i

MULTI-DONOR

AGRICULTURE FAST TRACK FUND

ANNUAL REPORT 2017

Submitted by the AFT Coordination Unit

Agriculture and Agro-industry Department

African Development Bank

to

USAID, Sida & DANIDA

January 2018

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Table of Contents Page

Cover page. .............................................................................................................................. i.

Table of Contents. .................................................................................................................... ii.

Acronyms and Abbreviations. ................................................................................................. iv

List of Tables and Figures. ...................................................................................................... v

List of Figures. ......................................................................................................................... vi

Executive Summary. ................................................................................................................ vii

1. Introduction. ........................................................................................................................ 1

2. Fund Governance and 2017 Annual Work Programme and Budget.................................... 1

2.1. Fund Governance. ……………………………………………………............................ 1

2.2. 2017 Annual Work Programme and Budget (AWP&B). ................................................. 2

3. Grants Disbursements and Implementation Status. ............................................................. 2

3.1. Total approved Grants. ..................................................................................................... 2

3.2. Grant implementation, disbursement and status and performance rates........................... 2

4. Highlight of Other Issues and Milestones of 2017. ………………………………………. 3

4.1. AFT 2017 Annual Work Programme and Budget finalized and approval. ...................... 3

4.2. Signing of Letters of Agreement (LoA) for the batch II Grants completed. .................... 3

4.3 Terms of reference for Batch II studies drafted, reviewed and approved. ........................ 3

4.4 Procurement activities were facilitated.............................................................................. 3

4.5 Monitoring and Supervision activities conducted. ............................................................ 3

4.6 Meeting between AFT CU and AFT Donors and Grantees held. ..................................... 4

4.7 Recruitment of Website Development Master on Short-term Consultancy. ..................... 4

4.8 Calls for CNs, Invitation for FTAs and Grant Awards for 2017. ...................................... 4

4.9 First AFT Lessons Learned Workshop organized. …………............................................ 5

4.9.1. Workshop Mission Objective. …………………........................................................... 5

4.9.2. Attendance and Outcome. …………............................................................................. 5

4.10 Leveraging of financing by Grantees. ............................................................................. 6

5. Implementation Status of Batch I & Batch II Grants. ……................................................. 6

5.1. Update on Batch I Grants. ................................................................................................ 6

5.1.1. Disbursement status. ...................................................................................................... 6

5.1.2. FENASCOVICI (Cote d’Ivoire). ................................................................................... 7

5.1.3. Société Ivoirienne de Production Animales (SIPRA), Cote d’Ivoire............................. 7

5.1.4. Association Wend Panga du Sanmatenga (Burkina Faso). ……................................... 8

5.1.5. African Bamboo Company Plc (Ethiopia). ………........................................................ 8

5.1.6. Practical Care Agribusiness (Ghana).............................................................................. 8

5.1.7. ECOFARM (Mozambique). .......................................................................................... 8

5.1.8. ODEBRECHT Project Avicola (Mozambique). ........................................................... 9

5.1.9. TANGA Fresh (Tanzania). ............................................................................................ 9

5.2. Active Batch II AFT Grant Projects. ................................................................................ 9

5.2.1. Akate Farms & Trading Company Limited (Ghana). ……………................................ 9

5.2.2. OLAM Tanzania limited. …………………….............................................................. 9

5.2.3. Mokk Investment Limited (Nigeria). ............................................................................. 10

5.2.4. Mgolole Agro Processing Company Limited, Tanzania. .............................................. 10

5.2.5. Muvek Development Solutions limited (Tanzania). ….................................................. 11

5.2.6. Riftcot Limited (Tanzania)............................................................................................. 11

5.2.7. AMYA Agro Plus Limited (Ghana). ............................................................................. 12

5.2.8. Mulualem Farm Enterprise (Ethiopia)............................................................................ 12

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Table of Contents cont. Page

5.2.9. Frostan Group of Companies (Tanzania). ..................................................................... 12

5.2.10. Samri Mixed Farm (Ethiopia). ………………............................................................. 13

5.2.11. Norish Business Plc (Ethiopia). ………....................................................................... 13

6. Human Resources Management. ………............................................................................. 14

6.1. Contribution of the Bank to AFT Personnel Costs. ……….............................................. 14

6.2. AFT Coordination. ……………………………………………………………………… 14

7. Highlight of Key Lessons Learned. ………......................................................................... 14

8. Highlight of Challenges. ………………………………...................................................... 15

9. Highlight of Next Steps and Future Activities. ................................................................... 15

9.1. Signing of Letters of Agreement. ..................................................................................... 15

9.2. Launching of newly approved grant projects. .................................................................. 15

9.3. Tracking Grantees' ability to leverage funding. ………………………………………... 16

9.4. Phase I “Sunset Plan” and Exit Strategy.” ……………………………………………… 16

9.5. Evaluation/Audit of AFT operations and activities since its inception. ………………... 16

9.6. “Sensitization and awareness-creation Mission. ……………………………………….. 16

9.7. Technical support for the new Grantees. ……………………………………………….. 16

9.8. Monitoring and evaluation. ……………………………………………………………... 16

9.9. Fresh Calls for CNs and FTAs in 2018. ………………………………………………... 16

9.10. Reporting Deliverables. ……………………………………………………………….. 16

10. Conclusion. ........................................................................................................................ 17

Appendix I. Details of grants approved by the AFT’s TRC (Batch 1), 2013/2014. ………… 18

Appendix II: Details of grant approvals by the AFT’s TRC (Batch II), 2016. ………......... 19

Appendix III: Details of grants approved by the AFT’s TRC (Batch III), November 2017. .. 20

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Acronyms and Abbreviations AfDB : African Development Bank

AFT : Agriculture Fast Track Fund

AHAI : Agriculture and Agro-Industry Department

AWP&B : Annual Work Programme and Budget

CIAT : International Center for Tropical Agriculture

CNs : Concept Notes

CU : Coordination Unit (AFT Coordination Unit)

CQS : Consultants’ Qualifications Selection

DACON : Database of Consultants

DANIDA : Danish International Development Agency

DFIs : Development Finance Institutions

ESIA : Environmental and Social Impact Assessment

FIFC : Financial Control and Financial Management Department (of AfDB)

FIRM : Resource Mobilization and Partnerships Department (of AfDB)

FTAs : Full Technical Applications

LoA : Letter of Agreement

MDAs : Ministries Departments and Agencies

M&E : Monitoring and Evaluation

MSMEs : Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

OC : Oversight Committee

OG : Operational Guidelines

ORPC : Operations and Policy Department (of AfDB)

PGCL : General Counsel and Legal Services Department (of AfDB)

PISD : Private Sector Department (of AfDB)

PCR : Project Completion Report

PP : Procurement Plan

RMCs : Regional Member Countries

Sida : Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency

SMEs : Small and Medium-scale Enterprises

SNFI : Fiduciary and Financial Management, Inspection and Procurement

Department (of AfDB)

