Pastoralism and Development: Dynamic Change at the Margins

This book gives a view of ‘development at the margins’ in the pastoral areas of the Horn of Africa. Edited by Andy Cutley, Jeremy Lind and Ian Scoones, Pastoralism and Development In Africa highlights innovation and entrepreneurialism, cooperation and networking and diverse approaches which are rarely in line with standard development prescriptions.

Through 20 detailed empirical chapters, the book highlights diverse pathways of development, going beyond the standard ‘aid’ and ‘disaster’ narratives.

The book is part of the STEPS Centre's Pathways to Sustainability book series.

Related:

Book launch Pastoralism and Development in Africa: Dynamic
Change at the Margins, 13 February 2013, Jacaranda Hotel, 6-8 PM

Related:
Spaces of insecurity. Human agency in violent conflicts in KenyaKaren Witsenburg and Fred Zaal 
African Studies Collection 45
ISBN 978-90-5448-120-1
There are regions in the world where socio-economic deprivation, ecological marginality, political exclusion, poverty and violence all seem to converge. The cases presented in this book describe the various violent conflicts in rural Kenya and aim to understand spatial insecurity while searching for explanations beyond the mainstream narratives that blame poverty, ethnic diversity, resource scarcity or rapid cultural transition for violent conflicts.

"Spatial insecurity' is a societal context that people themselves shape, make use of, exploit and suffer from. The overall conclusion is that 'ethnic identity' can no longer be used as a refuge behind which violent conflict can be justified.

At least 7 chapters deal with violent conflicts and pastoralism.

Related:
ILRI clippings 30/01/2013. Livestock for Africa’s food security: Sydney launch of Australian International Food Security Centre

Etat d'avancement de la recherche guidée par les utilisateurs / Update on the users led research

Depuis la fin de 2011, les partenaires de PAEPARD ont changé la façon d’initier les partenariats en adoptant ce qu’ils ont qualifié de « Users Led Process » c'est-à-dire le processus guide par les utilisateurs (PGU) ou encore la recherche guidée par les utilisateurs (RGU), qui se décline en 6 étapes suivantes :

1- Définition du thème fédérateur par chaque Fédération des producteurs
2- Etude documentaire sur le thème
3- Formation des FIA nationaux
4- Séminaire multi-acteur sur la question de recherche développement
5- Développement d’une note conceptuelle
6- Atelier d’Ecriture

Ci-dessous est l'etat d'avancement de cette approche des organisations sous-regionales des producteurs (OPs) et du secteur prive (ColeACP).


PAEPARD: Atelier des Facilitateurs de l'Innovation Agricole
26-30 November 2012. Entebbe. Le but de cet atelier était de familiariser les participants avec leur rôle de facilitateurs du "Processus dirigé par les Utilisateurs " pour établir un partenariat multi-acteurs afro-européen au sein du projet PAEPARD.

PAEPARD: La plate forme régionale des FIA des ORPs
8 - 11 January 2013. Yaoundé, Cameroon. Pendant quatre jours de cet atelier de communication, le PAEPARD a réuni des représentants des quatre organisations régionales de producteurs  - ROPPA, EAFF, PROPAC et FANRPAN / SACAU et un représentant du secteur privé en collaboration avec le COLEACP.


EAST AFRICAN FARMER FORUM (EAFF)
Pastoralisme

Atelier multi-acteurs question recherches pour le développement sur l'élevage
10th - 12th Décembre 2012. EAFF avec ses partenaires du consortium dans le programme PAEPARD a organisé un atelier autour du thème fédérateur «chaîne de valeur étendue du bétail". Ce blog comprend une interview vidéo avec Dr Jean Ndikumana qui explique les objectifs de l'étude: EAFF - Chaînes de valeur du bétail en Afrique de l'Est avec un accent particulier sur le Kenya et l'Ouganda.

Appreciation du CIRAD du processus guidee par le utilisateurs du PAEPARD
11 January 2013. Yaoundé, Cameroon. During the PAEPARD communication workshop, Patrice Grimaud - Regional Director if CIRAD for Central Africa Yaounde, Cameroon - was interviewed about his participation to the PAEPARD workshop of 10th – 12th December 2012. Nairobi.

PLATEFORME RÉGIONALE PAYSANNE DE L’AFRIQUE CENTRALE (PROPAC)
La filiere maraichaire

Atelier de définition et de validation des questions de recherche relatives à la filière maraîchère en Afrique Centrale
23, 24 et 25 Janvier 2013. Brazzaville. Congo. Sylvie Mbog explique dans une interview video comment l'etude REVUE DOCUMENTAIRE SUR LA FILIERE MARAICHERE AU CAMEROUN, CONGO BRAZZAVILLE ET EN REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO se veut surtout une étude documentaire qui contribue à une meilleure connaissance de la filière maraichère dans les pays concernés.

Visite de terrain PROPAC / atelier de Brazzaville
24 janvier 2013. Brazaville. Visite de terrain Marche Halle Agri Congo et Marche Total + 25 janvier 2013. Une deuxième visite de terrain a été effectuée dans la ceinture maraîchère de Mayanga auprès des producteurs maraîchers organisés et appuyés par AGRICONGO.

Temoignage du CNOP Congo Atelier de définition et de validation des questions de recherche
24 January 2013. Kikondila Hortense de la Confederation Nationale des Organisations des Producteurs (CNOP) du Congo explique quelles sont ses attentes envers l'atelier du PAEPARD

Comment fabriquer des bio-pesticides?
24 janvier 2013. OLOMBA, Experte horticole R/D, FAO Kinshasa a rendu compte de son experience de formation des animateurs agricoles sur les approches-champs-écoles-paysans.

