Presentation of ASIWA by Yacouba DIALLO

1. Alliance for Seed Industry inWest Africa
(ASIWA)
Yacouba DIALLO
Agribusiness and Marketing specialist
CORAF/WECARD
Abidjan. 5th - 6th August, 2015PSAO/WASP

2. IS THAT ASIWA?

3. West Africa Seed Context
Gaps in
production and
supply of quality
seeds
Gaps in breeder and foundation seed production capacity
Poor market information to guide seed production
Small fragmented private seed sector
Inadequate storage facilities across distribution chain
Challenging seed
policy
environment
Inconsistent and inappropriate national seed regulations
Mixed implementation of ECOWAS Regional Seed Regulations
Added time and cost of introducing new seeds to market
Underdeveloped
Seed Markets
Output markets served by seed industry small and fragmented
Low farmer adoption rates reduce demand for quality seeds
Real and perceived costs of acquiring and using quality seeds

4. Overall Goal of ASIWA?
Government/Regulatory
ScienceandResearch
SeedProduction&Trade
SeedUsers,EndBuyers
ASIWA
Regional and National Platforms
Development Community
Sustainable, inclusive, effective platform to advocate and act upon
key national and regional issues in seed sector development to
expand production, supply and use of quality seed in West Africa

5. Shared Value Amongst Seed Stakeholders
Private
Interests
Development
Goals
SharedValue
=
Partnership
Opportunity
Farmers
Seed Companies
Agro-Dealers
International Seed
Companies
Grain Buyers
Private Sector
Organizations
NARS/NARIs
NSTAs
Universities and
Research
Donors
Regional Organizations
MoA/Public Agencies
International Research Orgs
ECOWAS/EUMOA

6. ASIWA Rationale:SharedValues between
Development and Private Sector

7. Proposed ASIWA Functions
• Provide a point of engagement for seed stakeholders for seed sector
development  Consultation, coordination, and collaborative troubleshooting
• Capture synergies between national and regional seed development initiatives
• Increase involvement of the private sector in seed development efforts
Convening Point
for Seed
Stakeholders
• Platform to exchange and disseminate ideas, experience, best practices in seed
development, possibly within context of a Community of Practice
• Drive coordinated analysis and activities supporting seed development across
West Africa
Communications
• Coordinate advocacy to accelerate harmonization of regional seed policies and
facilitate cross-border seed trade
• Increase involvement of the private sector in regional policy dialogues
Policy Advocacy
• Coordinate and support efforts to ensure quality of seed, build confidence in the
seed sector and give farmers protection and recourse
• Platform for quality control and self-regulation by private sector seed trade
Seed Quality
• Develop technical, credit and market solutions involving multiple stakeholders to
increase utilization of improved seeds by farmers
• Incubate the development of local businesses, including farmer associations
• Facilitate investment and credit to expand/strengthen seed production and supply
Market
Facilitation/Indust
ry Development

8. Key Points to Remember
• Result-oriented platform for voluntary engagement for
private, public, NGO and development partners with
interest in seed sector development
• A point to facilitate stakeholder facilitation across
multiple seed and agriculture development programs in
West Africa
• A new ‘program’
• A new organization requiring formal protocols
• A talk shop

9. Strategic Principles for ASIWA
• Orient ASIWA efforts increasing the role of private sector in all aspects of
the seed sector
• Demonstrate added value to attract a critical mass of private sector
partners
• Encourage private sector ‘champions’ to ‘self-select’ and play larger roles in
the ASIWA direction and management
• Explore means to aggregate market demand for quality seeds (and higher
yields) through engagement with farmers, farmer federations, and larger
output buyers
• Focus on issues that impact stakeholders across various seed and grain
markets
• Connect stakeholders across multiple WASP and other seed initiatives
• Communications needed to build awareness across stakeholders
• Coordination to capture synergies and optimize programming
• Collaboration to develop solutions requiring multiple partners