TOR : Terms of Reference

TRC : Technical Review Committee

USA : United States of America

USAID : United States Agency for International Development

VAT : Value-added Tax

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List of Tables Titles Page

Table 1. Grant status and disbursement rates 2

Table 2: The 2017 Meetings of AFT CU and AFT Donors (USAID, Sida & DANIDA) 4

Table 3: Updated table on Fund leveraging following the AFT Grant 6

Table 4. Analysis of disbursements by Batches I & II projects 7

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List of Figures Titles Page

Figure 1: Activity value-chain at SIPRA 7

Figure 2: Vegetable value chain at Association Wend Panga 8

Figure 3: OLAM Tanzania cocoa value-chain 10

Figure 4: Mokk Investments works on cassava value chain in Nigeria 10

Figure 5. Mgolole Agro-processing, Tanzania specializes in livestock production and

processing

11

Figure 6. AMYA Agro Plus produces, processes and markets cassava products in Ghana 12

Figure 7: Frostan Tanzania: Specialist in the processing, preservation and marketing of

livestock products

13

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Executive Summary The Agriculture Fast Track Fund (AFT) is sustaining its support for the agribusiness

micro-, small- and medium- enterprises (MSMEs) in Africa through award of grants to

offset expenses for project preparation activities, mostly in the form of basic pre-takeoff

studies. The latitude has continued to expand alongside the level of awareness and

interest from prospective applicants in the eligible countries.

As at the end of the year 2017, the number of approved implemented and running projects

stood at 32, representing an increase of 60% over the number in December 2016. Also,

the Dollar value of approved projects rose by 51% from US$6,118,964.00 to

US$9,213,249.00 during the same period. The disbursement rates were 88% and 12% for

the first-tier and second-tier projects respectively at end of December 2017. On finance

leveraging, seven of the AFT-supported projects with a US$3.05 million grant outlay

reportedly received financing to the tune of over US$70.2 million, reflecting a 1:23

leveraging ratio for the concerned Grantees. The AFT Coordinating Unit (AFT CU) is

intensifying its efforts at ensuring tracking data on leveraging of financing by its

Grantees, especially those that have completed implementation of their projects.

The specific key activities embarked upon during the 2017 project year include:

finalization and approval of the 2017 Annual Work Program and Budget (AWP & B),

signing of letters of Agreement for the second-tier approved grants, facilitating the

development and approval of terms of reference (ToR) for all approved studies, and

beefing-up the new grantees’ procurement capabilities, through one-on-one interactions

and use of formal working sessions. Others are updating the AFT website

(www.aftfund.org), meetings with the AFT Donors, the Technical Review Committee

(TRC) and AFT Grantees, and, as determined by need. Also carried out were monitoring

and reporting activities (including data tracking on grant implementation performances,

invoices and disbursements, and kick-starting baseline survey to collect and document

data on the new grantees’ parent projects). Likewise, the AFT CU successfully placed

Calls for Concept Notes (CNs) and Full Technical Applications (FTAs), summarily

evaluated the applicants’ proposal submissions, and effectively made recommendations to

the TRC for grant awards.

Another major event that happened during the year is the successful convoking of the first

AFT Lessons Learned Workshop organized in Tanzania from 6-8 December 2017.

Among the workshop’s outcomes on the key lessons came in the form of

recommendation of the need to: (i) communicate AFT’s achievements through use of

appropriate channels, including the social media platforms; (ii) improve interaction

among grantees with similar project design and objectives; (iii) increase the youth

involvement in agriculture and agribusinesses through enhanced awareness; (iv) evolve

ways of integrating other eligible member countries into the AFT activities; and (vi)

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provide opportunity for clearer understanding of what is expected from grantees through

pre-sharing of the samples of the working documents at each stage of the implementation

process.

Part of the identified implementation challenges is the constraints of time, resources and

logistics that work against the proposal to conduct project launching in the different

eligible countries and boost publicity. Another challenge is the failure or outright refusal

of some Grantees to adhere strictly to design and use of procurement plan to facilitate

their procurement process and shorten the length of time spent with the procurement

process. For the 2018, the AFT CU has lined up some set of activities that include:

preparation and signing of the Letters of Agreements (LoA) for the newly-approved

Batch III grants, project launching, and perfection of the “Sun-set Plan”/”Exit Strategy”

for AFT Phase 1. In addition, the CU will carry out sensitization cum awareness-creation

mission to the disadvantaged eligible countries, and also facilitate the recruitment of

professional consultants who will evaluate AFT for operational effectiveness and

performance since inception. In the same vein, the AFT CU will launch fresh Calls and

continue to work assiduously to ensure that all approved projects are delivered within the

shortest possible time, through instilling efficiency in its operations, procurement, M&E,

and administrative responsibilities. To assist the grantees to identify available sources of

financing for their planned investment, AFT CU will establish a “database” of available

financing opportunities and financial institutions in the countries in which AFT grantees

operate.

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1. Introduction

1.1. Since its inception in May 2013, the Agriculture Fast Track Fund (AFT) has

sustained its effort at supporting the development of agribusiness micro-, small- and

medium- enterprises (MSMEs) through award of grants. The AFT grants are aimed at

funding the “upstream activities including, but not limited to project design, feasibility

studies, market research, financial modeling, business plan development, legal and

regulatory prerequisites requirements, environmental and social impact studies, and other

activities necessary to help them raise financing. This is on the understanding that if not

defrayed and mitigated the “costs and risks” associated with this set of activities are very

high that “commercial developers” are either not ready or willing” to take them up alone.

1.2. To date, AFT has had three (3) Batches of grant approvals that have produced

over 32 projects. The principal beneficiaries are the private sector MSMEs, Farmers’

Cooperatives and Associations, competitively selected among continuously-increasing

list of applicants that respond to AFT’s regular calls for concept notes (CNs) and follow-

up invitations to submit full technical applications (FTAs). These private sector Grantees,

which cut across different crops and value chains in the eligible Africa countries, 1

received approval for award of AFT grants based on the strength and perceived high-

quality proposals they submitted. This underscores the confidence it has in the private

sector as the nodule of socio-economic growth and development of Africa.” Nevertheless,

other potential beneficiaries of the AFT grant, including government agriculture and rural

development ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) designing agriculture

infrastructure projects are yet to benefit from the facility. Although somewhat worrisome,

this development, perhaps, has resulted from the strict adherence to emphasis on project-

quality in the selection process.

1.3. In this document, the progress report of the operational and project

implementation activities of AFT for the 2017 work program year are presented. The

report is expected to serve as reference document to the AFT Oversight Committee (OC)

and Donors and also assist the AFT Grantees, prospective applicants, and relevant

stakeholders within and outside Bank on their dealings with AFT.

2. Fund Governance and 2017 Annual Work

Program and Budget

2.1. Fund Governance. The AFT Technical Review Committee (TRC) and the

Oversight Committee (OC) govern the Fund and its activities. Their functions are well-

defined in the AFT Operational Guidelines (OG). The membership of the TRC is

constituted by representatives of different Departments of the Bank whose operations are

one way or another relevant to the AFT activities. These include the Agriculture and

Agro-industry Department (AHAI), Financial Control and Financial Management (FIFC),

Resource Mobilization and Partnerships (FIRM), General Counsel and Legal Services

1 Ten (10) AfDB regional member countries (RMCs) of Benin Republic, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire,

Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal and Tanzania are eligible to apply for the AFT

Grant.

