Resilience and Economic Growth in the Sahel - Accelerated Growth (REGIS-AG)

PROJECT YEAR 3 (FY17) QUARTERLY REPORT

(1 JANUARY 2017 – 31 MARCH 2017)

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1 Resilience and Economic Growth in the Sahel – Accelerated Growth (REGIS-AG) Contract No. #AID-625-C-14-00001 This quarterly report, submitted for review by the United States Agency for International Development, was prepared by CNFA under USAID Contract No. AID-625-C-14-00001, Resilience and Economic Growth in the Sahel – Accelerated Growth Project.

Resilience and Economic Growth in the Sahel – Accelerated Growth Project

Project Year 3 (FY17) Quarterly Report

(1 January 2017 – 31 March 2017)

USAID Contract

No. AID-625-C-14-00001

Implemented by CNFA

Submitted to:

Patrick Smith

COR USAID/Senegal

1 May 2017

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DISCLAIMER

The authors’ views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Agency for International Development or the United States Government.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACRONYMS ...... 5 SUMMARY ...... 1 PART 1 - PROJECT DESCRIPTION ...... 6 REGIS-AG and the RISE initiative ...... 6 1.1 Goal, Objectives and Expected Results ...... 6 1.2 Intervention Areas ...... 6 1.3 Implementation Partners...... 6 1.4 Overview of Value Chain Development Strategy...... 7 PART 2 – PROJECT PERFORMANCE – Level of Achievement in Q1of FY17 Expected Outputs ...... 8 2.1. Component 1: Identify Opportunities through Value Chain and End-Markets Analysis ...... 8 2.1.1. Carrying out complementary studies ...... 8 2.1.2. Refining project strategies ...... 9 2.2. Component 2: Strengthen Linkages and Relationships in Selected Value Chains ...... 11 2.2.1. Cowpea Value Chain ...... 11 2.2.2. Small Ruminants Value Chain ...... 16 2.2.3. Poultry Value Chain ...... 18 2.3. Component 3: Strengthen Input Supply and other Supporting Services and Improve Smallholder and Agro-Pastoralist Access to Interconnected Markets...... 24 2.3.1. Cowpea Inputs and Services ...... 25 2.3.2. Animal Inputs and Services ...... 31 2.4. Component 4 - Increase access to finance, innovation and private sector investment ...... 35 2.4.1. Functional Literacy Capacity Building Activities...... 35 2.4.2. Access to Finance Facilitation Activities ...... 44 2.5. Component 5: Improve the Enabling Environment for Local and Regional Private Investment...... 47 PART 3 - PROJECT PERFORMANCE - Level of Achievements in Q2FY17, Expected Outcomes and Performance Indicators ...... 53 3.1. Strengthening of the M&EL system ...... 53 3.1.1. Staff training on the MEL system ...... 53 3.1.2. Recruiting additional staff for project monitoring and evaluations ...... 53 iii Resilience and Economic Growth in the Sahel – Accelerated Growth (REGIS-AG) Contract No. #AID-625-C-14-00001 3.2. Activity implementation monitoring and evaluation ...... 53 3.2.1. Activity implementation monitoring ...... 53 3.2.2. Assessment of the outcomes of fairs and B2B events held in FY15 and FY16 ...... 54 3.2.3. Baseline survey ...... 55 3.3. Status of achievement of performance indicators at Q1 in FY17 ...... 56 PART 4 - PROJECT MANAGEMENT ...... 65 4.1. Project staff ...... 65 4.2. Management activities ...... 68 4.3. Collaboration with RISE partners ...... 69 4.4. Project Reporting and Public Communication ...... 70 Annexes ...... 71 Annex 1: Geographic coverage of REGIS-AG POs and their distribution by VC and project partners ...... 71 Annexe 2 : Liste des OP bénéficiaires du crédit warrantage par IMF au Burkina Faso ...... 72 Annexe 3 : Liste des OP bénéficiaires du crédit warrantage par IMF au Niger ...... 76 Annexe 4 : Répartition et composition des nouveaux centres d’alphabétisation au Burkina Faso ...... 77 Annexe 5 : Répartition et composition des nouveaux centres d’alphabétisation au Niger...... 78 Annexe 6 : Thèmes abordés dans la formation des animateurs et superviseurs au Burkina Faso (alphabetisation) ...... 79

iv Resilience and Economic Growth in the Sahel – Accelerated Growth (REGIS-AG) Contract No. #AID-625-C-14-00001 ACRONYMS

A2N Association Nodde Nooto ADI Association des Distributeurs d’Intrants Agricoles du Niger AE Auxilliaire d’élevage AGRA Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa AGED Association pour la Gestion de l’Environnement et le Développement AGRODIA Association des Grossistes et Détaillants d’Intrants Agricoles du Burkina Faso ANFT National Association of Suppliers, Transformers and Traders of the BVCP ANPB National Association of Livestock Producers AREN Association pour la Redynamisation de l'Elevage au Niger ASCOV Association of Poultry Traders ASPRODEB Association Sénégalaise pour la Promotion des Petits Projets de Développement à la Base BDS Business Development Services BPH Bonnes Pratiques d’Hygiène BOA Bank of Africa CAHW Community Animal Health Workers CNCB Conseil National des Chargeurs du Burkina Faso CNFA Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture CERRA Centre Régional de Recherche Agronomique CILSS Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (Comité Permanent Inter-États de Lutte contre la Sécheresse dans le Sahel) COFENBAVI Confédération des Fédérations Nationales de la Filière Bétail/Viande des pays de l’Afrique de l’Ouest COP Chief of Party COR Contracting Officer’s Representative CRA Chambre Régionale d’Agriculture CRS Catholic Relief Services DCA USAID Development Credit Authority DCOP Deputy Chief of Party DDEL Délégation Départementale de l’Elevage DFAP USAID Development Food Aid Program DOPAIR Direction de l’Organisation des Producteurs et de l’Appui aux Institutions Rurales DQA Data Quality Assessment DRE Direction Régionale de l’Elevage DREL Délégation Régionale de l’Elevage DRRAH Direction des Ressources Animales et Halieutiques (Regional Directorate of Animal and Fishery Resources) DSA Direction de la Santé Animale (Directorate of Animal Health) ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States

v Resilience and Economic Growth in the Sahel – Accelerated Growth (REGIS-AG) Contract No. #AID-625-C-14-00001 FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations PO Farmers’ Based Organization FCFA Franc de la Communauté Financière d’Afrique FFP Food for Peace FIARA Foire Internationale de l’Agriculture et des Ressources Animales FODEL Fonds de Développement de l’Elevage GERME Gérer Mieux son Entreprise GRET Groupe de Recherches et d’Echanges Technologiques GIE Groupement d’Intérêt Economique GIP Groupement d’Intérêt Public GPS Global Positioning System GSC Groupement de Service et de Conseil IABER Institut Africain de Bio Economie Rurale IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development INERA Institut de l'Environnement et de Recherches Agricoles du Burkina Faso INRAN Institut National de Recherche Agricole du Niger IP-BVCP Inter Profession Bétail-Viande Cuirs et Peaux LABOCEL Laboratoire Central de l'Elevage du Niger LAHIA Livelihoods, Agriculture and Health Interventions in Action (DFAP) LOP Life of Project MAGEL Ministère de l’Agriculture et de l’Elevage MECAP Mutuelle d’Epargne et de Crédits des Artisans et des Producteurs MCPSP Ministère du Commerce et de la Promotion du Secteur Privé M&E Monitoring and Evaluation MEL Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning MFI Micro-Finance Institution MICA Ministère de l’Industrie du Commerce et de l’Artisanat MT Metric Ton MOU Memorandum of Understanding MRA Ministère des Ressources Animales MSME Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise NGO Non-Governmental/Non-Profit Organization OCADES Organisation Catholique pour le Développement Economique et Social OHADA Organization for the Harmonization of Business Law in Africa ONV-BF Ordre national des Vétérinaires du Burkina Faso ONVN Ordre National des Vétérinaires du Niger OPCV Organisation des Producteurs des Chaînes de Valeur P4P Purchase for Progress PAS Programme d’Ajustement Structurel PASAM-TAI Program for Support to Household Food Security PDLK Projet d’Appui au Développement Local de la Komandjari PERSUAP Pesticide Evaluation Report & Safe Use Action Plan PICS Purdue Improved Cowpea Storage vi Resilience and Economic Growth in the Sahel – Accelerated Growth (REGIS-AG) Contract No. #AID-625-C-14-00001 PMP Performance Monitoring Plan PO Producers’ Organization PRODIB Professionalization of Agro-Input Dealers in Burkina Faso PROFIL Projet des Filières Agricoles PRRIA Projet de Développement de la Résilience à l’Insécurité Alimentaire au Burkina Faso Q Quarter RCPB Réseau des Caisses Populaires du Burkina Faso RECA Réseau des Chambres d’Agriculture REGIS-AG Resilience and Economic Growth in the Sahel – Accelerated Growth REGIS-ER Resilience and Economic Growth in the Sahel - Enhanced Resilience RISE USAID Resilience in the Sahel Enhanced ROI Return On Investment RSAP Réseau de Santé Animale de Proximité ROPPA Réseau des organisations paysannes et de producteurs de l'Afrique de l'Ouest SAFEM Salon de l’Artisanat pour la Femme SAREL Sahel Resilience Learning Sawki Mercy Corps DFAP (means facilitation in Haussa language) SHF Small Holder Farmers SIBVAO Salon International Bétail-Viande de l’Afrique de l’Ouest SIMA System of Agricultural Marketing Information SIM-B Système d’Information du Marche Bétail SIPRA Société Ivoirienne de Production Animale SNV Netherlands Development Organization SOFAB Société de Fabrication d’Aliments Bétails au Burkina Faso SOP Strategic Orientation Plan SPRING/DG Strengthening Partnership Results and Innovations in Nutrition Globally/Digital Green STA-SA Société de Transformation Alimentaire STTA Short Term Technical Assistance SVPP Service Vétérinaires Privés de Proximité SYS-FeM Scaling out Integrated Soil Fertility Management technologies ToR Terms of Reference ToT Training of Trainers UEMOA Union Economique et Monétaire West Africaine UNICEF United Nations Children's Fund USAID United States Agency for International Development USD US Dollar USG US Government VC Value Chain VCA Value Chain Approach VCS Value Chain Study VETOPROX Vétérinaire de Proximité Sahel VHH Vulnerable Household vii Resilience and Economic Growth in the Sahel – Accelerated Growth (REGIS-AG) Contract No. #AID-625-C-14-00001 ViM Victoire sur la Malnutrition (Projet) VSF-B Vétérinaires Sans Frontières-Belgique VVV Vaccinateur Villageois de Volaille WFP World Food Program WHO World Heath Organization ZEPESA Zebu Peul au Sahel (Projet de développement du Zébu Peul au Sahel)

viii Resilience and Economic Growth in the Sahel – Accelerated Growth (REGIS-AG) Contract No. #AID-625-C-14-00001 SUMMARY

