1. Annual Report on FAO activities in support of producers‘ organizations and agricultural cooperatives
Prepared by E. L. Crowley1, Chair, Ilaria Tercelli, and Nora Ourabah Haddad
FAO Inter Departmental Committee and Inter Departmental Working Group on Institution Building for Agriculture and Rural Development
2011

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We are grateful to the members of the Inter Departmental Task Force, the Inter Departmental Committee on Institution Building for Agriculture and Rural Development and the many other FAO officers and management at headquarters (from AGA, AGN, AGP, AGS, ESA, EST, ESW, FI, FO, LEG, NRC, NRL, OCE, ODG, OEK, OSD, TCE, TCI) and decentralized levels (FAORAF, FAORAP, FAORLC, FAOSAP, FAOSEUR, FAOSFC, FAOSLC, FAOSRC) for their inputs, review, and guidance on this report.
The views expressed in this report are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

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AAACP - All ACP Support Program on Agricultural Commodities, Including Cotton
ABC - Agricultural Business Center
ABU - Agricultural Business Unit
ACP - Africa, Caribbean and Pacific
AGA - FAO Animal Production and Health Division
AGN - FAO Nutrition and Consumer Protection Division
AGP - FAO Plant Production and Protection Division
AGS - FAO Rural Infra-structure and Agro-industries Division
ARENET - Agricultural Research and Extension Network
ASOCON - Asia Pacific Soil and Water Conservation Network for the humid tropics
BGRI - Borlaug Global Rust Initiative
CA - Conservation Agriculture
CAADP - Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Program
CAC - Consejo Agropecuario Centroamericano
CaFAN - Caribbean Farmers Network
CARIFORUM/CARICOM - Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States /Caribbean Community
CBO - Community-Based Organization
CFC - Common Commodity Fund
CDMP - Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme
CEP - Champs-écoles des Producteurs
CFS - Committee on World Food Security
CPF - Confederation Paysanne du Faso
CSO - Civil Society Organization
DRM - Disaster Risk Management
EAFF - East African Farmers Federation
EC - European Commission
ECO - Economic Cooperation Organization
ECTAD - Economic Trade and Agricultural Development
ES - FAO Economic and Social Development Department
ESA - FAO Agriculture and Development Economics Division
EST - FAO Trade and Markets Division
ESW - FAO Gender, Equity and Rural Employment Division
EU - European Union
EX-ACT (Ex Ante Appraisal Carbon-balance Tool)
FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
FAOAF - FAO Representation in Afghanistan
FAOMR - FAO Representation in Morocco
FAORAP - FAO Sub-regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
FAOSEUR - FAO Regional Office for Europe
FAORLC - FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean
FAORNE - FAO Regional Office for the Near East
FAOSAP - FAO Sub-regional Office for the Pacific Islands
FAOSEC - FAO Sub-regional Office for Central Asia
FAOSFC - FAO Sub-regional Office for Central Africa
FAOSFE - Sub-regional Office for Eastern Africa
FAOSFS - FAO Sub-regional Office for Southern Africa List of abbreviations

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FAOSL - FAO Representation in Sierra Leone
FAOSLS - FAO Multidisciplinary Team for South America
FAOSNE - FAO Sub-regional Office for North Africa
FAOTZ - FAO Representation in Tanzania
FBS - Farm Business School
FC - Forest Connect
FFS - Farmer Field School
FIP - FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy and Economic Division
FIPI - FAO Fisheries Policy, Economics and Institutions
FIPM - FAO Fisheries Products, Trade and Marketing
FIR - FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Resources Use and Conservation Division
FIRA - FAO Aquaculture
FIRF - FAO Marine and Inland Fisheries
FIRO - FAO Fishing Operations and Technology O
FO - Farmers‘ Organization
FO - FAO Forestry Department
FOE - FAO Forest Economics, Policy and Products Division
FOEI - FAO Forest Products and Industries
FOEL - FAO Forestry Communication and Liaison
FOEP - FAO Forest Policy and Economics
FOM - FAO Forest Assessment, Management and Conservation Division
FOMA - FAO Global Forest Assessment and Reporting
FOMC - FAO Forest Conservation
FOMR - FAO Forest Management
FSCA - Food Security through Commercialization of Agriculture
GAP - Good Agricultural Practices
GCP - Government Cooperative Program
GDA - Groups of Agricultural Development
GI - Geographical Indication
GIAHS - Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems
GTZ - Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit
HPAI - Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
HQ - Headquarters
IBC - International Banana Conference
ICARRD - International Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development
IDC - Inter Departmental Committee
IDWG - Inter Departmental Working Group
IFAD - International Fund for Agricultural Development
IIED - International Institute for Environment and Development
ILO - International Labor Organization of the United Nations
INCAGRO - Innovación y Competitividad para el Agro Peruano
IPM - Integrated Pest Management
JFFLS - Junior Farmers Field and Life Schools
LADA - Land Degradation Assessment in Drylands
LEG - FAO Legal Office
LEGN - FAO Development Law Service
LoA - Letter of Agreement
LTU - Lead Technical Unit
MA&D - Market Analysis and Development approach
MFFN - Melanesian Farmer First Network
MIS - Member Information System
MDG - Millennium Development Goal
M&E - Monitoring and Evaluation
MoA - Ministry of Agriculture
NCARE - National Center for Agricultural Research and Extension
NEDAC - Regional Network for the development of agricultural cooperatives in Asia and the Pacific

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NFP - National Forest Program
NGO - Non-Governmental Organization
NMTPF- National Medium Term Priority Framework
NPFS - National Program for Food Security
NR - FAO Natural Resources Management and Environment Department
NRC - FAO Climate, Energy, and Tenure Division
NRL - FAO Land and Water Division
ODGS - Strategic Planning Unit
OEK - FAO Office of Knowledge Exchange, Research and Extension
OEKC - FAO Knowledge and Capacity Development
OEKR - FAO Research and Extension Branch
OSD - Office of Support to Decentralization
PDR - People's Democratic Republic
PES - Payment for Environmental Services
PFNL - Produits Forestiers Non Ligneux
PISCES - Policy Innovation Systems for Clean Energy Security
PMH - Petite et Moyenne Hydraulique
PO - Producers‘ Organization
POP - Persistent Organic Pollutants
PPLPI - Pro-Poor Livestock Policy Initiative
PROPAC - Platform of Peasant Organizations of Central Africa
RADCON - Rural and Agriculture Development Communication Network
REU - Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia
RKN - Rural Knowledge Network
ROPPA - Réseaux des Organisations Paysannes et de Producteurs Agricoles de l‘Afrique de l‘Ouest
RUFIP - Rural Financial Intermediation Program
SACAU - Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions
SACCO - Saving and Credit Cooperative Organization
SADC - Southern African Development Community
SARD - Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development
SLM - Sustainable Land Management
SMFE - Small and Medium Forest Enterprise
SOFI - State of Food Insecurity
TC - FAO Technical Cooperation Department
TCEO - FAO Emergency Operations Service
TCI - FAO Investment Centre Division
TCIA - Africa Service of TCI
TCIN - Near East, North Africa, Europe, Central and South Asia Service of TCI
TCIO - Latin America, the Caribbean, East Asia and the Pacific Services of TCI
TCP - Technical Cooperation Program
TCPF - Technical Cooperation Program Facility
TECA - Technology for Agriculture
UNJP - United Nations Joint Program
UTF- Unilateral Trust Fund
VDC - Village Development Committee
VERCON - Virtual Extension and Research Communication Network
VPPG - Village Poultry Production Group
WB - World Bank
WBF - World Banana Forum
WBGS - West Bank and the Gaza Strip
WFP - World Food Program

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Summary and Overview
Activities undertaken in 2011
Helping to create an enabling environment 12
Direct technical support services to field projects in member countries provided 25
Meetings held and regional networking activities supported 77
Knowledge platforms for POs capacity development, software products and good practices databases 81
Activities for 2012
2012 Projects 85
Publications, issues papers and normative guidelines in support of PO and cooperative development 87
Global and regional meetings to be held and networking activities to be supported 88
Annexes
Annex A - Lead Technical Units Institution Building Competency table 89
List of Units and Divisions‘ Acronyms 107
New FAO Headquarters structure as for October 2011 110
Annex B - 2011 Publications, issues papers, normative guidelines, e-learning tools, policy briefs and workshop/conference proceedings in support of PO‘ development 111
Annex C - 2011 Technical learning resources of value to producers' organizations and cooperatives 115 Index