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(PGCL), Private Sector Development (PISD), Fiduciary and Financial Management,

Inspection and Procurement (SNFI), Operations and Policy Department (ORPC), and the

Departments of the Bank. The Director of the AHAI is the Chairperson of the AFT TRC.

The in-person meeting of the AFT TRC held on 30 November 2017 to take decision on

projects recommended to it by the AFT CU. The meeting gave approval to 12 AFT Batch

III grant projects. Also as determined by need the members of the TRC and OC held

audio/conference meetings, Skype and telephone calls among themselves, to take

appropriate fund governance decisions on AFT.

2.2. 2017 Annual Work Program and Budget (AWP&B). This is the document that

defined the budget and all proposed activities for the project year 2017. The 2017

AWP&B was approved by the AFT Oversight Committee (OC) at the beginning of the

year (January 2017) to guide the AFT activities.

3. Grant Disbursements and Implementation

Status

3.1. Total approved grants.

The value of all grants stood at nine million two hundred thirteen thousand two hundred

forty-nine United States dollars (US$9,213,249.00) as at 31st December 2017 (Table 1).

The figure comprised of approvals of US$3,094,285.00 for Batch III projects,

US$2,312,286.00 for Batch II projects and US$3,806,678.00 being part of Batch I

projects, but excludes the total grant value of US$1,695,500.00 for 4 Batch I projects

cancelled in 2016.

Table 1: Grants status and disbursement rate Year of

approval

Batch Approved

grants (US$)

Not

implementa

ble grants

(US$)*

Implementable

grants (US$)

Disbursement

as @ 31/12/2017

(US$)

Disbursement

rate (%)

2013/14 Batch 1 5,502,178.00 1,695,500.00 3,806,678.00 3,365,365.82 88.41

2016 Batch 2 2,312,286.00 0.00 2,312,286.00 273,920.00 11.85

2017 Batch 3 3,094,285.00 0.00 3,094,285.00 0.00 0.00

Total 10,908,749.00 1,695,500.00 9,213,249.00 3,639,285.82 39.50

*The “not implementable” are grants cancelled for different reasons that have led to non-performance.

3.2. Grant implementation, disbursement status and performance rates

The value of disbursements from the Batch 1 grants is three million three hundred sixty-

five thousand three hundred and sixty-five US dollars eighty-two cents (US$3,365,365.82)

which is equivalent to 88% of total implementable approved grants (Appendix II shows

breakdown by projects), US$273,920 or a disbursement rate of 12% for Batch II grants.

The total disbursement for all projects aggregated stood at 40% as at 31 December 2017

(Table 1).

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4. Highlight of Other Issues and Milestones of

2017

The following is an outline of presentation of the key issues and milestones achieved

during the year 2017:

4.1. AFT 2017 Annual Work Program and Budget (AWP & B) finalized and

approved. The harmonization of the 2017 Annual Work Plan and Budget (AWP & B)

document was finalized in January 2017and approval was obtained by the AFT Oversight

Committee. The document provides a detailed analysis of the activities slated for

implementation during the year and also their budgetary implications.

4.2. Signing of Letters of Agreement (LoA) for the Batch II Grants completed.

The launching of the Batch II Grants projects was carried out late 2016 making it difficult

for majority of the LoA to be signed by the respective parties. The AFT CU prioritized

the securing of contract signatures in early 2017. Aside from one project titled “Out-

grower Cotton Farming and Ginnery”, approved for implementation in Ethiopia under the

auspices of Rift Valley Product limited, the rest have been signed. The Rift Valley’s

“Out-grower Cotton farming and Ginnery Project” was held up following the “sponsor’s

inability to obtain operating license in Ethiopia, where it was approved for

implementation.

4.3. Terms of reference (ToR) for Batch II studies drafted, reviewed and

approved. To set the stage for speedy grant implementation, the AFT CU worked

assiduously with the Grantees to draft and review the terms of reference (ToR) relating to

all studies for which grants were approved. The review and approvals of all ToR were

completed before the mid February 2017.

4.4. Procurement activities were facilitated. The CU worked unremittingly with the

Grantees to hasten the procurement process for the engagement of Consultants for

approved project preparation studies. Interactions and working sessions were used to beef

up their procurement capabilities and accelerate procurement processes. Competitive

selection methods was emphasized, and the selection of the “best qualified candidate”

using the competition-based Consultants’ Qualifications Selection (CQS) method was

successfully accomplished by majority of the grantees.

4.5. Monitoring and Supervision activities conducted. Among the M&E work

conducted in 2017 were tracking grant implementation performance, activity and

quarterly reports from Grantees, invoices and disbursements and preparing mandatory

reports for the Donors. Also, from 25 October – 4 November 2017, the M&E team visited

some Grantees and project locations in Tanzania for field monitoring and collection of

baseline data on Grantees’ parent projects.

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4.6. Meetings between AFT CU and AFT Donors and Grantees held.

4.6.1. The usual audio/video meetings of the AFT CU and the Donors were held four

times, as determined by need for discussions and updates on grant project implementation

activities (Table 2).

Table 2. The 2017 Meetings of AFT CU and AFT Donors (USAID, Sida & DANIDA)

S/N Date of meeting Ultimate Objective

1 Feb-06, 2017 To discuss the AFT Annual Report 2016 and review the progress of the

AFT activities with new and old Grantees and Action Plan for 2017.

2 Feb-24, 2017 To discuss the draft AFT Annual Work Program and Budget for 2017,

take updates on the AFT Grant implementation and review other issues

concerning AFT.

3 May-24, 2017 To review the outcome and next steps on the AFT Call for Concept Notes

(CNs) that took place from 2-16 May 2017 and take updates on the

implementation of the existing AFT projects.

4 Dec-11, 2017 To take necessary updates and review outcomes of most recent events

carried out by the AFT CU, including Calls for Concept Notes (CN) and

Full Technical Applications (FTAs), the “Lessons Learned Workshop”

and other AFT grant implementation activities.

4.6.2. Similarly, the CU held in-person and audio meetings (including “working

sessions”) with some Grantees at different occasions in 2017. Most meetings were

necessitated by need to provide clarifications and technical guidance on operational cum

implementation-related issues. The working sessions organized by the Procurement team

were aimed at beefing up the Grantees’ procurement abilities to ensure smooth project

execution. Specifically, the CU met with the Representatives of African Bamboo,

Ethiopia from 6-7 April, 2017 “to present key updates and discuss general issues relating

to budget reallocation/utilization” relating to the Components 1, 2 & 3 of the African

Bamboo Project. The meeting was used by the two parties to resolve all the pending

issues on the project and agreed on strategies that would ensure its speedy completion. An

important outcome of the meeting is that it set in place “strategy and modality” that had

led to a successful completion of the project in September 2017.

4.7. Recruitment of Website Development Master on Short-term Consultancy. A

Website Development Master was engaged to update the AFT website in preparation for

the Calls for CNs and FTAs for 2017. The short-term Consultant worked for 7 months

from 18 April 2017 – 17 November 2017.