RÉSEAU DES ORGANISATIONS PAYSANNES ET DES PRODUCTEURS AGRICOLES DE L’AFRIQUE DE L’OUEST  (ROPPA)
Technologies d'adaptation aux changements climatiques sur la production du riz

Rapport de la reunion des facilitateurs en innovation agricole
12 décembre 2012. Niamey (Niger). Première réunion de formation des facilitateurs d’Innovation Agricole (FIA) dans le cadre du projet PAEPARD. Organisé par le ROPPA, la rencontre a vu la participation des FIA du Mali, du Benin et Burkina Faso ; des représentants du secrétariat du ROPPA, d’AfricaRice et du Réseau de Recherches pour l’appui au développement en Afrique (REPAD). Interview video avec Andre Tiorro (ROPPA)

Technologies d'adaptation aux changements climatiques sur la production du riz au Niger en Guinée Conakry et au Burkina Faso
La réunion régionale ROPPA: Ouagadougou 16-20 April, 2013.

Food Agriculture Natural Resources Policy Network /Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (FANRPAN/SACAU)
La chaîne de valeur de l'arachide en Zambie et au Malawi

Réunion  régionale : Pretoria April 2-6, 2013

Comité de Liaison Europe-Afrique-Caraïbes-Pacifique pour la promotion des exportations horticoles (ColeACP)
Sous-produits de la mangue, Sénégal, B. Faso, Côte-d'Ivoire

La réunion régionale du COLEACP est prévue du 11-14 Mars 2013 à Dakar


=============================================

PAEPARD partners shifted to a new user led process (ULP) or users led research (ULR) end of 2011 which is giving the lead to the “research users” partners (especially Farmer Organisations (FOs) but also the private sector) in the organization of brokerage activities in particular the organization of “brokerage workshops” around a federating theme that they have themselves chosen.

The users led research (ULR) comprises the following steps:
1- The Definition of the federating theme;
2- The Desk Review of the federating theme;
3- The National Consultations on the federating theme (if possible);
4- The Multi-Stakeholder Research Question Workshop;
5- The Concept Note by a Core Group of Experts;
6- The Proposal development and submission to potential donors

PAEPARD: Agricultural Innovation Facilitators’ Workshop
26-30 November 2012. Entebbe. The purpose of this workshop was to familiarise participants with their role as facilitators of the “User-led Process” for establishing balanced African-European a multi-stakeholder partnerships within the PAEPARD project.

PAEPARD: The regional platform of the AIF of the RFO
8 - 11 January 2013. Yaoundé, Cameroon. During four days this PAEPARD communication workshop brought together representatives of the four regional farmer organisations - ROPPA, EAFF, PROPAC and FANRPAN/SACAU and a private sector representative collaborating with ColeACP.

EAST AFRICAN FARMER FORUM (EAFF)
Pastoralism

 Extensive Livestock Research Multi-Stakeholder Research Question Development Workshop
10th – 12th December 2012. EAFF together with its consortium partners in the PAEPARD program organized a continental multi stakeholder research question development workshop around the federating theme “Extensive livestock value chain”. this blog post includes a video interview with Dr. Jean Ndikumana who explains the objectives of the study: EAFF - Post handling of Extensive Livestock value chains in Eastern Africa with Specific Focus on Kenya and Uganda.

Appreciation of CIRAD on the PAEPARD users led process
11 January 2013. Yaoundé, Cameroon. During the PAEPARD communication workshop, Patrice Grimaud - Regional Director if CIRAD for Central Africa Yaounde, Cameroon - was interviewed about his participation to the PAEPARD workshop of 10th – 12th December 2012. Nairobi.

PAEPARD users' led process: Eastern Africa Livestock Strategy
In May 2012, the Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF) contracted the Agency for Inter-regional Development (AFID) to carry out a consultancy study to develop a Livestock Strategy for Eastern Africa. Dr. Jean Ndikumana explains the objectives of the study: EAFF - Post handling of Extensive Livestock value chains in Eastern Africa with Specific Focus on Kenya and Uganda. He was interviewed during the EAC-Europe Food Security Thematic Policy Dialogue Workshop, 25th to 26th, October, 2012, Arusha, Tanzania.

PLATEFORME RÉGIONALE PAYSANNE DE L’AFRIQUE CENTRALE (PROPAC)
Vegetable sector

Workshop: definition and validation of research questions relating to the vegetable sector in Central Africa
23, 24 and 25 January 2013. Brazzaville. Congo. Sylvie Mbog explains in a video interview how the study LITERATURE REVIEW ON THE VEGETABLE SECTOR IN CAMEROON, CONGO BRAZZAVILLE AND DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO is primarily a desk study that contributes to a better understanding of the vegetables and fruit market in the countries concerned.

PROPAC: Field visit PROPAC / Brazzaville workshop
24-25 January, 2013. Brazzaville. A first field trip was conducted at the Halle market and Total market + a second site visit was conducted in the Mayanga vegetable belt with vegetable growers organized and supported by Agricongo.

Testimony of CNOP Congo during the workshop on the definition and validation of research questions
24 January, 2013. Hortense Kikondila of the National Confederation of Farmers Organizations (CNOP) of Congo explains her expectations for the PAEPARD workshop

How to make bio-pesticides?
24 January, 2013. Eugenie OLOMBA, horticultural expert R/D Kinshasa FAO reported on her experience with training facilitators of farmer-field schools.

RÉSEAU DES ORGANISATIONS PAYSANNES ET DES PRODUCTEURS AGRICOLES DE L’AFRIQUE DE L’OUEST (ROPPA)
Climate change adaptation technologies on rice production

Rapport de la reunion des facilitateurs en innovation agricole
December 12, 2012. Niamey (Niger). First meeting of the Agricultural Innovation Facilitators(AIF) of ROPPA. Organized by ROPPA, the meeting was attended by the AIF of ​​Mali, Benin and Burkina Faso, representatives of the Secretariat of ROPPA, AfricaRice and the Research Network to support development in Africa (REPAD). This blog post includes a video Interview with Andre Tiorro (ROPPA)

Climate change adaptation technologies on rice production in Niger Guinea Conakry and Burkina Faso
The ROPPA regional meeting is scheduled as follows: Ouagadougou 16-20 April, 2013

Food Agriculture Natural Resources Policy Network/Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions  (FANRPAN/SACAU)
Ground nut value chain in Zambia and Malawi
The regional meeting  is scheduled as follows: Pretoria April 2-6, 2013

Comité de Liaison Europe-Afrique-Caraïbes-Pacifique pour la promotion des exportations horticoles (ColeACP)
Mango byproducts; Senegal, B. Faso, Ivory Coast
The regional meeting is scheduled for 11-14 March 2013 in Dakar

Appreciation of CIRAD on the PAEPARD users led process

11 January 2013. Yaoundé, Cameroon. During the PAEPARD communication workshop, Patrice Grimaud - Regional Director if CIRAD for Central Africa Yaounde, Cameroon - was interviewed about his participation to the PAEPARD workshop of 10th – 12th December 2012. Nairobi. LINKING RESEARCH TO APPLICATION WITHIN THE EXTENSIVE LIVESTOCK VALUE CHAIN.