The Resilience and Economic Growth in the Sahel – Accelerated Growth (REGIS-AG) project REGIS-AG aims to increase the resilience of vulnerable populations in the Sahel region by upgrading the competitiveness and inclusiveness of pro-poor value chains (cowpea, small ruminant and poultry) in agro- pastoralist and marginal agricultural zones of Burkina Faso and Niger. By increasing the inclusiveness and competitiveness of these value chains, REGIS-AG will increase the incomes of 50,000 vulnerable households and communities (both men and women) by 50% or more and to reduce the poverty in these households by 20%. More specifically, the project target is to increase incomes from the cowpea value chain at least by 69% among target vulnerable households and communities, 38% among the small ruminant value chain beneficiaries, and 60% among those involved in the poultry value chain. The project activities are structured around five integrated components.

Under the project’s Component 1, two studies complementing the value chain and end markets were carried out at the beginning of the project. The consulting firm GRET selected to conduct a study on processed cowpea products in Burkina Faso and carried out data collection activities through individual and focus group meetings. Another consulting firm (Institut Africain Bio Economie Rurale - IABER) selected to conduct the study on goat milk processing in Burkina Faso carried out data collection activities through meetings with actors involved in goat milk processing. The studies’ reports are expected in Q3FY17.

During Q2 of FY17, activities carried out under Component 2 covered all three value chains. On the cowpea value chain, activities focused on four main interventions: (i) Organizing and participating in fairs in Niger and participating in cowpea promotional days in Burkina Faso --- Three regional cowpea fairs in Balleyara, Maradi and Zinder, mobilizing 288 exhibitors (38% of women) and authorities of the different administrative entities (administrators, farmers, village chiefs, and officials of the state decentralized services). Total sales generated was estimated to be 8,089,536 FCFA (US $14,069). In Balleyara, administrative authorities of the community vowed to institutionalize the cowpea fair as an annual event that should be organized by the Balleyara commune. (ii) Supporting the participation of two female processors representing the PO Wafakay, a member of the Torodi POTAL Union in the third edition of the Agricultural, Hydraulic, Environmental and Livestock Show (SAHEL) held in Niamey. From over a total of 430 500g-sachets available, 365 were sold for 182,500 FCFA (US $317). (iii) Training 75 promoters including 52 women on negotiation skills and pricing in Burkina Faso. These trainees will, in turn, provide training to the members of their organizations in Q3FY17 under the supervision of AGED and A2N cowpea coordinators. (iv) Training 1,912 cowpea producers on the use of PICS bags in Burkina Faso by 73 trainers (including 15 women) the project trained in December 2016. Some of these trainees provided training to other cowpea producer groups supported by REGIS-ER. On the small ruminant value chain, the main activities carried out focused on organizing the participation of project beneficiaries at the FIARA in Dakar (March 29 to April 12, 2017) and the recruitment of a consulting firm to carry out the project study on goat milk processing into cheese in Burkina Faso. For 1

FIARA, REGIS-AG facilitated the participation of 13 members of beneficiary OPs (10 from Niger including 5 women and 3 men from Burkina Faso). Thanks to the project support, the group arrived at the FIARA with 770 small ruminants (217 red Maradi goats and 553 sheep1) and 100 Kg of kilichi (dehydrated meat like jerky). These animals were sourced from of 577 farmers from Niger, including 402 women. Three participants from Burkina Faso also participated without animal to sell, but explored business opportunities.

On the poultry value chain, activities carried out focused on five (05) main interventions: (i) Finalizing training modules in the different forms of organizations and showing how they should be used in Burkina Faso (ii) Training 276 PO members on poultry production skills and on poultry feed production techniques (using locally available material) in Tillabéri and Maradi. The main objective of this training was to support the POs targeted in developing quarterly poultry production and marketing plans and to connect them to identified buyers. In both locations, the training was organized in collaboration with the REGIS-ER project. In total, 15 POs from Maradi and Tillabéri made the commitment to participate in this pilot initiative. With project support, they were able to develop quarterly plans to produce 14,354 chickens for expected sales amounting to 22,043,500 Fcfa (US $38,337). The plan is to link the 15 POs with already identified buyers or collectors of live poultry as well as to the network of private animal health services providers (SVPP networks) the project has supported in Niger. A simulation of the cost-effectiveness of this production activity, which was presented to the producers in order to urge their commitment, shows that starting from 5 hens and a cock, the producer would gain Fcfa 146,370 (US $ 255) in net revenues at the end of a year (i.e. after 3 cycles of sale) if he/she respects the instructions for feeding the animals and providing the necessary health and sanitary coverage.

In addition, REGIS-AG supported the organization of a vaccination campaign against Newcastle disease in Niger and trained 88 poultry producers including 15 women entrepreneurs in Burkina Faso. Under the project’s Component 3, activities carried out focused on the development of 6 training modules for training of agro dealers building on existing modules the project collected in Burkina Faso and Niger. These modules enabled the project to train 9 trainers of agro dealers on fertilizers and seeds in Kaya, Burkina Faso. In addition, the project continued to monitor the cowpea warrantage arrangements put in place in previous quarters. In particular, the project was able to maintain the commitment of the MFIs to provide the necessary financing. In Burkina Faso, this effort was materialized with the signing of two protocols of collaboration with two MFIs (RCPB and MECAP). In the end, in Burkina Faso, group sales made by REGIS- AG beneficiaries amounted to 99,000,000 FCFA (US $ 170,435) and two MFIs, RCPB and MECAP, granted 18,406,700 FCFA (US $ 32,011) of warrantage loans to 466 project beneficiaries of REGIS-AG. RCPB provided 81% of the total loan amount. The grains are still in storage. In Niger, group sales by REGIS-AG beneficiaries amounted to 7,311,625 Fcfa (US $ 12,716) and three MFIs, ASUSU, MECAP and KOKARI, granted 13,689,000 FCFA (US $ 27,403) of credit to 16 project beneficiaries. ASUSU provided 61% of the total loan amount, followed by MECAP (21%).

1They are: 414 Balami, 110 Ouda, 28 Ara ara, and 1 Koundoum.

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In terms of animal health services, the main project achievements are (i) in Niger of six village general assemblies were held for the identification of 40 EAs in Burkina Faso, (ii) the training and retraining of 106 private vaccinators (AEs) in Torodi (20 AEs), Dakoro (46 AEs) and Guidan Roumdji (40 AEs), and (iii) the project support to the national vaccination campaign in Burkina Faso, which benefited 1,450 animals.

Under the project’s Component 4, activities carried out focused on organizing an awareness raising campaign to open new functional literacy centers in Burkina Faso and Niger, continuing running training in existing centers, finalizing the development of the new project strategy for facilitating project beneficiaries’ access to finance, and training commercial bank and MFI agents. With regards to functional literacy activities, REGIS-AG opened 25 new centers in Burkina Faso and identified 761 learners (including 629 women) for these centers. A total of 25 instructors and 9 supervisors were trained for these new centers while 17 instructors and 6 supervisors from 18 former literacy centers were retrained. In addition, the project donated equipment (tables, benches, and chairs) to each center, a trainer KIT to each instructor, and a KIT for each of the tainees.

In Niger, REGIS-AG evaluated the performance of the 25 former centers that operated in FY16. The evaluation shows satisfactory performance results which are attributable to the support of the inspection and more importantly to the beneficiaries who, despite the beginning of the winter season, continued to attend classes. As in Burkina Faso, the project also opened 21 new centers in Niger and identified 631 learners (including 499 women) who will be attending them. A total of twelve (12) members from BDS providers were trained in Niger on the value chain approach, business plan development techniques, and farm business creation and management.

The training of commercial bank and MFI agents was conducted in Niger and Burkina Faso for loan officers of commercial banks and MFIs who may collaborate with REGIS-AG. In Niger, the training took place in Maradi and brought together 21 participants representing seven (7) banks and microfinance institutions from Tillabéri, Maradi and Zinder. In Burkina Faso, the training was carried out in Ouagadougou and gathered 20 participants from eight (8) financial institutions from the project's intervention regions. Participating institutions clearly viewed these trainings as valuable and important as demonstrated by the quality of the staff they sent. Participants included bank managers and MFIs such as the Director of Operations and Credits, agricultural portfolio managers, heads of agencies and operational executives such as loan officers. Participants felt that they are now better equipped to develop products linked to the cowpea, small ruminant and poultry value chains as well as a plan for monitoring these loans.

Under the project’s Component 5, activities carried out during this reporting period in Niger focused on (i) disseminating legal texts governing private sector investments in land and agriculture in Niger, (ii) developing an approach for structuring stakeholders in the poultry value chain in Niger, (iii) developing an approach for setting up regional unions of poultry traders, and (iv) signing of 5 new MoU with Communes to reform the management of their livestock market. In Burkina Faso, the project focused on (i) sensitizing value chain actors on legal governing Economic Interest Groups (GIE) and (ii) identifying 3 new livestock markets. In addition, in both countries, the project also assessed three platforms for value chain development advocacy. Finally, the project held a meeting with Trade Hub on constraints to cross-border transportation and trade of agricultural products. At the end of the meeting, the two projects agreed on collaborative interventions. 3

During the reporting period, project performance monitoring activities focused on strengthening the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (M&EL) system and actual performance monitoring by (i) training technical staff on the monitoring and evaluation system with a focus on the project indicators and the data collection tools, and (ii) initiating the recruitment of six MEL Assistants to be based in the satellite offices in Burkina Faso and Niger to supplement the staff shortfall of the project's monitoring and evaluation team. In Burkina Faso, three candidates have already been selected and the contracting process is underway. These staff will be able to join the team in May 2017. In Niger, the recruitment process of the three Assistants is at the candidate pre-selection stage and will also be completed during the month of May. In addition, the project initiated a survey aimed at (i) inquiring about the outcome of the negotiations initiated at the fairs and B2B meetings organized in the previous FY, and (ii) determining the effects of sales during and after these important project activities in the lives of beneficiaries, (ii) finalized the instruments for the baseline survey with guidance from the COR, and (iii) updated the project performance indicator table.