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Highlights of FAO’s 2011 and planned work in support of Producers’ Organizations and food, agricultural and rural cooperatives
Demand from consumers in emerging economies is increasing, population continues to grow, and any further need for energy supplies will place additional demands on the food system. Food price volatility may increase due to stronger linkages between agricultural and energy markets, as well as an increased frequency of weather shocks, moving in tandem with unstable financial and equity markets (Food Outlook, 2011). According to the State of Food Insecurity in the World (2011) food price volatility and high food prices are likely to continue in the years ahead.
Small scale producers in many developing countries were not able to reap the benefits of high food prices during the 2007-2008 food price crisis. The opportunity that high food prices could have provided as a pathway out of poverty for small producers in developing countries was not realized. Yet, evidence shows that strong rural organizations such as producer organizations and cooperatives are able to resist shocks. When they are strong and supported by a conducive policy environment, producer organizations (POs) can provide a full range of services to small producers, they are able to play a greater role in meeting a growing demand for agricultural produce on local, national, and international markets, and they can enable small producers to have some influence over the policy and programs that affect their lives.
In 2011, FAO continued to provide support to producers and cooperatives through a wide range of programs and projects in various countries and regions in the world. Because of their critical role in reducing world hunger and promoting economic growth and rural well-being, FAO expects to revitalize its commitment and rebuild its engagement with cooperatives and producers organizations in the course of the next biennium (2012-13).
FAO’s assistance in support to POs and cooperatives
FAO primarily provides policy assistance to governments to address small producers‘ needs more effectively. Directly or indirectly, FAO also reinforces the organizational capacities of POs, cooperatives and local community organizations to reach their organizational goals. Over 20 FAO Headquarter technical units and departments, as well as decentralized offices provide assistance to POs and cooperatives through sectoral programs and projects. In 2011, FAO‘s achievements relating to producers organizations and cooperatives cover over 100 countries with a total of 182 projects1, including the following activities and intervention areas:
 Capacity development to create an enabling environment and foster representation and participation of POs as key stakeholders in agriculture and rural development policy formulation (36 projects on issues including trade, research, tenure, inputs‘ provision and access to credit);
 Technical assistance (projects approved or implemented in support of POs, cooperatives and community based organizations: 10 Global/Cross-regional projects, 67 in Africa, 25 in Asia, 1 in Europe and Central Asia, 1620 in Latin America and the Caribbean, and 15 in the Near East);
 Awareness raising (23 conferences, meetings, consultations, awareness raising, training events were held, all directly or indirectly supportive of organizations of farmers, fisher folk, forest users, agricultural enterprises and cooperatives);
1 See Annex A for more information on the Lead Technical Units - Institution Building Competency Table
Summary and Overview

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 Knowledge generation (17 relevant publications2, 20 knowledge platforms/portals for POs‘ capacity development and 3 good practices databases).
The FAO New Corporate Strategy on Capacity Development was endorsed at the 141st session of the FAO Council in April 2011. It creates the official framework for FAO to engage in activities that support countries and regions to strengthen their capacities for agriculture development and food security across three dimensions: individuals, organizations and the enabling environment. It emphasizes the importance of promoting organization/institutional development through an effective mobilization of existing institutions and capacities, the analysis of the institutional context, support to the development of conducive policies, advising on processes for the empowerment of local and national organizations, and support to national ownership and leadership. Activities are underway to implement the Strategy, such as the development of a learning program for FAO staff and collaborators.
Corporate Achievements
1) 37th Committee on World Food Security (CFS)
Regional African Farmers‘ Organizations (Network of Peasant and Producers‘ Organizations of West Africa, ROPPA, and Eastern Africa Farmers Federation, EAFF), representatives from international farmer and peasant movements, fisherfolk, youth, pastoralists and indigenous people participated in the CFS- led Intergovernmental Negotiations that took place during 12-15th July and 10-15th October 2011 for the final text of the Voluntary Guidelines on Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Forest and Fisheries. The Voluntary Guidelines are intended to contribute to the global and national efforts towards the eradication of hunger and poverty, based on the principles of sustainable development and with the recognition of the centrality of land to development by promoting secure tenure rights and equitable access to land.
The Pan-African Farmers‘ Organization (PAFO), the Regional Platform of Peasant Organizations of Central Africa (PROPAC), the National Coordination of Peasant Organization of Mali, EAFF, and ROPPA participated in a side event during the 37th CFS ‘’Africa can feed itself’’. This event contributed to policy dialogue in the context of the CFS on food security, investment in agriculture and access to resources by highlighting concerns and proposals advanced by major actors of food security in Africa: governments and small-scale food producers.
The participation of POs and cooperatives in these two events demonstrates that the CFS reforms have been implemented by ensuring that all relevant voices are heard in the policy debate on food and agriculture. The vision of the reformed CFS is to be the most inclusive international and intergovernmental platform for all stakeholders to work together to ensure food security and nutrition for all.
POs and cooperatives were considered as key for addressing Food Price Volatility and Gender, two of the topics discussed at the Policy Roundtables during the 37th Committee on World Food Security (CFS) that took place on 17-22nd October 2011 at the FAO Headquarters.
 Assistance to cooperatives and community grain storage initiatives is an important first step in reducing post-harvest losses and increasing resilience, as well as addressing emergency needs and reducing domestic food price volatility by allowing farmers to market beyond harvest season. The CFS noted the need for policies to facilitate access to credit for storage improvements by farmers, cooperatives and private traders and to the necessary technology and training to minimize post-harvest losses. There is also a need for training to build specialized storage management skills both for farmers‘ associations and cooperatives as well as for the private sector.
2 See Annex B for more details on publications, issues papers, normative guidelines, e-learning tools, policy briefs and workshop/conference proceedings and Annex C for more details on technical learning resources of value to POs and cooperatives.

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 Women‘s participation in both women only and mixed cooperatives is important, POs and cooperatives enable women farmers to aggregate their harvests, negotiate better prices, introduce value added processing, and potentially provide better access to transportation for members‘ produce. The CFS urged Member States to actively promote women‘s leadership and to strengthen women‘s capacity to organize, especially in rural areas.
2) Closing the gender gap through strong Cooperatives and Producer Organizations
Closing the gender gap in agricultural inputs alone could lift 100–150 million people out of hunger. Women make significant contributions to the rural economy in all developing countries. Their roles differ across regions, yet they consistently have less access than men to the resources and opportunities they need to be more productive. Increasing women‘s access to land, livestock, education, financial services, extension, technology and rural employment would boost their productivity and generate gains in terms of agricultural production, food security, economic growth and social welfare (State of Food and Agriculture, 2010-2011).
FAO works with governments, POs and cooperatives to support both rural women and men who are small producers in agriculture and who, otherwise, might not gain access to the resources or services they need to improve their livelihoods. The Knowledge Management and Gender Program (composed by the following projects: Capitalization, Dimitra, Holivar and the Rural Finance Learning Centre) uses participatory approaches for the exchange of knowledge and a systematic integration of gender issues through better information management and communication. Action-Training activities, participatory assessments, and events to share experience and knowledge such as share fairs, have led to the strengthening of POs and the empowerment of rural populations. Impacts include: developing more equitable and sustainable POs and associations through better awareness of gender balance and the commitment of members to encourage access of women to leadership positions. FAO has also recently launched action research on women‘s participation within Rural Producer Organizations (RPOs) in developing countries, in order to establish multi-stakeholder dialogues with policy makers and other relevant actors to inform gender-sensitive policies, with the ultimate goal of improving gender equality in leadership and decision-making processes in these organizations. It is also meant to encourage governments to create the enabling environment in which POs and cooperatives can develop and thrive. This also ties into the 16th year of the Beijing Platform for Action, which sets out an international agenda for women's empowerment.
Worldwide farmers speak up through their producer organizations: from the G120 to the G20
FAO participated in the conference "G120, the world's farmers speak!''. A week before the meeting of ministers of agriculture of the G20, French agricultural organizations (FNSEA and Young Farmers France-JA) invited 120 agricultural organizations from 80 countries to gather in Paris at the OECD headquarters on 16 and June 17, 2011. During these two days, 400 participants from five continents developed proposals on the future of global agriculture. After the meeting, 120 agricultural organizations agreed to propose and submit to the G20 agriculture ministers a set of recommendations for the development of world agriculture and to reduce the volatility of agricultural prices.
3) The celebration of the International Day of Cooperatives 2011: focus on youth
The theme for the 2011 International Day of Cooperatives, Youth, the Future of Cooperatives, highlighted how the cooperative model of enterprise can successfully empower youth. It links to the celebration of the United Nations International Year of Youth, which encourages dialogue and understanding across generations and promotes the ideals of peace, respect for human rights and freedoms, and solidarity. Young people are often unaware of the cooperative model of enterprise - they do not learn about cooperatives in school as they rarely figure in their school curricula.
FAO, together with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the International Movement for Catholic Agricultural and Rural Youth (MIJARC), are developing a program on how to

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facilitate engagement of rural youth in agriculture. Firstly, a mapping exercise of young farmers‘ organizations, farmers‘ organizations which are addressing youth issues and rural organizations representing young farmer interests was carried out. Secondly, a qualitative survey to identify challenges and opportunities specific to young women and men producers in rural areas; their level of representation and participation in organizations; and the factors of success and/or failure of youth entering into agriculture was conducted. Thirdly, three regional workshops in Africa, Asia and Latin America composed of young representatives of farmers‘ organizations were organized. The workshops aimed at providing young farmers with a space to express their aspirations, voice their concerns and provide recommendations for future policy action. The findings of the first phase of this program will be presented and discussed at the upcoming IFAD Farmers‘ Forum to be held in February 2012.
In fact, throughout this year‘s observance of the International Year of Youth, decision makers around the world stressed the importance of including young people at all levels of the development process. The active inclusion of young women and men in social and economic development helps reduce social exclusion, improve productive capacity, break cycles of poverty, promote gender equality and raise environmental responsibility.
4) Launching the 2012 International Year of Cooperatives
Small scale producers as members of rural cooperatives can benefit from a variety of services related to access to and management of natural resources, improved access to input and output markets, as well as a stronger voice in decision making and improved bargaining power leading to improved food security and poverty reduction for millions. FAO, IFAD and the World Food Program (WFP), on the occasion of the official launch of the International Year of Cooperatives 2012 (IYC) on October 31, 2011, at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, FAO, IFAD and WFP highlighted the importance of agricultural cooperatives.
FAO spoke on behalf of the three Rome based Agencies at a jointly organized event on agricultural cooperatives ―A means to achieve Food Security‖, which also included representatives of cooperatives and farmer organizations, GFAR, and other civil society organizations from all regions of the world. Seventy representatives of government and civil society participated in the event. Participants recognised the critical role of cooperatives for rural and agricultural development and in particular the role of women farmers which deserves to be enhanced and supported. There was a call to better define expected outputs from the IYC process in 2012, as well as reflect on tools needed to stimulate the cooperative movement. There was also a call to explore ways of replicating such success stories in additional countries.
In 2012, the Rome-based UN agencies will remain committed to supporting agricultural cooperatives, which provide members with economic advantages and offer them a wide range of services that build up their skills and improve their livelihoods. With the theme of “Cooperative Enterprises Build a Better World”, the Year seeks to encourage the growth and establishment of cooperatives all over the world. It also encourages individuals, communities and governments to recognize the importance of cooperatives in helping to achieve internationally agreed upon development goals, such as the Millennium Development Goals. In particular the three Rome-based agencies will collaborate to raise awareness on the significant role played by food, agricultural and rural cooperatives in sustainable employment generation, poverty alleviation and food security.
Ways forward
The collaboration initiated between the three Rome-based agencies in 2011 for the preparations of the launch of the International Year of Cooperatives 2012 (IYC) will serve as a basis for continued, sustained efforts in jointly promoting food, agricultural and rural cooperatives. The three Rome-based agencies have identified three main events in 2012 that will serve as catalysts for the promotion of the IYC. Events promoting food, agricultural and rural cooperatives could be held back to back with the following events:

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 The Farmers‘ Forum that will be hosted by IFAD in February 2012, in conjunction with its Governing Council; FAO is participating in a youth day event which could be leveraged to highlight issues pertaining to young farmers‘ organizations including cooperatives.
 The fifty-sixth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) that will take place at United Nations Headquarters in New York from Monday, 27 February to Friday, 9 March 2012. The theme for the fifty-sixth session of CSW, is the empowerment of rural women and their role in poverty and hunger eradication, development and current challenges. FAO will be leading the organization of several joint side event together with the RBAs, UN Women, ILO and others.
 The General Assembly of the World Farmers‘ Organization (WFO) that will take place in Rome in May or June 2012. FAO proposes to hold a joint FAO-WFO event to celebrate the IYC.
 FAO Regional Conferences, the Plunkett Foundation‘ World of Rural Co-operation Conference‖, area among numerous other possibilities
FAO and IFAD will also disseminate the joint good practice publication entitled ―good practices in building innovative rural institutions to increase food security‖ which presents numerous examples of innovative POs, cooperatives and other institutional arrangements that have proven to be successful in helping small producers overcome their different constraints. A monitoring exercise to measure the uptake of this work is foreseen. Beyond the dissemination of these practices, FAO, will undertake, at the country level, more in-depth analysis aimed at better defining the contextual elements of the needed enabling environment for producer organizations to develop and thrive. In this context, a range of activities at country level including the production of tools and materials will be developed.
FAO and the International Labour Organization (ILO) agreed to collaborate on the development of a brief along with a series of good practices featuring institutional arrangements linking value chains to multinational enterprises. These materials could be used as a contribution to the celebration of the 2012 International Year of Cooperatives. Although these materials could be cross-sectoral, FAO would obviously focus on the rural, food and agricultural dimensions. These examples demonstrate UN- interagency commitment to supporting food, agricultural and rural cooperatives throughout the year ahead and beyond.
FAO will also develop a special learning module on ‗Organization analysis and development, which capitalizes on FAO‘s past experiences and normative products in this field. It also aims at mainstreaming coherent approaches in the area of organization development in order to influence FAO policy support and practices. In addition, a series of seminars and knowledge sharing events on organization development related issues are envisaged in 2012.
As 2012 marks a period of new leadership for FAO, more fundamental changes in the Organization‘s relationship to cooperatives and producers are expected to emerge in the course of the next months. FAO counts on its many partners to continue to support its fundamental commitment and evolving engagement with producer organizations and cooperatives.

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This section describes the activities FAO supported in 2011 in order to help create an enabling environment for cooperative and producers‘ group enterprise development. It concerns mainly policy processes and advice to member countries and support to POs to participate in policy dialogue and influence economic and financial policies as well as the regulatory and legal frameworks for rural development. Mainstreaming support to POs in investment programs and national institutions (i.e. including defining research agendas and demand led extension and advisory services) is also a key feature of the Organization‘s work. FAO‘s work in support of forest users‘ and fishers‘ organizations is considered separately in later sections due to their specificity.
Global/Cross-regional
 All ACP Agricultural Commodities Program3, Including Cotton (AAACP) (GCP/INT/045/EC, LTU: EST/2007-2011). The overall objective of this interregional program was to improve incomes and livelihoods of producers dependent on agricultural commodities - in the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) regions - by building the capacity of actors along commodity chains to develop and implement sustainable value chain strategies. The four-year program is client-driven with activities prioritized on the basis of participatory value chain diagnosis. A major area of support has been capacity building for: i) policy makers to design policies that incorporate the value chain approach in order to develop integrated commodity strategies; ii) farmer federations to strengthen the integration of smallholders into value chains.
 Conservation and Adaptive Management of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) (GCP /GLO/212/GFF, LTU: NRL/2008-2013 and GCP/GLO/198/GER, LTU: NRL/2008-2011). FAO‘s GIAHS-Initiative endeavors to raise global and national awareness of and support for agricultural heritage systems worldwide. Rather than promoting the preservation of GIAHS as agricultural museums, the GIAHS approach aims to reinforce the underlying ecological and socio-cultural processes of agricultural heritage systems, while enhancing their viability and promoting development for their custodians. It supports the social empowerment of farmer and livestock-keeper communities by improving their land and natural resource rights and building capacity of their social organizations and institutions to access public services and information on technologies, markets and policies. Currently, the initiative has devised two projects for selected GIAHS: GCP /GLO/212/GFF (Peru, Chile, China, Philippines, Tunisia and Algeria) and GCP/GLO/198/GER (Kenya and Tanzania). (For more information please refer to the GIAHS website http://www.fao.org/nr/giahs/giahs-home/en/).
3 FAO is a program partner together with other four International Organizations, namely the International Trade Centre (ITC), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the World Bank (WB) and the Common Commodity Fund (CFC)
Executive Summary Activities undertaken in 2011 - Helping to create an enabling environment

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 In 2009, the European Union (EU) has increased its support to global food security through a €1 Billion Food Facility, targeting the transition period from emergency aid to longer-term development. Over €232 million was channeled through FAO, as a major partner for its implementation, allowing the organization to field operations in twenty-eight countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, touching the lives of more than nine million people in rural areas4. From 2009 until 2011, activities under the Food Facility targeted the improvement of farmers‘ access to quality inputs and services; boosting agricultural production through such measures as micro-credit schemes; improved rural infrastructure and support for FOs; and providing safety nets to vulnerable groups (for more information please refer to http://www.fao.org/europeanunion/eu-in- action/eu-food-facility-details/en/).
EU Food Facility – Case study Liberia Background In 2007/2008, there was an upsurge in food prices on international markets, adversely affecting the food needs of developing countries like Liberia. The Government of Liberia (GOL), together with the EU and UN development partners, responded to the crisis with the formulation of the European Union Food Facility (EUFF) project, entitled: Support to the Government’s Coordinated Response to the Food Price Increase. Launched in May 2009 and funded by the EU, the 26 months project was part of the Joint Program on Food Security and Nutrition of the GOL and implementing UN agencies: FAO, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and World Food Program (WFP). The project provided direct support to 21,950 Liberian food insecure rural farmers, including 12,855 rice farmers and 9,095 vegetable growers in eight Counties: Bomi, Bong, Grand Gedeh, Lofa, Nimba, Grand Bassa, Margibi and Montserrado. Impacts of the POs and cooperatives on livelihood The project provided some innovative elements in the above context through:  Provision of inputs such as seeds, tools, fertilizer and pest management equipment.  Instant access to FAO staff for technical support by farmers, Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) extension workers etc.  Periodic monitoring field visits to give technical support to field staff and to assess work quality relative to project objective and goal.  Training in the areas of rice and vegetable production, agro-machinery operation and maintenance and agri-business entrepreneurship.  Collaborating with the MoA, other line government agencies, NGOs, UN agencies and project implementing partners. Impacts of the POs and cooperatives on The provision of inputs, field visits, training and technical backup support to the POs and cooperatives had impacts on livelihood as follows:  About 4,000 hectares were brought under cultivation with rice in 4 counties.
4 Countries in Batch 1 are: Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Guinea Bissau, Haiti, Liberia, Mozambique, Pakistan, Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe. Countries in Batch 2 are: Burundi, Cambodia, Guatemala, Jamaica, Kenya, Lesotho, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Togo, and Zambia.