The general principle of the users led brokerage procedure is giving the lead to “research users” partners (especially FO) in the organization of brokerage activities, in particular the organization of “brokerage workshops” around a federating theme that they have themselves chosen.

Patrice Grimaud answered following questions:

1. What is your appreciation of the EAFF report on Pastoralism: Post handling of Extensive Livestock value chains in Eastern Africa with Specific Focus on Kenya and Uganda?
2. What is the advantage of a Farmer Organisation taking the lead?
3. Do you find the PAEPARD approach innovative?

Transcript/ tranlation:

1. The report is well argued,  detailed and complete. The choice of Jean Ndikumana was pertinent. In my former responsabilities in Uganda I already met Dr. Ndikumana several times at ILRI. Now that he is working at ASARECA on livestock. He certainly was the best choice for making this prelimenary report, which earmarks the activities and  priorities in livestock development. 
2. I'm convinced that a well established and legitimate farmer organisation such a EAFF with a strong institutional basis and policy making capacity in the sub region that they are one of the best intermediaries to link needs to research questions as aimed by PAEPARD.
3. It is certainly innovative and unusual for the type of projects funded by the European Commission. I see the weight in Cameroon of the EC in forest management and the production of banana plantain and those approaches are totally different. This approach through a farmer organisation is certainly innovative and I hope FO will be able to give a follow upon the projects developed by PAEPARD.

Multi-Stakeholder Platform Meeting Sustainable Livestock Agenda

22-24 JANUARY 2013 NAIROBI, KENYA. 3rd Multi-stakeholder platform meeting. The Global Agenda of Action towards sustainable livestock sector development1 (GAA) has embraced the concept of improving “natural resource use efficiency”2 (NRUE) by means of new technologies to meet the world’s growing demand for livestock products while also reducing the environmental costs of the sector.

A policy brief entitled "Capitalizing on pastoralism to feed people and achieve livestock sector sustainability", signed by the CELEP coalition and initiated by the League of Pastoral Peoples, IIED, the Life Network, et al. proposes an alternative approach to increasing livestock sector output without adding to environmental externalities: enhanced and more efficient use of the biomass in arid and remote areas by means of strengthened and modernized pastoralist production systems. 

This policy brief was created on the occasion of the GAA, now renamed Sustainable Livestock Agenda, that was launched on 22/01/2013 in Nairobi.

see www.livestockdialogue.org for more information.
Download the agenda of the meeting here

La plate forme régionale des AIF / AIF regional platform

8 - 11 January 2013. Yaoundé, Cameroon. During four days this PAEPARD communication workshop brought together representatives of the four regional farmer organisations - ROPPA, EAFF, PROPAC and FANRPAN/SACAU and a private sector representative collaborating with ColeACP.
They were trained in the use of communication tools and especially to build five regional platforms whose objective is to facilitate the implementation and monitoring of User-Led-Process in the regions.

The analysis of the communications needs of regional Agricultural Innovation Facilitators from the Regional Farmer Organisations (AIFs of the RFOs) revealed four major communication functions:

1. Feed the regional and national actors with relative information to federated themes (web articles, publications, studies, websites, news) discussed by the group 
2. Inform the progress of steps performed within the User-led process by the group 
3. Having a set of tools and a space for group works, prepares and performs the steps of User-Led Process. 
4. Having the possibility to re-use the approach, tools and IT structures in place for the group after the end of the project

The goal of the workshop was therefore:

• to define together what might be the future shape of the regional platform. 
• Why and how this platform can help User-Led-Process players to work better together and display the results? 

Once the platform was described in a consensusal way, Work Package 3 of the PAEPARD project (led by CIRAD) translated those needs into functional tools.

• The use of these tools was tried out by the participants of the workshop
• They used those new skill to build their regional platform as described in the previous step. 

IT platform
The "platform" of the users led process for the respective sub regional farmer organisations takes the form of a website including three parts (three menus):

1. A section devoted to the presentation of the regional group and to display news 
2. A section gathering some progress on the steps of user-led process and offering the consultation of information or documents produced during these stages 
3. An intranet dedicated to collaborative work for the user-led process’ actors using for the preparation and the implementation stages of this process.

A platform for what audience?

Four categories of users that may come on the flat platform:

1. Family n° 1: All those involved in collaborative work (intranet) and will produce information: regional AIF, AIF national and regional referral FO 
2. Family n°. 2: User-Led-Process players who do not have access to the collaborative workspace (WP2, WP1, project members involved PAEARD deans ULP, invited experts, comanagers) 
3. Family n° 3: PAEPARD's project members 
4. Family n° 4: PAEPARD's Community (Dgroups) 
5. Family n° 5: Everyone involved in the User-Led-Process (donors, regional organizations research, OP ...) 
6. Family n° 6: The global public

The “User-Led Process progress

The first part of the website gives general information on the User-Led-Process. The second part is dedicated to visitors who wish to learn more about the User-Led-Process and its progession in the region. These pages are visible to all Internet users, their goal is to provide access to the results produced by the regional group and national groups in steps of User-Led-Process. According to the outputs, the User-Led-process can be summarized by the following 5 chronological stages:

1. Desk review 
2. National workshops 
3. Regional Workshop 
4. The concept note 
5. The Research project

"Intranet" or "Collaborative work space" part

These pages are only accessible by authorized persons who must have a password to access this space, it is not public. There is a workspace where User-Led-Process players will be able to prepare the different stages of this process.

