PRCC-AFD

Faced with the persistent challenges of the horticultural sector in Sub-Saharan Africa, COLEAD is implementing, with the support of the French Development Agency (AFD), an additional financing component of the Fit for Market (FFM) programme. This new project continues the work of the FFM, FFM SPS and FFM+ programmes, with the aim of amplifying the results already achieved and responding to the growing support needs of public and private stakeholders in agri-food value chains.

Context:

African fruit and vegetable value chains have strong potential to create added value and jobs, but they remain constrained by multiple challenges: complex regulatory requirements, limited access to training and support services, and difficulties in adopting sustainable practices or complying with sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards. The AFD’s PRCC financing makes it possible to extend and expand support to African horticultural stakeholders towards a more sustainable, competitive and resilient agriculture, thus contributing to poverty reduction, food security and nutrition

Objectives:

• Support smallholder farmers, producer groups and cooperatives, as well as micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the horticultural sector, to maintain and improve their access to national, regional and international markets;
• Strengthen the capacities of professional organisations, support services and partner public institutions so that they can effectively support actors in meeting market regulatory and private requirements;
• Support the adoption of sustainable practices, skills and technologies that meet economic, social and environmental performance criteria;
• Identify and prioritise the factors limiting access to the European market through structured dialogue between public authorities and private sector representatives.

Target countries: Benin, Guinea, Madagascar, Malawi, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo

Expected Results:

• Enhanced capacities for producers, groups and MSMEs to access new markets within a sustainable and resilient framework;
• Better-equipped professional organisations and partner institutions able to provide tailored support services to operators;
• Improved understanding of export constraints, enabling better adaptation of policies and sectoral interventions;
• Broader dissemination of COLEAD’s tools and methodologies, particularly in the areas of sustainability, SPS standards and regulatory compliance.

Beneficiary Partners:

• Smallholder farmers
• Producer groups and cooperatives
• Horticultural micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs)
• Professional organisations and local support structures