Learning4Impact Presentation Amplifying Impact through the Farmer-to-Farmer Small Grants Zambia & Madagascar Case Study Virginia Bunker Program Manager NCBA CLUSA
NCBA CLUSA Advancing, Protecting, and Promoting Cooperative Enterprise for over 100 Years
NCBA CLUSA Established in 1916, NCBA CLUSA is the oldest and largest U.S. trade association for cooperatives representing all co-op sectors: Sectors Housing Retail Electric Worker Purchasing Credit Union Agriculture Examples Child Care & Preschool Credit Unions Financial Services Food/Grocery Co-op Breweries Healthcare
NCBA CLUSA International Program 60+ years of international and co-op development in over 85 countries $246.5 million, 28 project portfolio in 19 countries 800 staff Major Feed the Future implementer USAID and USDA Key implementation areas: Building resilient communities Creating economic opportunities Strengthening Cooperatives and Producer Organizations
SMALL GRANTS OVERVIEW Zambia, March 2015-March 2016 Built on previous F2F project activities Same host organizations Technical assistance for peanut farmers: Cooperative development Marketing Improved soil fertility and seed production Value addition Aflatoxin reduction through technology transfer Partnership with Full Belly Project
SMALL GRANTS OVERVIEW Madagascar, July 2016-July 2017 Technical assistance to vanilla farmers: Established new vanilla producer co-ops Cooperative governance, finances, marketing, and sales operations Public-private partnership with local exporter and international buyer (McCormick)
KEY DIFFERENCES Madagascar Integrated into country activities and vanilla initiative Private sector involvement Zambia No other projects in country
ZAMBIA Indicator Target Project Total Number of Volunteer Assignments 8 9 Number of Volunteer Days 112 167 Number of Host Institutions Strengthened 3 4 Number of Persons Trained 240 968 Number of Farm Family Members Benefitted* 1,368 5,517 *Based on 6.7 average household size in Eastern Province, Zambia (file:///c:/users/vbunker/documents/baseline-zambia.pdf, p. 18)
VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENTS Strengthened co-op culture Utilizing new marketing strategies/ packaging Successfully piloted new technology MReader Universal nut sheller Identified aflatoxin contamination points
IMPACTS Msekera Research Station adopted MReader, still in demand Increased aflatoxin awareness Reduced time to shell peanuts Increased sales for packaged seed Co-op opened bank account
FLEX ASSIGNMENT Full Belly Project returned 1 year later F2F flex assignment + FBP funds UNS manufacturing facility Trained 4 fabricators 105 UNS constructed Participated in Agritech int l ag expo
MANUFACTURING FACILITY
CHALLENGES Resources to scale-up Follow-up training with co-ops UNS marketing and business plan support Customer support/technical services Lower peanut prices = less income = difficulty purchasing UNS
MADAGASCAR Indicator Target Project Total Number of Volunteer Assignments 8 8 Number of Volunteer Days 160 187 Number of Host Institutions Strengthened 3 3 Number of Persons Trained 300 841 Number of Farm Family Members Benefitted 1,110 3,145 *Based on average household size of 4.7 persons: http://www.gillespiefoundation.org/uploads/madagascar_report.pdf, page 9.
PROJECT COMPONENTS 3 Key Components: Volunteer Assignments PPP with national exporter and international buyer (McCormick) Integration with NCBA CLUSA projects
VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENTS Assignments completed in 3 phases: Phase 1 with pilot co-op, Phase 2 with co-op 2 Co-op 101 training and formation Leadership and governance training Financial management and recordkeeping Phase 3 with both co-ops Extended assignment on operations management to prepare for green vanilla campaign
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP McCormick and NCBA CLUSA are long-time partners dating back 30 years in Indonesia and East Timor New vanilla initiative in Madagascar Partnership with national exporter Cost savings allowed for budget flexibility Co-ops benefited from additional financial and technical resources
PROJECT INTEGRATION USAID Trade Hub Curing and storage facility financed by McCormick Farmforce training for data management Lean season loans with 0% interest protect farmers
PROJECT INTEGRATION USAID Fararano Additional F2F training for Fararano-supported co-op Additional leadership training for co-op president
CHALLENGES PPPs require constant communication and large time investment! Cooperative development requires extensive, ongoing training and commitment Environmental shocks & tough terrain Cyclone Enawo 6-7 hour hikes
IMPACTS & NEXT STEPS Mirary Soa Co-op 125+ members from 6 villages 50% board officers are women Successfully sold vanilla through co-op in first year 2.6 tons worth $132K Technical support from exporter, financial support from McCormick
IMPACTS & NEXT STEPS Avotra Co-op 600+ members from 36 villages 18.4 tons vanilla sold worth $890K USAID Trade Hub technical support Curing & storage center joint venture McCormick support
SMALL GRANT LESSONS LEARNED Key Takeaways: 1. More integration = more impact 2. Leverage partner support to increase sustainability 3. Think big picture and get creative!
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