For project management, activities focused on ensuring adequate project staffing, meaningful reporting, effective communication, and adequate planning and monitoring. Throughout this reporting period, the project staff count remained stable and all project employees continued to be fully equipped. Staff mobility is expected to improve in the next quarter thanks to USAID approval for the purchase of six (06) motorcycles for Niger and one (01) additional vehicle for Burkina Faso; the administrative procedures for acquiring these materials has been initiated.

To address the challenge of insufficient frontline technical staff, field activity implementation, and to deepen project impact, the management team initiated a critical process to set up a network of project focal points or community liaison agents (ReCom) identified within the beneficiary POs (one in each). Value chain coordinators will be linked with these ReCom to facilitate activity implementation within the PO while at the same time building capacity within the PO to continue interventions well after the end of the project. Each Value Chain Coordinator will have a number of ReCom representing the POs he/she works with. This cluster (a Value Chain Coordinator and his ReCom) will hold one-day meetings on a monthly basis to follow up on implemented activities and help address challenges that POs are facing. In addition, the Coordinator and each of his ReCom will communicate by phone for the implementation and/or supervision of activities. To deepen project impact, the project management team concluded that REGIS- AG needed to be a little more proactive in helping POs increase their production. This is needed because RISE partners project are largely focused on livelihood improvement, and as a result, their production has been too small for REGIS-AG to achieve the expected level of market linkages. This implies working with the POs and the RISE partner project supporting them to develop market-oriented production objectives with clear target markets, determine POs financial and technical capacity building needs to meet their objectives, and address those needs through collaborative project support and facilitation. This innovative approach will be piloted in Q3FY17 with a limited number of POs in each of the project value chains.

Concerning collaboration with RISE partners, key project accomplishments during the reporting period are the following: (i) Continued to finalize joint work plan developed with LAHIA and Sawki in Niger. (ii) Continued discussions with REGIS-ER and Trade Hub on the draft joint plan to be submitted to USAID.

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(iii) Drafted an MOU for collaborating with REGIS-ER and DFAP in supporting and scaling up the network of private vaccinators (RSAP) in Burkina Faso. (iv) Held discussions with the World Food Program (WPF) for joint activities in Niger for the benefit of two small ruminant POs in Kobadje (donation of 2-3 animals/member) and a possible purchase of 6.000 mT of cowpea from farmers in Tillabéri. Both initiatives have not yet been concluded. .

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PART 1 - PROJECT DESCRIPTION

REGIS-AG and the RISE initiative

1.1 Goal, Objectives and Expected Results On 28 January 2015, USAID signed a $34.4 million dollar contract with Washington-based Non- Governmental Organization (NGO) Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA) for the implementation of a new project: Resilience and Economic Growth in the Sahel – Accelerated Growth (REGIS-AG). REGIS-AG is a five-year project focusing on strengthening the cowpea, small ruminant, and poultry value chains in agro- pastoralist and marginal agricultural zones of Niger and Burkina Faso. By increasing the inclusiveness and competitiveness of these value chains, REGIS-AG will increase the incomes of vulnerable households (including men and women), enhancing the resilience of families and communities to shocks such as drought, conflict, and economic crises.

The three value chains were selected because they have a high potential for commercially oriented activities and either are or have the potential to be critically important sources of income for both men and women in households across livelihood status groups.

The target outcome of REGIS-AG is to increase income from sheep, goats, poultry and cowpeas by 50% among target households (vulnerable households), which will, in turn, contribute to reducing the depth of poverty (among the poor) by 20%. REGIS-AG will reach 270,000 direct beneficiaries.

1.2 Intervention Areas Program implementation is managed through five integrated components: • Component 1: Identify opportunities through value chain and end-market analysis • Component 2: Strengthen vertical and horizontal value chain linkages and relationships in selected value chains • Component 3: Strengthen input supply and other supporting services and improve smallholder and agro-pastoralist access to these interconnected markets • Component 4: Increase access to finance, innovation and private sector investment • Component 5: Improve the enabling environment for local and regional private sector investment

1.3 Implementation Partners REGIS-AG is implemented by a CNFA-led consortium of international and local NGOs. The international NGOs are CRS, SNV and VSF. The local NGOs are A2N and AGED in Burkina Faso, and Karkara and AREN in Niger.

REGIS-AG is not a stand-alone intervention. The project implements innovative “pull” strategies linking smallholder groups to markets, in close cooperation and synergy with projects operating in its target zones and which focus on production-level “push” strategies, in order to move vulnerable households from subsistence-level farming to commercial farming and increased food security. These projects include: • The Enhanced Resilience Cooperative Agreement REGIS-ER • The Food for Peace (FFP) Development Food Aid Programs (DFAP), namely

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o in Niger ▪ Livelihoods, Agriculture and Health Interventions in Action (LAHIA) implemented by a consortium led by Save the Children International ▪ Sawki implemented by a Mercy Corps-led consortium ▪ Program for Support to Household Food Security (PASAM-TAI) implemented by a CRS-led consortium o In Burkina Faso ▪ Programme Faso implemented by a CRS-led consortium ▪ Victoire sur la Malnutrition (ViM) Projet implemented by an ACDI/VOCA-led consortium • The learning agenda procurement Sahel Resilience Learning (SAREL) project. • Non-USAID funded projects o IFAD-funded Projet d’Appui aux Filières Agricoles (PROFIL) implemented by the government in Burkina Faso o World Bank-funded Projet Régional d’Appui au Pastoralisme au Sahel (PRAPS) implemented by government Burkina Faso and Niger o World Food Program projects

To achieve its objectives, REGIS-AG is expected to work in tandem with these projects and others that focus in facilitating production activities related to the intensification of livestock and high potential crops operating in its target zones. As a result, REGIS-AG beneficiary producers’ organizations are POs supported by the partners. During the reporting period, REGIS-AG worked with 686 POs (195 in Burkina Faso and 310 in Niger). Annex 1 presents the distribution of these POs by value chain and by partner.

1.4 Overview of Value Chain Development Strategy REGIS-AG interventions focus on fostering inclusive economic development and competitiveness in the cowpea, poultry and small ruminant value chains in Burkina Faso and Niger. Through market-oriented, pro-poor interventions, REGIS-AG has the goal to reach 50,000 households and have the following impacts: (a) increasing household incomes by 50%, and (b) reducing poverty of vulnerable households by 20%, thereby strengthening household resilience to shocks. There are two sides to what these objectives imply. On the demand side, this implies changing the development trajectory of small marginalized producers by identifying opportunities within the value chain and demand in the markets (VC/End Market studies) and acting on what is required (work plan implementation) to shift these producers away from selling to collectors/intermediaries in thin local markets only, in favor of selling their products to external, more developed markets within their country and abroad on fairer terms, which will lift them out of poverty. On the supply side, REGIS-AG sister project REGIS-ER and other partners (in and outside the RISE consortium) support the production at the village and farm levels. Consequently, REGIS-AG cannot achieve its objectives without close and coordinated efforts with these projects; only together can these projects succeed in developing inclusive market systems that are resilient and beneficial to all.

To achieve this transformation, REGIS-AG interventions are focused on bringing about the kinds of systemic-level changes that would facilitate market linkages and product and process upgrading or allow

7 them to take place at scale. Such interventions address systemic issues which were identified in the value chain and end market analyses carried out at the beginning of the REGIS-AG project. The analysis concluded that marginalized producers (especially women) are consistently constrained from entering the targeted value chains or fully participating in their development. For this, REGIS-AG uses a value chain approach (VCA) and recognizes that the demand-drive approach is critical for success in value chain development. As a result, REGIS-AG VC development begins by focusing on demand and, more specifically, on the nature and character of demand. There are two important market dynamics that guide REGIS-AG VC activities.

PART 2 – PROJECT PERFORMANCE – Level of Achievement in Q1of FY17 Expected Outputs

2.1. Component 1: Identify Opportunities through Value Chain and End-Markets Analysis Under the project’s Component 1, REGIS-AG focuses on carrying out detailed analysis in the target value chains to identify opportunities for catalyzing necessary upgrading of product quality and stakeholders’ operations. After the project inception studies, additional complementary analyses are often carried out either to deepen understanding of issues or to refine project strategies.

2.1.1. Carrying out complementary studies During the reporting period, the project planned two complementary studies to fine-tune the understanding and to obtain the necessary details that were not captured in the three inception studies. Table 1 presents a list of the two activities carried out during this reporting period in relation to those studies. Details are provided under the corresponding project components.

Table 1: List and status of market studies carried out during this reporting period Reference in the work plan Intervention during the quarter Activity Sub activity 1. The consulting firm GRET selected to conduct 2.2: Conduct feasibility 2.2.1: Select best study on processed cowpea products in Burkina studies on processing products and promote Faso carried out data collection activities new products at 2 through individual and focus group meetings. market fairs or tasting events in each country 2. The consulting firm Institut Africain Bio Economie 2.9: Promote the 2.9.2: Support the Rurale (IABER) selected to conduct the study on development of small promotion of a range the processing of goat milk in Burkina Faso ruminants processed of simple, adapted and carried out data collection activities through milk accessible packaging meetings with actors involved in goat milk processing.

The studies’ reports are expected in Q2FY17.

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2.1.2. Refining project strategies In an effort to sharpen the project strategic focus to enhance implementation, effectiveness and project performance, and based on discussion with USAID, REGIS-AG initiated, during Q1FY16, the development of two strategy documents: The Value chain strategy and access to finance strategy.

a) Value chain development strategy development

During the previous period, this activity focused on conducting the field work2 for the development3, in collaboration with the REGIS-AG team, of a revised value chain strategy that consists of three separate VC strategies (cowpea, small ruminants, and poultry). During the reporting period, activities focused on finalizing data collection in both countries and draft validation within the project through seminars held in Dori and Niamey with the country-based technical staff.

