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Enter the Cup of Excellence!
Progreso Network
18 months ago Solidaridad and AFAD started the Progreso Network (co-funded by UNDP and PSO), an initiative aimed to systematize ‘excellent experiences’ on capacity development, and exchange these between producer organisations (POs). It is the assumption of the Progreso Network that POs from different sectors can strengthen their capacities by using each other’s lessons. These ‘excellent experiences’ do not necessarily refer to exemplary results; foremost they are about optimal learning processes of capacity development efforts.
Seminar "Partnering with Africa", May 21
Explore the business opportunities in Southern and Eastern Africa and learn about sustainable economic development during workshops on tourism, mining, agriculture, biofuel, supermarkets, manufacturing, timber, and public services.
Agri-ProFocus newsletter available
Mid-Term Review of Agri-ProFocus
A Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the Agri-ProFocus partnership was conducted by an external independent consultant. The MTR’s main objective has been to make a preliminary analysis of successes and bottlenecks of the past years, and to identify the main opportunities and challenges for the future development of Agri-ProFocus after the current phase of DGIS funding, ending in 2008.
APELA signed Memorandum of Understanding
The eight members of the Agri-ProFocus Ethiopia Learning Alliance (APELA) - Agriterra, Cordaid, FFARM, ICCO, IIRR, KIT, SNV Ethiopia and the Agri-ProFocus office - officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The APELA initiative runs until 31 December 2009, and is meant to specify the roles, responsibilities and contributions of the APELA participants.
Trajectory on HIV/AIDS competent producer organisations receives a good kick off!
On March 17th we kicked off this action, collaboration and learning trajectory with a workshop in Entebbe, Uganda. With fifteen representatives of five producer organisations from Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia and Kenya and with participation of Agriterra, DGIS and the Swedish Cooperative Council we had a good mix of stakeholders. And with a good balance between management, field staff, general and HIV/AIDS knowledge, and gender experiences and commitment complemented each other.
Two new board members
During the last Participants' council Thijs van Praag (PUM) and Bart de Steenhuijsen Piters (KIT) have been elected as new members of the Agri-ProFocus Board. They took the seats vacated by Dirk Elsen (SNV) and Nico Roozen (Solidaridad). The partnership would sincerely like to thank them for their time, effort and valuable contributions towards the development of Agri-ProFocus during the last three years.
MSM and ILEIA join Agri-ProFocus
The Maastricht School of Management (MSM) and the Centre for Information on Low External Input and Sustainable Agriculture (ILEIA) have recently joined Agri-ProFocus. With these latest additions the partnership now consists of 24 member organisations.
Learning event on 'Contract Farming'
Doing business with small-scale farmers
Contract farming is an increasingly popular arrangement between farmers and the private sector for a number of reasons: avoiding risks, securing supply and markets, accessing finance, sharing information. But how to make contract farming work for both parties? How to manage the risks? How to make contract farming last after the honeymoon is over? And is it possible to build strong farmer organisations in the context of contract farming? A lot of questions to deepen our understanding.
Seminar 'Invest in the Future' on May 20-21, 2008
The Maastricht School of Management is proud to invite you to the “Invest in the Future” seminar on the 20th and "Round Table Africa" on the 21st of May 2008 in Maastricht.
Tropical Commodity Conference "Combining Flavours"
The Tropical Commodity Coalition, Agri-ProFocus and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality are pleased to invite participants from industry, producer organisations, NGOs, governments, traders and manufactures, who work in coffee, tea and cocoa supply chains.
Terugblik op het Afrikacongres 2008
Van het Afrika congres dat het Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken op 13 februari jl. in De Doelen in Rotterdam organiseerde zijn inmiddels de aanbevelingen van de werkgroepen, de meeste teksten van de toespraken van de plenaire sessies, de meeste verslagen van de werkgroepen en een serie foto's van het congres beschikbaar.
Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken organiseert Afrikacongres 2008
NEDERLANDS AFRIKABELEID NU EN STRAKS
Wat zijn de Nederlandse ambities in Afrika? Welke lessen uit het verleden zijn belangrijk voor nieuw beleid? Wat heeft gewerkt en wat werkt niet? Hoe kunnen we het beste omgaan met de veranderingen en contrasten van het continent: de hoge economische groei en tegelijk de blijvende armoede, de verbetering van bestuur in sommige landen en de voortgaande crises in andere landen? Dat soort vragen staat centraal op het Afrikacongres 2008 van het ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken op 13 februari a.s. in Rotterdam.