Each country that organizes a workshop has an entry point and its own workspace. This space is used in the preparation of the workshop. The workshop and the results will be published in the "User-Led Process progress stage follow up"

A - The preparation phase of the workshop: 

• The development of the list of participants and its validation 
• The development of the workshop program and its validation 
• The implementation of the workshop logistics (location, dates, recipients, trips ....) 

B - The facilitation of the workshop with: 

• Access to communication and animation tools available and to their user guide The development and validation of the presentation materials and animation 
• A library of useful documents to prepare the presentation materials Sample letters of invitation, cover pages, logos 

C - The conclusions of the workshop: 

• The development and validation of synthesis, 
• summaries and records of decisions

Research project Each step of this process has a dedicated workspace: 

A - Identification of Reasearch centers involved 

B - The establishment of the research team 

C - Identification of donor 

D - Project formulation

PARTICIPANTS

André Tioro (ROPPA)

Bernard Likalimba (SACAU)

Edit Kabre (ColeACP)

Gustave Ewole (PROPAC)

Kenneth Katungisa (EAFF)

Lamine COULIBALY (ROPPA)

Macaire NGWASI (PROPAC)

Sylvie Mbog (PROPAC)

Thierry Helmer (CIRAD)

Francois Labastie (Outils Reseaux)

Agnes Carbon (CIRAD)

Michel Tchoungui (PROPAC)

Francois Stepman (Agrinatura)

 

Daphne MUCHAI  (KENFAP/EAFF)  

Serge Fegue (PROPAC) 

Josephine Atangana (PROPAC)

Extensive Livestock Research Multi-Stakeholder Research Question Development Workshop

10th – 12th December 2012. Nairobi. LINKING RESEARCH TO APPLICATION WITHIN THE EXTENSIVE LIVESTOCK VALUE CHAIN.

EAFF together with its consortium partners in the PAEPARD program is organizing a continental multi stakeholder research question development workshop around the federating theme “Extensive livestock value chain” to:

1. Validate the federating theme of the Extensive value chain , the desk review and the document of strategy produced; 
2. Identify and/or refine research questions for the development of the livestock that were identified during the study that was conducted. 
3. Identify potential partnerships that can be formed to address gaps identified in the extensive livestock value chain 
4. Identify the Terms of Reference for platform and core group to take up the research question that is proritized forward 

The participants for this workshop include PAEPARD partners, national, regional stakeholders working in Farmer organizations, private sector, government, consumer organizations, research institutions, Universities, and farmers all interested in the extensive livestock value chain within eastern Africa region.

Participants came from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Zambia, France and the UK and represented research, education, farmers organizations, non-government organizations, national governments, agricultural extension and advisory services, the private sector and regional economic communities. The discussions were guided by a new Eastern Africa Livestock strategy commissioned by EAFF, and carried out by the Agency for Inter-regional Development, as an input to its strategic plan for 2012-2020.

In his opening remarks at the workshop Mr Philip Macharia Kiriro, President of EAFF, explained that a key pillar of the plan is “…trade and agribusiness with a special focus on value chain development and economic services to EAFF members…”. He indicated that EAFF’s livestock focus will be on the extensive beef value chain and that regional collaboration is need to ensure both productivity gains and improved market access.

One of the main tasks of workshop participants was to validate EAFF’s livestock strategy and to prioritize proposed areas for intervention at three stages along the value chain; namely, production, processing and marketing.

Afid presentation eaff research stakeholder wkshop121212

The group looking at production identified the need to improve the availability and quality of feed and water and to prevent and control pests and diseases as the two most important research issues. Improving food safety and quality standards and developing and promoting value addition technologies emerged as the key research issues for processing.

Finally, enhancing product standards and policies for improved market access and improving access to, and utilization of, market information were the priorities for research related to marketing. A core group of seven persons has been given the responsibility to draft a concept note and to identify additional organizations which might contribute to a new research initiative. Potential opportunities for funding have been identified and further work is being done to promote the initiative and secure additional support.

The full report LINKING RESEARCH TO APPLICATION WITHIN THE EXTENSIVE LIVESTOCK VALUE CHAIN can be downloaded here



The report of the meeting in English can be downloaded here

The report of the meeting in French can be downloaded here

Background:
PAEPARD partners shifted to a new user led brokerage procedure which is giving the lead to the “research users” partners (especially FOs but also the private sector) in the organization of brokerage activities in particular the organization of “brokerage workshops” around a federating theme that they have themselves chosen.

With this in mind EAFF through collaborative approaches and consultation within Eastern Africa stakeholders identified a federating theme to focus on Extensive livestock value chains. In May 2012, the Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF) contracted the Agency for Inter-regional Development (AFID) to carry out a consultancy study to develop a Livestock Strategy for Eastern Africa. The focus of the strategy was given as “Extensive Livestock Systems” predominant in the dry areas of Eastern Africa. Major species involved were cattle, small ruminants (sheep and goat) and camels. Poultry and pig rearing in the target production systems which involve agro-pastoral and pastoral systems were also to be captured. The objective of this approach is to

• a) Reinforce the existing dynamics at national/regional level, 
• b) Improving existing partnerships between FO, research and others stakeholders (improvements in terms of partnerships design of diversity of stakeholders involved etc, and Deepen pending questions and potential solutions

Related PAEPARD blog post:

PAEPARD users' led process: Eastern Africa Livestock

Video interview with Dr. Jean Ndikumana who explains the objectives of the study: EAFF - Post handling of Extensive Livestock value chains in Eastern Africa with Specific Focus on Kenya and Uganda. 

He was interviewed during the EAC-Europe Food Security Thematic Policy Dialogue Workshop, 25th to 26th, October, 2012, Arusha, Tanzania.

He responds to following questions:

• How important is it to identify gaps in research which benefits pastoralism?
• How difficult is it to identify research gaps?
• Do farmers or pastoralists have the capacity to translate a problem into a research question?
• Was such consultation difficult?
• Which gaps did you identify?
• What is the way forward?
• Which is the most important recommendation?
• You recommend a multi sectorial approach?