For each of the three value chains, the strategy document starts with a vision of what REGIS-AG is expected to achieve as stated in the initial “REGIS AG vision and strategy for five to ten years” CNFA submitted to USAID in July 2015, and the initial and the follow up VCAs. It then summarizes the findings of initial and follow-up value chain assessments which are complemented with the consultant own observations during the field visits and discussions with project staff. Based on these findings and observations, the consultant identified the best leverage points or targeted interventions that require more intensive level of effort to generate broad change throughout the value chain, opportunities to upgrading, and the risks and mitigation strategies for the proposed activities. A revised implementation plan with targeted outputs and milestone for the next three years is provided as well.

b) Access to finance strategy development This activity was structured in two parts with the first one focusing on the development of an access to finance strategy document in collaboration with REGIS-AG component 4 staff in Burkina Faso and Niger. The second part focused on improving the financial sector’s understanding of the agriculture sector, especially the targeted value chains. Field work for this assignment was organized in two phases: phase 1 was carried out during the previous period4 while phase 2 was held during this reporting period. The

2 Field trips were organized in Burkina Faso and Niger in two phases: phase 1 (November 2-12, 2016) and phase 2 (November 28 to December 16). Working closely with the Value Chain Advisor, the Program Manager and DCOP, the consultant reviewed key project documents and met with Component leads, Value Chain coordinators, and relevant staff as assigned by the COP. The consultant also met with REGIS-AG COR in Dakar for additional guidance during the first phase of the field trip. He also reviewed the market development approach and resilience building strategies developed and implemented by each RISE partner and drew lessons learned / best practices that are guiding the design of the strategy he will propose for the three REGIS-AG value chains during Q2 of FY17. 3 REGIS-AG signed a consultancy contract with a consultant to carry out the assignment. 4 This was done in 5-25 November 2016. During the first phase, the consultant performed the following tasks: (1) reviewing existing material on REGIS-AG, RISE projects, DCA programs in Niger and BF, and other material as applicable to design and adapt training modules to the current environment. Topics reviewed with the banks included lending volume, loan size and purpose, and other customer data in order to better understand current bank operations; and (ii) planning and finalizing training schedule, modules, and participant list in coordination with the Component 4 Lead as well as the Chief of Party and Deputy Chief of Party.

9 consultant traveled to Niger and Burkina Faso to complete the review of topics covered with the banks during the first phase and conduct trainings both to the targeted banks and to REGIS-AG staff. Details of these trainings are presented in this report in Component as sub activity 4.4.3 (Provide technical assistance to financial institutions). In addition to the training, the consultant worked with Component 4 staff to draft the finance strategy document. The draft was reviewed in an internal project workshop held in Ouagadougou on January 12. All component leads, the Value Chain Advisor and the COP who are based in Niger attended the workshop. The revised draft was subsequently shared with the COR for comments. The final report is expected to be shared with partners in May after USAID approval.

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2.2. Component 2: Strengthen Linkages and Relationships in Selected Value Chains

Through Component 2, REGIS-AG focuses on improving market access and aggregation functions by strengthening vertical and horizontal linkages or relationships among actors in the selected value chains (cowpea, small ruminants and poultry). The vertical linkages are strengthened by facilitating the development of buying and selling relationships to drive innovations and upgrading of products and/or processes. Horizontal linkages are developed through cooperatives, associations and informal groups that lower the cost of agro-inputs and services (including financial services), create economies of scale, and contribute to increased efficiency.

2.2.1. Cowpea Value Chain Cowpea is the most important cash crop in the REGIS-AG project zone, with over 50% of production exported throughout the region. It is produced by small holders as a source of food for households and for commercial purposes. The cowpea value chain faces several constraints, notably high rainfall variability, decreased soil fertility, improved seeds access, diseases, and pests. In spite of these constraints, cowpea production has steadily increased in Burkina Faso and Niger over the past 20 years and has become an important source of income for both countries. The nutritional benefits of cowpea are significant; it contains essential proteins and amino acids important for human growth5. In addition to facilitating market access for cowpea beans, improving small-scale cowpea processing and marketing of processed products will contribute to increasing the incomes of women involved in this sector and enhance of their capacities to face and resist income shocks..

During Q2FY17, activities carried out in the cowpea value chain focused on two main interventions: (i) organizing and participating in fairs in Niger and participating in cowpea promotional days in Burkina Faso, and (ii) training cowpea producers in marketing and negotiations skills and pricing as well as on the use of PICS bags in Burkina Faso.

Activity 2.1: Carry out comparative analysis of existing forms of producer organizations

a) Sub activity 2.1.1: Conduct initial analyses of main barriers and obstacles in Burkina Faso and Niger to upgrading producer organizations to GIEs or Cooperatives within each value chain

Organization of 3 regional cowpea fairs in Balleyara, Maradi and Zinder Three regional cowpea fairs were organized in the project intervention areas from February 12 to 15, 2017 in Balleyara for the region of Tillabéri and also in Maradi and Zinder simultaneously from February 20 to 23, 2017. The three fairs mobilized 288 exhibitors including 38% women. The total sales were

5 The protein in cowpea seed is rich in amino acids, lysine and tryptophan, compared to cereal grains; however, it is deficient in methionine and cysteine when compared to animal proteins. Therefore, cowpea seed is valued as a nutritional supplement to cereals and an extender of animal proteins. Source: https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/afcm/cowpea.html

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8,089,536 FCFA (US $14,069). Prior to these events, preparatory missions were conducted so as to inform and sensitize the different partners who had planned to participate in these events, and also to identify the venues of these regional cowpea fairs upon the local authorities’ approval.

Table 2: Participation in cowpea fairs in Niger and sales amounts Number of exhibitors Sales amounts Location Date Total Women Fcfa USD Balleyara 12-15 February 85 29 5 217 875 9 075 Maradi 20-23 February 122 38 1 265 806 2 201 Zinder 20-23 February 81 43 1 605 855 2 793 288 110 8 089 536 14 069

All these fairs impressively gathered authorities from different administrative entities (administrators, farmers, village chiefs, officials of the state decentralized services, etc.), including many other actors involved in the various aspects of the cowpea value chain.

In Balleyara, administrative authorities of the community, including the Prefect, attended the fair and therefore contributed to the success of this event. The mayor of the commune considered this to be an important event and recommended it to his community. He asked all the cowpea sellers at market in the commune6 to take their products to the site on that special day. Afterwards he committed to institutionalizing the cowpea fair as an annual event that should be organized by the Balleyara commune. During this event, participants were successful as cowpea grains and processed products had successful sales. From over 19,093 tons presented, 18,593 tons were sold. A total of 124 500g-sachets of processed products were presented and sold out. However, sales related to input supply were very low. For example, only 4 PICS bags were sold out of 100 bags presented.

Participation in the third edition of SAHEL in Niger REGIS-AG supported the participation of two female processors representing the Farmers’ Organization Wafakay, a member of the POTAL Union in Torodi, in the third edition of the Agricultural, Hydraulic, Environmental and Livestock Show (SAHEL) which was held in Niamey from February 28 to March 5, 2017. This project support was a response to a request made by the Governor of Tillabéri based on a proposal from the Regional Coordinator from Initiative 3N, who was very impressed by the female processors’ exhibitions during the Balleyara fair. This OP made cowpea and rice-based couscous (nieriz). The idea was to promote this product, which is currently exclusively produced by female processors in Torodi. REGIS-AG also provided support to two representatives of female processor OPs by providing transportation, accommodation and stands for the exhibition during this important national event for the agricultural sector. From over a total of 430 500g-sachets available, 365 were sold for a total of 182,500 FCFA.

6 The market of Balleyera is traditionally an important cowpea market attracting buyers and vendors from Niamey, the department of Dogondoutchi and Loga (the largest market of the region of Dosso), the department of Fillingue (largest basin for cowpea production of the region of Tillabéri).

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It should be noted that other REGIS-AG partner OPs also took part in this event but without REGIS- AG’s support.

b) Sub activity 2.1.2: Organize Cowpea's Day in each country

Preparation for the Cowpea Promotion Day in the Eastern region of Burkina Faso From January 23-28, 2017, a team made up of two agents from the project and two agents from the local saving bank networks in Eastern region conducted a tour of the region to verify cowpea stocks for warrantage and to evaluate producers’ credit needs involved in the warrantage system. To do this, the team met with the producers’ organizations of the following towns: Djora, Gayeri in the Gayeri commune, Bartiebougou, Haaba in the Bartiebougou commune, Nassourou, Lougou and Tankoualou in the Foutouri commune.

During their assignment, the team held preparatory meetings with relevant actors to prepare the Cowpea Day in the Eastern region to be held from February 24 to 25, 2017. In the context of this preparation, the team had discussion sessions with the Regional Chamber of Agriculture (CRA) of the Eastern Region, the Project for the Enhancement of the Agro-pastoral potential in the East of Burkina Faso (VALPAPE), the Food Security Program in the East (PSAE) and the Regional Directorate of Agriculture (DRA) of the East. These discussions addressed the objectives of the cowpea promotional day. In light of the importance of this event, the parties agreed, in agreement with the Governor of the Eastern Region, to hold this promotional event from April 12 to 14, 2017, targeting Easter, which offered an opportunity to make significant sales. Furthermore, a REGIS-AG team organized a mission to Fada to meet with the Regional Chamber of Commerce (CRA) of the Eastern region to plan the event while considering issues related to the choice of the location, the draft budget and its management. In addition, the team met with the Projects PRRIA7, REGIS-ER, and VALPAPE to discuss on their participation in this cowpea promotion day.

From March 6-10 2017, another preparatory mission conducted by a project team made it possible to evaluate the different meetings held with the authorities and CRA partners. This mission also worked with CRA to develop a draft decree related to the establishment, composition and assignments of the committee in charge of organizing this cowpea promotion day in the Eastern region. This document was submitted to the Governor who signed a note to designate the committee members. After the working session with the CRA of the Eastern region, the mission met with the Governor to confirm the dates chosen for the organization of the cowpea promotion day which will be held under the high patronage and sponsorship of his Excellency the Ambassador of the USA to Burkina Faso. The team also had a meeting with the Zama Lafia Group, a cowpea processing group that was designated to mobilize female processors to the Eastern region. During this meeting, they addressed issues related to female processors’ participation in this event and the various foods which may be exhibited. It was also an opportunity to discuss the participation requirements the different exhibitors would have to comply with. After these meetings, the CRA, as the main organizer of the event, sent invitation letters to all the

7Development Project for Resilience to Food Insecurity in Burkina Faso.