4.8. Calls for CNs, Invitation for FTAs and Grant Awards for 2017

4.8.1. The Call for CNs that lasted from 2-16 May 2017 attracted a total of 831 CNs

from grant applicants. The CNs were evaluated by over 40 Experts from different

organizations, including AfDB, other DFIs and academia evaluated the CNs with each

CN graded by 2 experts. After the evaluation, 96 CNs were recommended for the next

stage of the application process – invitation for submission of FTAs – that lasted from 9

August 2017 to 8 September 2017. At the end of the deadline; FTAs were received from

84 applicants out of the 96 (88%). Consequently, 8 independent professional consultants

were engaged to evaluate the FTAs with each FTA to be evaluated by 3 consultants. After

the evaluation and scoring, which was based on the AFT-developed FTAs evaluation

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criteria, 34 applications that met 75 percentile cut-off points were retained for further due

diligence before recommendation to the Technical Review Committee (TRC) for grant

awards. On 30 November 2017, a total of 13 projects out of the 34 were recommended to

the TRC for approval, refusal or clearance for further review of the Oversight Committee.

After thorough discussion, including questions, and request for further clarification on

each project, the TRC approved 12 of the 13 applications, cleared one for the

consideration for approval by the Oversight Committee (i.e. the Donors). There were still

prospects for further recommendation/approval of more projects from the list of 34 after

completion of ongoing due diligence by the AFT CU. The breakdown of the approved

projects shows that Ghana has the highest number of 4, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and

Nigeria have 2 each, while Mozambique, and Malawi has one (1) project.

4.8.2. It follows from the results that Benin Republic and Senegal are two new additions

to eligible AFT countries that have benefitted from the AFT grant awards. In a renewed

drive for awareness creation, the AFT CU has scheduled missions to the countries for

further sensitization of the citizens during the first quarter of 2018.

4.9. First AFT Lessons Learned Workshop organized.

4.9.1. Workshop Mission Objective. The First AFT Lessons Learned Workshop was

held in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania from December 6-8, 2017. The purpose of the workshop

was to bring together the AFT stakeholders from all the 10 eligible countries, to review

and document all aspects of the project implementation experiences from the perspectives

of the AFT CU, the Grantees/partners and other stakeholders, and chart the way forward

for the overall success of AFT and the implementation of projects it is funding. The

specific tasks in the workshop program were:

(i) To highlight and discuss the work programme and expected outcome of the

workshop;

(ii) To present an overview of the AFT Grant project and review the

implementation arrangements, including the rules, processes and procedures

associated with the AFT grant;

(iii) To review and discuss key lessons learned (internally from the Operations,

Procurement, M&E general administration, and Website management

perspectives) and externally (from the perspectives of the AFT Grantees and

other stakeholders);

(iv) To take decisions on efficiently and effectively strategies for moving forward.

4.9.2. Attendance and Outcome. The workshop was attended by nine AFT grant

recipients, including the Association WendPanga du Sanmatenga (Burkina Faso),

Fédération Nationales des Sociétés Coopératives de Vivriers de Côte d’Ivoire or

FENASCOVICI (Cote d’Ivoire), Société Ivoirienne de Production Animales or SIPRA

(Cote d’Ivoire), Mokk Investments Limited (Nigeria), and Olam Tanzania Limited

(Tanzania). Others attendees were Akate Farms & Trading Company Limited (Ghana),

Amya Agro Plus Limited (Ghana), Frostran Group of Companies (Tanzania), and

Mgolole Agro Processing Company Limited (Tanzania). The outcomes include the need

to:

(i) showcase the projects’ achievements through adequate communication and to

widen the means of communication to include use of social media platforms,

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WhatsApp, Skype, Twitter, to mobilize resources from the financial

institutions;

(ii) encourage interaction between the different grantees having the same project

design and objectives;

(iii) enhance awareness among the youth to encourage their involvement in

agriculture and agribusinesses;

(iv) find ways of integrating other eligible member countries into AFT activities;

(v) share sample of the documents at each stage, of helps in giving clear

understanding of what is expected;

(vi) ensure improvement of two ways communication at every stage.

An article depicting the outcomes of the First AFT Lessons Learned Workshop is

available at http://intranet3.afdb.org/?q=en/pcer/article/agriculture-fast-track-fund-

organizes-first-lessons-learned-workshop-tanzania.

4.10. Leveraging of financing by Grantees. The financing-leveraging power of AFT

increased substantially during 2017 if feedbacks received from the Grantees during the

First AFT “Lessons Learned Workshop” was taken as guide. Based on statistics received

from 7 AFT-supported projects, Table 3 reveals a leveraging ratio of 1:23, meaning that

each US$1 grant to the seven projects have been able to attract US$23 in financing

(equity/debt).

Table 3: Updated table on Fund leveraging following the AFT Grant

S/N Country & AFT Grantee AFT Grant

(US$)

Total Amount Leveraged

(US$)

Leveraging

Ratio

1 Ghana: Eden Tree 335,000.00 928,715.00 1:30

2 Mozambique: Ecofarms 797,500.00 20,700,000.00 1:26

3 Tanzania: Tanga Fresh 150,500.00 5,800,000.00 1:39

4 Ethiopia: African Bamboo 748,988.00 33,170,000.00 1:44

5 Cote d’Ivoire: SIPRA 710,000.00 9,031,827.00 1:13

6 Burkina Faso: WEND PENGA 177,000.00 252,891.17 1:1.43

7 Ghana: AMYA Agro Plus 140,000.00 403,334.00 1:30

Total 3,058,988.00 70,286,767.17 1:23

5. Implementation Status of Batch I & Batch II

Grants 5.1. Update on Batch I Grants.

5.1.1. Disbursement status. The implementation of all Batch I grant projects has been

completed, but the project completion report is ongoing for majority of the projects. The

disbursement rate is about 88% for all grants, under Batch I, and 12% for Batch II

projects. The analysis by specific projects is presented in Table 4. The briefs on each

project are presented in the following sub-sections.

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Table 4. Analysis of disbursements by Batches I & II projects Category Country Project name Amount (US$) Disbursement

rate Approval Disbursement

Batch I Burkina Faso Association WENDPANGA 177,200.00 167,342.93 94.4

Cote d'Ivoire SIPRRA – Cattle and poultry Feed Processing

Plant

710,000.00 575,615.38 81.1

Cote d'Ivoire FENACOVICI-Support to Food Production and

Food Security Program

551,990.00 468,423.82 84.9

Ethiopia African Bamboo Company – Integrated Supply

Chain for Bamboo Based Floor Board Business

748,988.00 684,620.55 91.4

Ghana Practical Care Agribusiness – Soybean

production and marketing

115,000.00 104,837.00 91.2

Mozambique ODEBRECHT- Integrated Poultry Production,

Processing and Distribution

555,500.00 492,199.75 88.6

Mozambique ECOFARM Mozambique – Establishment of

the sugar cane estate and the sugar processing plant

797,500.00 731,211.94 91.7

Tanzania Tanga Fresh UHT Tanzania Ltd – Expansion of

Fresh Milk Processing Plant in Tanga

150,500.00 140,396.67 93.3

Batch II Ghana Akate Farms Limited 180,000.00 13,500.00 7.5

Tanzania Frostran Group of Companies 361,000.00 96,400.00 26.7

Tanzania Mgolole Agroprocessing Co 250,000.00 56,000.00 22.4

Nigeria Mokk Investments Limited 281,000.00 108,020.00 38.4

Grand total 5,950,678.00 3,912,488.04 65.7

5.1.2. FENASCOVICI (Cote d’Ivoire). The grant project “Support to Food Production

and Food Security Program” was approved for the Fédération Nationales des Sociétés