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livelihood  Rice production increased from 1.5 - 2.0 mt/ha to 3.5 – 4.0 mt/ha especially under lowland/swamp ecology.  Power tiller operation reduced labor cost and increased acreage cultivated which enabled farmers to produce more paddy.  Rice thresher and rice mill operations improved product quality through value- addition and eliminated rocks, dirt and other foreign elements thus increasing income to farmers.  14 farmer organizations have now: leadership and management skills; proper record keeping capacities; can make business and financial plans, and are conducting their own farming activities as a business.  Collaboration with partners enabled the selection of qualified farmer groups for the project; appropriate project locations identified for project implementation; appropriate project inputs identified, purchased and distributed to beneficiaries. General success factors  Stakeholders‘ consultation at national, county and district levels enhanced accountability and transparency at every stage of project implementation.  Timely delivery of quality inputs.  Effective training in areas of production, processing and agri-business.  Effective technical backstopping support to farmers.  Periodic field maintenance at all levels of supervision. Problems remaining to be resolved  Insufficient availability of land preparation equipment such as power tiller, tractor, etc.  Training in land development, pest management, business entrepreneurship and water management.  Training of farmers groups/cooperative in the application of the improved technology to value addition (product processing, packaging, labeling, and storage) Key recommendations  Support for additional funding to ensure the provision of equipment for land preparation and value-addition.  More training in the areas of pest management, water management, agri-business and agro-machinery operation and maintenance.  Training in planting material propagation (rice seeds, cassava cuttings, vegetable seeds)
FAO/Belgium Partnership Program 2008-2011 in the Field of Knowledge Management and Gender (FBPP/GLO/001/BEL, OEKC/2008-2012) Background  Niger has benefited from 1999 to 2007 from a project promoting the use of agricultural inputs by POs, called ‗‘boutiques d‘intrants‘‘ (input supply shops). The project targeted agricultural input supply (fertilizers, pesticides, seeds, etc.). There was a particular interest on issues related to inputs‘ financed by the warehouse receipt system. This has led to the development of a strategy of supply of inputs for sustainable agriculture (ACIS) included in the Rural Development Strategy (RDS) of Niger. The continuation of the project since 2008 are conducted through the project: Intensification of agriculture by strengthening the input shops Cooperatives (IARBIC).  Based on these achievements, and in close collaboration with the project IARBIC, the program aims to expand capitalization and equal opportunities for female and male producers‘ access to agricultural inputs. The gender approach fully integrates this goal, seeking equal access and control of men and women to productive resources

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(land, finance, inputs, information and education), responsibilities and decision- making.  The project Capitalization of good practices in support of agricultural production and food security (FBPP/GLO/002/BEL, LTU: OEKC/2008-2012) with Dimitra Phase III (GCP /INT/810/BEL, LTU: ESW/2002-2012) (Addendum Phase II of Rural Women and Development - Dimitra (GCP /INT/673/BEL, LTU: SDW / 1998-2001) are two of the four axes of the partnership program between FAO and Belgium entitled Knowledge Management and Gender, which use a participatory approach for the exchange of knowledge and a systematic integration of gender issues through better information management and to communication.. Hortivar (www.fao.org / HORTIVAR) and the Center for Rural Finance Learning (www.ruralfinance.org) is the technical wing of the program. It is executed by FAO with funding from the Belgian government. Speaking at the regional level, it has a coordinating unit based in Niamey, which implements activities in Niger and Burkina Faso (extensions planned in Mali and Senegal). Impacts of the POs and cooperatives on livelihood In its implementation, the project integrates gender equality, and aims at transforming experiences on the management of inputs in the knowledge that female and male producers can use. To this end it has initiated many activities:  Practical training, called "training - action," to learn by making products and using tools integrated into the activities of the organizations. The areas covered include: data management and statistical computing, input management, communication and management of electronic information, knowledge management and capitalization of experiences.  Identification and collection of good practices: documentation of gender sensitive significant experiences, documentaries on the internet.  Definition of methods and mechanisms for communicating best practices: strengthening information systems and communication of farmers' organizations (FOs) and organizations of rural support, exchange of experience - expertise - methods (travel, workshop, fairs, and networking).  Development and implementation of initiatives to reduce gender gaps: research on the problem of managing inputs according to a gender perspective at the PO's level; training on equity in men-women communication for development and management of development projects.  Implementation of methodological meeting points: they are both i) places of exchange, learning, participatory action research where innovations are tested and applied best practices, ii) the baselines of Monitoring and Evaluation (M & E) for a more precise analysis of the impact of management practices; iii) places of training and exchange involving POs and other actors in rural development.  Production and distribution of material: on various topics (capitalization, extension, and training) linked to several themes related to the management of inputs and on different media (audio and video documentary, fact sheets, manuals, CD-ROMs, websites and forums). Impacts of the POs and cooperatives on livelihood  Action-Training activities, participatory assessments, organizing events to share experience and knowledge such as the share fairs, have led to changes at POs and individual level. Impacts include; developing more egalitarian and sustainable POs and associations through better gender balance, awareness and the commitment of members to encourage greater access of women to positions of responsibility.  In terms of knowledge and skills acquired, over 75% of participants are trained on the promotion of gender equality. Female and male producers and their partners have better access to information and knowledge management capitalized on the input integrating gender equality. On 31st April 2011, the project counted 1978 days of training.

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 Women representation has increased significantly during the period of the project from 23% on 31st October 2009 to 36% on 30th April 2011.  Initiatives to reduce gender gaps (literacy, AGR and relief kits for distribution of housework for women) are being put in place through advocacy and lobbying undertaken with technical and financial partners (Amélie Fund, Swiss cooperation, CISV, ISEP, IARBIC). Financially, the promotion of a warehouse receipt system accessible to the poor-are paving the way for equal access to credit. General success factors  Continuity of team members (national coordinator, national experts, administrative staff and drivers).  Very good knowledge relations with officials and POs' members. Problems remaining to be resolved The main POs' constraints to be resolved are: illiteracy, low level of organization and supervision of producers‘ members. Key recommendations Lessons learned:  the issue of access to land. Gender equality is critical in the inputs‘ management.  Resistance to gender equality in participation in the decision-making bodies at the PO level is more related to the lack of information and training than any other factor.
 Promoting Sustainable Banana Production and Trade through the Development of the World Banana Forum (MTF/GLO/308/MUL, LTU: EST/2011-2013) is the second phase of the World Banana Forum (a multi-stakeholder forum on sustainable banana production and trade) (MTF /GLO/242/UK, LTU: EST/2009-2010). Since 2009 the FAO Trade and Markets Division (EST) facilitates the World Banana Forum (WBF). The WBF is a public-private partnership created to facilitate collaboration between stakeholders to promote sustainable banana production and trade. It provides the different players of the banana sector worldwide with a permanent space where they can jointly find solutions to their common challenges. POs and agricultural cooperatives have found in the WBF a platform where their voice can be heard by the industry leaders and public sector policy makers. The WBF tackles the most urgent needs considered by its participants, and implements a goal oriented work plan to effectively address them (including ad hoc pilot projects). The beneficiaries typically belong to banana-producing and exporting countries although participants from consumer countries have proved their commitment to turn the project‘s objectives into real changes. The Working Group on Value Chain published in 2011 a Living wage methodology for Latin American banana production (available at: http://bit.ly/r60K59). The Working Group on Labor Rights conducted a diagnosis of labor rights situations in thirteen countries (detailed info at: http://bit.ly/u5Qb8V) raising the most urgent concerns in the following areas: Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining; Gender Discrimination and Occupational Health and Safety. For more information, please visit: www.fao.org/wbf
 Promotion of Origin-Linked Quality Products (‘’Appui au renforcement des politiques de qualité spécifique des aliments’’ – Phase II and III of GCP /INT/022/FRA, LTU: AGN/2007-2013). This FAO Program aims to assist member countries and stakeholders, including local FOs, in implementing both local and institutional-level systems regarding origin-linked specific quality and Geographical Indication (GI) labels. The program also endeavors to raise Government awareness of the importance of involving FOs in the elaboration of codes of practice in this field.
 Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development in Mountain Regions (SARD-M) (GCP /GLO/136/MUL, LTU: ESW/2005-2011) The project‘s overall objective was to facilitate the

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formulation, review, implementation and evaluation of SARD policies for mountain regions at national, decentralized and community levels, taking into account global, regional and transboundary contexts, institutions and linkages, in order to enhance rural livelihoods. (For more information please refer to the project website http://www.fao.org/sard/en/sardm/home/index.html).
Africa
Regional
 FAO/Belgium Partnership Program 2008-2011 in the Field of Knowledge Management and Gender (FBPP/GLO/001/BEL, OEKC/2008-2012) includes several projects among which “Good practices capitalization in support of food production and food security‖ (FBPP/GLO/002/BEL, LTU: OEKC/2008-2012). This project aims to capitalize on and disseminate knowledge for food security and empowerment of rural populations, especially women‘s groups. The creation of the FAO- Belgium Partnership Program Knowledge Management and Gender is based on a systematic consideration of gender issues and the experiences and learning that have resulted from FAO projects and programs. In the long term, this Program will contribute to the food security of the rural poor, notably women. Through a participatory approach, it will improve the living conditions of rural populations, the integration of gender issues, and knowledge sharing.
 Rural Women, Gender and Development - Collection, Processing and Dissemination of Information in Sub-Saharan Africa - Dimitra Phase III (GCP /INT/810/BEL, LTU: ESW/2002- 2012) (Addendum Phase II of Rural Women and Development - Dimitra (GCP /INT/673/BEL, LTU: SDW / 1998-2001) Dimitra is a participatory information and communication project which contributes to improving the visibility of rural populations, women and their associations in particular, so that they can make their voices heard and be empowered through access to information and communication. By working in close partnership with a network of local organizations, it encourages the sharing and exchange of information, best practices, ideas and know-how. The project uses traditional and new information and communication technologies and tools. The outputs include: (i) the Dimitra database that contains profiles of African CSOs which have projects or programs involving rural women and development and/or adapting a gender approach, (ii) a website on relevant activities carried out by Dimitra and its network of organizations and (iii) a bulletin to disseminate information about the activities of the project and partners organizations in Africa.
 Under the All ACP Support Program on Agricultural Commodities, Including Cotton (AAACP Program) (GCP /INT/045/EC, LTU: EST/2007-2011) In Africa the Rural Infrastructure and Agro- industries Division (AGS) has worked closely with the regional farmers federations on a capacity building program of work entitled ―building the capacities of FOs to respond to changing agriculture markets‖. The findings from this area of work will contribute to recommendations for decision makers, including references to the enabling environment. Under the AAACP, the Trade and Markets Division (EST) has also provided the following organizations with enhanced opportunities to influence policy processes: In Mali: Faso Giji (a network of cooperatives and unions specialized in cereal marketing), Plateforme Riz (a new inter-professional organization created following an FAO workshop on rice), the Conseil national des organizations professionelles du Mali. In Burkina Faso: the Conseil inter-professionnel du Riz au Burkina Faso, the Conseil inter- professionnel des céréales au Burkina, the Fédération Provinciale des Professionnels Agricoles de la Sissili (FEPPASI) and Réseau des Organisations paysannes et des Producteurs d’Afrique de l’ouest (ROPPA), in Cameroun: Plateforme Sous Régionale des Organisations Paysannes de l’Afrique Centrale (PROPAC) and support to the cassava sector in Malawi and Zambia. Activities have also included round tables to strengthen or establish national commodity bodies (inter- professional organizations) for maize, sesame, rice and sorghum/millet and a regional workshop on the role of inter-professional organizations in the development of cereal markets. In addition, the national cotton union in Burkina Faso and cotton FOs in Mali benefited from: a large Farmer Field