13 exhibitors and requested letters of support from the other projects for the organization of the cowpea promotion day.

Activity 2.2: Conduct feasibility studies on processing a) Sub activity 2.2.1: Select best products and promote new products at 2 market fairs or tasting events in each country

Processed cowpea tasting events in Niger In addition to the three regional cowpea fairs, REGIS-AG organized three tests designed to taste the different processed cowpea products. These products were cooked and tasted by many participants including high administrative authorities of the three regions (mayors, town councils, etc.). • In Balleyara, 8 products were tasted: Dan Wake, Beroua or Wasa wasa, Couscous, Nieriz, Kekena or Kossay, Biscuit, Fura or Donu, and cowpea paste or Tuwo. Biscuit, Couscous, Nieriz and Dan wake were ranked among the best products with scores respectively 14.8/20 points, 13.87; 13.6 and 13.07. • Seven (7) products were presented in Maradi: Dan wake, Beroua or Wasa wasa, Couscous, Spaghetti, Biscuit, enriched porridge, and Doubla. The product rankings are the following: 1st enriched porridge with 14.86 points, 2nd Dan wake with 14.82, Couscous along with Spaghetti 14.61. • In Zinder 8 products were presented: Doubla, Dan wake, Kossay, Spaghetti ; Couscous, Fura, Biscuit, Beroua or Wasa wasa among which Doubla was highly scored with 15.09/20 followed by Dan wake with 14.80 points and enriched porridge occupied the third position with 14.33 points.

These tasting events made it possible to assess the various appreciations of the different people who tasted these products. This gave an opportunity to the people of Niger not only to discover the different dishes that could be cooked with cowpea but also to promote local consumption of these types of foods, with the expectation of exporting them to international markets.

GRET study on cowpea-based processed products in Burkina Faso8 In Burkina Faso, with the goal to target its interventions during the first quarter, REGIS-AG CRS subcontractor signed a contract with GRET which has expertise in cowpea processing and market studies designed to identify two processed cowpea-based products, showing a development potential for important markets. After signing this contract during the quarter, the GRET team in charge of conducting the study held a meeting with the project team on December 5, 2016. Following this meeting, the GRET team collected field information related to FY17 Q1 and Q2 through individual interviews and focus groups. The first report related to the study is expected during the third quarter.

8 Niger will rely on available studies (ex. from PRDEX and INRAN) to select products to be promoted.

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Activity 2.4: Promoting competitiveness in end markets

a) Sub activity 2.4.1: Train exporters and OPs on marketing and negotiation skills

Training 75 promoters including 52 women on negotiation skills and pricing in Burkina Faso9 During March 2017, the project team organized two training sessions for representatives of farmers’ organizations on negotiation skills and pricing for cowpea sales. The first session was held from March 14 to 15, 2017 in Kaya in the Central Northern region with the participation of 55 producers including 42 women. The second session was held in Fada in the Eastern region on March 24 to 25, 2017 with the participation of 20 producers including 10 women. During these two training sessions, a total of 75 participants including 52 women were trained in negotiation skills and pricing. Upon completion of these sessions, the OP representatives who participated in the training will, in turn, provide training to the members of their organizations under the supervision of AGED and A2N cowpea coordinators.

b) Sub activity 2.4.2: Train Producer on sacs PICS using

Training 1,912 cowpea producers on the use of PICS bags in Burkina Faso10 During December 2016, REGIS-AG provided training to 73 trainers including 15 women mainly made up of 19 representatives from Conservation Farming groups (CF) of REGIS-ER, agents of provincial directorates of agriculture, the regional chamber of agriculture, 16 subcontractors’ agents working with A2N (10 agents) and AGED (6 agents), and REGIS-AG in Fada, Dori and Kaya. These participants were trained on theoretical and practical plans related to the following themes: • Good practices for better cowpea production, • Good drying practices prior to storage, • Essential factors of the composition of cowpea quality, • Importance of cowpea, • Cowpea grain insect pests, • Triple layer bagging technology, • Precautions to be taken for good cowpea conservation.

Once back to their respective villages, the trainers established a program to transmit the knowledge that they acquired to the different OP members in the communes. • From December 14 to 23 2016, the 10 trainers, under the supervision of A2N, trained 119 OP leading members including 69 women representing 60 OPs from the communes of Dori, Seytenga, Bani Sebba, and Sampelga. In turn, they transmitted the knowledge that they acquired to their group members during general sessions. In total, 69 sessions were conducted gathering 1,500 cowpea producers including 950 women.

9 This study has been planned to be conducted in Niger in Q3FY17. 10 In Niger, a trainers’ training session was conducted in Q1FY17 and template training sessions have been planned and will be conducted during Q4FY17 prior to preparations for crop harvest.

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• From 23 January to 2 February, 2017, the 6 trainers including 2 women under the supervision of AGED also visited the communes of Barsalogho and Kaya to provide training sessions to 293 OP leading members including 171 women representing 146 Ops. In these two communes, as well as in other communes placed under the supervision of A2N, the training was conducted in two sessions: a theoretical phase in a classroom and a practical phase involving demonstrations of the use of PICS bags in the field.

Some of the 16 representatives of cowpea CF groups who had benefitted from the training, provided training to cowpea producer groups supported by REGIS-ER. Unfortunately, we were not able to collect relevant information related to the different training sessions.

2.2.2. Small Ruminants Value Chain The livestock industry in Niger and Burkina Faso is an important economic activity with a long tradition in both countries. Small ruminants, such as sheep and goats, fulfill a major role in livelihood strategies, food security, and economic activities for both men and women throughout the local communities. REGIS-AG is primarily focused on linking producers to buyers of live animals through local and international fairs as well as through business to business platforms. In addition, the project undertakes interventions aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of value-added products such as dried and fresh meat, milk and cheese, and hides and skins.

During Q2FY17, activities carried out focused on organizing the participation of project beneficiaries at the FIARA in Dakar (March 29 to April 12, 2017) and the recruitment of a consulting firm to carry out the project study on goat milk processing into cheese in Burkina Faso.

Activity 2.7: Develop commercial relations between producers and livestock buyers a) Sub activity 2.7.4: Facilitate actors' participation to international fairs Preparations of REGIS-AG actors from Burkina Faso and Niger for the participation in the 18th edition of the FIARA fair in Dakar During this quarter, REGIS-AG facilitated the participation of 13 members of the REGIS-AG, REGIS-ER, AREN, and DFAP from Niger-Burkina (LAHIA, PASAM TAI and SAWKI, FASO, VIM) of the small ruminants’ value chain in the 18th edition of the FIARA fair in Dakar, Senegal. This fair was held from March 29 to April 16 2017 and offered the following actors the opportunity to: • Make direct sales more profitable than sales on the local market, while exploring further market opportunities in the small ruminant value chain. • Exchange with the other participants of the fair on technical innovations such as techniques of breeding, techniques of genetic improvement of animals and commercial techniques including sale by weight, bundling, mail order, contractual production, etc. • Strengthen the capacity of AREN and the Inter-professional Livestock Meat, Leather and Skins (IP / BVCP) to organize fairs in Niger without relying on direct project support.

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This support was organized in collaboration with the different REGIS-AG partner projects that were active in the small ruminant value chain in the regions of Maradi, Tillabéri and Zinder. It consisted of the mobilization of participants, conveyors (in their OPs) and animals, the transport of animals to the regrouping sites in the regions and then in Dakar by covering the related costs. In addition, with the support of the Belital Maroobe Network (a partner of AREN) and the Consulate of Niger in Senegal, the project facilitated the setting up of an organizational and technical mechanism in Dakar to support the mobilization of the demand, securing producers’ funds after sales, taking care of unsold animals, facilitating sales, and linking up with potential buyers.

REGIS-AG facilitated the participation of 13 members of beneficiary OPs (10 from Niger including 5 women and 3 men from Burkina Faso). Thanks to the project support, the group arrived at the FIARA with 770 small ruminants (217 red Maradi goats and 553 sheep11) and 100 Kg of kilichi (dehydrated meat like jerky). These animals were sourced from of 577 farmers from Niger, including 402 women. The three participants from Burkina Faso participated without animals for sale but A truckload on goats at the Niamey gathering point prior to explored business opportunities. the trip to Dakar

Seven (7) staff members of REGIS-AG also participated in the preparation of actors’ participation in FIARA in Senegal. Their roles were: • Research procedures and formalities for the participation of FIARA, • Participate in securing the animals to be transported, • Support the preparation of administrative papers, • Coordinate animal health activities to be carried out throughout the project and at exhibition sites. • Set up banners, takimonos and flyers. • Ensure the coordination of the mission, the supervision of participants, and the capitalization of participation through data selection and analysis, • Draft a report outlining the fair activities with lessons learned and recommendations for future participation, • Facilitate linking participants with consumers and other innovators attending the FIARA, • Facilitate the establishment of an alliance network by identifying support points in Senegal.

The results achieved by REGIS-AG's participation in this fair will be presented in the next quarterly report.

11They are: 414 Balami, 110 Ouda, 28 Ara ara, and 1 Koundoum.

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Activity 2.9 Promote the development of small ruminants processed milk

a) Sub activity 2.9.2: Support the promotion of a range of simple, adapted and accessible packaging Recruitment of the firm to conduct the study on goat milk processing in Burkina Faso During the first quarter, REGIS-AG through SNV issued a tender offer to recruit a firm to conduct the study on processing goat milk. At the close of the tender, five (5) offers were registered. After examining the different offers, the African Institute of Bio-Economy Rural and Office (IABER) was selected for the study. Unfortunately, the financial offer presented by this firm exceeded the estimated budget. During this quarter, SNV, which is responsible for controlling this study, negotiated with the contractor to review the cost of the study. Following an agreement between the two structures, SNV signed the contract with the IABER office. After an agreement session and appropriation of the TOR between the SNV and the IABER offices, the experts carried out the work during this quarter by collecting field information through meetings with actors operating in the goat milk processing sector.

