Trade intermediaries are organizations that help local producer import or export their goods, essentially providing a link between a local and international market. – Sarah Brooks, Artisan Trade Intermediaries as a Development Tool.

Indego Africa is an artisan trade intermediary that has successfully built a partnership between African communities and volunteers. Its business model is geared to “leverage the talent and productive energy of African communities into effective entrepreneurial endeavors that help to foster social development.”

Indego Africa achieves its main objectives of alleviating poverty and chronic unemployment in Africa by providing reliable income, developing job skills, and affording access to export markets, with the goal of creating and supporting sustainable businesses.

As a U.S. 501(c)(3) non-profit, Indego Africa sells handicrafts designed and made by artisans who work with its partner organizations in Africa. Indego Africa partners are existing community groups in African nations dedicated to teaching employable skills to their communities. Indego Africa handicrafts will be sold in their country of origin, in retail stores in the US and Europe.

Indego Africa recently received the Skandalaris Award for Social Entrepreneurship and Innovation from Washington University in St. Louis, U.S.