FAO work with cooperatives in humanitarian and

development contexts – Near East and North AfricaRachid Serraj, FAO Regional Office

Rural institutions like producer organizations and cooperatives

contribute to food security and FAO recognizes this vital role

2012, International Year of Cooperatives

with Slogan of “Agricultural

cooperatives:

paving the way for

food security and

rural development”.

2013 FAO promoted the role of

cooperatives and POs as key partners for reducing poverty

and generating

growth worldwide.

2013 FAO promoted the role of

cooperatives and POs as key partners for reducing poverty

and generating

growth worldwide.

2015/2016: FAO developed tools and methodologies on strengthening the

Producers Organizations and

adapted them to the Maghreb region.

Since then, FAO RNE has been supporting cooperatives in the

countries such as the reform of the Coop.

law in Egypt that helps PO’s and SSFF.

Since then, FAO RNE has been supporting cooperatives in the

countries such as the reform of the Coop.

law in Egypt that helps PO’s and SSFF.

Pillar 4, “Strengthen family farmers’

organizations and their capacities to generate knowledge, represent farmers’ concerns and

provide inclusive services in rural areas” UNDFF

2019-2022

Building on success of IYFF- 2014, the

Decade aims at focusing efforts on the

design and implementation of

comprehensive economic, environmental

and social policies in order to create a

conductive environment and strengthen

the position of family farming

Improve national results in framework of

SDGs

Rome, 29 April 2019

حقائق وأرقام رئيسية

UNDFF GLOBAL

ACTION PLAN:

Seven Pillars

Pillar 4. Strengthen family farmers’ organizations and capacities to

generate knowledge, represent farmers and provide inclusive

services in the urban-rural continuum

4.1. Strengthened governance and organizational capacities of family farmers’

organizations engaged in agriculture, forestry and fisheries to better serve

their members and their communities.

4.2. Family farmers’ and their organizations’ technical expertise and capability

to access and provide (both farming and non-farming related) services to their

members strengthened for sustainable livelihoods and landscapes.

4.3. Collective actions, by strong, transparent and inclusive organizations

looking for solutions conducted.

4.4. Communication, ICTs capacities/services improved, and family famers’

voices heard.

FAO has strengthened its efforts and work with the cooperatives

and PO’s

Supporting the enabling environment, including regulatory and legal frameworks involving Cooperatives and PO’sSupporting the enabling environment, including regulatory and legal frameworks involving Cooperatives and PO’s

Enhancing effective participation of cooperatives and PO’s in policy dialogue processes at national and international level.Enhancing effective participation of cooperatives and PO’s in policy dialogue processes at national and international level.

Facilitating the development of producers’ capacities, including their technical, managerial, organizational and marketing skills.

Facilitating the development of producers’ capacities, including their technical, managerial, organizational and marketing skills.

Sharing knowledge in the form of publications, learning training modules, briefing notes and good practices.Sharing knowledge in the form of publications, learning training modules, briefing notes and good practices.

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FAO has been supporting the strengthening of national capacities of Producer

Organizations in the Region, especially in Lebanon, Oman and Sudan through a regional TCP

Assessments of institutional environments for the

Cooperatives and POs in the selected countries to:

1. Understand the nature of the system;

2. Identify the leverage points;

3. Recognize the needed actions

4. Map and profile the POs (qualitative mapping

through secondary data).

Representative performance assessment

study. Cooperatives and POs engaged in

several capacity building and knowledge

exchange trainings

TO

Regional workshop with participants from cooperatives and Pos, to develop common

visions for POs tailored to country’s needs

e.g.: Oman vision “In 10 years’ time, inclusive and specialized producer organizations with efficient structures are implementing sustainable management of natural resources and food safety practices through conducive legislation for fisheries, agricultural, and livestock; financial and technical support;

and easy procedures under the supervision of relevant authorities”.

Action plans that represent the main reference for national paths towards a better performing PO system in the countries.

Duration of the project:

2016 –2022

Supporting Economic Growth through Optimized Agricultural Value Chain in West Bank

OutputsOutputs

Output 1: Pre-production

Output 2: Production

Output 3: Post-harvest and processing

Output 4: Distribution and marketing

Output 5: Enabling environment

ResultsResults

14.916 individuals benefited

25 cooperatives and 15 womens’ cooperatives

selected

Benefits to the members and households

1. Cooperatives were key to sustainability and to

the inclusion of women and youth;

2. Investments in productivity were done through

cooperatives for better results;

3. Cooperatives in project now supplying products

to agribusinesses for export and establishing

linkages with new markets.

1. Cooperatives are not gender-balanced;

2. Weak coordination within the sector (i.e.

between agricultural cooperatives themselves and

other key actors);

3. Policy environment does not support

development of cooperative services.

