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 Farmer/Produce r Organisations Farmer Entrepreneurshi p Financial Services IMF Private Sector Researc h & Learning Public Sector NGO’s, Service Providers Value Chain Development Sustainable Food Production Gender in Value Chains Access to Financial Services

APF members active in Ethiopia 74+ programmes with Ethiopian partners and PO’s

In support of a vibrant network APF Lead APF support office Country Focus Coalition WUR/KIT

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, -S NV, ICCO, KIT Pastoralism -Livelihoods and livestock marketing -Cordaid, ETC And more issues on

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

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 Addis Terrafina/AEMFI workshop on role of MFIs in VCF Other events?? Joint actions: Designing an equity fund Support to VCF cases Other actions??