Agri hub support in Africa

General

Update 2014: In 2014 a total of 12 agrihubs will be supported by Agriterra. The support is tailored to concrete activities. These activities have been developed in consultation with local representatives of Agriterra in the countries, with their partners organisations or are foreseen as issues of joint interest in line with Agriterra’s wider objectives. Focus of Agri-ProFocus and the agrihubs is on the following themes in 2014: 1. Network development and coordination 2. Business and partnership brokering 3. Facilitating Innovation communities 4. Platform for debate and learning Update 2013 In 2013 a total of six Agrihubs will be supported by Agriterra in 2013. These are DR Congo (support Agriterra since 2013), Burundi (since 2013), Rwanda (since 2009), Benin (since 2011), Kenya (since 2011) and Uganda (since 2011). A small change in agrihub focus has occurred since 2012 as Mali and Zambia have been replaced by Burundi and DR Congo. The latter two belong, together with Rwanda, to the so-called Great Lake region. Agriterra’s presence in this region has been strong. Hence the adjustment in Agrihub focus. Indonesia has been added in 2013 in order to support the start of an Agrihub in the first Asian country where Agri-ProFocus is active. Agriterra is active in Indonesia and would like to contribute to the development of a new Agrihub in this country. The Agrihubs have been formed as networks of actors from farmers organisations NGOs, private sector, knowledge institutes and public sector. These networks strengthen the system for agriculture entrepreneurship in a specific country. Eventually this should lead to strong and effective agriculture entrepreneurs which are able to make better informed choices for their enterprises. The focus of Agrihubs in 2013 are on the following activities: 1. coordination and network development 2. partnership and business brokering 3. Innovation communities in the field of a.o. access to land, markets, finance, inputs, policy environment and gender. 4. platform for learning and debate. The Agrihubs are coordinated by one of the Dutch APF members. Every Agrihub has a NING, an online platform where information is shared with members and visitors of this platform on a variety of activities. 2011-2012: AgriProFocus has initiated Agrihubs in a number of African countries. Involved parties are Producer Organisations, service providers, private sectore representatives, donor agencies and civil society organisations. Together they will achieve tangible economic results at the level of the farmers through joint forces. These Agrihubs are a joint effort from Dutch AgriProFocus members to support farmer entrepreneurship through organised farmers. Since 2011 AgriProFocus is working with multi annual plans which are prepared in a participatory manner and agreed upon by involved AgriProFocus members. Agriterra commits itself to support these multi annual plans within four countries in 2011 and 6 countries in 2012 more actively with financial and human resources. In other countries where Agrihubs are active and Agriterra is present, Agriterra commits itself to basic information exchange and involvement of PO clients if there is a specific demand from the PO. 2011: In several African countries Agriterra, in alliance with other members of AgriProFocus strives to develop farmer entrepreneurship through strengthening the role of producer organisations. AgriProFocus formalises the collaboration within a specific country through multi annual plans which are prepared in a participatory manner by involved APF members and their partners and clients. Agriterra commits itself through these multi annual plans to support the role of the network of AgriProFocus within that country. Involved parties are Producer Organisations, service providers, donor agencies and other civil society players. Together they will achieve tangible economic results at the level of the farmers through joint forces. Agriterra's involvement in these Agri Hubs will be to strengthen the role of the individual Producer Organisations. Services of Agriterra are: 1. in kind (time investment of individual liaison officers): total 25 advisory days. 2. financial - advisory services of others like AgriPoolers and consultants or events - for pooling funds to initiate innovative joint actions. Agriterra commits itself to support a maximum of 4 AgriHubs in 2011. Other involved APF members will contribute equally both financially and in advisory days. 2012: Continuation of agrihub programme in Africa. This year APF wants to initiate at least 2 additional agrihubs: 1 in Tanzania and 1 in Burundi. potential exists to start agrihubs in South Sudan, Bangladesh and Indonesia. However this is not yet sure. Agriterra support consists of the following: 1. in kind support of involved Liaison Officers and team manager @ 2 desk days per LO and 8 desk days for team manager of team 3. 2. financial support to 6 agrihubs (basket funds) @ Euro 10,000/agrihub. 3. kick off workshop support to Tanzania @ Euro 5000. 4. agripool support as required. Lumpsum Euro 5000. 2013: APF has further defined its tasks within the Agrihubs. The focus of Agrihubs in 2013 are on the following activities: 1. coordination and network development 2. partnership and business brokering 3. Innovation communities in the field of a.o. access to land, markets, finance, inputs, policy environment and gender. 