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School program (FFS) on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and Integrated Pest Management (IPM), organized by the Plant Production and Protection Division (AGP).
 Amélioration de la Production de riz en Afrique de l’Ouest en Réponse à la Flambée des Prix des denrées Alimentaires (Initiative to Boost Rice Production in Sub-Saharan Africa (GCP /RAF/453/SPA, LTU: AGP/2010-2012). This project, aims to increase rice production in five West African Countries (Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Senegal) in response to soaring food prices. The project objective is to improve national seed regulation and policies and to increase seed security by improving the capacities of smallholder seed enterprises and seed associations.
 Supporting CAADP5 process. FAO Investment Centre Division (TCI) has been assisting a number of countries in Africa to develop their national agricultural sector investment programs (NAIP) based on their national CAADP compacts. These programs provide the detailed investment framework, which serves as a basis for Governments to dialogue with and guide development partners in prioritizing their investments programs and projects. This is followed by TCI support to countries in formulating Post CAADP Compact investment strategies, plans and programs. TCI has collaborated with Burundi, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote D‘Ivoire, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Swaziland and Tanzania, Togo and Uganda on these activities. TCI has also supported country investment plans in Haiti and Bangladesh. In the above cases, assistance provided has included whenever feasible facilitating the participation of producers’ associations in the preparation of such plans and programs.
 Support to the Eastern Africa Grains Council in the development of a more coherent grains trade policy framework in East and Southern Africa. By providing a platform for dialogue between stakeholders including producer cooperatives, and supported by analysis, EST‘s input has facilitated stakeholders‘ in articulating their concerns about current policy interventions in grains markets.
National
 (Angola) Apoyo a las instituciones gubernamentales para la mejora de la gestión de la tenencia y administración de la tierra y los recursos naturales, en las provincias de Huambo y Bié, Angola (GCP /ANG/045/SPA, LTU : NRL/2010-2013) The project aims to strengthen land management and natural resources capacities through support to local actors primarily, both governmental and non-governmental organizations, to improve the institutional framework responsible for its management in the provinces of Huambo and Bié, Angola. The project follows a community based approach and most of the activities are implemented through local farmers groups with the help of implementing partners as required. The project also builds the capacity of the provincial and district agriculture office in Bamyan so that qualified counterparts are available to directly work with the project.
 (Gabon) Appui au renforcement des organisations professionnelles agricoles, OPA (TCP/GAB/3202, LTU : AGS/2009-2011). The project's main objective was to assist the MoA of Gabon in the preparation and implementation of a capacity building plan for FOs in rural areas. This project contributed to strengthening national capacity for implementing programs and projects which rely on producer groups. It addressed legal and regulatory aspects, and strengthened FOs through a system of supervision. Based on a typology of existing FOs, appropriate training modules were developed to enhance their technical and organizational skills. Capacity building of producers, access to credit and the promotion of women's groups were among the actions undertaken. A computerized database of POs was also created.
5 Common African Agricultural Development Program (CAADP)

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 (Liberia) Support to the Government’s Coordinated Response to the Food Price Crisis (GCP /LIR/014/EC, LTU: AGP/ 2009-2011). Within the broader context of the GoL‘s Poverty Reduction Strategy and the National Agriculture Policy and Strategy, and in particular, the Joint Program on Food Security and Nutrition, the project contributed to ensuring that all Liberians have access to the food they need, and are able to utilize that food to live active, healthy and productive lives. FAO under the European Union Food Facility Project supported the fourteen cooperatives in capacity building and provision of essential inputs, lowland rehabilitation, provision of agro machinery, training and technical backstopping.
 (Swaziland) Swaziland Agricultural Development Project (GCP /SWA/016/EC, LTU: OEKR/2009-2014). The purpose of this project is to improve smallholders‘ production, and marketing systems, through the expansion of a range of successful initiatives such as FFS and Conservation Agriculture (CA). The MoA will be supported in developing demand-driven research and agricultural services for small producers and their organizations. In addition, the project foresees to improve the linkages between smallholders and commercial markets, through contributory grant funds for relevant investment and technical assistance to enterprises.
Support to the Government’s Coordinated Response to the Food Price Crises (GCP /LIR/014/EC, LTU: AGP/ 2009-2011) Farmers’ Organization Location FAO’s Inputs/Progress Project Impact on Beneficiaries 14 farmers groups including eight cooperatives assisted: Bong, Lofa, Nimba Counties 14 farmers groups including 8 cooperatives received assistance from FAO under EUFF Project. Assistance included: Provision of essential inputs, training, technical support: seed rice, fertilizer, tools, IPM inputs, rice mill, thrashers and power tillers:  10 farmers groups were provided with agro- machineries (power tiller, thresher, rice each);  10 farmers groups participated in two rounds of training in agro-machinery operations and maintenance;  14 farmers groups underwent three rounds of training in agro- business and marketing skills;  14 farmers groups trained in value addition practices;  14 farmers groups trained in group or cooperative leadership/managerial skills.  Improved organizational development ad leadership structure;  Improved capacities of 14 farmers groups including eight cooperatives in modern farming methods that increased production and income;  10 farmers using agro-machineries to reduce labor, increase production and income;  14 farmers‘ groups including eight cooperatives managerial and leadership skills improved that enabled them properly increase production, income and livelihoods;  14 farmers‘ groups including 8 cooperatives assisted in commercialization of their produce.

20. 20
Asia and the Pacific
Regional
 Medium-term cooperation Program with FOs in Asia and the Pacific Region (GCP /RAS/249/IFA, LTU: FAORAP, 2009-2012). The main objective of this IFAD-funded program is to improve the livelihoods of rural poor producers, enabling small FOs in Asia and the Pacific region and their networks to influence policies affecting their members. The following MTCP national activities are conducted: mapping of FOs; National Farmers Forum Consultations; National Farmers‘ Forum Advisory Committee‘/ Steering Committee Meetings; national research and studies on priority themes; detailed profiling of FOs mapped to select those that can substantially contribute to IFAD‘s country program; strengthening involvement of FOs in IFAD country program‘s activities (design, implementation and M&E); and coordination of national activities. To date, progress has been reported in five countries (Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines and Vietnam), while implementation in China and Myanmar has been delayed because of internal processes and procedures.
 Under the All ACP Support Program on Agricultural Commodities, Including Cotton (AAACP Program) (GCP /INT/045/EC, LTU: EST/2007-2011), In the Pacific island region four POs and a regional farmers network (Melanesian Farmers First Network – MFFN) were supported in strengthening their capacities in service provision to members for improved farmer-market linkages and to improve their respective business models. A Lessons Learned workshop was held and an impact assessment report is being prepared. The findings will contribute to make recommendations to decision makers, including references to the enabling environment.
National
 (Pakistan) Mainstreaming livelihood oriented DRM into public sector organizations and communities through piloting, research and capacity building interventions under the One UN Framework (UNJP/PAK/121/EDF, LTU: TCES, 2010-2011). The project integrated livelihood oriented Disaster Risk Management (DRM) into planning and development processes of key public sector organizations at National, Provincial and District levels. Direct beneficiaries included: government officials and departments, and, civil society organizations (CSOs) and community based organizations (CBOs) who participated as implementing partners,
Europe and Central Asia
 (Albania) Assessment of current agricultural research and extension system, stakeholder information and communication needs and gaps for providing effective and relevant services to Albanian smallholder farmers (UNJP/ALB/006/UNJ, LTU: OEKR/2008-2011). The project assessed the strengths and weaknesses of the current agricultural research and extension system, and the needs of its stakeholders, recommending follow-up actions for the improvement of services to farmers. As a result of the project, the capacities of, at least, 20 organizations have been improved to assess the public research and extension system. In 2010, UNJP/ALB/006/UNJ was granted an extension into a second phase to further address the needs, identified during phase I. Project document “Strengthening the functional linkages and building capacities among the stakeholders of the national research and extension system for providing effective and relevant services to Albanian smallholder farmers‖ was developed and agreed with Albanian government and UN Delivery as One. The outcome of the project‘s second phase improved the involvement and effective interaction among all stakeholders of the Agricultural Knowledge and Information System (AKIS) in Albania. Particular attention was given to smallholder POs, including rural women organizations. As a result of the project, the following outputs were produced: efficient and