Agriculture and Livestock Value Chain project to Refugees and Host

Communities in Eastern Sudan

ActivitiesActivities

Activity 1: Supporting registration of producers’ associations (training, legal support, market connections)

Activity 2: LoA with institutions such as MoA and MoFto facilitate establishment of PO’s in value chains;

Activity 3: Training for PO’s in animal fattening and milk production

ResultsResults

Business/self employment percentage reached 98% among all beneficiaries

The income per month almost tripled for both refugees and host communities

A marked increase in the daily milk production reaching 4.5L per cow/day for refugees and 5.7L per cow/day for hosting communities

Linkages with dairy companies established

Two milk processing units constructed in Girba/Shagarab and K26.

Facts about the Project

1. 1,171 households between refugees and host community members were

Beneficiaries;

2. Beneficiaries were not receiving any training before;

3. Storage equipment was also not initially available with beneficiaries (storage facilities at

processing unit level provided to beneficiaries after final survey);

4. The project included milk value chain development :

• Eleven producer associations established and trained by the Cooperative

Department (Ministry of Finance, for a total of 300 producers);

• Several trainings on animal husbandry (e.g. training delivered by FAO and MoA in

the Kassala State);

• Two milk processing units constructed in Girba/Shagarab and K26;

• Linkages with dairy companies established.

1. No conflicts were noted during the

implementation of the project between

the two communities (refugees and

hosting);

2. All value chains implemented were able

to generate for the beneficiaries higher

incomes per household;

3. It was noticed instead a real spirit of

collaboration.

Emergency Assistance to respond to Outbreak of date palm green pit-scale in Libya

ActivitiesActivities

Activity 1: Four trainings with 82 farmers

Activity 2: Provision of equipment: 10 date palm cutters delivered to the PO’s in SebhaActivity 2: Provision of equipment: 10 date palm cutters delivered to the PO’s in Sebha

FAO supported 8 Agricultural

Cooperatives in Sabha

Tamanhant Agricultural CooperativeTamanhant Agricultural Cooperative

Sakra Agricultural CooperativeSakra Agricultural Cooperative

Ghodwa Agricultural Cooperative SocietyGhodwa Agricultural Cooperative Society

Hijara Agricultural CooperativeHijara Agricultural Cooperative

Zayghan Agricultural CooperativeZayghan Agricultural Cooperative

Grain Producers Agricultural CooperativeGrain Producers Agricultural Cooperative

Adawaw Agricultural CooperativeAdawaw Agricultural Cooperative

5 October Agricultural Association5 October Agricultural Association

Palm and Olive producers Agricultural CooperativePalm and Olive producers Agricultural Cooperative

Seed SystemsPPB & Policy Research

Conservation Agriculture

Small ruminants (Awassi)

Breeding & Valorization

Community-based Rangeland management

Since 1959 the Gov. of Syria attempted to develop the Badia through a series of

programmes, to organize stock owners, at edge of Badia, and Bedouins into

livestock cooperatives, but none has been a success.

The Regional Rangelands Development Project conducted by FAO & UNDP

included Syria with 6 countries. The project piloted participatory approach and

the concept of holistic resource management from 1987 to early 1990s.

The project engaged a total of 141 herder cooperatives, reorganized into 136

homogenous communities, represented by 174 rangelands committees.

More committees than cooperatives, because some of the large cooperatives

were split into two or more sub-cooperatives within their own committees.

Cooperative rangelands were not delineated or allocated, Badia Directorate

proceeded to establish mahmiat on a top-down decision-making basis.

Grazing within these mahmiat was available on a rental basis to stockowners.

Bedouin did not feel involved, and appropriate management and protection of

these mahmiat could not be ensured.

In 2008, former Badia Directorate became the Badia Protection Directorate, to control illegal cropping in Badia.

A new Badia Authority was created, its DG reports to PM’s Office and not Ministry of Agriculture, particularly

where extensive rangeland development is concerned. In this respect there is a strong need for coordination…

• Connecting cooperatives to other employment generating programmes and helping to

reestablish markets is important.

• Working with refugees and host community through cooperatives can be useful (e.g.

Sudan).

• For development contexts, support of whole VC can increase income, decrease gender

disparities and generate benefits for communities (e.g. Palestine).

• Normative support in development contexts is one of the key points but also biggest

challenge for working with cooperatives, e.g. Egyptian case.

• Cooperatives are an entry point for VC & Agriculture support in both developmental &

humanitarian contexts.

• UNDFF and Agenda 2030 can provide an opportunity for strengthening Ag

cooperatives and farmers organizations (CSA, Agroecology, etc.)

Thank you

Email: Rachid.serraj@fao.org

The Regional Initiative on Small-

Scale Family Farming in the

Nearest & North Africa

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