Related:

Monday 14 January 2013. News from Africa Africa: Agricultural Researchers Call for Scaling up of Extensive Livestock Production

2012 CAADP Africa Forum

12 to 16 November 2012, Tunis, Tunisian Republic. 2012 CAADP Africa Forum. Farmer Organisations as the Vital Link to Equitable and Sustainable Agriculture Growth in Africa.

This 2012 Africa Forum was under the coordination of UMAGRI, as the  Regional Farmer Organisation (RFO) in charge of the Northern African region. For the 2012 forum, RFOs decided upon the following theme: 

The forum has the following objectives: 

1. Create awareness on the critical role of FOs in the development of agriculture in Africa; 
2. Identify how to strengthen linkages between Regional and National Farmer Organisations and from Farmer Organisations to farmers and other relevant actors (decision makers, traders, consumers);
3. Identify ways to ensure a representative inclusion of women at all levels of farm organisation and representation; 
4. Advance countries’ agricultural agendas in support of strengthening FO capacity and role in efficiently linking farmers to the wider network of relevant actors in the sector.

Sub-themes:

• Farmer Organisation Dynamics: Structure, membership, objectives
• Governance in Farmer Organisations and its impact on performance
• Women participation in Farmer Organisations
• Farmer Organisations and the CAADP process
• Sustainability of Farmer Organisations
• FO engagement in Value Chains

RFOs brought together their members (National Farmer Unions, Farmer Organisations and others) in a
workshop that has five main objectives:

1. Raise awareness on the CAADP process and the CAADP Africa Forum; 
2. Identify the critical issues from FOs and farmers in the region in relation to implementation of the action plans developed at the previous continental forum;
3. Assess what kind of support is needed and available to help FOs and farmers implement action planned at the previous continental forum; 
4. Ascertain what FOs and farmers in the region expect from the upcoming continental forum; 
5. Discuss a strategy for FOs to identify potential contributions from their country to be shared at the forum, in line with the continental forum’s theme and objectives

Backgound

The CAADP Africa Forum is part of the CAADP framework, and is coordinated by the Regional Farmer Organisations together with the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA). The forum is an important platform for harnessing the voice and the influence of non-state actors in CAADP processes at country level. The platform is meant mostly for farmers and farmer representatives, but also for policy makers, manufacturers, traders, retailers, financiers, development workers and others who work in, with or for African agriculture.

Turning Innovations into Market Opportunities

30/10/2012. Breakout session GCARD II, P3.2 Turning Innovations into Market Opportunities.

Research has a central role to play in generating evidence to inform policymaking and policy design about the underlying enabling environment and to support and evaluate new institutional arrangements and mechanisms addressing the shortfalls. These include innovation in business models along the value chain, new risk management instruments, financial intermediation addressing the missing market for credit, support for collective action for market development or advocacy, and new technologies and technical innovation in product handing, quality assurance and value chain management.

New organizational arrangements which place the user of research central in the definition of research priorities and in uptake processes are required. This includes a central role for organizations which represent the interests of the smallholders in particular farmer organizations but also for the private sector, trade and commodity associations and procurement officers in government programmes. 

Research partnerships which tackle cross-cutting issues in markets need to work with inter-ministerial task groups which go beyond ministries of agriculture and include other sectoral line-ministries responsible for trade, infrastructure, innovation and poverty-reduction strategies as well as the key stakeholders including farmer organizations, private sector and trade and commodity platforms.

The Session was chaired by Philip Kiriro, President, East Africa Farmers Federation, and
facilitated by Felicity Proctor, an independent consultant, UK.

The first part of the Session addressed the Enabling environment and policies for smallholders. 

1. Karen Brooks (IFPRI), outlined the CGIAR funded and recently launched programme entitled Policies, Institutions, and Markets to Strengthen Food Security and Incomes for the Rural Poor. Illustrative examples of innovation initiated under this programme on contract farming and on strengthening rural producer organizations were outlined. 
2. Ruben Méndez (ALIFRUT, Alimentos and Frutos SA), presented an innovative alliance between ALIFRUT, a publicly-funded research and smallholder producers who are working together to address specific challenges facing smallholders’ market inclusion in the Chilean context and expand their export markets. 
3.  Lorenzo Castillo (Junta Nacional de Café [JNC]), Peru, explained how a lobby agenda has been developed by a group of economic farmers’ organizations and led by the coffee cooperatives to influence the agenda of the national multi-stakeholder platform on agricultural policy and the outcome of these advocacy actions to enhance smallholder market access. 
4. Giel Ton (his presentation starts at 1h01') (LEI Wageningen University and Research Centre, Netherlands) introduce the Empowering Smallholder Farmers in the Markets (ESFIM) Programme drawing out key generic lessons from work in ten countries on farmer organizations–research partnerships on strengthening farmer organization-led research for advocacy.

The second part (no video available) of the session entitled Fostering Smallholder Entrepreneurship - examples from
practice will bring first-hand examples from farmer organizations where such organizations have
developed strategies of collective action and used evidence-based advocacy to call for change in
policies and institutional arrangements to ensure that such arrangements meet the needs of their
membership and specifically smallholders. 

1. John Mutunga (Kenya National Federation of Agricultural Producers [KENFAP]) shared KENFAPs experiences of how contributions to policy making processes have enhanced the pro-smallholder farmer market access agenda; 
2. Shirlene Chaves (Mujeres Campesinas de Costa Rica [CMC]), outlined how women have mobilised to enable better market access including the building up of local markets and 
3. José Bervejillo (Cooperativas Agrarias Federadas [CAF]), presented examples of innovation processes in the  cooperative sector and how these can inform the national innovation policy in Uruguay. 

The panel of respondents included:  

1. Robert Carlson (President, World Farmers’ Organization);
2. Mohamed El-Kholy (Olive Network of the Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East and North Africa [AARINENA]); 
3. Lucy  Muchoki (CEO, Pan African Agribusiness Consortium [PanAAC]); and 
4. Bayan Alimgazinova (AgroInnovation, Kazakhstan).

