Improved Access to Markets for Female and Male Small Scale Farmers in the West Bank

• High unemployment (overall> 23%, women 35%) and food insecurity (overall 34%).
• The agriculture sector is the third largest employer in opl(25% of formal workforce)
• Underperforming agriculture sector due to restrictions of Israeli occupation system (such as movement restrictions, lack of access to and control over assets).
• Area C functioning only with one quarter of its capacity -Weak legal frameworks and limited knowledge in production and marketing.
• High dependency - 88% of food in West Bank is imported). There is potential to substitute fresh FV imports from Israel covering 30% of local consumption.
• The FFV sub-sector has high potential to enhance food security and improve livelihoods, thus contributing to income and poverty reduction.

To enhance employment and income opportunities of small and medium scale farmer households (approx. 2100 households) I while working by playing the role of a facilitator, enhancing capacities of local actors and improving interaction between the supply and demand sides.

Direct: 2'100 small scale farmer households and related service providers in Fruits and Vegetables (F&V) value chains (VC)- 6 cooperatives, 2 women cooperatives, 700 farmer-led groups, 2 social enterprises, service providers, with strong focus on Area C.

Indirect: 125'000 female and male market participants

• Increased competitiveness and production optimization of women and men small scale farmers In selective F&V sub-sectors.
• Increased margin and value captured by women and men small scale producers through improved market place efficiencies. -Pro-poor and gender sensitive regulatory and institutional environment promoted.

Risultati principali attesi:  

The detailed project outputs will be developed during the 9 months inception phase.

Inception phase outputs:

• Identification of 3 values chains
• Good knowledge and understanding of the market constraints as well as risks and potentials for the selected value chains
• Validation of approach and approval of ProDoc with key stakeholders and SDC
• Team ready to start implementation of main phase

Paltrade Center, PARC and Solutions. Relevant Ministries such as Agriculture and Economy, key stakeholders to be identified during the inception phase.

Projects in the agricultural sector funded by other donors, especially the Netherlands and implemented by FAO. Linkages with SDC and EC supported Olive project implemented by OGB and with the urban agriculture project in Gaza implemented by OIT & RUAF. Linkages with SDC Local Governance and TVET project in oPt. Synergies with the domain 1 regarding international humanitarian law

Fase 1 01.05.2014 - 28.02.2015   (Completed)