10. Proposed ASIWA Structure
• Small management unit with steering committee of “Champions” from seed sector,
including robust representation across private seed sector and end market buyers
• Communications hub for regional dialogue,knowledge sharing,Community of Practice,
capturing synergies and lessons of seed development programs
• Lead regional efforts in seed certification and seed policy harmonization
Regional
“Umbrella”
Platform
• Involving private sector (seed companies,NTSAs, agro dealers, seed users, grain end buyers,
finance),government and research partners
• Convening point for discussion on seed policies (including regional harmonization),seed
certification and issues related to quality of seeds
• Convening point for market facilitation and industry development,linkages within seed
chain and linkages between commercial sector and research
National
Alliances
• Driven by stakeholders (possibly NSTAs) with vested interest or clear contribution
towards objective, coordinated by regional management unit
• Enable interactions between interested public,private, donor stakeholders to
troubleshoot/address challenges in seed sector development
• Develop, support or engage in specific initiatives funded by governments,donors, or
international orgs, as implementing partners or consultative group
Initiative-
Focused
Working
Groups

11. Proposed RegionalWorking Groups
West African Seed Information Exchange (WASIX)
 Clearinghouse for information and analysis and leadingWASP/ASIWA communications and M&E efforts
 Community of Practice to facilitate exchange of ideas,experience,best practices between stakeholders
 Gathering and disseminating information on seed demand across markets
 Discrete analyses on seed markets,seed market development,lessons learned,best practices,etc.
 Information exchange for other working groups
Regional Seed Quality Initiative
Regional Seed
Harmonization/Trade Group
Market Facilitation and Investment
Solutions
 Potential to complement
seed certification efforts to
be carried out by West Africa
Seed Committee (WASC)
 Consultative group for long-
term efforts to enhance
private sector role in
production and certification
of quality, certified seeds
 Serve observatory function
to collect and share
information on poor quality
seeds
 Venue for private sector
engagement and feedback in
ongoing regional policy
harmonization efforts, with
focus on increasing private
sector engagement in
dialogue
 Serves as observatory on
seed policy harmonization
at national level, to identify
gaps, non-compliance,
and/or press positive
movement
 Facilitate relationships to create technical,
commercial, financial solutions
 Expand role of private sector in seed
production/supply
 Incubate private seed businesses
Examples:
 Credit solutions for farmers
 Credit solutions for emerging seed
businesses (working capital, investment in
production, cleaning, storage)
 Technical assistance to emerging seed
businesses (including farmer associations)
 Work with other input providers to
develop technical packages
 Integrate ICT into seed distribution

12. Organizational Chart
ASIWA Regional Platform
(ASIWA Director)
West Africa Seed
Information Exchange:
WASIX
(WASIX Coordinator)
Regional Seed Quality Initiative
(Regional Seed Quality Coordinator)
Regional Seed Harmonization/Trade Group
(Regional Seed Harmonization/Trade Coordinator)
Market Facilitation and Investment Solutions
(Market Facilitation and Investment Coordinator)
National Affiliate
(Country Rep)
National Affiliate
(Country Rep)
National Affiliate
(Country Rep)
National Affiliate
(Country Rep)
Hub
Rural/WASP/
ECOWAS
Operational Oversight
ASIWA
Steering
Committee
Strategic Oversight

13. Budget Considerations
• Regional
• ASIWA Director – Commercially and results-oriented; able to
build and maintain relationships with a cross-section of regional
seed players; able to be broker and thought leader for seed
sector
• WASIX Coordinator – Experience in communications strategies;
ability to develop, promote and maintain a network of
stakeholders sharing knowledge and experience
• Ad Hoc Coordinators – Manage initiatives/working group activities
based on available funds. Could be existingWASP staff
• National
• Country Representatives – Commercially-oriented, agriculture
experience; able to broker/facilitate engagement between
stakeholders. Could be WASP Seed Specialists

14. ASIWA Rationale:SharedValues between
Development and Private Sector

15. Proposed ASIWA Functions
• Provide a point of engagement for seed stakeholders for seed sector
development  Consultation, coordination, and collaborative troubleshooting
• Capture synergies between national and regional seed development initiatives
• Increase involvement of the private sector in seed development efforts
Convening Point
for Seed
Stakeholders
• Platform to exchange and disseminate ideas, experience, best practices in seed
development, possibly within context of a Community of Practice
• Drive coordinated analysis and activities supporting seed development across
West Africa
Communications
• Coordinate advocacy to accelerate harmonization of regional seed policies and
facilitate cross-border seed trade
• Increase involvement of the private sector in regional policy dialogues
Policy Advocacy
• Build regional seed quality to ensure quality of seed, build confidence in the seed
sector and give farmers protection and recourse
• Platform for quality control and self-regulation by private sector seed trade
Seed Quality
• Develop technical, credit and market solutions involving multiple stakeholders to
increase utilization of improved seeds by farmers
• Incubate the development of local businesses, including farmer associations
• Facilitate investment and credit to expand/strengthen seed production and supply
Market
Facilitation/Indust
ry Development

