Agribusiness and food systems

<p>In September 2021, The Government of the Netherlands and the International Trade Centre (ITC) signed a four-year partnership agreement aimed at enhancing the trade competitiveness in selected African countries, through the strengthening of digital and agribusiness services and especially the connection between the two.</p><p>In Senegal, ITC will implement a value chain development project with the objective of improving the competitiveness of livelihood farmers and agribusiness MSMEs in the cashew nuts and associated crops. Cashew will be the main crop of focus, nevertheless the project will additionally support the commercialization of associated horticulture products (e.g. maize, cowpea, cassava/yam and vegetables) etc) following the A4A multi-products multi-market approach. The exact basket of associated horticultural products will be defined at the beginning of the project through the foreseen detailed cashew nuts value chain analysis that will be undertaken in collaboration with the University of Thies.&nbsp;</p><p>Through the project, ITC aims to promote more efficient and sustainable agri-business and support services that will lead to increased trade, better incomes and livelihoods opportunities, especially for the smallholder cashew growers.</p><p>The main objectives of the action in Senegal are:</p><ul><li>Understand market trends and identify resilient and sustainable business and production models for the cashew sector.</li><li>Strengthen Public-Private alliances to support the development of more solid ecosystems including through digital applications.&nbsp;</li><li>Facilitate linkages for SMEs, SEs and Producers Associations with international, regional and domestic partners, business and investment opportunities</li></ul><p>The agri-business component of NTF V in Senegal will apply the ITC Alliances for Action (A4A) approach that has proved to be a successful model to promote responsible partnerships for development, to leverage investments and technical support and achieve measurable impact for smallholder farmers and MSMEs. In the framework of NTF V, A4A will look beyond sustainable production to work on enabling environment and target all steps of the value chain from farm to fork. Digital application will be used to increase the overall competitiveness of the agribusiness value chain as well as to scale-up results and reach more partners and beneficiaries.</p>

<p>International trade is an important driver of growth and a means to facilitate Afghanistan&apos;s path away from aid dependency. As such, the Government of Afghanistan has prioritized trade, regional cooperation and private sector development as critical elements for its economic development strategy.</p><p>The Action, therefore, aims to unlock Afghanistan&apos;s trade potential by improving quality and standards- setting, strengthening export/investment promotion capacities, facilitating cross border trade including through removing regulatory and procedural barriers, supporting specific value chains and women&rsquo;s participation in international business and trade.</p><p>In doing so, the Action is supporting the implementation of priority needs embedded in the Government of Afghanistan&rsquo;s road map for export competitiveness: the National Export Strategy (NES). The NES, endorsed by the Government and officially launched in June 2018, was the flagship document of Phase I of the AAT project (2016-2019). As such, the Action is a follow-up intervention aimed at materializing the NES strategic vision to support trade competitiveness within the region.</p><p>The project&apos;s <strong>general objective</strong> (impact) is to foster a more inclusive and exports-led economic growth.</p><p>The <strong>specific objectives</strong> (outcomes) of the project are:&nbsp;</p><ul type="square"><li><strong>Specific objective 1:</strong>Strengthened business/investment environment to support regional economic integration and connectivity;</li><li><strong>Specific objective 2:</strong> Improved competitiveness and economic, social and environmental responsibility in agri-business and manufactured products value chains;</li><li><strong>Specific objective 3:</strong> Increased engagement of Afghan women in international/regional trade.</li></ul><p>By delivering on the above specific objectives, the action will increase participation of Afghan MSMEs in international/regional trade in selected agri-business and manufacturing sector value chains.</p><p>By delivering on the above specific objectives, the Action will increase participation of Afghan MSMEs in international/regional trade in selected agri-business and manufacturing product value chains. Preliminary analysis and consultations have identified the following possible value chains for examination during the inception phase (but not limited to): 1) agribusiness (saffron, dried fruits and nuts, fresh fruits and vegetables, and 2) manufactured products (jewels and precious stones).</p><p>The Action will build on the results achieved within the project&apos;s Phase I.</p>

<p>The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is a fifth largest producer of coconuts in the Pacific region. However, FSM is the smallest exporter of coconut products in the Pacific with negligible volumes of coconut oil being exported. Based on this situation analysis, the project aims to increase coconut exports through the design of a coconut export strategy that is endorsed, coherent, and comprehensive. &nbsp;Additionally, the project will support the establishment of a &quot;strategic coconut partnership&quot; building consensus between public and private stakeholders to grow the industry. Finally, the project will provide advisory support to selected stakeholders in strategy management techniques.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The project consists of national interventions under the Partner States Window of the EU-EAC Market Access Upgrade Programme - MARKUP funded by the 11th European Development Fund. The action aims at addressing both supply side and market access constraints in coffee, tea and horticulture sectors, supporting the participation in regional and global value chains, with a particular focus on exports to the European Union (EU). The selection of coffee, tea and horticulture sectors was guided by requests of country stakeholders identified during the project inception phase in 2016 and programming missions in 2017.&nbsp;</p><p>Despite the current transition and recovery from conflict, Burundi&apos;s economy is growing and accession of Burundi to EAC in 2007 offers great opportunities for increase in trade of agricultural products in the region. The EAC has already begun to play an important role for Burundi&apos;s expansion into horticulture products. However, significant trade barriers persist and severely inhibit Burundian exporters in the coffee, tea and horticulture sectors to integrate in regional and EU markets. &nbsp; If non-tariff barriers, such as quality requirements, TBT and SPS issues were reduced highly regulated and higher value markets, in particular the EU and EAC could be accessed. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>To prove compliance with quality standards and technical regulations, it is essential for Burundi to have a competent and internationally recognized quality infrastructure system. Hence, the goal and focus of the project will be on strengthening the National Quality Infrastructure services to enforce compliance with sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures and technical regulations, with particular focus on coffee and tea sectors. Accordingly, the overall objective &quot;to contribute to economic development of Burundi&quot; and the specific objective to &quot;improve market access to EU and EAC region for Burundi agro-industrial and horticultural sectors&quot; shall be achieved through three expected results of project activities. the results are: 1) National Quality Infrastructure framework, inspection and certification services strengthened, 2) Laboratory testing capacities for coffee/tea improved and 3) Quality related extension services strengthened.</p><p><br></p>