4. platform for learning and debate. Results to be achieved are: ad 1. A growing vibrant network of professionals and organizations who exchange information and practical support and coordinate their learning and development interventions around key issues for farmers entrepreneurship & food security. ad 2. The partnership is effective, increasing the number and quality of business between stakeholders (national and international). ad 3. Development of APF innovation approach fostering cross linkages with other APF countries and the wider APF innovation agenda. Further: Easy access to land by small agricultural entrepreneurs; Easy access to farm credit by small agricultural entrepreneurs. (Product Innovation of agricultural credit); Easy access to agricultural inputs by small entrepreneurs to improve socio-economic conditions through increased crop yields; Easy access to agricultural markets for organised farmers; Better agricultural policy and performance of existing policies; The position of women in agricultural value chains is improved. ad 4. Be a neutral and effective platform for debate, mutual learning and information exchange. Outreach is 4910 members (through NING). Divided over the 6 hubs: 150 in DRC, 200 in Burundi, 500 in Rwanda, 600 in Benin, 1160 in Kenya and 2200 in Uganda. 2014: In general: Priorities across all Agri-Hubs in 2014, as defined in the country Annual Plans, include: - Strengthening local embedding and sustainability of the Agri-Hubs through local steering committees and contributions, as well as by establishing relevance and potential for developing Agri-Hubs into local associations. - Growing Agri-Hub network membership in quantity and quality and deepening the relationship with representative networks of specific stakeholder groups notably the private agri-business sector (local and international companies, producer organisations and farmers). - Cooperating with local Dutch Embassies on their Food Security Policy Framework and promotion of Dutch business linkages. For 2014, relationships with embassies in Tanzania, Indonesia and Zambia are to be deepened (besides the already good relations in other countries) resulting in joint action. - Strategic linking to food security and entrepreneurship initiatives of international organisations and donors. - Strengthening regional clusters of members in country to facilitate outreach to and expand membership of (organised) farmers and agri-businesses across the country. - Increasing resource-sharing for activities by local members, as well as continued commitment of Dutch members. For 2014, we strive to have at least 3 local organisations substantially (between 25,000 and 50,000 Euro in total) contributing to the budget per country. Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania are already moving towards that level. - In-depth study into results from brokering services particularly with regard to farmfirm relations, farm-bank deals and new partnerships and investments. Particular related to Agriterra's support: - Benin: A campaign to explain to farmers working the land their rights under the new legislation on land use and land ownership; Evaluation of the existing experiences with Market Information Systems in Benin and promoting its extension towards new districts. involved FO: FUPRO - Burundi: CAPAD is active member of Agri-Hub No additional funding required - DR Congo : Create a dialogue between big land-owners and farmers to discuss win/win solutions under the new legislation on land use and land ownership; Set up a pilot Market Information System. Involved FO's: FOPAC, UPDI. - Ethiopia: Cooperative event in 2014 with ATA. Next to the Centre of Excellence, other topics could be: advanced certification, recruitment and retention of qualified staff for unions (SNV-Agriterra study), and the role of coops in fertiliser supply. The WG on gender and A2F could organise side event on their issues. - Indonesia: Joint activities In the innovation community “Youth in farming”. Involved FO: API - Kenya: B2B events with a special focus on the dairy sector as the B2B club at the agribusiness fairs and the agro-food financiers match making for and with Agriterra’s Kenyan partners KenFAP/ KLPA. - Mali: A campaign to raise awareness on the impact of the new Malian Land law and the development of a synthesis document to start up an evidence based advocacy activity. Involved FO's: AOPP/ CRCR. - Rwanda: Improve relationships and deal making between farmers and buyers of their produce; Making the results of practical agricultural research available to farmers; Inventory and dissemination of agro-ecological farming practices. Involved FO's: IMBARAGA, INGABO. - Tanzania: Agri-Hub activities in the area of dairy through the Innovation Community from grass to glass. The quick scan already done offers good entry points to organise jointly with Agriterra a stakeholder dialogue, dissemination of information and generation of knowledge to address practical problems. - Uganda: Co-development with Agriterra and its partners of activities for the Innovative Community “Access to Finance”. Involved FO's: MBADIFA, UCCCU. - Zambia: Activities of the Innovation Communities on market access and sustainable farming practices for farmer cooperatives in dairy and rice. Involved FO's: DAZ, ZRF, Isoka - South Sudan: Inception mission / Multi-stakeholder workshop. The results will be monitored by the respective Agri-Hubs in close communication with Agriterra staff designated for respective countries. Mid 2014 Agri-ProFocus will assess progress and – if needed – provide a request for re-allocation of funds in case of underutilization. Reporting will be included in each country report to be finalized by April 1st 2015. This will include the financial reporting as finalized in the Agri-ProFocus overall report with the same due date and based on the overall Agri-ProFocus partnership agreement. tangible results are achieved by farmers organisations through their active involvement in agrihubs within 12 countries where APF is active.