Introduction on Agri-ProFocus

partnership

Kaleb Hotel

Addis Ababa

24 June 2010

Wim Goris

Agri-ProFocus partnership is:..

Agricultural producer organisations

in developing countries are key to economic development and poverty reduction.

Promoting farmer entrepreneurship

through cooperation, exchange and learning is the goal of our partnership.

Focus is on 7 African countries

and four themes: value chains, financial services, sustainable food production and gender

The Agri-ProFocus partnership

Multi Stakeholders Arena

APF members active in Ethiopia

74+ programmes with Ethiopian

partners and PO’s

In support of a vibrant network

APF joint activities so far in Ethiopia

1. Action research sesame chain

Wageningen UR, SNV, (Agriterra)

- Pro-poor development via existing chains

- Trade arrangements, transaction risks and costs

- Linking to PO capacity building (Cordaid)

2. Learning Alliance on chain empowerment

ICCO, KIT, SNV, Cordaid, Agriterra, FFARM, IIRR

- 18 learning clusters of farmers and service providers

- From learning to business clusters

3. And next ….

APF priorities identified

Input supply (seeds)- Action research Local Seed Business- Wageningen UR, ICCO, RNE

Strengthening BDS- Demand orientation, rural outreach, reducing costs, - SNV, ICCO, KIT

Pastoralism- Livelihoods and livestock marketing - Cordaid, ETC

And more issues on http://apf-ethiopia.ning.com

Access to finance is a priority too !

Financial services:

- Emerged in discussions in all 7 focus countries.

- Linking and learning events on Value Chain Finance between APF members in Netherlands.

- Coordinated support to writeshop and book launch events in Holland, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia ….

- in Ethiopia: ICCO/Terrafina, Woord&Daad, Cordaid.

Check out http://apf-finance.ning.com

http://apf-finance.ning.com

thank you !

Way Forward in Ethiopia?

Linking and learning:• 30 minutes: book launch event next door.

• 3 days(?) Reports and ning invitation.

• 3 months: 7-8 October in AddisTerrafina/AEMFI workshop on role of MFIs in VCF

• Other events??

Joint actions: • Designing an equity fund

• Support to VCF cases

• Other actions??