 5 p. Download document

PAEPARD users' led process: Eastern Africa Livestock Strategy

In May 2012, the Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF) contracted the Agency for Inter-regional Development (AFID) to carry out a consultancy study to develop a Livestock Strategy for Eastern Africa. The focus of the strategy was given as “Extensive Livestock Systems” predominant in the dry areas of Eastern Africa. Major species involved were cattle, small ruminants (sheep and goat) and camels. Poultry and pig rearing in the target production systems which involve agro-pastoral and pastoral systems were also to be captured.

AFID experts supported by an adviser Dr. Jean Ndikumana who is an expert in livestock research and development in East and Central Africa with a particular focus on pastoral systems used the market driven value chain approach to identify constraints and opportunities along the major segments of the value chain i.e. production, processing and marketing and through consultations with representative of major actors of each segment, identified priority areas for investment taking into consideration the national, regional and international policy environment. The consultant firm was requested to focus its study on Kenya and Uganda to inform the strategy. 

Hereunder follows a video interview with Dr. Jean Ndikumana who explains the objectives of the study: EAFF - Post handling of Extensive Livestock value chains in Eastern Africa with Specific Focus on Kenya and Uganda. 

He was interviewed during the EAC-Europe Food Security Thematic Policy Dialogue Workshop, 25th to 26th, October, 2012, Arusha, Tanzania.

He responds to following questions:

• How important is it to identify gaps in research which benefits pastoralism?
• How difficult is it to identify research gaps?
• Do farmers or pastoralists have the capacity to translate a problem into a research question?
• Was such consultation difficult?
• Which gaps did you identify?
• What is the way forward?
• Which is the most important recommendation?
• You recommend a multi sectorial approach?

The situation analysis revealed that livestock production and productivity in tha agro-pastoral and pastoral systems of Eastern Africa is constrained by a number of factors including effects of the climate change and climate variability which translate into frequent droughts and floods and bears heavily on pasture and water stress as well as on pests and diseases that compromise livestock production. 

Other constraints to livestock production in the target production systems include limited extension services, cattle rustling, limited access to financial services and insurance facilities, corroding of traditional institutions and coping mechanisms, and loss of common property resources. 

On the processing side, poor value addition practices and generalized lack of knowhow, inadequate infrastructures at slaughter houses with lack of minimum facilities such as drainage facilities and waste disposal and unhygienic practices except in towns, poor hygiene in handling meat and other livestock products such as inappropriate containers during products transport exposing them to hazardous contamination or inefficient institutions for enforcement of regulations are majorm characteristics of the processing segment of the value chain. Other important constraints include limited investment by the private sector in the area due to limited financial facilities and lack of incentives from governments.

Numerous constraints were identified refraining access to market and exploiting market opportunities in agro-pastoral and pastoral systems. These include poor infrastructures ( roads, holding grounds, water, dipping facilities, veterinary services), limited access to market information, high cost of inputs, multiple taxes, inappropriate tax incentives, poor handling and post harvest facilities, failure to comply with standards and sanitary regulations, loss of market value during droughts, inefficient institutions to enforce regulations (e.g. market distortions and low prices offers). 

Background:
The general principle of the users led brokerage procedure is giving the lead to “research users” partners (especially FO) in the organization of brokerage activities, in particular the organization of “brokerage workshops” around a federating theme that they have themselves chosen.

The objective of this approach is

• reinforcing existing dynamics at national/regional level; 
• Improving existing partnerships between FO, research and others stakeholders (improvements in terms of partnerships ‘design, of diversity of stakeholders involved, etc.); 
• Deepen pending questions and potential solutions.

Following studies are currently in the pipeline:

1. EAFF - Post handling of Extensive Livestock value chains in Eastern Africa with Specific Focus on Kenya and Uganda.
2. PROPAC - Environmental impact of the value chain inclusive of gardening crops in urban areas"
3. ROPPA - Climate change Adaptation technologies on rice production in Niger Guinea Conakry and Burkina Faso
4. FANRPAN - Ground nut value chain in Zambia and Malawi
5. COLEACP - Mango byproducts; Senegal, B. Faso, Ivory Coast

The studies include:

• A Stakeholder Analysis
• Current Research: What research is being done (which stakeholders, where, how, who financing, etc.) to better understand and/or resolve the constraints identified. Include relevant research being done by European Organisations - to the degree possible via internet search, etc.
• The identification of key stakeholders (to invite to multi-stakeholder workshop to identify research questions; include African and European; research and non-research stakeholders)

Follow up: 

Induction workshop
National Agricultural Innovation Facilitators (NAIFs) will be inducted to PAEPARD and End Users Led process in a workshop (end of November 2012 tbc). The 3 day-workshop will be facilitated by the 2 PAEPARD regional facilitators, 2 European facilitators and the 2 co-managers. This workshop will lead to agreed objectives, outputs, programme of Multi-stakeholder R&D Question (MSRDQ) workshops and discussions on strategic objectives process and points to monitor.

Multi-stakeholder R&D Question (MSRDQ) workshops
The objectives of the MSRDQ are to: (i) validate federating theme; (ii) identify or refine R&D questions gaps; (iii) identify potential partnerships to address gaps; (iv) identify TOR for platform and core group to take platform forward.

5 MSRDQ workshops will be organized by EAFF, FANRPAN, PROPAC, ROPPA, COLEACP.

Role of Smallholders at Kenya’s Agricultural Development Forum

President Kibaki urged youth to engage in 

agriculture during the 3rd Agricultural 

Sector Development Forum

14-17 October 2012. The 3rd Agricultural Sector Development Forum took place from , in Nairobi, Kenya and focused on: "Moving towards agribusiness for a globally competitive agricultural sector." The Development Forum is the highest decision-making platform in the national sectoral coordination framework.

Bringing together 10 ministries that address agriculture and rural development, the meeting sought to: review progress of sector strategies in the four years since the last conference; benchmark actions against initiatives of other countries; share stakeholder experiences on meeting the Kenya Vision 2030; and launch new sector strategies.

The meeting included sessions on adapting to drought conditions, sustainable development for smallholder agriculture, coordination with local governments, and the role of the private sector.

