1. Using an Agroenterprise Learning Alliances for Inclusive Value Chain Support

2. What did CRS want to achieve? Five year commitment to Shift from agriculture to agroenterprise Five year commitment to Shift from agriculture to agroenterprise Provide a bridge from relief to development Provide a bridge from relief to development Link poor farmers to markets Link poor farmers to markets Make smallholder farming more competitive Make smallholder farming more competitive Diversify to higher volume / value crops Diversify to higher volume / value crops Strengthen access to finance and other BDS Strengthen access to finance and other BDS Improved food and financial security Improved food and financial security

3. Participatory Methodologies for Agroenterprise Development

4. Learning Alliance Structure

5. VC Documentation Based on the Agroenterprise Learning Alliance, CRS is publishing two books Based on the Agroenterprise Learning Alliance, CRS is publishing two books 1. Working Together, Learning Together: Learning Alliances in Agroenterprise Development 2. Getting to Market: Agriculture to Agroenterprise

6. What worked well in AED and value chains reinvigorated CRS’s approach to agriculture reinvigorated CRS’s approach to agriculture aligns incentives in ways that encourage poor communities to rethink their options and engage in markets engage more effectively aligns incentives in ways that encourage poor communities to rethink their options and engage in markets engage more effectively worked across a range of environments and has proven to be a bridge between relief and development. worked across a range of environments and has proven to be a bridge between relief and development. required greater partnership development with the community, technology providers and private sector required greater partnership development with the community, technology providers and private sector led to organic integration between sectors such as MF, Water, and Health, where it matters, which was not the case before. led to organic integration between sectors such as MF, Water, and Health, where it matters, which was not the case before. Improved financial and AE skills is empowering women when programs focus attention on their needs. BUT much more work needs to be done to define and invest in programs that support women in agriculture more effectively. Improved financial and AE skills is empowering women when programs focus attention on their needs. BUT much more work needs to be done to define and invest in programs that support women in agriculture more effectively.

7. Navy Bean Chain Ethiopia Crop grown by 70,000 + farmers. CRS support has been support this sector for 6 years starting with production Crop grown by 70,000 + farmers. CRS support has been support this sector for 6 years starting with production Current Value chain upgrading Next 4 yrs 2000 to 20,000 farmers Current Value chain upgrading Next 4 yrs 2000 to 20,000 farmers Scale and sustainability by linking informal & formal worlds New Business models project Scale and sustainability by linking informal & formal worlds New Business models project Clear production standards Clear production standards Delivery of pricing transparency Delivery of pricing transparency Assurance of fair minimum price Assurance of fair minimum price Communication systems for MIS Communication systems for MIS Defined quality standards Defined quality standards M&Eto show development benefits M&Eto show development benefits

8. Chickpea Chain Tanzania In 2000 new variety In 2000 new variety 2003-05 farmer marketing groups 2003-05 farmer marketing groups In 2007-08 introduced SILC groups (savings and internal loans) which associated SIGAs In 2007-08 introduced SILC groups (savings and internal loans) which associated SIGAs Scale generated attracted buyers, in 2007 collective marketing ∆ from 570 mt in 2006 to 2,152 mt in 2007. Scale generated attracted buyers, in 2007 collective marketing ∆ from 570 mt in 2006 to 2,152 mt in 2007. SIGA based on 2500+ farmers was also a conduit to link another 8,100 farmers into this market channel. SIGA based on 2500+ farmers was also a conduit to link another 8,100 farmers into this market channel. Linkage of MF and AE catalyzed a rapid increase in savings groups that reinforced AE and enabled collective marketing. Linkage of MF and AE catalyzed a rapid increase in savings groups that reinforced AE and enabled collective marketing.

9. Value Chain challenges Skills upgrade & transfer to communities takes time Skills upgrade & transfer to communities takes time Care to match product with target community Care to match product with target community Farmer group organisation slow but valuable Farmer group organisation slow but valuable Value chain analysis is complex but then continuous Value chain analysis is complex but then continuous Finance for the rural poor needs a rethink…. Finance for the rural poor needs a rethink…. Links to local market information and BDS weak Links to local market information and BDS weak Links to formal private sector requires facilitation Links to formal private sector requires facilitation M&E not chain wide M&E not chain wide

10. Selection of value chain Demand, local resources, community preference Demand, local resources, community preference Risk, services, participation, durability Risk, services, participation, durability

11. Multi-Skill Options for Farmer Groups Social Innovation Market engagement Natural resources Financial

12. Linking Microfinance to Value Chains Shifting from micro-finance to micro-investment Savings clubs to Saving associations MFI’s shift from lump sum to multi-phase loans Amount of savings (end of year) 12 Amount of savings (start of year) Year 3 4 8 14 18 9 5 0 4 0 11 Source: Tom Shaw, CRS

13. Mobilised BDS Mobilised information systems for market information are available and affordable but need coordination to finance

14. Promising Methods for inclusion Participatory value chain development Participatory value chain development Multi-skill options for farmer groups Multi-skill options for farmer groups Savings mobilization Savings mobilization Strengthening local BDS providers Strengthening local BDS providers Mobilised information platforms Mobilised information platforms New business models New business models Integration of infrastructure, training and marketing linkage Integration of infrastructure, training and marketing linkage Links to Universities and Research Institutes Links to Universities and Research Institutes

15. Concerns Tendency towards focusing market solutions on the economically active, which may exclude the vulnerable. Tendency towards focusing market solutions on the economically active, which may exclude the vulnerable. Feeling that value chain is high value as opposed to volume staple food crops which can reach thousands of farmers. Feeling that value chain is high value as opposed to volume staple food crops which can reach thousands of farmers. Working in an environment of short term investment in areas that need “generational change” processes Working in an environment of short term investment in areas that need “generational change” processes PVO community is hampered by limited development funds in FFP mechanisms to support poor communities, running the risk of making the poor poorer PVO community is hampered by limited development funds in FFP mechanisms to support poor communities, running the risk of making the poor poorer Trend towards increasing use of contract instruments as a means of supporting agricultural development is undermining the ability of PVO’s to access development funding Trend towards increasing use of contract instruments as a means of supporting agricultural development is undermining the ability of PVO’s to access development funding

16. For further information See CRS Ag Symposium 20 th April Washington D.C. sferris@crs.org Using an Agroenterprise Learning Alliances to link poor farmers to markets