Investing in a Green Future Bamboo Value Chain Development in Nigeria Forestry Department

Objective The overall goal is to create sustainable bamboo processing private sector business in the context of National Bamboo value chains as a basis for income generation and employment for rural and urban poor in Nigeria

Project Justification The development of Bamboo Value Chain is currently high on Agenda of Nigeria The medium-term strategies of the Federal Ministry of Environment also emphasises the development of bamboo production However, the current effort are not sufficient to initiate the development of the bamboo value chain in Nigeria What is required is a targeted support for three different segment of the value chain including: (a) harvesting and treatment (b) processing, and (c) marketing The project will ensure to achieve this via linking these segments nationwide

Expected Outcome Private craftsmen in urban wood-craft have built and improved their capacity to manufacture high value product from bamboo and sell their products locally and abroad Rural communities acquire harvesting and post harvest treatment skills to increase quality and value of bamboo resources and generate income supplying pre-processed bamboo materials

Project Approach The proposed project envisages adopting a threefold development approach that aims at: - developing and improving the technical and business skills of private bamboo processors; - developing and improving capacities in harvesting and post-harvest treatment - strengthening the marketing of bamboo products and mobilizing support to the development of the institutions/counterpart that will sustain further development of the value chain after the project ends.

Project Sustainability The sustainability of the project is assured through the following mechanisms: - bamboo training and pilot processing centres will have acquired the capacities to continue training and coaching of bamboo processors; - bamboo and wood processing craftsmen would have formed strong networks/associations which help them to continue organizing knowledge exchange - bamboo harvesting and pre-processing centres in rural communities have acquired the capacity to continue training of bamboo planting and communities harvesters. - The government has developed National Bamboo Development Strategies which manifest continued support to various functions in the value chain.