limadcc

DCC Coordinators Report

Development Cooperation Committee in Latin America and the Caribbean

Friday, July 4th 2003

2001: IFAP members’ priorities for capacity building. Intensified cooperation with agri-agencies.

During the 2001 regional DCC meetings (Cairo, San José, Tokyo), members of IFAP decided to focus on the following priorities for capacity building:

1. organisation farmer-to-farmer exchanges on economy and technology of farming

2. lobbying of governments and international institutions on policy issues.

3. initiation and management of trade operations and other income generating activities.

4. use of information technology.

5. follow-up and monitoring of agricultural markets of specific commodities.

6. membership base strengthening, federation building and profiling..

Attention was drawn to the analysis of strengths and weaknesses of farmers’ organisations (profiling), and to the use of internet-based information as a tool for strengthening.

In 2001, agri-agencies (development agencies linked to IFAP member organisations) intensified their contacts for the support of the priorities of IFAP DCC members. Early 2002, a declaration of intent was signed by 10 agri-agencies to join forces in support of the IFAP DCC Development Program.

2002: Formulation of IFAP DCC programmes. Search for new funding. Cooperation between IFAP DCC and Agricord. Facilitation of direct dialogue between presidents of farmers’ organisations

Concept papers have been prepared for 2 programmes: (i) trade capacity building, and (ii) smallholder contract farming. Both concept papers have been introduced and/or discussed with different (national and international) donors.

The 2002 DCC meeting (World Farmers’ Congress, Cairo) focused on the position of farmers’ organisations as stakeholders in successful trade processes, and on strategies for capacity building.

A programme application has been introduced by IFAP DCC, together with Agricord, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. The proposal was accepted for implementation and will be implemented in 2003-2006.

Agricord has facilitated the direct dialogue between presidents of farmers’ organisations from North and South, by organising a 1st Dialogue Meeting in Leuven (Belgium).

Contacts with all agri-agencies have been pursued. In the 2nd half of 2002, seven agri-agencies (Afdi, Agriterra, DAC, IDACA, IVA, Norges Vel, UPA-DI) decided to found Agricord. The first General Assembly meeting took place 8th January 2003. Two agri-agencies decided to join since then (FERT, SCC).

2003: Actual situation and perspectives of the IFAP DCC

The activities of the IFAP DCC have been financially supported by farmers’ organisations from the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Iceland. This support has allowed for (a) the mobilisation of agri-agencies from different countries in support of IFAP members from developing countries, and (b) the formulation of development programs in line with the priorities fixed by IFAP DCC members.

Agricord and the IFAP DCC Development Programs

For IFAP, Agricord is the implementing agency for its development programs, focusing on capacity building of farmers’ organisations in developing countries. Agricord, and its members, the agri-agencies, have no mandate to speak in the name of farmers. The role of the agri-agencies is to support and implement the programs of farmers’ organisations, and to facilitate contacts between farmers and their organisations from North and South.

Moreover, the specificity of the agri-agencies, as compared to the development NGO’s, is based upon the fact that these organisations, and their programmes, are farmer-controlled.

IFAP DCC Development Programs

(1) IFAP DCC program on farmers’ organisations and trade capacity building

This programme covers a 4 year period (2003-2006). Main donor is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. First programme funding is expected to arrive early April 2003.
An information document for this programme is available (document DCC/3).
IFAP DCC members have the possibility to introduce project ideas and proposals.
The DCC decides upon the priorities for activities within this program.

(2) IFAP DCC programme on smallholder contract farming

A concept paper has been elaborated and updated. We are currently searching for funding. The smallholder contract farming programme has already been discussed with the Rockefeller Foundation, with SCC Southern Africa, with FAO (Zambia), with MTK Finland, and with the Belgian Raiffeisen Foundation.

Some background information on this programme:

Smallholders are involved in contract farming in large numbers, all over the world. It is day-to-day business for tens of thousands of farmers, producers of cotton, tobacco, sugar, high value horticulture for export…
Strengthening of the capacities of farmers’ organisations in developing countries in the field of trade and bargaining power is a clearly felt necessity in nearly every country and for nearly every commodity.
Farmers in developing countries are looking for new market opportunities. They expect their organisations to play an active role. Direct links between professional organisations have an interesting potential to explore new opportunities, to examine conditions and product specifications, to learn from each others practices and to mobilise relevant networks.
Access to commercial and market information is an important instrument for farmers. Bargaining power is based upon information. But access to information is only one element of a strategy of monitoring of agricultural markets. Producers’ organisations from developing countries can join forces with their colleagues from industrialized countries, exchange experiences and build operational working relations. Agri-agencies will facilitate such developments, and will broaden awareness within rural people’s organisations in the North. Relevant external partners will be mobilised for lessons learned and best practices, and for support on legal, commercial, technical… aspects, etc.

General objectives

Strenghten the bargaining power of smallholder contract farmers. Increase capacity of smallholder producers to take advantage of increased access to export markets. Increase the commercial and technical skills of groups of farmers, and develop good working relations beween farmers and agri-businesses. This programme takes the stand of the smallholder producer within the agro-food chain, and looks into the role of the organisation(s) of these smallholders.

Specific objectives

Develop operational tools (e.g. best practice guidelines) for farmers’ organisations for improved support to smallholder contract farmers, covering organisational, financial, legal, commercial, technical… aspects.
Build alliances between farmers’ organisations South-South and South-North, on the vulnerability of contract farmers in agro-food chains, and on the role of farmers’ organisations.
Build constructive relations between farmers’ organisations and the agro-businesses they are working with, in a long term working perspective.
Provide information to farmers in developed countries … and raise awareness on the situation of smallholder contract farmers in the South.

(4) IFAP DCC programme in support of starting farmers’ organisations

IFAP regularly receives demands for support from starting farmers’ organisations, who have not yet been involved in project or programme funding, but who have a convincing record in mobilising farmers, farming communities and community based organisations. This programme will allow IFAP to support the development process of these organisations, either as organisations on their own, or through linking up these initiatives to existing regional or national farmers’ organisations.
A programme outline will be introduced for external funding early April 2003.

(5) Creation of an “RPO Trust Fund” (RPO, Rural People’s Organisation)

This programme idea has been discussed with WorldBank during recent contacts involving IFAP President J. Wilkinson, IFAP Secretary General D. King, and V. Kapelrud for Norges ( Agricord).
The notion of RPO encompasses a wide range of rural organisations: farmer unions, farmer associations, agricultural coops, etc. With the WorldBank, the possibility of a program for “enterprise development” or “business development” has been examined, as well as with the Norwegian aid agency NORAD.
Norges Vel and Agriterra, with Agricord, agreed to work out a draft program document for the objectives and operational aspects of this fund.

(6) Application for funding of PRSP-activities through the Worldbank “PRSP Trust Fund”

This Trust Fund is financed, among others, by the governments of Japan and the Netherlands. Agricord is considering preparation of an application, together with interested IFAP members in specific countries.