Coopératives de Vivriers de Côte d’Ivoire (FENASCOVICI) for three key project

components: environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA), feasibility study, and

business plan. All components of the project have been successfully accomplished. The

Grantee is still struggling to get desired financing for its parent project. During the recent

AFT Lessons Learned Workshop in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, the stakeholders observed

after listening to FENASCOVICI presentation that the entirety of its package was

admirable, but somewhat “too broad” and would require a lot of capital to accomplish. In

its present form it might be very difficult to get a financial institution agreeing to pick it

up, necessitating the suggestion to FENASCOVICI to consider disaggregating the entire

package into “distinct modules” each of which could be attractive to financiers to pick up.

5.1.3. Société Ivoirienne de Production Animales (SIPRA), Cote d’Ivoire. SIPRA

was created in 1976 and operates in all poultry industry value chain, ranging from the

production of day-old chicks to rearing of

broilers, pullets and production of eggs.

The company also produces livestock and

poultry feed for chicken, hog, beef and

dairy cattle, rabbit, fish etc. (Figure 1).

SIPRA based in Cote d’Ivoire received

approval for the project “Cattle and

Poultry Feed Processing Plant.” The grant

project had 3 key components: (a)

feasibility study, (b) detailed technical

production and storage facility study, and

(c) business plan and financial structuring.

All project components had been

successfully and effectively completed

and payments made to the Service

Providers. Following the successful execution of the AFT grant, SIPRA is recently

Figure 1: Activity value-chain at SIPRA

8

reported to have leveraged financing to the tune of about US$9.03 million for carrying

out its parent project.

5.1.4. Association Wend Panga du Sanmatenga (Burkina Faso). Wend Panga in

Burkina Faso is farmers’ cooperative with 27 groups and about 980 members. The group,

which had been in existence since 2007 produces onions, tomatoes, cabbages, peppers

and other vegetable products (Figure 2). Wend Penga received approval for AFT Grant

totalling US$ 177,000 in support of its grant project “Production of fruits and vegetables,

Burkina Faso” with 3 basic components, namely social and economic impact assessment

(EIA), detailed business plan, and marketing/communications plan. All preparatory

activities have been duly completed. Also, the project completion report (PCR) has been

completed and submitted to the bank. The Grantee is has already leveraged financing in

the region of US$ 0.25 million in support of its parent project.

5.1.5. African Bamboo Company Plc (Ethiopia). In Ethiopia, African Bamboo

Company received approval for the grant project “Integrated Supply Chain for Bamboo-

Based Floor Board Business.” The project has 4 key components. Some of the

components have been completed while few others are at various stages of completion.

This project has been successfully completed.

5.1.6. Practical Care Agribusiness (Ghana). A grant project titled ‘Support production,

post-harvest and marketing of soybean produced by smallholder farmers” was approved

for Practical Care Agribusiness, Ghana. The initially assumed 3 components of the grant

– business & financial plan, environmental impact assessment, and marketing

research/plan – were merged as one “Feasibility study,” which was carried out by one

consultant. The study is completed and submitted while the Project completion report

(PCR) assignment is still ongoing.

5.1.7. ECOFARM (Mozambique). ECOFARM based in Mozambique received

approved grant for its project “Expansion of Sugarcane Production Estate.” All the six

project activities have been duly completed. The PCR is in progress. ECFARM had raised

Figure 2. Vegetable value chain at Association Wend Panga

9

initial financing for the first project phase of commercial milling. It is being supported by

Norsad Finance Ltd, Banco Unico, AgDevCo, Rademan Janse van Rensburg, Wouter

Rosingh and Han Derksen under the milling project.

5.1.8. ODEBRECHT Project Avicola (Mozambique). Approval was given for the

grant project “Creation of Poultry Production, Processing and Distribution Plant”

sponsored by ODEBRECHT Project Avicola, Mozambique. The originally-defined 4

components – Business, financial & marketing plan, environmental impact assessment,

legal and financial advice, and agricultural project planning – were later merged as one

“Feasibility study” to be undertaken by one Consultant. Presently, all the project

preparatory activities have been completed.

5.1.9. TANGA Fresh (Tanzania). The “Expansion of Fresh Milk Processing Plant in

Tanga” was approved for Tanga Fresh, Tanzania. As at present, all project activities have

been completed and grant funds fully disbursed. Tanga Fresh has made some remarkable

progress in the area of securing financing for the construction of its UHT Milk plant.

5.2. Active Batch II AFT Grant Projects. The following are briefs and updates on

each of the 11 Batch II projects.

5.2.1. Akate Farms & Trading Company Limited (Ghana). In Ghana, AFT is

funding the Akate Farms & Trading Company Limited for (a) (partnership) feasibility

study for a poultry processing plant; (b) marketing plan for engaging the broiler out-

growers to assist in driving the project; and (c) environmental and social impact

assessment (ESIA) in respect of the poultry and abattoir activities. A grant totalling

US$250,000 was approved by the TRC on 27 July 2016 for the project titled "Rebuilding

Ghana's Domestic Broiler Industry." The AFT CU has successfully guided the Grant

Recipient to develop the Terms of Reference (ToR) for all studies, as well as through the

entire stages of the procurement process. The project is among those launched in

November 2016. It is operationally active and undergoing implementation.

5.2.2. OLAM Tanzania limited. OLAM is a multilateral agribusiness institution that

has since 1998 been operating in the Kyela District, the main cocoa-growing region in

Tanzania. It has developed a network of about 8,500 smallholder farmers in the area

(Figure 3). Its support for farmers comes in the areas of “buying” their cocoa produce,

“supporting certification,” “unlocking premiums,” offering “training on good agriculture

Practices’ and “post-harvesting handling,” and “digitalisation of the cocoa “supply chain”

in the area. In November 2016, OLAM Tanzania was awarded AFT grant to embark on

the following key preparation activities (a) Feasibility Studies (Technical, Financial and

Market) in respect of preparatory activities for the proposed cocoa plantation; and (b)

Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA). The AFT CU has successfully

guided the Grant Recipient to develop the Terms of Reference (ToR) for all studies, as

well as through the entire stages of the procurement process. The Grant is active and

procurement process on the side of the Grantee is in progress. The consulting firm

(Southern Mapping Company – South Africa) that will carry out the assignment was

selected using the Consultants’ Qualifications Selection (CQS) method.

