South Africa is the 3rd most biologically diverse country in the world, with over 21,000 plant species, many of them endemic. Together with neighbor countries it is also host to emerging biotrade value chains of economic importance. Although the general economic trends are – despite the Covid pandemic – favorable, the biotrade sector in South(ern) Africa is confronted with a number of challenges that constrain growth and market access.

The aim of the second phase of the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Compliant Bio-trade in South(ern) Africa (ABioSA) project is congruent with the aim of the first phase: to support the development of a southern Africa biotrade sector that is economically resilient, gender responsive and ABS compliant. The systemic approach of the project includes all relevant biotrade stakeholders/actors and aims at increasing market access for value-added natural ingredients and products where indigenous peoples and local communities are included.

Outcome 1: Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME) use financial and/or technical assistance designed specifically for biotrade innovation, growth and market access opportunities whilst leveraging own and other resources/funding.

Outcome 2: SMMEs use Business Support Organisations/Meso level institutions (incl. private and public laboratories) assistance designed specifically to support the value chain actors for the selected species.

Outcome 3: Improved dialogue and stakeholder engagement to support the biotrade sector development in South Africa and the (sub-)region.

Risultati principali attesi:  

Support the strengthening of the BioPANZA finance cluster and the NIPF manager to respond to the needs of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME).

Financial support to ABS compliant/investment ready southern African SMEs.

Technical support to emerging southern African SMMEs.

Support to organised sector/associations targeting non-tariff barriers.

Technical/financial support to Business Support Organisations (incl. laboratories).

Technical assistance to selected indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLC).

Develop tools, knowledge products and processes as vehicle for stakeholder engagement.

Create relevant southern African biotrade sector platforms for stakeholder dialogue.

Uptake of ABioSA KPs/tools into their policies and practices.

Risultati fasi precedenti:  

Increase of the annual trade volume of USD 1 million by 2021 of sustainably produced biotrade products from South(ern) Africa is generated

Creating 50 new permanent jobs and 1 000 new seasonal jobs within ABS compliant value chains supported by the project.

16 Southern African SMMEs (12 in SA, 4 in region) received funding through the ABioSA Innovation Fund facility to access new markets, develop new products and increase capacities.

21 Southern African SMMEs received training as part of the human capacity development programme.

6 Sector Development Plans (SDP) have been developed for the following biotrade value chains: Aloe ferox, honeybush, buchu, marula, baobab and an essential oil cluster with Lippia javanica, Cape chamomile and Helichrysum.

Support to the BioPANZA market access cluster resulted in the development of SMME and BSO assessment tools.

Fase 2 01.11.2021 - 31.12.2025   (Active)