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improved institutional framework for AKIS in Albania; effective communication strategy in extension, including pilot ICT network; Improved networking capacities of all groups of stakeholders.
 (Armenia) Establishment of a virtual extension and research information and communication network (TCP/ARM/3204- Phase II of TCP/ARM/3103, LTU: OEKC/2010-2011). The project developed the necessary institutional structures and processes, and capacity building to improve communication and exchange of information among selected stakeholder organizations, including POs and cooperatives, and extension service providers in Armenia.
 (Georgia) EC/FAO Program on information systems to improve food security decision- making in the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) East Area (2010 – 2012). Strategic guidance is provided to the MoA to foster cooperation and social cohesion among farmers, an essential condition to improve the productivity of small farmers and move from subsistence to market-oriented agriculture. The program will carry out an assessment of farmers‘ different types of organizations. Specifically, the assessment will focus on identifying experienced farmers‘ organizations, documenting their structure, results (production and incomes), and advantages vis- à-vis individual farmers. The assessment will draw conclusions on the best ways to improve value chains and farm incomes in Georgia, based on experience of processors, consolidators and farmers. This assessment will provide strategic guidance to support cooperation between farmers for agricultural development.
 (Republic of Azerbaijan) Capacity Building in Rural Development for Internal Displaced Person (IDP) and Refugees in New Settlements of Aghdam District - Azerbaijan - Consolidation Phase of the Pilot project (GCP /AZE/003/SWI, LTU: AGS/2009-2012). The project has implemented important and sustainable production activities for IDPs, refugees and local farmers in the District of Agdam (Azerbaijan) with positive outcomes related to income generation for the individual farmers and the pilot region. Through further support to Farmer Based Organizations (FBO) and Business Development Services (BDS) providers it could create conditions for replication in other parts of the country. The Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan has requested FAO to further strengthen the business capacity of the existing producer groups and to formulate a project, which should replicate this approach in a wider framework in other regions of the country with large numbers of IDPs and refugees. The main outcome of the project would be to transfer results from the FBO support of the project into a project proposal for a possible UTF project to strengthen the income of IDPs and farmers in other regions of Azerbaijan.
Latin America and the Caribbean
Regional
 Under the All ACP Support Program on Agricultural Commodities, Including Cotton (AAACP Program) (GCP /INT/045/EC, LTU: EST/2007-2011), In the Caribbean island region four POs and the regional Caribbean Farmers Network (CaFAN) were supported in strengthening their capacities in service provision to members for improved farmer-market linkages and to improve their respective business models. A Lessons Learned workshop was held and an impact assessment report is being prepared. The findings will contribute to make recommendations to decision makers, including references to the enabling environment.
 Apoyo al seguimiento a la Conferencia Internacional sobre Reforma Agraria y Desarrollo Rural: Nuevos desafíos y opciones para revitalizar las comunidades rurales (CIRADR) en Sudamérica (TCP/RLA/3209, LTU: TCSP/2009-2011). FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (FAORLC), with the support of the Government of Brazil, has launched a capacity building program to support the participation of farmer, women, youth, indigenous and fishers‘ organizations in the design of rural development policies. This has been done through the

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implementation of national workshops enhancing dialogue between social movements and the governments of Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Panama and Cuba, as well as through multiple capacity building initiatives.
 Calidad de los alimentos vinculada con el origen y las tradiciones en América Latina (TCP/RLA/3211, LTU: AGN/2009-2011). This project strengthened the capacities of institutions and local organizations in implementing programs related to local quality products. Within the pilot cases (in each of the six countries: Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Peru and Ecuador), the project built capacity and organized training with POs on value chain approaches in order to develop and manage a collective labeling and a marketing strategy.
 Programa Regional para reforzar los impactos de las políticas públicas en la erradicación del hambre y la desnutrición crónica infantil (GCP/RLA/169/SPA, LTU: FAORLC/ 2008-2011). Under the territorial development component of this project, the Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (FAORLC), with the support of the Spain-FAO Trust Fund for Latin America, has implemented a training program on participation and leadership in land management, benefiting about one hundred leaders of peasant and indigenous organizations from Bolivia, Chile and Peru. This activity is part of a leadership training process that aims to strengthen public policy participation of leaders and peasant organizations in the region, through the incorporation of a territorial approach in their development initiatives and proposals. In addition, the component on Core training in Public Policy trained about 2,000 professionals of public institutions and CSOs working with small-scale agriculture in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of policies, programs and projects through distance learning courses.
 Programa Especial para la Seguridad Alimentaria (PESA III) en el marco de la Seguridad Alimentaria Nutricional Nacional El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua y Componente de Coordinación Regional (GCP/RLA/136/SPA; LTU: TCSF/ 2008-2012) – The main objective of this regional project is the coordination, monitoring and supervision of the national projects, with special emphasis in giving assistance to the governments of the participating countries in institutional strengthening and in the identification and formulation of projects in the area of food security. With the objective to institutionalize good practices, the regional PESA, as well as the 4 national PESA, work in close collaboration with local, national and regional government institutions, as well as universities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), cooperatives and POs. In 2011, PESA has provided technical assistance to PDRR and the Red de Soberanía y Seguridad Alimentaria de Centroamérica. PESA also assisted the regional project ‗‘Reforzamiento de las políticas de producción de semilla de granos básicos en apoyo a la agricultura campesina para la seguridad alimentaria en países miembros del CAC’’ (GCP/RLA/182/SPA, LTU: AGP/2010-2013) in undertaking a study to identify factors of success of Pos, some of which have cooperated with PESA.
 Promoting CARICOM CARIFORUM Food Security – Phase II (GTFS/RLA/141/ITA, LTU: ESA/2003-2011). The overall objective of this project was to improve incomes, nutrition and trade opportunities and the policy environment that promote sustainable attainment of food security. Under the policy component a regional food and nutrition security policy was developed. A technical working group made up of stakeholders from various government ministries and private sector organizations, including POs, finalized a plan of action for the implementation of the policy. Under the value chain component POs in five countries were supported and participated in value chain upgrading activities. A study on supporting policies and enabling environments in support of the value chain upgrading efforts was completed.
 Reforzamiento de las políticas de producción de semilla de granos básicos en apoyo a la agricultura campesina para la seguridad alimentaria en países miembros del CAC (GCP /RLA/182/SPA, LTU: AGP/2010-2013). The main objective of this regional project is to improve the availability of and access certified seeds for farmers. It contributes to the improvement of basic grain production in member countries of the Consejo Agropecuario Centroamericano (CAC) and thus improves the availability

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of food in quantity, quality and timeliness, as well as increases the income of rural families and the possibility of greater access to other food commodities. The Ministers of Agriculture of CAC members have led the development of this regional project that will benefit around 1088 FOs and agricultural communities who will take part to the process of dialogue and convergence for planning, implementing and evaluating the seed chain.
National
 (Chile) Diseño de proyectos de Desarrollo Territorial (TCP/CHI/3202, LTU: TCIO/2009-2011). This project, implemented in the Chilean communities of Salamanca (Region of Coquimbo) and Tirúa (Bio Bio region), has contributed to the elaboration of a medium-term investment plan for rural development and growth, a plan for institutional development validated by authorities and beneficiaries, a proposal for productive processing linked with competitive markets, and to strengthen local teams trained in specific technical issues related to territorial approach. Local development groups and organizations were key stakeholders throughout the whole participatory process.
 (Colombia) Integration of ecosystems and adaptation to climate change in the Colombian Massif (UNJP/COL/032/SPA, LTU: NRC/2008-2011) The project strengthened the coordination and integration of environmental issues within the national development agenda, with an emphasis on supporting farmers and social organizations to get involved in the formulation, coordination and implementation of strategies and policies.
 (El Salvador) Fortalecimiento del liderazgo y acciones de concertación de las organizaciones a nivel nacional para el desarrollo agropecuario rural (TCP/ELS/3301, LTU: TCSP/2011). This project strengthened the national coordination in order to contribute to agricultural development programs, strategies, government policies and plans focusing on small producers and cooperatives.
 (Guatemala) Apoyo a la Formación de Grupos y Organizaciones de Desarrollo Local (GDCP/GUA/001/SPA, LTU: NRC/2007-2011). The specific objective of the project was to strengthen existing local associations and, more generally, organized participation linked to sustainable agriculture, thus revitalizing the rural economy and increasing rural employment opportunities.
 (Panama) Apoyo a la identificación de posibilidades de inversión en pequeños sistemas de riego, al mejoramiento de la eficiencia de inversiones en riego ya realizadas, y al fortalecimiento de capacidades en temas afines (TCP/PAN/3303, LTU: TCI/2011-2012) The objective of the project is to increase the efficiency of existing irrigation systems in some identified production areas, through the study and analysis of the functioning of the actual systems. The project will identify and strengthen Water User Associations in the existing irrigation schemes.
 (Peru) Proyecto INCAGRO (Innovación y Competitividad para el Agro Peruano). This World Bank (WB) financed Project, carried out by the Peruvian MoA with formulation support by TCI, has the objective of establishing a modern system of science, technology and innovation. Specifically it aims at introducing demand-driven competitive funding for agricultural innovation involving POs, CSOs and private companies. With these alliances, INCAGRO has obtained co-financing of some USD 36 million. The project has contributed to the establishment of new ‗rules of the game‘ for the development of agricultural innovation initiatives, fostering the participation of POs, private business, NGOs and public organizations.

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Near East
National
 (Saudi Arabia) Support to Rural Institutions for the Benefit of Small-scale Farmers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (UTF /SAU/014/SAU, LTU: FAORNE/2007-2012). The main goal of this project is to enhance the living conditions of small-scale farmers through community and farm- based sustainable rural development. The immediate objectives include the development and strengthening of POs, both at national level and in four pilot areas, to empower rural communities and small-scale producers.
 (Syria) Institutional Development of Organic Agriculture in Syria (GCP /SYR/011/ITA, LTU: AGP/2005-2012). The overall development objectives of the project are to build an enabling environment for the establishment of a legal, institutional and scientific platform where Syrian farmers‘ cooperatives can improve their revenues and contribute to environmental improvement. They will share the benefits offered by a well-defined and supported organic agriculture sub-sector.

