated fields such as machining, welding and fabrication etc. More women have been trained in batik, tie and dye, soap making etc this has led to their empowerment. Women street food vendors can now sleep up to 5a.m to start their daily chores. Cook and sell more in neat environments devoid of smoke and heat.
To keep its clients, customers and the general public abreast with its products and services GRATIS updates its website periodically. There is a marketing division which is a point of call for all visitors. Colour flyers on the history, vision, mission, operations and coverage as well as products and services are available. Product information brochures and flyer on crop specific processing equipment are available free of charge to individuals and organisations. When the opinion of users are sought during the technology development stage they patronise the product better.
The Project management and the quality assurance and standard units see to the specification of products and links with the Ghana Standards Board to ensure quality products are produced from time to time. The efficiency of stoves are tested with the users before dissemination.
Based on demands from clients and customers a monitoring team visits project sites periodically to ensure training instructions are followed. Each region in Ghana has a centre of the GRATIS Foundation to ensure regional needs are met on schedule. Information is also collected from users and improvements made on disseminated technologies.
Relevant Publications or Studies
The GRATIS Foundation has publications which are available upon request. Products Information Brochure is available
Our Contribution to the Partnership
The GRATIS Foundation could share its experiences and innovative ways of technology development as well as its piloted projects.