Self Help Africa has merged with Irish non-profit Traidlinks, to strengthen the capabilities of both organizations to facilitate trade across the African continent.

The development of regional trade opportunities for African businesses can create hundreds of thousands of new jobs and lift millions out of extreme poverty.

Since 2004, Traidlinks has supported over 120 export businesses in Africa. In 2016 alone, Traidlinks assisted more than 20 companies in Rwanda achieve nearly $1 million in export sales across regional markets.

In the past decade, Self Help Africa has developed an extensive enterprise development portfolio designed to support African farming communities trade into new markets – both regional and international – and increase the profitability of their farm businesses.

Ray Jordan, Self Help Africa CEO, commented: “Business can and is making a real difference in building economies and reducing extreme poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa. Rural poor communities need markets, they need jobs, and they need a fair price for their goods and services. We believe that by working together, we can play a vital role in facilitating that to happen.”

Outgoing Traidlinks Chairman Maurice Healy said that the merger would strengthen trade efforts with East Africa. Mr. Healy paid tribute to the outgoing Traidlinks Directors for their commitment to the organization over more than a decade.