1. How does the network benefit your organisation?
A benefit of participating in the partnership is information exchange with Dutch actors on important trends and issues regarding rural development. Another benefit is networking and possibly the linking of activities in APF countries, for example the APF Value Chain Finance (VCF) event in Zambia that coincided with the ‘VCF Best Practices in Africa’ that we helped organise for IFAD in Zambia.

2. Please give an example of a joint action, in which the APF network played a visible role.
Being a (smaller) company with specialised services, our role is often a bit marginal compared to larger organisations pursuing their own goals. This was most apparent in the case of the two parallel Zambia events, which could have been much more synchronised so as to add value.

3. If you were in charge, what should the APF network look like in 5 years’ time?
More specialised services (in view of international competitiveness), based on better articulation of the expertise level of the various partners in APF; avoiding duplication and dominance of larger (and subsidised) organisations at the expense of specific knowledge institutes and private sector partners (including banks).

4. How will your organisation contribute to the APF network in the next 2 years?
Our contribution depends on the results of our planned evaluation this year on the added value of Agri-ProFocus to ProFound’s work.

Contact: Bert-Jan Ottens

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