GAFSP Builds Producer Organizations’ Capacity for Future Crisis Responses

 This press release was originally published on the World Bank website.

WASHINGTON, July 31, 2023 – Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) successfully concluded its Seventh Call for Proposals, announcing new funding of $33.93 million for 15 Producer Organizations (POs) in thirteen low-income countries. The financing will help strengthen these producer organizations as key economic players in agriculture value chains while enhancing livelihood opportunities for their members through capacity building and increased access to investment support, markets, and technology.

These 15 projects align with the GAFSP Steering Committee’s priority of addressing global food security challenges, promoting collaboration among development partners, and improving preparedness to effectively respond to future crises. Project grants were awarded to the following organizations:  

1. Sara Bangla Krishak Society (Bangladesh)
2. Conseil National de Concertation des producteurs Ruraux du Tchad (Chad)
3. Fédération des Organisations Paysannes Maraichères de la Basse Guinée (Guinea)
4. Kyrgyz Association of Forest and Land Users (Kyrgyzstan)
5. Agricultural Cooperative Mol Tushum (Kyrgyzstan) 
6. Lao Farmer’s Network (Lao)
7. Nepal Agriculture Cooperative Central Federation limited (Nepal)
8. Cooperativa de Servicios Múltiples “20 de abril” (Nicaragua)
9. Fundación Aldea (Nicaragua)
10. Coordination Nationale de la Plateforme Paysanne du Niger Niger)
11. Farm Workers Trade Union - INGABO Syndicate (Rwanda)
12. Samoa Federated Farmers Incorporated (Samoa)
13. Sariiraale farmers’ cooperatives society (Somalia)
14. Mtandao wa Vikundi vya Wakulima Tanzania (Tanzania)
15. Coordination Togolaise des Organisations Paysannes et de Producteurs Agricole (Togo)

Through demand-driven and bottom-up approaches, GAFSP supports producer-led projects implemented directly by the organizations themselves, with the assistance of their chosen development partner—African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Inter-American Development Bank, International Fund for Agricultural Development, World Bank, or the World Food Programme.

“Small farmers, as the first private sector of the rural world, play a vital role in employment, job creation, and investment in rural communities. They face significant challenges and risks, particularly in low-income countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. To support and strengthen this sector, a smallholder-centered approach is necessary, ensuring they have access to resources, credit, technology, and market opportunities,” said Mr. Mamadou Cissokho, honorary Chairman of the réseau des organisations paysannes et de producteurs de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (ROPPA).

The Call for Proposals attracted significant interest, with more than $100 million in proposals being received from more than forty organizations, highlighting the high demand for GAFSP financing and needs in low-income countries for support to help local and regional value chains respond to the current food security crisis. Proposals were selected through a transparent and competitive process, informed by recommendations from an independent review team composed of global agriculture and value chain experts. 

Project proposals were required to 1) scale up an existing producer organization activities; 2) include activities aimed at strengthening the producer organization’s ability to improve the livelihoods and resilience of its membership of smallholder farmers and 3) be led by a producer organization with demonstrated.

“With over 800 million people experiencing food insecurity, now is the time to step up our support for smallholder farmers, who supply the world’s food. GAFSP is ideally placed to facilitate this by enabling smallholder producer organizations in low-income countries to partner with multilateral development banks and UN agencies to strengthen food security in vulnerable communities,” said Mr. Hong Won Yu, Director of Food Security at Global Affairs Canada.

About GAFSP
The Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) is a multilateral financing platform dedicated to improving food and nutrition security worldwide. Launched by the G20 in the wake of the 2007–08 food price crisis, GAFSP works to build sustainable and resilient agriculture and food systems in the world’s poorest and most vulnerable countries. Since its inception in 2010, the Program has mobilized more than US$2 billion in donor funds to reach more than 16.6 million people. GAFSP provides financial and technical resources—investment grants, technical assistance, concessional finance, and advisory services—to demand-driven projects along the food chain, from farm to table. GAFSP’s inclusive governance is comprised of donors, recipient countries, civil society organizations, and multilateral development agencies.