10

5.2.3. Mokk Investment Limited (Nigeria). In Nigeria, Mokk Investments Limited is

working on cassava production, processing and value-addition (Figure 4). AFT is funding

the Grantee under the project “Industrial processing facility for processing of cassava

roots into high quality bread flour and starch in Nigeria.” The company received approval

of AFT grant amounting to US$281,000 on 27 July 2016 to carry out feasibility studies

(technical, financial and market) and environmental and social impact assessment. The

project is operationally active at the final stage of its implementation.

Figure 4. Mokk Investments works on cassava value chain in Nigeria

5.2.4. Mgolole Agro Processing Company Limited, Tanzania. This project is located

at Plot No. 1, Msanvu, Morogoro, a city about 300 km away from Dar-es-Salaam,

Tanzania. The parent project is into the production, processing and marketing of livestock

and dairy products (Figure 5). It also specializes in the farming, processing and marketing

of different species of local and hybrid grasses for livestock feeding. According to

Figure 3. OLAM Tanzania cocoa value-chain Source: Olam Strategic Report 2016, page 43

11

Professor Martin Shem, the Managing Director of Mgolole Agro-processing Company,

the available stock of grasses available in Mgolole farms include Chrolis Gayana (Rhodes

grass), Cenchrus ciliaris (Buffel grass or African foxtail grass), Baracharia brizantha

(signal grass), and Cultivar Mulato II (Brachiaria hybrid CIAT 36087), hybrid

between Brachiaria ruziziensis clone 44-6 and Brachiaria brizantha CIAT 6297.

Figure 5. Mgolole Agro-processing, Tanzania specializes in livestock production and processing

The AFT Grant was approved for: (a) preparation of feasibility – technical, financial and

market – studies, and (b) design of engineering irrigation system for Mgolole Agro-

processing under the project: “Production and Marketing of Quality Meat in Tanzania.”

The Grantee received approved of grant award to the tune of US$150,000 on 14

September 2016. The studies are at their completion stages.

5.2.5. Muvek Development Solutions limited (Tanzania). In Tanzania, Muvek DS

Limited, received AFT project preparation grant facility of

US$100,000 approved on 27 July 2016 in support of the company’s

“Commercialization of Indigenous Poultry” project. AFT is funding

the feasibility studies (technical, financial, and market, and an

environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA)). The AFT CU

has successfully guided the Grant Recipient to develop the Terms of

Reference (ToR) for all studies. The grant project is and Grantee is focused on successful

implementation.

5.2.6. Riftcot Limited (Tanzania). Riftcot Ltd, a Tanzania-based agribusiness SME got

approval of AFT grant to the tune of US$160,000 on 27 July 2016. The grant is in support

of its project titled “Network of Grain Silos and Warehouse.” The approval is for funding

12

of three key preparation activities: (a) Feasibility Studies; (b) Financial Evaluation, Legal,

Regulatory and Tax Due Diligence; and (c) Environmental and Social Impact Assessment

(ESIA). The project is active and the implementation is at an advanced stage.

5.2.7. AMYA Agro Plus Limited (Ghana). In Ghana AFT is funding studies to support

AMYA Agro Plus Limited in its three key cassava value chain activities of production,

processing and marketing. To this end, a grant award to the tune of US$140,000 was

approved for the organization on 27 July 2016 to fund two key project preparation studies

(a) Feasibility Studies (Technical, financial, and market); and Environmental and Social

Impact Assessment (ESIA). The AFT CU has successfully guided the Grant Recipient to

develop the Terms of Reference (ToR) for all studies, as well as through the entire stages

of the procurement process. Project is active and at the final stage of implementation.

Figure 6. AMYA Agro Plus produces, processes and markets cassava products in Ghana

5.2.8. Mulualem Farm Enterprise (Ethiopia). In Ethiopia, AFT is supporting

Mulualem Farm Enterprise to fund studies unde the project “Mulualem Farm Enterprise

Tomato processing Plant.” A grant amount of US$187,286 was approved for the

company on 14 September 2016. The approval of AFT grant was for the funding of the

two (2) key project preparation activities: a) feasibility study for an integrated poultry

processing plant (technical, financial and market); and b) environmental and social

impact assessment (ESIA). The project is active and implementation is progressing well.

5.2.9. Frostan Group of Companies (Tanzania). Frostran Group of Companies,

Tanzania, is a company that specializes in the processing, preservation and marketing of

livestock and poultry products, including meat of different types. The SME’s strength lies

in its efficient provision and management of temperature-controlled processing and

distribution facilities. The organization located in Mikocheni, a suburb area of Dar-es-

Salaam, became a beneficiary of AFT grant to the tune of US$361,000 approved on 27

July 2016. The company’s grant request is for its project titled “Agriculture Value Chain -

13

Livestock and Meat in Tanzania. The AFT Grant was approved for funding of the

projects key preparatory set of studies: Feasibility studies (Technical, Financial, and

Marketing, including Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA)). AFT team

worked with the Grantee to develop the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the set of studies.

Project is active and at the final stage of implementation.

Figure 7: Frostan Tanzania:

Specialist in processing, preservation & marketing of livestock products

5.2.10. Samri Mixed Farm (Ethiopia). Also working in Ethiopia, Samri Mixed Farm

received an AFT grant of US$148,000 approved on 12 July 2016 for the project titled

“Market Plan of Potato Seed and Dried Whole Potato.” The grant is for funding of two (2)

basic project preparatory activities: (a) Feasibility Studies (Technical, Financial and

Market) for potato drying and packaging facility; and (b) Environmental and Social

Impact Assessment (ESIA). The AFT CU has successfully guided the Grant Recipient to

develop the Terms of Reference (ToR) for all studies, as well as through the entire stages

of the procurement process. Project is active and implementation is progressing well.

5.2.11. Norish Business Plc (Ethiopia). On 14 September 2016, the Norish Business Plc

Ethiopia received approval for use of AFT resources to the tune of US$120,000 for some

preparation studies relating to the project titled “Expansion of Supplementary Food

Processing Plant.” The AFT grant is to be used to funded 2 key studies: a) feasibility

study for supplementary food-processing facility (technical, financial & marketing), and

(b) agriculture supply chain analysis. The AFT CU has successfully guided the Grantee to

develop the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the studies. The project is active and ongoing

implementation is progressing well.

FROSTAN GROUP

14

6. Human Resources Management

6.1. Contribution of the Bank to AFT Personnel Costs. The Bank’s contribution to

AFT personnel costs, like salaries, allowances and benefits, was sustained in 2017. As

usual, various divisions of the Bank like Legal, Fiduciary, Risk Mobilization and External

Finance, Private Sector, and Financial Control Departments maintained their involvement

in the Fund's activities. Also, the Sector and Operations experts in Field Offices assisted

with Portfolio Management.

6.2. AFT Coordination. The AFT CU is a member of the AHAI of AfDB while the

Coordinator was deployed from the AHAI Directorate and works under the AHAI

Director. The Oversight Coordinator of AFT, a Lead Agricultural Economist and Expert,

is also a member of the AHAI Directorate. The activities embarked upon by the AFT CU

in 2017 were within the orbit of the 2017 Annual Work Program and Budget (AWP&B),

approved by the Oversight Committee (OC) at the inception of the year. The work

program and activities of the AFT CU were executed by its key workforce comprising of

the AFT Coordinator, Experts in Operations, Procurement and Monitoring and Evaluation

and Data Analysis, and Operations Assistant assigned to AFT from the AHAI

Directorate. Also, AFT CU engaged the services of a Website Development Master on

short-term consultancy that lasted from 18 April – 17 November 2017 to update the AFT

website preparatory to the Calls for CNs and FTAs.