This study had already been conducted in Niger and the study report was validated in a workshop in June-July 2016.

2.2.3. Poultry Value Chain

In Burkina Faso and in Niger, traditional poultry farming is practiced by more than 90% of rural households and constitutes an important source of cash for basic household needs and emergencies. In the project areas, poultry farming is mainly carried out by women for whom it is one of the few opportunities they have for savings, investment and protection against risk. Consumer preference for local poultry results in a high demand for poultry products (eggs, chicken and guinea fowl in urban centers) in all periods (holidays, various ceremonies and regular off-seasons). There is an established farm to market system with experienced collectors and dealers going to producer markets and buying poultry for the end markets in larger towns and cities. However, the poultry sector is characterized by the lack of proper hygiene and biosecurity measures throughout the value chain which causes high mortality and reduces the profit margin because stakeholders lack required management tools, have poor access to credit and are poorly organized when faced by epidemics. This is compounded by competition from imported frozen chicken and table eggs. To upgrade the value chain, REGIS-AG interventions have focused on the following: • Promoting the practice of vaccination and moving poultry health services closer to producers; • Strengthening poultry associations; • Training collectors and roasters on bio-security and hygiene; • Developing market linkages for producers for value-added activities; • Strengthening coordination of stakeholders in the poultry value chain.

During Q2FY17, activities carried focused on four (04) main interventions: • Developing training modules for strengthening poultry associations;

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• Training OP members on poultry production techniques and poultry feed production; • Facilitating the development of production and sales plans for 10 OPs as a pilot initiative in Niger; • Supporting the government’s poultry vaccination campaign in Niger • Training 116 poultry producers in entrepreneurship in Burkina Faso and Niger.

Activity 2.11: Strengthen poultry associations a) Sub activity 2.11.1: Educate Poultry producers on the different types of organizations

Finalizing training modules in the different forms of organizations and showing how they should be used in Burkina Faso As part of the operational implementation of the plan for structuring poultry farmers according to the different forms of organizations in Burkina Faso, during this quarter, REGIS-AG finalized the modules for each forms of Organization and how they operate. A special emphasis has been placed on cooperative societies and GIEs defined in accordance with OHADA provisions. The training of breeders in the different forms of organizations will be carried out during the next quarter.

2.12 Improve poultry production of FPO members a) Sub activity 2.12.1: Train members of poultry OP on management of poultry and poultry production technical skills and Sub activity 2.12.2: Train members of POs to produce poultry feed

Training of 276 PO members on poultry production skills and on poultry feed production techniques in Niger Seven (07) training sessions were organized during this quarter (February to March) for 15 OPs in the regions of Tillabéri (4) and Maradi (11). The main objective of these training sessions was to support the OPs to develop quarterly poultry production and marketing plans and to connect them to the market. More specifically, training OP members in: • Production skills (hygiene measures, different avian diseases (bird flu, Newcastle, nutritional diseases and internal parasites) and the importance of the henhouse; • Manufacturing poultry feed from locally available products; • Linking up local collectors or buyers of poultry to organize periodic group sales; • Linking them to the SVPP networks and developing prophylaxis plans for groups or villages.

In Maradi, just as in Tillabéri, these training sessions were organized in collaboration with the REGIS-ER project. These training sessions focused on training in poultry production skills and the production of poultry feed. Training sessions in production techniques were held over two (2) days at each site with the participation of 276 members, including 243 women, grouped around 15 OPs. The training on poultry food manufacturing was one day on-site training. In total, the members of 15 OPs from Maradi and Tillabéri were trained in how to manufacture poultry feed from local products. Table 3 below shows the breakdown of participation in the various training sessions.

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Table 3: Breaking down of participants in training by region

Number of participants Number of Number of Region Total Women POs households Tillabéri 160 152 4 128 Maradi 116 91 11 104 Total 276 243 15 232

The training on poultry food manufacturing lasted one day on site training. In total, the members of 15 POs of Maradi and Tillabéri were trained in the manufacturing of poultry feed from local products. The table below shows the breaking down of participations in the different training sessions.

Develop quarterly poultry production and marketing plans and connecting them to the market In addition to training OP members in production skills and on the manufacturing of poultry feed, the main objective of this activity is to support these OPs in developing quarterly poultry production and marketing plans and to connect them to the market. The implementation of these plans should be supported by the project and its partners REGIS-ER and DFAP. This support will enable meeting the technical and financial needs that would emerge from the production and marketing plans.

With all the OPs, an assessment of the potential production and its profitability was conducted based on the following parameters and assumptions: • average number of hens per member (e.g. start with 5 subjects); • average number of clutches per year (generally three when adhering to feeding and sanitary requirements); • average number of eggs per clutch and per hen; • mortality rate (20% assumption); • Own-consumption rate (10% assumption).

Production needs are essentially limited to food and health coverage (i.e., vaccination against Newcastle disease and deworming). The project team estimates the need for feeding (three months before the sale and with food manufactured by the producer himself from local products) at 100g/day subject to a cost of 183 CFAF/kg. Immunization costs 50 CFAF per subject (for the quarter) and deworming at the same cost and for the same period. A simulation of the cost-effectiveness of this production activity, which was presented to the producers to urge their commitment, shows that by going with 5 hens and a cock and respecting the instructions of feeding and sanitary coverage, the producer would gain 146,370 CFAF (US $ 255) in net at the end of a year (i.e. after 3 cycles of sale). This exercise enabled OPs to discover that village poultry farming can be a real source of income, and a means of strengthening the resilience of rural households.

After the assessment of the potential, discussions were initiated with the OPs to set production and marketing targets per village. Table 4 below shows the cumulative projections of poultry sales per region for the 15 OPs.

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Table 4: Production target and anticipated sales set by target POs Production Number of POs Origin of POs Expected sales Region target engaged amounts (Fcfa) REGIS-ER Karkara (# of animals) Tillabéri 4 1 3 7 864 13 696 000 Maradi 11 11 0 6 490 8 347 500 Total 15 12 3 14 354 22 043 500

Discussions are underway with REGIS-ER and DFAP to expand the number of Ops engaged in this pilot initiative.

Linking the 15 OPs with buyers or collectors of live poultry in Niger After evaluating the potential production and setting target sales for each OP, poultry marketing was also discussed with OPs. The objective of this sequence was to link the groups with the collectors in order to carry out periodic group sales. In this context, the groups invited poultry collectors to participate in the production and marketing plans preparation days. During this exercise, 4 collectors established contacts with the 4 OPs of Tillabéri, and 5 others from the 11 OPs of Maradi. Currently, these contacts are limited to verbal commitments by the parties based on the trust capital they have. But the project aims to eventually change these commitments into written form.

Linking the 15 OPs with the SVPP networks in Niger To facilitate the access of OPs to basic veterinary services, the SVPP network leaders of Say, Tillabéri, Guidan Roumdji, and Dakoro were also invited to take part in these training sessions. Thus, network managers were interviewed by OPs on the importance of vaccination and deworming of the avian herd and on various veterinary products (vaccine, antibiotics, anti-parasitic and vitamin). They also stressed the different periods for vaccinating against Newcastle disease and the need to establish a timetable with the village producers so that the livestock assistant could come vaccinate all the livestock of the village. During this sequence and at the level of all the groups, the following plan of prophylaxis(Table 5) was developed with the support of the SVPP network manager in French and in local language.

Table 5: Prophylaxis calendar for the 15 POs involved

Activity PERIODS / LOKUTTA Ayukan yi 1st round 2nd round 3rd round 4th round Internal deworming March June September December Dan halbe na kaji External deworming Every month March Maganin ƙwarin jiki Kowani wata Vaccination against Newcastle March June September December Rigakahin dan ƙillau Anti-stress Chicks, development of the ridge, egg laying Maganin razana Ga ‘yen tsaki a lokacin fitar tunka ko kora, da lokacin yin koy Antibiotic with vitamin chicks, development of the crest Magani mai bitamin Ga ‘yen tsaki a lokacin fitar tunka ko kora

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Activity PERIODS / LOKUTTA Ayukan yi 1st round 2nd round 3rd round 4th round Cleaning henhouses Every month Tsabtar akurki Kowani wata Cleaning of feeding trough and feeder At least once a week Tsabtar masayar abinci da ruwa Kowani sati

Effects induced by sub-activity 2.12.1 Following the training sessions held in February, 1,200 chickens were deworned and 1,500 doses of vaccines against Newcastle were bought by members of the Konandélé (Makalondi) OP. In Djoga (Torodi), 500 tablets were paid for by the members of this OP. In Fettoboki (Hamdallaye), 323 subjects were deworned. At Enin, in the village of Farie Haoussa, purchased a sachet of 100-gram of deworming medication and a bottle of 100-dose for Newcastle.

a) Sub activity 2.12.5: Sensitize producers to vaccinate their birds against Newcastle disease through awareness campaigns Support to the organization of a vaccination campaign against Newcastle disease in Niger In the context of the quantitative improvement of marketable poultry and in order to increase producers' incomes, REGIS-AG supported during this quarter, the organization of an awareness-raising campaign on vaccination against Newcastle disease. All 10 SVPP networks in the Maradi, Zinder and Tillabéri regions were involved. Several awareness raising sessions were conducted through community radios to urge producers to vaccinate their poultry against this disease which kills 80 to 100% of the subjects in case of an outbreak. In accordance with the agreements, the SVPP networks must purchase and provide the Breeding Auxiliaries (AE) with Itanew vaccine (dose of 12). The cost of vaccination per subject is 50 FCFA. On March 31, 2017 while awaiting the transmission of all data coming from the various networks of SVPP, 1919 households vaccinated their subjects following this awareness raising campaign (486 in Dakoro, 125 in Tillabéri, 99 in Magaria and 1209 in Filingue).