Call for proposals on Sustainable Agriculture for Development
The 2008 Global Development Marketplace competition (DM2008) seeks proposals on the theme of Sustainable Agriculture for Development.
Report of the debate "Agriculture for Development - the Dutch way" now available
On December 17, Agri-ProFocus organised a debate with, amongst others, Ruud Treffers (Director-General for Development Co-operation) and Alain de Janvry (Co-ordinator of the World Bank Development Report 2008 'Agriculture for Development'). The central question was in which way the Netherlands, as one of the key players in agrofood in the world, can contribute to development through agriculture.
New book about Producer Organisations and Market Chains launched
The book “Producer Organisations and Market Chains: Facilitating trajectories of change in developing countries” is a joint publication of Agri-ProFocus, Wageningen UR and Wageningen Academic Publishers. Giel Ton, Jos Bijman and Joost Oorthuizen are the editors.
Van Hall Larenstein – location Wageningen – launches FAIR TRADE MANAGEMENT on November 17
The ‘World Development Report 2008: Agriculture for Development’ published by the World Bank only a month ago exactly sets the dynamic and international stage of the professional of FAIR TRADE MANAGEMENT, the bachelor programme that will be launched at the Open Day at Van Hall Larenstein – Forum building campus Wageningen – on November 17.
Responses to the World Development Report 2008 "Agriculture for Development"
The World Bank recently published the World Development Report 2008 'Agriculture for Development'. Here you can download several Dutch and international responses to the Report.
ETC Foundation: 22nd member of Agri-ProFocus
The Agri-ProFocus partnership has expanded recently with ETC Foundation joining as its latest member.
Scope2007 now available
'Scope2007', a publication with news from Agri-ProFocus has been published and distributed to partners
Beleidsdiscussie "Armen verdienen beter!"
Op 11 juli organiseerden het ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken (BZ), het ministerie van Landbouw, Natuur en Voedselkwaliteit (LNV) en Agri-ProFocus een bijeenkomst voor beleidsdiscussie. Hieraan namen ongeveer zestig genodigden deel, waaronder een groot aantal professionals uit het Agri-ProFocus partnerschap.
Final Report Review WDR 2008 now available
The final report of the Dutch Review Dialogue of the World Development Report 2008 "Agriculture for Development", held on April 17 in The Hague, is now available. See under tab "Meetings".
FAO Representative visits Agri-ProFocus bureau
Ms. Agnes van Ardenne has recently been appointed permanent Representative of the Netherlands at FAO, WFP and IFAP, a position she will take up on July 1st. She met with staff members of the Agri-ProFocus bureau in Arnhem on June 15th. Her motto in Rome will be “FAO in the Netherlands, the Netherlands in the FAO” . To that end she intends to quarterly invite delegations from Dutch development organisations, knowledge centres and agribusinesses active in the South and bring these into contact with various FAO departments.
Presentations of Multi-Stakeholder Workshop Tropical Food Chains and Research on April 12 now available
Signing of 'Memorandum of Cooperation' between Agriterra, SNV and Agri-ProFocus
Intensification of cooperation between Agriterra and SNV
On June 6th 2007, Agriterra, SNV and the Agri-ProFocus Bureau signed an agreement in favour of rural member organisations in developing countries. For the initiative called ‘Partners in Support to Producer Organisations’ Agriterra contributes an amount of 2,7 million Euros in the period from 2007 to 2010, and SNV 27 advisory years (FTEs). Jointly Agriterra and SNV have the potential to meet the needs of producer organisations more efficiently and effectively. Both Agriterra and SNV are members of the Agri-ProFocus partnership.
Dutch Response to the World Bank Development Report 2008 "Agriculture for Development"
Report of Dialogue meeting on April 17 2007
The World Bank is preparing its 2008 World Development Report (WDR2008) on “Agriculture for Development” which will be published in September 2007 (www.worldbank.org/wdr2008). The World Development Report (WDR) is a highly influential publication, that will be used by many multilateral and bilateral international organizations and by national governments, to support their decision-making.
First Agri-ProFocus Newsletter available
The newsletter introduces the reader to some of the Agri-ProFocus trajectories: Quinua Chain Bolivia, Cotton West Africa and UOSPA Oilseeds Uganda.
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