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Direct
This section lists ongoing FAO projects and activities dealing with capacity development of cooperatives and POs in specific technical and managerial skills.
The majority of the interventions tackle the need for these organizations to adopt a more commercial approach and improve their technical, managerial and marketing skills in order to benefit from remunerative markets. Strengthening technical capacities to carry out the tasks required to intensify production in a sustainable manner, manage natural resources and disaster risk, and enhance gender equity and rural employment are also significant areas of support. Forest users‘ and fishers‘ organizations have been considered separately in later sections due to their specificity.
Global/Cross-regional
 All ACP Agricultural Commodities Program6, Including Cotton (AAACP) (GCP/INT/045/EC, LTU: EST/2007-2011). The overall objective of this interregional program was to improve incomes and livelihoods of producers dependent on agricultural commodities - in the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) regions - by building the capacity of actors along commodity chains to develop and implement sustainable value chain strategies. The fouryear program, was client-driven with activities prioritized on the basis of participatory value chain diagnosis. Under the program the Rural Infrastructure and Agro-Industries Division of FAO (AGS) has been mandated to strengthen the institutional capacity of FO‘s to improve small farmers integration into value chains, which has been done, firstly using a business model approach that aims to strengthen the relationship between FO‘s and buyers in selected chains. As a result organizations have been able to interact more effectively with the formal private sector, improve the role of smallholders in value chain strategies, as well as increasing the number of informal and formal contracts with small, medium and industrial buyers. Secondly, to reinforce this program of work and the capacity of FO network across commodities AGS organized a series of capacity building workshops, in each ACP region entitled ―Building the capacities of FOs to respond to changing agriculture markets‖ These trainings took place in close collaboration with the regional farmer federations and national apex organizations on value chain concepts and agribusiness topics most relevant for each of the regions.
As part of the program, the Trade and Markets Division (EST) has developed and tested a new diagnostic and action plan development tool targeting POs (GAIN Approach) for effective market integration. This tool provides a quick appraisal of the nature and extent of the organization‘s current relations with markets; provides a road map for supporting the organization to self-generate demand-driven actions and initiatives to ensure that local or regional markets work more effectively
6 FAO is a program partner together with other four International Organizations, namely the International Trade Centre (ITC), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the World Bank (WB) and the Common Commodity Fund (CFC)
Activities undertaken in 2011 - Projects in member countries

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for their members. In doing so, the GAIN approach adheres to key organizational principles, including: decentralized governance, self-autonomy, demand-based activities, and integrated approach to training and capacity building. This methodology has been applied to three women- majority producers‘ organizations in Cameroun, Burkina Faso and Mali. Following this work, further analyses will be carried out to test the potential for scaling up, dissemination and for identifying linkages with national policies targeting development of capacity for POs.
 EST supervises a significant number of Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) projects, almost all of which deliberately involve or rely on POs and cooperatives. Their involvement may vary by project, but the type of commodity value chain development aimed at in FAO/CFC projects involves the strengthening of POs as a way of involving smallholders as primary stakeholders and beneficiaries. Examples from the oilseeds sector include:
 Supervisory Body Production of Oily Plants and Commercialization of Natural Vegetable Oil as Fuel in Replacement of Diesel for the Public Transport in Peru and Honduras (MTF /RLA/164/CFC, LTU: EST/2007-2013). Jatropha/rapeseed bio-fuel project in Peru/Honduras that exclusively involves POs on crop production, processing and marketing.
 Improving the income generating potential of the oil palm in West and Central African region, Cameroon and Nigeria (MTF /RAF/443/CFC, LTU: EST/2008-2012). Palm oil processing and POs as suppliers of oil palm fruit.
 Creation of a Pilot Demonstration Plant and Training to Improve Olive oil Quality in Latin America (MTF /RLA/186/CFC, LTU: EST/2010-2014). POs are primarily involved regarding olive supply, processing, and marketing.
 Improving the Competitiveness of Small Scale Oil Palm Farmers and Production in Latin America and the Caribbean: Bridging the Yield Gap (MTF /RLA/185/CFC, LTU: EST/2010-2014). POs are the main suppliers of oil palms.
 Development of export-orientated sesame production and processing in Burkina Faso and Mali (MTF /RAF/459/CFC, LTU: EST/2010-2014). POs are engaged in the supply, processing and marketing.
 Integration of small scale farmers into the market economy through soybean value chains in Malawi and Mozambique (MTF/RAF/470/CFC, LTU: EST/2011-2015). The establishment of POs is actively promoted as a means to improve integration of small holder farmers into the market and commodity value chain, with the aim to raise economic returns, technical/managerial skills, capacity to take initiatives and group cohesion.
Further CFC projects include:
 Promoting production and marketing of organic bananas in Asia (MTF/RAS/270/CFC, LTU: EST/2010-2013). The objectives are: to strengthen capacity of private and public players in the production and trade of organic bananas; improve accessibility of China organic bananas to world markets; establish organic banana models for organic certification.
 Development, production and trade of organic tea (MTF/RAS/219/CFC, LTU: EST/2006-2011). PEA: International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM). The objectives are: to develop technology, skills and systems of organic tea production; convert existing tea producing areas develop standards for export and certification.
 Capacity building and rejuvenation of tea smallholdings by adopting eco-friendly management practices and strengthening marketing links for enhanced income generation of poor farming communities (MTF/RAS/264/CFC, LTU:EST/2010-2013). The objectives are to enhance productivity by rejuvenating existing degraded tea smallholdings; train smallholders on technology, organizational building and leadership skills; strengthen the bargaining position of tea smallholders.

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 Development and piloting of horticulture out-grower schemes for export markets in Eastern and Southern Africa (MTF/RAF/436/CFC, LTU: EST/2007-2011). One of the objectives of this project is to enhance the capacity and number of small-scale out growers‘ farmers groups so that they will be able to produce for export markets.
 Increased production of vegetables and herbs through the use of protected agriculture in the Caribbean (MTF/RLA/187/CFC, LTU: EST/2010-2013). The objectives are to support the development and transfer of commercially viable and sustainable vegetable and herb production using adapted protected agriculture (PA) systems suitable for the Caribbean and so improve smallholder livelihoods, food security, traceability, yields and trade of regional food production.
 Medicinal plants and herbs: developing sustainable supply chain and enhancing rural livelihood in Eastern Himalayas (MTF/RAS/220/CFC, LTU: EST/2007-2012). Objectives are to develop appropriate production and post-harvest techniques, marketing strategies, supply chain integration and policies to enhance livelihoods and preserve natural resource.
 Pilot project on processing fruits and vegetables using vacuum oil-bath dehydration technology (MTF/INT/106/CFC, LTU: EST/2010-2013). A project component has been designed to support smallholder farmers to establish Farmers‘ Cooperative and capacity building for Farmers‘ Cooperative management team. The Cooperative should involve 2,000 smallholder farmers in which most are female household heads.
 Land Degradation Assessment in Drylands (LADA) (GLO/502/GEF, LTU: NRL/2006-2011) This global project implemented in Argentina, China, Cuba, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia has developed tools and methods to assess land degradation on dry land ecosystems, watersheds and river basins, carbon storage, and biological diversity. The project was designed with two principal objectives: i) to develop and implement strategies, methods and tools to assess land degradation; and ii) to build national, regional and global assessment capacities to enable the design, planning and implementation of interventions to mitigate land degradation and establish sustainable land use and management practices. At national and sub-national level, LADA followed a decentralized, country-driven and integrated approach, aimed at supporting decision making for a sustainable use of natural resources. An important achievement was ―Questionnaire for Mapping Land Degradation and Sustainable Land Management” (QM). QM enables the construction of databases with background information on the different Land Use Systems (LUS), as well as environmental and social data per geographical area. At the local level, LADA developed a comprehensive toolbox approach that integrates attention to socio-economic drivers of land degradation with the bio- physical characterization of the process. The project complemented field activities with capacity building in order to create and gradually consolidate a sound understanding of the methodology and its meaningful adaptation to the specific conditions of each country. The project also contributed to a systematic compilation of Sustainable Land Management (SLM) models or any technological and social practices that contribute to reversing land degradation in drylands. The result is a ―catalogue of best practices‖ that practitioners and professionals can consult, and which has a high potential for promoting networking and knowledge sharing.
 Support to the Commonwealth Secretariat for the preparation of strategies for maximizing the benefits of migration and remittances for pro-poor sustainable development and food security (TCP/INT/3302, LTU: TCSP/2010-2011). The project contributed to designing strategies, as well as programs/projects for their implementation to maximize the benefit of migration and remittances both at individual and national level, including the agriculture and rural sectors. The project also devoted special attention to ensure discussion and collaboration with farmers’ associations and rural women’s organizations.