Activity 2.13: Strengthen trade relations between poultry producers and buyers

a) Sub activity 2.13.3 : Train poultry value chains actors on entrepreneurship Training 88 poultry producers including 15 women entrepreneurs in Burkina Faso From February 14 to 17 2017 in Dori, REGIS-AG organized the training of 44 poultry producers, including 9 women representing 20 entrepreneur organizations of poultry farmers. The topics covered during this training were: (i) the importance of poultry farming for rural households, (ii) the company and its environment, (iii) the market and its actors, (iv) the concept of planning and production management, (v) costs and cost-effectiveness, (vi) marketing and sale techniques, and (vii) business plan concept. From February 21 to 24, 2017 in Kaya, REGIS-AG organized the training of 44 poultry producers, including 6 women representing 24 poultry organizations on the same themes defined above.

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Training 28 poultry producers including 7 women entrepreneurs in Niger In order to strengthen the entrepreneurial sense of poultry collectors and processors, REGIS-AG organized a training session in entrepreneurship for the 28 members of 9 poultry farms (a marketing OP and 8 of the production link) in Tillabéri from March 27 to 30, 2017. The objective was to enhance the marketing and management skills of entrepreneurs in order to move from an income-generating activity (AGR) to a real company capable of creating jobs. The topics addressed during this training were as follows: • Entrepreneurship and sense of entrepreneurship; • Background of marketing (Customers, 4Ps of marketing) ; • Cost calculations; • GERME journal, expenditure booklet and receipts) ; • Simplified operating account; • Procedures for submission to institutional markets (restaurants, hotels).

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2.3. Component 3: Strengthen Input Supply and other Supporting Services and Improve Smallholder and Agro-Pastoralist Access to Interconnected Markets

The REGIS-AG value chain studies clearly indicate that access to quality inputs and supporting services are important to enable agro-pastoral smallholders, traders and processors, and/or buyers the project targets to upgrade their operations and increase their potential income. Therefore, the effective and timely delivery of these inputs and services is essential for achieving the project goals. These studies also indicate that gender is a critical dimension in increasing access to and delivery of inputs and services due to barriers to women’s mobility and limited participation in off-farm commercial activities. Under Component 2, REGIS-AG is expected to develop sustainable commercial networks for the supply of inputs and services by training 250 private agrodealers and linking producers and traders to this proven rural service platform. REGIS-AG is also expected to create 7 professional animal health networks linking 7 private veterinarians, 44 veterinary stores, 233 Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs) and 65 women village-level vaccinators, and supporting disease surveillance in the project area.

In order to better target these input supply facilitation interventions to the target populations, REGIS- AG carried out a study on the supply and distribution channels of agricultural inputs in its intervention zone in Niger and Burkina Faso in FY2016. This study identified the following: • 145 agricultural inputs distributors (fertilizer, seeds, pesticides, and agricultural equipment) operating in the project area in Burkina Faso, of which 81 (including one woman) are located and operating in the zone of intervention. In Niger, 550 distributors (including 8 women) have been identified in the project area; • 26 PICS bags suppliers in Burkina Faso and 31 in Niger were identified in the intervention area; • 185 livestock and poultry feed manufacturers and/or traders were found in Burkina Faso and 165 in Niger. The study revealed capacity gaps in the actors in the agricultural input supply sector in relation to the proper handling and storage of chemical products. Only approximately half of the suppliers had received information and/or training on proper handling in the intervention area. Further, gaps in knowledge related to hygiene and safety control measures12 were observed and were certainly not encouraged to customers purchasing the products. The utilization of pesticides without taking safety and security measures into account can expose the input supplier and customers to pesticide contamination risks. In terms of business management, the study also captured that input suppliers rarely use management tools

12 In Burkina Faso for example, close to 50% of suppliers in the zone of intervention had not received any training on the inputs that they distribute and were also not able to give appropriate advice and guidance to producers. The site visits conducted by the team noted that many input suppliers were not working within the minimum standards of precaution needed to ensure hygiene and safety. Only 5% of the input suppliers in the Sahel region had a hand washing station with soap versus 56% in the Est region and 81% in the Centre-nord region. In the Est region, 78% of input suppliers repackage larger quantities of inputs into smaller units, which better allows smallholder farmers to be able to afford inputs.

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(such as records on sales, stock levels, and cash levels) and many do not have any form of accounting.13 The absence of a management system does not allow the input suppliers to make informed decisions regarding their business activities nor be able to plan their own supply. The study also revealed that very few animal feed producers and suppliers have benefitted from training14. The near absence of training for these actors limits them professionally and affects the quality of service rendered to the agro- pastoralists in the zone of intervention. As a result of this study, the project also updated the directories of agricultural input distributors and produced maps showing their location and geographical distribution in the project areas. The project also carried out (in the second year of its implementation) an assessment of the training needs of input distributors and livestock traders, the results of which were presented in the FY16 annual report. After identifying the capacity building needs of agricultural input distributors, REGIS-AG has developed a capacity building plan to address these needs. The implementation of this capacity building plan will strengthen the capacity of distributors of agricultural inputs and livestock feed.

Activities planned under this component are structured around two broad technical intervention areas: cowpea input services and animal inputs services.

2.3.1. Cowpea Inputs and Services During the reporting period, activities carried out focused on developing training modules to implement the aforementioned capacity building training plan while at the same time facilitating intermediation between POs and MFIs in warrantage schemes, and promoting the use of PICS bags for cowpea storage. Several planned activities could not be implemented, notably due to too ambitious programming from the project technical team. These included: • The training for management committees overseeing warehouses/storage facilities used for warrantage was only completed for the Centre-nord region of Burkina Faso. The other regions have not yet assigned their members to management teams; • The training for producer groups on business plan development has not yet been executed but is being planned in collaboration with components 2 & 4 in Quarter 3, FY2017.

Activity 3.1: Provide business management and technical training to agrodealers and traders of animal feed

a) Sub activity 3.1.1: Train the trainers distributors on technical knowledge and use of agricultural inputs Identification of a local consulting firm to create the training curriculum

13 In Burkina Faso for example, only 29% of input suppliers keep records on sales, 24% track their stocks, and 10% do an end of year balance sheet. In Niger, the situation will be better known during the course of Quarter 4, FY2017. 14 The study revealed that in Burkina Faso, only 4% of animal feed suppliers had been trained on proper use of the feed and their proper storage techniques. In Niger, the situation will be better known during the course of quarter 4, FY2017.

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To develop the training modules needed for implementing the aforementioned capacity building training plan, REGIS-AG used the consulting firm BPS consulting selected in Q1FY17 based on a competitive process and the analysis of the technical and financial proposal of shortlisted candidates. After CNFA approval of the selected consulting firm, contracting was finalized on December 2016.

Development of the training modules for the input suppliers After the finalizing of the contract with REGIS-AG, BPS (a Box 1 : Training Modules Burkinabé firm) began working in January 2017 with a framing meeting with the DCOP and the input supply advisor, Module 1 - Technical knowledge of certified improved seed, seed law, seed Dominique Bassolé, to launch the process. This meeting further production and marketing conditions. clarified the firm's expectations and objectives for the capacity Module 2 - Technical knowledge of building program for agricultural input distributors. During this fertilization and fertilizers, good practice meeting, the REGIS-AG team also presented to the of fertilizer use representatives of the BPS Consulting firm with the existing Module 3 - Good practices in the training modules that had been collected by the project in production and conservation of cowpea - Burkina Faso and Niger, the map of input suppliers produced by use of PICS bags the project, information on the REGIS-AG intervention area, Module 4 - Management of Input Shops and contacts of the AGRODIA association. Module 5 - Technical knowledge of

livestock and poultry feeds, from Following this meeting, BPS started its desk review and data production to food distribution, good collection on the ground. Qualitative and quantitative procurement, management, storage and information was collected by BPS Consulting over a period of 3 marketing practices days from the various actors (producers, distributors, NGOs Module 6 - Knowledge and good and other projects). With this additional information, BPS practices of pesticide management; Consulting produced draft modules to be delivered to the input distributors. The draft modules are currently being reviewed by the project team.

Table 6 summarizes the tools proposed by the BPS Consulting firm and the training curriculum consists of 6 modules (Box 1). Amendments to improve training modules will be submitted to the firm during Q3FY17 with a plan to finalize them no later than the end of April 2017.

Table 6 : Draft curriculum for training of input suppliers Name Quantity anticipated 1. Training Manual 5 2. Catalogue of pesticide tools (large format) 3 3. Catalogue of pesticide tools (small format) 3 4. Catalogue of fertilizer tools (large format) 3 5. Catalogue of fertilizer tools (small format) 3 6. Catalogue of seed tools (large format) 3 7. Catalogue of seed tools (small format) 3 8. Catalogue of animal and poultry feed tools (large format) 3 9. Catalogue of animal and poultry feed tools (small format) 3

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Name Quantity anticipated 10. Catalogue of PICS tools (large format) 3 11. Catalogue of PICS tools (small format) 3 12. Catalogue of business management tools (large format) 3 13. Catalogue of business management tools (small format) 3

Training of 9 trainers for the input suppliers on fertilizer and seeds From 21 to 24 March 2017 in Kaya, the REGIS-AG team organized a training session of nine (09) trainers of agricultural input distributors on fertilizers and seeds. This training was carried out in collaboration with the Association of Wholesalers and Retailers of Agricultural Inputs (AGRODIA) of Burkina Faso. These nine (09) trainers will in turn take charge of the training to input distributors with project support during the third quarter. Three trainers were selected from each region among the members of the marketing unit of AGRODIA and its team of trainers following an exchange meeting with AGRODIA and the provincial sections based on the following criteria: • Be on the list of AGRODIA trainers or proposed by AGRODIA ; • Understand at least one of the three local languages; • Be capable of conducting a training in the local language; • Have experience training input suppliers; • Be willing to participate in a refresher training of trainers session; • Be available during the training period (March 2017); • Have completed formal education through 3ieme.

After selecting the 9 trainers, the Input Supply Advisor and resource staff oversaw the training of the 9 trainers on the five first modules of the curriculum. The training was structured over four days and was completed as follows: • Day 1 : Pre-training evaluation of the trainees and a brief overview of the content of the training, tools for training, and the training for input suppliers; • Day 2-3 : Modules 1-4 ; • Day 4: Module 5 and post-training evaluation of trainees

During the third quarter, these 9 trainers will be divided into a pool of three trainers per region, which in turn will transfer the knowledge acquired to 100 basic input distributors in the local languages. The training of basic input distributors will take place simultaneously in Dori, Kaya and Fada and will last 5 days in each locality.