At Kenya's strategic sectoral meeting on agriculture, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) stressed the role of smallholder farmers in economic development and food security. It also underscored the importance of access to markets and increasing resilience to environmental and financial challenges, and noted its work in scaling up sustainable and climate-smart agriculture approaches worldwide, particularly in Kenya.

 [Agricultural Sector Development Forum Agenda]

FaRMAf - Innovative new project to improve food security in Africa

26 et 27 septembre. Ouagadougou. Le projet FARMAF financé par l'UE, qui porte sur la gestion des risques agricoles en Afrique, a été lancé. Le projet vise à améliorer la sécurité alimentaire et les moyens de subsistance des producteurs agricoles familiaux en Afrique, en renforçant leur accès aux outils de gestion des risques agricoles.

L'atelier de lancement a mis en évidence le fait que la capacité des agriculteurs à anticiper, éviter et répondre aux chocs naturels et économiques était cruciale pour la réduction de la pauvreté et de la sécurité alimentaire en milieu rural. Toutefois, les agriculteurs africains, et les producteurs familiaux en particulier, manquent souvent d'accès à des outils et sont donc directement confrontés aux risques pré- et post- récoltes. Le projet FARMAF vise à renforcer l'accès des producteurs agricoles familiaux à ces outils. Ce faisant, FARMAF contribue à améliorer de façon durable les moyens de subsistance des agriculteurs en Afrique.

Au cours de l'atelier de lancement du projet FARMAF, les expériences du Burkina Faso, de la Tanzanie et de la Zambie ont été présentées et discutées, ce qui a permis de mettre en lumière le fonctionnement de différents outils (assurance, systèmes d'information sur le marché, warrantage et action collective).

Des suggestions ont été faites sur la façon dont ceux-ci peuvent être améliorés et renforcés grâce à la participation des organisations régionales de producteurs agricoles (PAFO, ROPPA, EAFF, SACAU et PROPAC), et des organisations nationales de producteurs agricoles (MWIWATA, CPF et ZNFU) et à la collaboration des instituts de recherche Agrinatura (CIRAD, NRI et WUR).

Selon le représentant de la Plateforme continentale des organisations paysannes (PAFO), Kolyang Palébélé, ce projet vise « à améliorer l’accès des producteurs agricoles aux outils de gestion des risques de manière efficace contribuant ainsi à l’amélioration de la sécurité alimentaire familiale et des revenus des ménages ruraux les plus pauvres ». Comme outils de gestion, il s’agit principalement des systèmes d’assurance agricole, de warrantage et d’informations de marché, a indiqué M. Palébélé.

De son avis, ces outils ont été développés avec succès dans certains pays africains car ayant permis aux producteurs d’accéder à des mécanismes de crédit en milieu rural, à des systèmes de commercialisation plus efficace et d’obtenir des prix rémunérateurs.

Financé par l’union européenne, la FARMAF est mis en œuvre pour compenser les pertes liées aux conditions climatiques, a ajouté le président de la Confédération paysanne du Faso (CPF), Bassiaka Dao. Pour réaliser ses objectifs, le projet cherche à accroître l’éventail d’outils et d’instrument durables que les petits exploitants des pays africains peuvent utiliser pour gérer les risques agricoles.

Ceci devra réduire leur exposition aux chocs baissiers, améliorer leur accès au crédit et leurs capacités à investir dans une technologie améliorant le rendement et à mieux gérer la commercialisation des produits de la ferme, a précisé le représentant de Agrinatura, Paolo Sarfatti.

Lire l'article : La FARMAF, un projet de gestion des risques agricoles en Afrique - Burkinapmepmi.com - le portail des PME / PMI au Burkina Faso

 Flyer FaRMAF-GB

Optimising the performance of producers' organisations

17 Sep 2012 - 28 Sep 2012. Location: Wageningen, The Netherlands. Organisation: Wageningen UR Centre for Development Innovation, Agriterra.

Harnessing the potential of agriculture to reduce poverty and to revitalise rural areas requires the involvement of producers and their organisations in order to build people-centered and sustainable agricultural development models. 

The course perceived producers as small entrepreneurs and investigates the role of Producers’ Organizations (POs) as autonomous development actors that face specific challenges. The course concentrated on strategic issues and gave ample attention to innovative institutional arrangements that link small-scale farmers to markets and policy development, in view of inclusive rural economic development.

The course was structured according to five major themes:

1. Contextual analysis: evolution of POs and farmers’ movements
2. Organisational strengthening : internal organisation and management of POs
3. Institutional arrangements: competition, collaboration and positioning of POs in the agricultural arena, with specific attention for market participation strategies
4. Economic services: options and tools for sustainable economic service delivery to members
5. Representation services: options and tools for participatory policy development, lobby & advocacy and public accountability.

Course brochure: PDF file 

Related:

15 - 19 October 2012. Kenya, East Africa. A course for professionals promoting farmer-inclusive agribusiness

This October 2012 course is the first in a series of three one-week courses given in East Africa – focusing on organized farmers as partners in agribusiness. The courses are referred to as one course : OPPO – organized farmers as partners in agribusiness. 

They address how East African farmers, through collective action of their organizations, can better access agro-inputs and credit, manage their production, create added value and access more remunerative markets. The courses thereby perceive farmers as autonomous entrepreneurs and their organizations as farmers’ business supporters. Participants will learn about farmer entrepreneurship, collective action of organized farmers and farmer-inclusive business models in the East African context. And they will exercise practical approaches and tools for promoting competitive, sustainable and farmer-inclusive agribusiness models.

Objectives:

• reflect upon farmer entrepreneurship and farmer-inclusive agribusiness development, with specific attention for economic services farmers’ organizations can provide to their members; 
• review key challenges that farmers face, and identify options to address these through collective action; 
• are capable to use operational approaches and practical tools for facilitating the performance and market engagement of farmers’ business organizations;
• analyze internal governance of farmers’ organizations and discuss organizational strengthening;analyze farmers’ relations with sourcing companies, banks and micro-finance institutions, input dealers, research and extension and other stakeholders, and learn about options to improve these relations; 
• discuss experiences with farmers’ positioning in the external business and policy environment; 
• Explore modalities for facilitating farmer entrepreneurship and alternative intervention strategies for external support to farmers and their organizations.