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Africa
Regional
 Under the All ACP Support Program on Agricultural Commodities, Including Cotton (AAACP Programme) (GCP /INT/045/EC, LTU: EST/2007-2011), the Rural Infrastructure and Agro- Industries Division (AGS) has been strengthening the institutional capacity of FO’s to improve small farmers integration into value chains using a business model approach that aims to strengthen the relationship between FO‘s and buyers in eight countries across East, Southern, West and Central Africa regions on specific commodities including : cotton (Kenya and Zambia), cassava (Cameroon, Zambia and Malawi), oil palm (Cameroon) and rice (Mali, Burkina Faso and Senegal).
Under the AAACP‘s program of work entitled ―Building the capacities of FOs to respond to changing agriculture markets‖, AGS has also held a series of regional capacity building workshops in collaboration with: East African Farmers Federation (EAFF) for the representatives of national apex and district organizations from eight countries in the East Africa region; Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU) for the representatives of national apex organizations and district from 14 countries; and Réseau des Organisations Paysannes et des Producteurs de l’Afrique de l’Ouest (ROPPA) and Platform of Peasant Organizations of Central Africa (PROPAC) for the representatives of national apex and district organizations from thirteen countries in the West and Central Africa regions
 Appui aux Acteurs et leurs Organisations pour le Développement d’Unités Semi industrielles de Transformation Agroalimentaire pour la Réduction de la Pauvreté et de l’Insécurité Alimentaire (GCP /RAF/410/ITA, LTU: AGS/2008-2012). This regional project, directly implemented by FAO Sub Regional Office for Eastern Africa (FAOSFW) benefits the Confederation Paysanne du Faso (CPF) and ROPPA, and involves five West-African countries (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo). It aims to enhance rural livelihoods by strengthening FOs (mostly women) in commercial agro-processing, but also through capacity building of national umbrella organizations, members of ROPPA, which will implement the project in each country.
 Development of Innovative Site-specific Integrated Animal Health Packages for the Rural Poor (GCP /RAF/444/IFA, LTU: AGA/2009-2013). This project is developed in seven Sub-Saharan countries (Burkina Faso, Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda). It aims at adopting innovative, comprehensive animal health packages customized to animal production systems and prevailing agro-ecological conditions. Technical skills and knowledge of farmers, livestock owners and animal health agents will also be enhanced. The immediate beneficiaries are the smallholder livestock communities and farmers' associations in rural areas. With regard to national institutions and services, benefits will consist in the increased technical capacity to control and prevent animal diseases and deliver technical knowledge.
 Farmer Field Schools in support of improved cassava disease management in Burundi, Kenya and Uganda (GCP /INT/099/ITA, LTU: AGP/2010-2011). The outcome of the project was to strengthened farmer knowledge and skills on cassava production including pests and disease management aspects in three countries affected by cassava disease.
 Gestion des Connaissances et Genre Capitalisation des Bonnes Pratiques en Appui à la Production Agricole et à la Sécurité Alimentaire (GCP /GLO/210/MUL, LTU: OEKC/2008-2012). The overall objective of this regional project, which involves four countries of Western Africa (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger and the Republic of Senegal), is to contribute to food security of rural populations in arid agricultural areas, respecting gender equality and improving agricultural production through better management of inputs by farmers, individually or at FO level.

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 Improvement of Food Security in Cross-border Districts of Burundi, Rwanda Uganda and Republic Democratic of Congo, in Support of the Modernization of Agriculture under NEPAD Framework (GTFS/RAF/391/ITA, LTU: AGS/2006-2013). Support is being provided to reinforce the management, market linkages and service provision and capacities of FOs in eleven countries in the Great Lake region: Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Republic Democratic of Congo.
 Improving food safety in meat (poultry, beef and pork) value chains. FAO Nutrition and Consumer Protection Division (AGN) is involved in a series of interlinked activities in East Africa aimed at improving the safety of meat poultry (poultry, beef and pork) in order to minimize risks to human health and to ensure market opportunities are optimized within the region as well as with international partners. For example, FAO has initiated (with the World Health Organization), a series of studies in Kenya, that aim to assess and manage in an integrated manner, the public health risks associated with usage of antimicrobial drugs, microbiological contamination (Salmonella spp, Campylobacter spp), and antimicrobial resistance (AMR), along the poultry, beef and pork value chains continuum from production to consumption. These activities will be implemented with the participation of local producers and producers‘ cooperatives.
 Inter-country coordination of national projects on Food Security through Commercialization (GTFS/RAF/426/ITA, LTU: TCSF/2008-2012). This project has been designed to coordinate and operationally support Italian funded national food security projects in Senegal, Mali, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, the Gambia, Guinea and Liberia (GTFS/SEN/060/ITA, GTFS/MLI/030/ITA, GTFS/GBS/028/ITA, GTFS/SIL/028/ITA, GTFS/GAM/025/ITA, GTFS/GUI/019/ITA and GTFS/LIR/010/ITA). The objective of the project is to contribute significantly to the development of African agriculture into a modern, competitive and commercially dynamic sector, while building on the achievements and lessons learned from playing a major role in the National Programs for Food Security. The coordination unit is assisting the seven national projects in implementing and following a common strategic framework, to ensure that information and communication flows are effectively ensured within all stakeholders, to support the elaboration of a regional policy strategy, and to ensure that a common monitoring and evaluation system is supported. The program supports the emergence and/or development of entrepreneurship among small-scale farmers through specific institutional and organizational building activities for FBOs in the concerned countries (Please refer to the concerned countries for further information on the national projects).
 Programme Sous-régional de Formation Participative en Gestion Intégrée de la Production et des Déprédateurs des Cultures à travers les Champs-écoles des Producteurs (GIPD/CEP) pour le Bénin, Burkina Faso, Mali et Sénégal (GCP /RAF/009/NET, LTU : AGP/2001-2011). Phase II (2006-2010) of this project was implemented in four countries (Burkina, Mali, Senegal, Benin). Approximately 80,000 farmers were trained in a range of cropping systems including rice, market vegetables and cotton systems, along with nearly 1,000 facilitators.
 Reducing Dependence on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) and other Agro-Chemicals in the Senegal and Niger River Basins through Integrated Production, Pest and Pollution Management (EP /INT/606/GEF, LTU: AGP/2009-2013) will also make it possible to cover Mauritania, Niger, and Guinea. Strategic partnerships with several key FOs are being implemented in each country with a view to building their capacity to provide technical services to their members. Beside technical training modules, the combined programs also include components on: policy reform (especially on pesticide management and extension) in which FOs will be involved; support to farmers’ groups/cooperatives to sell agricultural produce; pesticide risk reduction including methodologies for Human Health Risk Assessment; and monitoring water quality and pollution from agro-chemicals in the Niger and Senegal River Basins through community-based management and monitoring.
 Protection of the Agri-Food Biodiversity and Development of the Local and Export Market in four West African Countries: Mali, Senegal, Guinea Bissau and Sierra Leone. (GTFS/RAF/426/ITA, LTU: TCSF/2008-2012). The main objective of this cooperation agreement between the Slow Food Foundation and the FAO Inter-Country Coordination Project for Food

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Security in West Africa is to support the development of origin-linked quality products (Presidia- product) in four out of the five Western African countries involved in the project. It endeavors to strengthen existing POs, and to introduce regulations to protect original product features and production techniques at risk of disappearing.
 Regional Cassava Initiative in support of vulnerable smallholders in Central and Eastern Africa (OSRO/RAF/912/EC, LTU: AGP/2009-2011) This project restored cassava yields by reinforcing the capacity of the most food insecure farmers to prevent, prepare for and respond to cassava-related diseases in the region. Community sensitization and the involvement of farmers’ groups multiplication activities were considered key to success. As women are the main players in cassava harvesting, preparation of the cuttings and processing, the project ensured that women’s associations were involved and trained.
 Regional initiative in support of vulnerable pastoralists and agro-pastoralists in the Horn of Africa (OSRO/RAF/011/EC, LTU: TCEO/2010-2013). The overall objective of the program is to lessen the adverse impacts of hazards, reduce vulnerability and strengthen community resilience (also through the FFS approach) so that countries in the region become more food secure and are able to focus on developing sustainable food and agriculture systems.
 Supporting Conservation Agriculture for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development (CA for SARD) Phase II (GCP /RAF/413/GER, LTU: AGS/2007-2011). The objective of this project was to contribute to the promotion of growth and improved food security in Kenya and Tanzania by scaling up CA as a SLM tool. Through an increase in the numbers of SLM-CA FFS, the project expanded the adoption of profitable CA practices by smallholder farmers in the two East African countries.
 Transboundary agro-ecosystem management program for the Kagera river basin (Kagera Tamp - FSP) (GCP /RAF/424/GFF, LTU: NRL/2010-2014). The full scale project has the long-term goal to protect the integrity of the ecosystems of the lower Kagera Basin and to harness global environmental benefits by ensuring the productive and sustainable use of biodiversity resources and agricultural ecosystems. An integrated ecosystem management approach across the transboundary river basin will help to: combat degradation, rehabilitate degraded lands and achieve local and global environmental benefits in terms of biodiversity conservation, protect international waters and mitigate the effects of climate change through enhanced carbon sequestration. CSOs, such as farmers groups and associations, water users associations, will benefit from capacity building in participatory learning and research-action approaches
National
 (Angola) Appui au développement de la Filière « Manioc » en Angola (TCP/ANG/3302, LTU: AGP/2011-2012). The project aims: (i) To improve the leadership capacity of local producers in the three pilot provinces with the training of 20 officers of the EDA and its partners on all issues affecting the sector (production techniques, disease prevention, multiplication, processing and storage) (ii) the development of a methodology for introduction, multiplication, evaluation and dissemination of planting material and directly involving farmers, (iii) training, facilitation and the structuring of producers around the FFS focused on the promotion of the sector and integrating other crops farm as part of a systems approach, (iv) the introduction, as a demonstration of equipment and storage facilities, processing and marketing of cassava.
 (Benin) amélioration de la qualité des produits agricoles et alimentaires au Bénin (MTF /BEN/054/STF, LTU: AGN/2009-2011). The project analyzed the two strategic value chains of Shea nuts and cashew nuts, with a food safety perspective and proposing technological improvements at selected key points of the chain. Producers’ associations and cooperatives (as well as with middle men and exporter associations) identified the practices that needed to be