16. Regional Umbrella Platform
• Serve as communications hub in knowledge sharing and capturing synergies and
lessons of seed development program, possibly lead Community of Practice.
• Serve as convening point for regional seed development dialogue and advocacy
• Coordinate activities with and amongst national affiliates and working groups
• Umbrella organization with members and partners from throughoutWest Africa
• Reports to steering committee of “Champions” from seed sector, including
robust representation across private seed sector and end market buyers
• ASIWA Director – Commercially and results-oriented; able to build and maintain
relationships with a cross-section of regional seed players; able to be broker and
thought leader for seed sector
• WASIX Coordinator – Experience in communications strategies; ability to develop,
promote and maintain a network of stakeholders sharing knowledge and
experience

17. National Affiliates
• Convening point for discussion and advocacy on seed policies (including
regional harmonization),seed certification (could be linked with
WASC/COAsem) and issues related to quality of seeds
• Convening point for market facilitation and industry development,
linkages within seed chain and linkages between commercial sector and
research
• Involving national private sector (seed companies,NTSAs, agro dealers,
seed users, grain end buyers, finance), government and research partners
• Dynamic NSTAs could serve as national affiliates (one and same?)
• Country Representatives – Commercially-oriented,agriculture experience;
able to broker/facilitate engagement between stakeholders.Could be
WASP Seed Specialists

18. Initiative-basedWorking Groups
• Enable interactions between interested public, private, donor stakeholders
around specific challenges and opportunities in seed sector development
• Could develop own initiatives and approach development partners for
initiative-based funding.
• Involving and led-by stakeholders with vested interest or clear contribution
towards objective, coordinated by regional ASIWA management unit as
needed
• Depending on funding, focus of working group, and alignment for donor
programs, could involve coordinators to facilitate working group activities
(including existingWASP staff)
• NOT designed to be a new governing body or structure, but focused on
bringing interested parties together to jointly solve problems.

19. Proposed Working Groups
• Clearinghouse for information and analysis related to seed sector development
• Community of Practice to facilitate exchange of ideas, experience,best practices
between stakeholders
• Gathering and disseminating information on seed demand across markets
• Analyses on seed markets,seed market development,lessons learned,best
practices,etc.
• Information exchange for other working groups
• Potential to complement seed certification efforts to be carried out byWest
Africa Seed Committee (WASC)
• Consultative group for long-term efforts to enhance private sector role in
production and certification of quality,certified seeds
• Serve observatory function to collect and share information on poor quality
seeds
• Could be linked to Market Facilitation and Investment Solutions Group

20. Proposed Working Groups
• Venue for private sector engagement and feedback in ongoing
regional policy harmonization efforts, with focus on increasing
private sector engagement in dialogue
• Serves as observatory on seed policy harmonization at national level,
to identify gaps, non-compliance, and/or press positive movement
• Facilitate relationships to create technical, commercial,financial solutions
• Expand role of private sector in seed production/supply
• Incubate private seed businesses
• Examples:
• Credit solutions for farmers
• Credit solutions for emerging seed businesses (working capital,investment
in production,cleaning,storage)
• Assistance to emerging seed businesses (including farmer associations)
• Work with other input providers to develop technical packages
• Integrate ICT into seed distribution

21. National stakeholders workshops
Dakar, ASIWA workshop
Bamako, ASIWA Worshop
Ghana, ASIWA Workshop
Benin, ASIWA workshop

22. Private Sector Stakeholder Map
Private Seed
Industry
Local seed companies
NSTAs
International Seed Companies
Agro-dealers
Private Seed
Users
Small-holder and Commercial Farmers
Farmer-based Organizations and Federations
End-Markets National grain traders and buyers
National and regional agro-processors
Other Private
Seed
Stakeholders
Input suppliers (e.g. fertilizers, crop protection,technology)
Financial Service Providers (e.g. banks,impact funds,equity funds,insurance
companies)