7. Highlight of Key Lessons Learned

The following are among the key lessons learned, especially following from the First

AFT Lessons learned Workshop held in Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania in December 2017:

7.1. The need for pre-informing the potential grant applicants about the key

requirements of the grant implementation, including procurement processes and

procedures, time input, etc., will be helpful get them prepared for it. Giving some detailed

insight at the application stage into what will be expected of the Grantee during grant

implementations would substantially assist the prospective Grantees in making decision

on whether or not to apply.

7.2. The growing interests in the AFT grant were further demonstrated by the number

of responses received to the call for CNs launched from 2-16 May 2017. Over 830

applicants submitted CNs with representation recorded from all eligible countries,

although all could not receive approval for at least one project after invitation for

submission and evaluation of FTAs. This supports the earlier claim that “Strict emphasis

on competition has…continued to make it increasingly difficult for all countries and

zones to benefit from the AFT grant” (AFT 2016 Annual Report, paragraph 5.4, page 13).

7.3. Need to activate and update the AFT social media platforms – including twitter &

Facebook – and other communication channels, like AFT Newsletter, website, and

Database of Consultants (DACON), for effective communication of AFT operations.

15

7.4. Establishing a “database” of available financing opportunities and financial

institutions in the operating locations of AFT grantees and posting the information on the

AFT website would assist AFT Grantees to identify available financing openings to

which they could sell their proposed business ideas.

7.5. With respect to operations, especially disbursement, it has been noted that the

Grantees will help to facilitate the disbursement process if they take their time to review

all documents originating from the Consultants – including ascertaining correctness of the

Bank details and ensuring that value-added tax (VAT) is not included in the Invoice –

before submitting payment requests to the Bank.

7.6. Even though both the public and private sector operators are eligible to request for

the AFT grant facility, receiving the grant approval has been difficult for the public

sector. Partly responsible for this is that, perhaps the “Grant Application” process and

“Evaluation Criteria” are much more inclined towards the private sector than the public

sector. The CU will work out ways of ensuring that public sector projects benefit from the

grant opportunity.

8. Highlight of Challenges

8.1. Some of the documents, including documents relating to procurement and

contracts preparation are bulky and imposing difficulty for loading into the AFT website,

especially when pictures are associated. The CU is intensifying efforts to ameliorate this

difficulty.

8.2. Constraints imposed by time, resources and logistics have made impossible the

previous plan to embark on the launching of projects in different eligible countries and in

so doing restrain adequate publicity of AFT.

8.3. The failure/refusal of some Grantees to develop and adhere strictly to use of

Procurement Plans (PP) to facilitate their procurement process has contributed to

prolonged length of time they spend in the process.

9. Highlight of Next Steps and Future Activities

The following are highlights of the next steps and some future planned activities for 2017.

9.1. Signing of Letters of Agreement. Preparation and signing of Letters of

Agreement for the Batch III approved grants. The AFT CU will work with the Legal

Department of the Bank to actualize this task as soon as possible.

9.2. Launching of newly approved grant projects. Project Launching will be

conducted for all newly-approved Batch III grant awards. In the Quarter 1 of 2018.

16

Project Launching is a key activity that should precede the commencement of grant

implementation for any new phase of the AFT project. The AFT CU will work on the

modalities/strategies for the project launching.

9.3. Tracking Grantees' ability to leverage funding. The AFT CU will continue to

monitor and present updates based on old Grantees efforts to leverage financing for their

parent projects. Through the setting up of its proposed “database” of available financing

opportunities, the AFT CU intends to be of immense assistance to the Grantee in that

regard.

9.4. Phase 1 “Sunset Plan” and “Exit Strategy.” The Phase 1 of AFT is coming to

an end by 31 March 2018. A “Sunset Plan” and “Exit Strategy” has been initiated by the

AFT CU for discussion with the AFT Donors. The AFT CU will follow up with the AFT

Donors to ensure that the “Sunset” Plan’ is finalized before the end of the Project in

Quarter 1 of 2018.

9.5. Evaluation/Audit of AFT operations and activities since its inception. AFT

CU will facilitate the procurement of a Consultant for this assignment. Among other

things, the review will take a comprehensive inventory of the grant projects funded over

the past four (4) years and focus on performance-based measures to ascertain the

contribution of the AFT to the development efforts of the grantees (agribusiness SMEs)

and the beneficiary countries. The AFT CU has developed a draft terms of reference

(ToR) for the task.

9.6. “Sensitization and awareness-creation Mission. A mission aimed at

“sensitization/ awareness creation” to the eligible countries that hitherto have not

benefitted from the AFT facility has been scheduled for Quarter 1 of 2018. It will be an

opportunity to create some enlightenment about AFT procedures and requirements for

grant requests.

9.7. Technical support for the new Grantees. The AFT’s procurement unit will

continue to provide regular technical support aimed at building the grantees' procurement

capacity. In this regard, the use of “working sessions,” which had worked in the

immediate past would continue. Regular meetings and interactions on telephone, email

exchange, audio/video calls, Skype/Whaspp call, etc. will continue to be held.

9.8. Monitoring and evaluation. M&E and other project supervision activities will be

conducted during the year. Some of the activities may involve field visits to project

locations. Also, baseline surveys of new set of grantees and case study of old grantees

would be resumed during the year.

9.9. Fresh Calls for CNs and FTAs in 2018. The AFT CU will launch fresh Calls for

CNs and FTAs in the second and third quarters of 2018. It will also continue to work

assiduously to ensure that all approved projects are delivered within the shortest possible

time by instilling high levels of efficiency in its operation units.

9.10. Reporting Deliverables. Reporting of the Fund's activities will continue will be

carried out as appropriate. The 2017 Annual Report should be ready by the first week of

February 2018 while the Bi-annual Report for 2018 should be prepared and made ready

before the end of July 2018.

17

10. Conclusion

The year witnessed a substantial progress in grant project implementation across the AFT

project locations. The disbursement rate of the Batch I grants stood at 78% with the

shortfall consisting mainly of the disbursements for the project completion report (PCR)

deliverables that are still ongoing. The Batch I projects have been fully implemented

while good progress is being made with the Batch II grants. The Call for CNs attracted

overwhelming response with over 800 applications revealing the increasing popularity of

AFT. The first AFT lessons learned workshop was organized in Tanzania in December

2017 to review and document all aspects of the grant implementation experiences and

chart the way forward for the overall realization of AFT. Among other things, the

workshop underscored the need to activate and update the AFT social media platforms

and communication channels for effective communication of AFT operations, as well as

establish a “database” of available financing opportunities and financial institutions in the

operating locations of AFT grantees. It is expected that this will be of immense assistance

to grantees in identifying available financing options to sell their business designs. The

upcoming action plans for the first quarter of 2018 include the preparation and signing of

the Letters of Agreements (LoA) for the Batch III grants, launching of the newly-

approved projects and perfection of the “Sun-set Plan” or ”Exit Strategy” for Phase 1 of

AFT expected to end in 31 March 2018.