Expert consultations on Knowledge Management

10-14 September 2012, CTA, Wageningen, The Netherlands. The medium-term outcome of this process was to provide ACP institutions with a framework for Information, Communication and Knowledge (ICK) management, in the process of their becoming learning organisations with the capacity to adapt to changing environments.

Objectives:

• Review and improve understanding of KM in the context of regional organisations and communities 
• Describe the current landscape of successful KM interventions in ARD 
• Assess the need for, capacity to implement and requirements for integral Knowledge management practices particularly in the context of regional organisations and communities 
• Provide advice to the CTA on the types of support it should provide to regional organisations and communities 
• Discuss scenarios for interventions and make recommendations on the elaboration of a roadmap (e.g. starting points for those activities and approaches to assess KM situation; identify/develop suitable checklists/approaches for improving KM in regional ARD groups 

This meeting comprised following Regional Organisations & Networks and KM Experts.

FARA - Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa ASARECA SADC / CCARDESA PAEPARD Project Eastern Africa Farmers Federation (EAFF) SACAU FTA - Farming & Technology for Africa Land Resources Division - SPC, Secretariat of the Pacific Community CAFAN - Caribbean Farmers Network FAO (Regional Office Africa) National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO) (ASARECA rep) African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS) Land Resources Division - SPC, Secretariat of the Pacific Community Global Development Network, Egypt (GDNet) International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Faculty of Economics & Business Administration - VU University Amsterdam ECDPM IKM - Emergen Project UNECA University of Wageningen

PAFO’s second General Assembly elects new president

23rd to 25th of August 2012. PAFO’s second General Assembly was held in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

The elections The new President is Mr. Bagna Djibo of Niger was elected to the position of Vice President of the Pan-African Farmers’ Organization (PAFO). He represents the Network of Farmers’ and Agricultural Producers’ Organisations of West Africa (ROPPA) and took over from Mrs Elizabeth Atangana of Cameroon representing Central African Regional Farmers’ Organization (PROPAC).

The following is the full PAFO executive board for the next two years:

1. President: Mr. Bagna Djibo (ROPPA)
2. Vice President: Mr. Felix E. Jumbe (President of SACAU)
3. Treasurer: Mr. Phillip Kiriro (EAFF)
4. Women Representative: Mrs. Elizabeth Atangana (PROPAC)
5. Youth Representative: Mr. Ahmed Jarallah (UMAGRI)

Among other items, the assembly discussed the PAFO Constitution and Strategic Plan.

Related:

More and Better at the PAFO congress

PAFO had invited the closest cooperating partners to attend the congress as guests. Because of the short notice – and vacation time in many European countries, only the More and Better Network was present. The good and important cooperation between PAFO and More and Better was also underlined in the report of PAFO’s work since the founding congress. Here is their story.

The congress was called on a very short notice, less than three weeks. The reason was that the PAFO board had not been aware of one condition on the main funding: the money had to be spent before the end of August – or be returned to the donor. The small staff of PROPAC and the national farmers organization in Cameroun, CNOP-Cameroun, had done an amazing job to organize the congress. They got the government to make exceptions for visa rules so visa could be issued on the border for all delegates, background paper were prepared, banners, bags, pens etc. for the congress had been made, translation and technical equipment functioned perfectly, and all delegates stayed in a nice hotel where the meeting also took place.

The last evening, after the congress had finished, became a wonderful and memorable evening at a training center where the outgoing president, Elisabeth Atangana, started for farmers more than 15 years ago. The center, located in the Mfou village in the outskirt of Yaounde, runs an agricultural school of two years for 70 student, runs other short time courses, organizes conferences. The center has also farming activities with plant nursery, raising chicken and pigs. When the delegates and guests arrived at the center, we were met by African music and dance , and the entrance and outdoor area had been turned into a beautifully decorated restaurant where we were served wonderful locally produced food.

The day after the congress a national seminar for leaders of cooperatives and initiatives for new cooperatives took place at the center – with Elisabeth Atangana as the facilitator! She had been working day and night the last three weeks to organize the congress, and the first morning and the full day she headed the work of about 40 farmers from Cameroun. “We had planned this meeting before we planned the congress,” told Elisabeth, “I could not turn these people down and cancel the meeting because I had worked hard for the congress.”

Increasing Agricultural Productivity and Enhancing Food Security in Africa: New Challenges and Opportunities

The November 1–3 conference “Increasing Agricultural Productivity and Enhancing Food Security in Africa: New Challenges and Opportunities,” was co-organized by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the African Union Commission (AUC), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA). Speakers and participants showcased opportunities to improve agricultural productivity and explored how they can be effectively implemented through the framework of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme.

Experts at the conference also examined issues related to:

• science, technology, and innovation in agriculture;
• rural services and access to inputs;
• markets, trade, and regional integration and value chains;
• investments, institutions, and policies for supporting agriculture;
• agriculture, nutrition, and health linkages;
• agriculture and climate change mitigation and adaptation;
• capacity development for agriculture through education and training; and
• the nexus of agriculture and the rural nonfarm sector in growth and poverty reduction

The keynote address - ‘harnessing the potential of science and the numbers’ was given by FARA’s Monty Jones. He emphasized the need for ‘radical approaches’ and ‘radical actions.’ Africa should come up with its own unique interventions, he said, and listen to the voices of the 600 million African farmers.

Stephen Muchiri of the Eastern Africa Farmers Federation said:

“The major challenge in increasing agriculture productivity in Africa is low agro investment, markets are not well developed, there are market restrictions, farmers can’t easily access the market, and they don’t have power to have their own markets. If there is no access to markets, the entire value chain will be affected. Markets are the way to boost research, input, credit facilities and risk mitigation. When farmers are involved in value chains they are going to be able to access market information that helps them prepare their production in ways that suit market demand.”

Keynote Speech by Yusuf Abubakar, ARCN. Strengthening capacity for agricultural science and technology in Africa


Keynote Speech by Namanga Ngongi, AGRA. Delivering African agricultural productivity and food security through a Green Revolution: prospects and challenges