23. Private Sector Interests under ASIWA
Stakeholders Motivations Alignment with ASIWA
Private Seed
Industry
• Market growth through increased
demand
• Ability to grow markets through
regional seed exports, sales of
new seed varieties
• Reliable access to quality
breeder/foundation seed
• Upgrade production capacity
through investment
• Removal of poor quality and
counterfeit seeds from markets
• Increased farmer demand for improved
seeds
• Increased ability of farmers to
procure/use improved seeds
• Increased credibility and confidence in
seed supply
• Expanded access to financial and
technical support to grow
• Enhanced adoption/implementation of
harmonized seed policies
• Strengthened linkages within seed
industry
Private Seed
Users
• Increase production and incomes
through higher yields
• Links to stable grain markets
• Minimize production/market risk
• Gaining access to more seed
varieties
• Reduce poor quality and
counterfeit seeds in market
• Initiatives and policies that assure
availability of quality seeds
• Expanded access to credit to purchase
quality seeds,
• Expanded access to extension services
to optimize seed yields
• Strengthened links to broader grain
supply chain

24. Private Sector Interests under ASIWA
Stakeholders Motivations Alignment with ASIWA
End Markets • Increased market share and
profits through increased
production
• Securing reliable/consistent
sources of raw inputs
• Reducing currency,policy risk
through expanded local
procurement
• Overall improvements in national and
regional seed markets and policies to
ensure seed users have access to seeds
needed to enhance yield and production
of selected grain varieties.
• Development of credit solutions and
technical solutions to strengthen grain
supply chains
Other Input
Suppliers
• Growing markets through
complete input and crop
protection packages
• Increasing demand for high
quality inputs.
• Enhanced farmers’ confidence in quality
input supply
• Development of credit solutions to enable
procurement of higher quality seeds
• Improving farmers’ access to extension
services to ensure customers’ high yields
Financial Service
Providers
• Increasing market share by
expanding in new sectors/
customers while managing
risk
• Investments in high
potential/high growth sectors
such as agriculture.
• Development of credit solutions for seed
enterprises and seed users
• Development of credit
enhancement/guarantee programs to
support financing in agriculture and seed
sector.

25. Role of Private Sector Champions
• Private sector oriented stakeholders with the influence,credibility and interest
needed to attract a critical mass of seed stakeholders to ASIWA
• Able and willing to contribute human and financial resources to the operations
and success of ASIWA
• Stakeholders in seed industry and agriculture sector active and present in
majority ofWest African markets
• Could include international seed companies, large grain buyers and regional
farmer organizations
• Stakeholders with vested interest in seed sector development in national market
and motivation and credibility to help convene others and ‘make things happen’
• Can include leading seed companies, NSTAs, farmer groups, grain buyers,
processors, and regional champions.

26. Establishing ASIWA Steering Committee
• Provide strategic oversight, direction and guidance
• Ensure shared value in alliance activities
• Play leading or active role in working group initiatives
• National and Regional Private Sector Champions
• Intergovernmental organizations
• NGOs and development partners
• Finding balance to ensure private sector orientation
• Balance on effectiveness and efficiency versus protocol

27. Relationships with other programs and
initiatives
West Africa Seed Committee (also WASP program)
Africa Seed Trade Association (AFSTA)
Africa Seed Network (ASN)
FAO
AGRA (Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa)
West Africa Agricultural Productivity Program
West Africa Fertilizer Program (IFDC-WAFP).
West AfricanTrade Hub Network
Syngenta Foundation
Monsanto

28. Ingredients of Successful Alliances
Clearly defined objectives & expectations
based on shared value
Ability to deliver added value to partners’
core operations & interests
Robust ownership by stakeholders (limited
reliance on donors)
Clear lines of communications among
partners
Clear sustainability plan from start
Strive balance between protocol and
efficiency

29. THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION AND FOR YOUR IN TO
THE SEED ALLIANCE EN WEST AFRICA
ASIWA
ROPPA
AFSTA
UPV
FAO
USAID
BAD
AGRA
AFRICA RICE
CGIAR
CILSS
UEMOA
CEDEAOCORAF
Banque Mondiale
HUB RURAL CTA
syngenta
AGRA
IFDC
Africa Seed
Monsanto