18

Appendix I: Details of grants approved by the AFT’s TRC (Batch 1), 2013/2014 S/N Grant no. Company/Organization Project name Country Amount

(US$)

Approval

Date

Remark

1 G-CI-A00-

ZZZ-001 FENACOVICI Support to Food Production and Food

Security Program

Cote d’Ivoire 551,990.00 Oct-17-2013 Completed

2 G-CI-A00-

STY-001 SIPRRA Cattle and poultry Feed Processing

Plant

Cote d’Ivoire 710,000.00 Jan-10-2014 Completed

3 G-BF-A00-

ZZZ-001 WENDPANGA Production of fruits and vegetables Burkina Faso 177,200.00 Dec-22-2014 Completed

4 G-ET-A00-

STY-001 AFRICA BAMBOO

COMPANY

Integrated Supply Chain for Bamboo

Based Floor Board Business

Ethiopia 748,988.00 Jan-10-2014 Completed

5 G-GH-A00-

ZZZ-001 PRACTICAL CARE

AGRIBUSINESS

Support production, Post-harvest and

marketing of soybean produced by

smallholder farmers

Ghana 115,000.00 Dec-22-2014 Completed

6 G-MZ-A00-

ZZZ-002 ECOFARM Expansion of Sugarcane Production

estate

Mozambique 797,500.00 May-27-2014 Completed

7 G-MZ-A00-ZZZ-001

ODEBRECHT PROJ.

AVICOLA

Creation of Poultry Production,

Processing and Distribution Plant

Mozambique 555,500.00 May-27-2014 Completed

8 G-TZ-A00-

ZZZ-001 TANGA FRESH Expansion of Fresh Milk Processing

Plant in Tanga

Tanzania 150,500.00 May-27-2014 Completed

TOTAL 3,806,678.00

19

Appendix II: Details of grant approvals by the AFT’s TRC (Batch II), 2016

S/N Grant

no.

Company/Organization Project name Country Amount

(US$)

Approval

Date

Bank Sign Grantee Sign

Remark

1 # 781 Akate Farms & Trading

Company Limited, Ghana

Rebuilding Ghana Domestic

Broiler Industry

Ghana 250,000.00 27-Jul-16 26-Nov-16 26-Nov-16 Active

2 # 791 Norish Business Plc: Expansion of Supplementary Food

Processing Plant

Ethiopia 120,000.00 14-Sep-16 N/A N/A Active

3 # 800 Olam Tanzania Limited: Cultivating Tanzania’s Cocoa

Potential

Tanzania 215,000.00 27-Jul-16 6-Dec-16 6-Dec-16 Active

4 # 802 Mgolole Agro Processing

Company Limited,

Tanzania

Production and Marketing of

Quality Meat in Tanzania

Tanzania 150,000.00 14-Sep-16 1-Dec-16 1-Dec-16 Active

5 # 811 Amya Agro Plus Limited,

Ghana

Expansion of cassava production,

processing diverse products for

local and West African markets

Ghana 140,000.00 27-Jul-16 28-Nov-16 28-Nov-16 Active

6 # 820 Muvek Development

Solutions Limited:

Commercialization of Indigenous

Poultry

Tanzania 100,000.00 27-Jul-16 6-Dec-16 6-Dec-16 Active

7 # 844 Mokk Investments

Limited, Nigeria

Industrial processing facility for

processing of cassava roots into

high quality bread flour and starch

in Nigeria

Nigeria 281,000.00 27-Jul-16 29-Nov-16 29-Nov-16 Active

8 # 872 Riftcot Ltd. Network of Grain Silos and

Warehouse

Tanzania 160,000.00 27-Jul-16 6-Dec-16 6-Dec-16 Active

9 # 893 Mulualem Farm

Enterprise, Ethiopia:

Mulualem Farm Enterprise Tomato

processing Plant

Ethiopia 187,286.00 14-Sep-16 2-Jun-17 2-Jun-17 Active

10 # 914 Samri Mixed Farm,

Ethiopia

Market Plan of Potato Seed and

Dried Whole Potato

Ethiopia 148,000.00 27-Jul-16 8-Dec-16 8-Dec-16 Active

11 # 918 Frostran Group of

Companies, Tanzania

Agriculture Value Chain -

Livestock and Meat in Tanzania

Tanzania 361,000.00 27-Jul-16 6-Dec-16 6-Dec-16 Active

12 Rift Vally Products Ltd Cotton Firming & Ginnery Ethiopia 200,000.00 Not signed

TOTAL 2,312,286.00

20

Appendix III: Details of grants approved by the AFT’s TRC (Batch III), November 2017 S/N Grant

no.

Company/Organization Project name Country Amount

(US$)

Approval

Date

Bank Sign

Grantee Sign

Remark

1 # 4367 Serious Shea - Shea Butter Eco-

Processing Co., Burkina Faso

Shea Butter Eco- Processing

Centers

Burkina Faso 485,000.00 30-Nov-17 NA NA Active

2 # 4381 Newland Mills Ltd. - Nigeria Rice Processing &

Cultivation with an

Outgrower Scheme

Nigeria 230,000.00 30-Nov-17 NA NA Active

3 # 4389 Africa Agricultural Development

Company (AgDevCo) -

Mozambique

Catandica Irrigation Mozambique 407,000.00 30-Nov-17 NA NA Active

4 # 4409 Maphlix Trust Ghana Limited -

Ghana

Processing of Cassava Ghana 110,000.00 30-Nov-17 NA NA Active

5 # 4415 Faggy Investment, Malawi Meat Processing Plant Malawi 110,000.00 30-Nov-17 NA NA Active

6 # 4421 Paragon Agri Seeds, Ghana Seed Multiplication &

Smallholder Program

Ghana 195,000.00 30-Nov-17 NA NA Active

7 # 4422 HAE Spice and Baltina Plc.,

Ethiopia

Organic and Fair Trade Red

Pepper & Tropical Spices

Ethiopia 195,000.00 30-Nov-17 NA NA Active

8 # 4428 Premium Foods limited (PFL),

Ghana

Processing of Cassava Ghana 310,000.00 30-Nov-17 NA NA Active

9 # 4429 Ethiopia Zebad General Export

Import Plc., Ethiopia

ZEBAD Ethiopia 175,000.00 30-Nov-17 NA NA Active

10 # 4456 Société d'exploitation des Produits

Agricoles (SODEPAL), Burkina

Faso

Cereals infant flour Burkina Faso 160,000.00 30-Nov-17 NA NA Active

11 # 4376 IWAD Ghana Limited, Ghana Savannah Commercial

Irrigation and Smallholder

Development

Ghana 470,000.00 30-Nov-17 NA NA Active

12 # 4448 Globus Resources Limited* Integrated Poultry Expansion

Project (Broiler Production

and Outgrowing Program)

Nigeria 247,285.00 30-Nov-17 NA NA Further due

diligence

recommended

TOTAL 3,094,285.00