<p>The project aims to sustainably increase the income of women horticulture producers and processors in The Gambia, who were disproportionately affected by the socio-economic crisis triggered by COVID-19. Focusing on the horticultural sector, the project establishes a market-led digital agricultural value chain platform, links horticultural cooperatives, buyers, and other value chain actors to the platform, provides direct support to women farmers, and increases coordination and efficiency in production, storage, and distribution in the sector.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>The digital value chain platform allows farmers, wholesalers, processors, and other value chain actors to interact and build partnerships for transactions. In the initial phase of the project, the system focuses on domestic market linkages to address the most pressing needs and gaps created by the pandemic and economic crisis. It targets food importers who are interested in sourcing local produce, government institutions such as hospitals and schools, and tourism establishments. As the country recovers from the current crisis, the system will boost international trade by working with existing exporters and export-ready companies. These stakeholders &nbsp;use the platform to improve their sourcing through supply chain efficiency, transparency, and compliance.</p><p><br></p>

<p>The Strengthening the Agriculture and Agri-food Value Chain and Improving Trade Policy (SAAVI) project aims to support stabilization and governance through building the capacities of key Iraqi institutions to deliver public services, as well as sustainable job creation through the development of human capital and the enhancement of private sector&rsquo;s competitiveness. This EU-funded project focuses on the development and implementation of sector strategies for high-potential products, as well as on defining more market-oriented policies to improve predictability and efficiency in the business environment. SAAVI also provides assistance to enhance Iraq&rsquo;s trade policy and supports the country in its WTO accession process.</p><p>SAAVI is implemented under the leadership of the Government of Iraq through the Ministry of Planning, Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Trade.</p><p>The project forms part of the overall European Union Special measure for supporting employment creation and improving economic governance in Iraq. As such, SAAVI is fully aligned with the activities of FAO, IOM, ILO, UNESCO and GIZ in the domain of private sector engagement and agricultural development.</p>

<p>Under the 11th EDF National Indicative Programme for Tanzania (2014-2020), Sustainable Agriculture is a focal sector with the specific objective to &lsquo;enhance management of natural resources, including forests, and ecosystem services for sustainable agriculture development and climate change adaptation&rsquo;.&nbsp;</p><p>Tanzania is the second largest honey producer in Africa after Ethiopia and the largest African supplier to the EU (Germany, England, Belgium and Netherlands). It produces 34,000 tons per year, and nearly 9,200 tons of beeswax. The sector generates high-quality honey worth &euro;7.96 million and beeswax worth &euro;1.59 million annually, of which products worth &euro;1.69 million from honey and beeswax are exported, primarily to regional markets for local consumption or re-export.&nbsp;</p><p>ITC in collaboration with the Belgian development agency (ENABEL) will empower the private sector actors working in the beekeeping value chain (including women and youth when appropriate) and will contribute to inclusive economic growth in Tanzania (particularly in the less advanced regions of the country) by increased export competitiveness and increased regional market integration of the beekeeping value chain.</p><p>The project aims to promote sustainable agriculture by improving the beekeeping value chain through enhanced quality production, value addition of bee products and enhanced trade and access to local, regional and international markets.</p><p>ITC will focus on improving the links between production and marketing, while focusing on groups living in vulnerable situations, providing them with employment opportunities to participate in the value chain. The project will support enabling working environment for private sector involved in the bee product processing and trade.</p>

<p>The overall objective of the Action (Alliances for Coconut Industry Development for the Caribbean Phase II) is to enhance competitiveness of small-scale farmers in coconut value chains through more sustainable production and commercialization performance and better local, regional, and global markets integration. This involves the implementation of an integrated and coordinated approach that results in enhanced competitiveness and resilience for the farmers, MSMEs and VC operators involved in coconut and associated crops value chains.</p><p align="JUSTIFY" dir="LTR">The proposal takes into consideration the outcomes, lessons learned and experiences gained during the implementation of phase I and aims to consolidate and increase its impact, scale, scope and sustainability. Following ITC&rsquo;s participatory process, phase II project proposal was officially endorsed by the CARICOM Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) and by the CARIFORUM Directorate.</p>