Grow Africa: Support Farmers’ Engagement

In 2003, African governments committed to attract domestic and international investment into agriculture and food systems through CAADP. Grow Africa actively brokers collaboration between governments (Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Burkina-Faso, Nigeria, Benin, Rwanda, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya and Ethiopia), private sector (global, regional and domestic) and farmers, including smallholders, to lower the cost and risk of investing into agriculture in Africa.

Increased income and productivity by smallholder farmers, contributing to poverty reduction and improved food security.

Primary target groups: Government representatives, domestic and international private companies, business associations and farmers’ organisations.

Secondary target groups: Small-scale farmers (in Grow Africa countries) with commercial potential.  

• Increased adoption of business models that integrate smallholders into commercial value chains, especially for crops that are consumed in domestic and regional markets.
• Effective participation of smallholder farmers through their representative organisations (Farmers’ Organisations and Regional FOs) in these value chains.

Resultados previstos:  

• Investments and value chain partnerships linked to Grow Africa innovate, adopt or expand business models that increase profitability of smallholders.
• National and Regional Farmers‘ Organisations increase collaboration with private sector partners.
• Knowledge increased on business models that increase profitability of both smallholders and companies.

Resultados de las fases anteriores:  

• "Smallholder Working Group" and “Cassava Working Group” established as knowledge, non-competitive spaces for structuring and coordinating inclusive business models.
• Preparation and piloting "Gap-Analysis Tool for Agriculture" on Maize Value Chain in Kenya.
• Assistance in the development of WFP’s Patient Procurement Platform, launched at WEF Davos 2015 with pre-studies in Malawi and Tanzania.
• Mobilization of private sector companies to participate in ROPPA‘s first-ever "Business Forum" in Abidjan (November 2013).

• Support to Farmers’ Organisation in Africa Programme (SFOAP): co-financed by EU, AfD and IFAD (7F-08107.01).
• Implementation of ECOWAP (DAO).
• Farmers’ Organisation Facility: implemented by AgriCord (7F-09106.01).
• Grow Africa’s knowledge partner IDH (Sustainability Trade Initiative) also benefits from 4-year contribution from SECO of CHF 30'000'000. 

Fase 1 01.10.2013 - 31.12.2016   (Completed)