This initiative to train input distributors and livestock traders will be replicated in Niger in the next quarter (Q3Y17).

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Activity 3.5: Facilitate credit access for cowpea producers

a) Sub Activity 3.5.3: Facilitate intermediation between OP and IMF Signing of two MOUs between REGIS-AG, RCPB, and MECAP in Burkina Faso From 2 to 19 November 2016, the REGIS-AG team split into 4 groups between the three regions to sensitize OPs on the implementation process of warrantage. During this tour of meetings with various actors, one of the project teams focused particularly on meetings with partners and projects in the area of REGIS-AG. For example, meetings were held with REGIS-ER, ViM, FAO, the WFP P4P15 project, the VALPAPE project, the PRRIA project, the SYS-FeM16 project, agricultural input distributors and microfinance structures (RCPB , MECAP, GRAINE SARL, and SIMBA) and ECOBANK. These meetings made it possible to explain to all these projects the strategy defined by REGIS-AG for the implementation of warrantage. This strategy was welcomed by all and commitments were made by the latter to accompany REGIS-AG in this initiative.

At the end of these meetings REGIS-AG organized a workshop in Kaya (North Central Region) on 28 November 2016, which brought together 90 people, including 24 women, during which the results of the analyzes of the data collected in the (Caisse Populaire and MECAP) and partner projects, in particular REGIS-ER, ViM, PROFIL, FAO and the Faso Program. At the end of the workshop, Caisse Populaire and MECAP agreed to work with the REGIS-AG project on this initiative. As a result of the mutual commitments made by REGIS-AG, RCPB and MECAP, the exchanges with RCPB17 and MECAP continued to plan their involvement in financing activities related to warrantage. These exchanges resulted in the signing of two memoranda of understanding Signing of the MOU between between REGIS-AG and MECAP18 on 12 January 2017 and between REGIS-AG and MECAP REGIS-AG and RCPB on 27 January 2017.

In Niger, exchanges with three microfinance institutions ASUSU-SA, KOKARI and MECAP in December 2016 resulted in a commitment without the need to sign protocols for collaboration with the REGIS-AG project.

In Burkina Faso, group sales of 99 000 000 F CFA ($170,435 USD) were completed by REGIS-AG beneficiaries and granting of 18 406 700 F CFA ($32,011 USD) of credit to 466 REGIS-AG beneficiaries by RCPB and MECAP After the signing of the MOUs, three teams composed of 6 staff members from REGIS-AG, 5 RCPB managers and one MECAP agent traveled through all three regions (Sahel, Center-North and East) from 23 to 28 January 2017 to identify inventories of cowpea in stores allocated to warrantage and to evaluate the credit needs of producer members of POs. The MECAP team has focused its efforts on the commune of Pissila in the North-Central region. The RCPB team has deployed its efforts in the communes of Dori, Bani, Seytenga and Sebba in the Sahel region as well as in the communes of

15 P4P – Purchase for Progress 16 SYS-FeM – Scaling out Integrated Soil Fertility Management Technologies 17 RCPB – Reseau des Caisses Populaires du Burkina Faso 18 MECAP – Mutuelle d’Epargne et de Credits des Artisans et des Producteurs du Burkina Faso.

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Bouroum, Kouini, Nagbingou and Dargo in the Center-Nord region and the commune Of Bartiébougou in the Eastern region.

At the end of the tour, 466 members, including 387 women in 83 OPs, received credit based on cowpea stocks recorded in the field. The mission also found that 300 tons of cowpea have already been sold as a CRS bundle for school canteens to WFP for a total value of 99,000,000 FCFA (US $ 170,435). A producer receiving warrantage credit from RCPB Annex 3 shows the list of the 83 OPs that are beneficiaries of the warrantage credit by the MFIs, the amount of niebé (Kg) put into warrantage, and the amount of credit granted to each of the POs. It shows that these 466 producers, of which 387 women mobilized more than 93.4 tons of cowpea for a global credit of 18 406 700 FCFA (US $ 32 011) as part of the warrantage for the 2016-2017 season. This action for the benefit of producers was made possible thanks to the support of MECAP and the RCPB. Figure 1 above shows the distribution of credits granted to producers between the A producer signing the agreement two financial institutions with a strong dominance of RCPB to receive warrantage credit (14,964,700 CFA francs or US $ 26,026).

Figure 1 : Breakdown of credit grants by MFI in Burkina Faso

MECAP 19%

RCPB 81%

In Niger, group sales of 7 311 625 F CFA ($12,716 USD) completed by REGIS-AG beneficiaries and granting of 13 689 000 F CFA ($27,403) of credit to 16 OPs by ASUSU, MECAP, and KOKARI The REGIS-AG project supported cowpea producers in its intervention zone (Zinder, Maradi and Tillabéry) to utilize seven storage houses and linked them with financial institutions to help them to obtain a higher profit for their efforts. The project facilitated a connection between the financial institutions ASUSU, KOKARI and MECAT and the producers during the months of December 2016 to March 2017. A total of 81 OPs representing 10,461 producers had initially participated in the process and only 35 OPs eventually participated in the activity. The warrantage credit process and implementation workshop made it possible to finalize the warrantage credit between the producers and the MFIs. Steps have been taken to monitor the implementation of the credit in order to avoid misuse of credit, to reduce the risk of unpaid debts and to ensure that the warrantage process proceeds smoothly.

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A total of 16 credit packages amounting to F CFA 13 689 000 (US $ 27 403) (see detail in Annex 3.2) are now in place. Follow-up visits to oversee the activity and the implementation of the credit were carried out during the reporting period. In Zinder, visits were made from14 January to 21 January 2017, in Maradi and Tillaberi from 03 to 10 March to 40 organizations (20 in Maradi, 12 in Tillabéri and 8 in Zinder) identified originally. After these follow up visits, only 32 OPs ultimately participated.

In total, 16 OPs were financed by 3 MFIs for a total of 13 689 000 Figure 2 : Répartition du crédit warrantage entre MFI au Niger FCFA (US $23 807) : KOKARI • 9 OPs were financed by 15% ASUSU-SA for a total of 8 379 000 FCFA; • MECAT financed 3 OPs in the Maradi region for a total of 3 206 000 FCFA; • KOKARI financed 4 OPs in MECAT 24% Tillaberi for a total of 2 104 000 FCFA. ASUSU-SA 61%

ASUSU-SA provided the majority of the credit (61%).

In the Maradi region, the disbursement of credit occurred in two ways, depending on the MFI concerned. MECAT went to each OP to effectuate the disbursement of the loan while ASUSU-SA processed their disbursements in their locations at the counter in accordance with their procedures. In total, 12 organizations at the regional level (8 unions and 4 POs) received the credit for an average duration of 5 months and a total of 11,585,000 FCFA. This credit enabled them to carry out income- generating activities (AGRs), the main ones being: small-ruminant fattening, frying (kossei), poultry breeding and small-scale trade.

In the region of Tillabéri, only 4 POs received the warrantage credit for an average duration of 5 months and a total of 2,104,000 FCFA (US $ 3,659). However, ASUSU-SA is expected to make a disbursement for the NIYYA GIE of Toukounous Arzika in the Department of Filingué for an amount of F CFA 2,436,000 (US $ 4,237). This credit enabled some POs to purchase food for household food security and others to carry out other AGRs, the main ones being small-ruminant fattening, frying (kossei), poultry farming, and small business.

In the Zinder region, after Q2FY17, no credit has been effectuated by ASUSU, which was the only microfinance institution based in the region who could service the OPs who applied for loans. A visit to the ASUSU agency in Magaria and Zinder highlighted the difficulties. In particular, this is an internal management problem that has resulted in defaults of more than 100 million CFA francs in the Magaria area and which are not related to the activities of REGIS-AG. Because of the issues, the Magaria branch had its staff replaced and are all instructed to limit disbursements to salaries.

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The group sales and sale promises (made with traders and WFP) made during the reporting period were possible due to participation in the 1st edition of the Niebe fair. Following the fair, REGIS-AG contacted the beneficiaries of the who had sale promises to gather information on the evolution of the commitments between the two parties (producers and buyers).

Difficulties Observed Following these activities, REGIS-AG has identified the following challenges: • On the side of the MFIs (notably Kokari) : − Insufficient liquidity during the implementation of REGIS-AG’s activities ; − Delay in putting the mechanism in place (the opportune time being the harvest) ; − Delay in visiting the warehouses and the closing of the stores; − Insecurity in the region with prohibitions on motorbike usage.

• On the side of the OPs : − Delay in putting the mechanism in place ; − Delay in bagging the niebe ; − Use of warehouses only for warrantage ; − Insufficient tonnage of niebe in some of the zones in order to do warrantage.

Follow up on this activity is ongoing and will continue through the reimbursement of the MFIs for the credit and the group sales of niebe. Issues with the activity will be taken into account for adjustment on later warrantage activities.

2.3.2. Animal Inputs and Services

REGIS-AG, through Component 3, aims to strengthen the supply of inputs and other support services and improve the access of small-scale producers and agro-pastoralist populations to access these interconnected markets. In the case of poultry and small ruminant value chains, these include the supply of livestock and poultry feed and access to animal health services. This supply and access are all the more necessary in the case of traditional breeding where the annual mortality rate is high.

For poultry, it can reach 80-90% of the total chickens. Diseases are the main causes and are therefore one of the major constraints limiting the productivity of traditional poultry farming. However, it is not easy to set up prophylactic control schemes against the main diseases affecting poultry. On the one hand, the distribution of the veterinary workforce is highly fragmented throughout the national territory. On the other hand, traditional poultry farming is still considered too small as an economic activity to garner more interest in increasing this workforce. One consequence of this is that treatment costs, however minimal, are difficult to accept. Nevertheless, the actions of awareness-raising and sanitation carried out by certain projects make it possible to gradually reverse this trend.

For small ruminants, subjects are at the mercy of contagious diseases such as PPR, pasteurellosis, anthrax, as well as gastrointestinal infections due to parasites that are very present during the rainy season . The use of veterinary drugs in small ruminants is also quite low.

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In addition to the low use of medicines for poultry and small ruminants, a fraudulent drug circuit is being developed, in particular with the phenomenon of street drugs in markets and the illegal practice of the profession by people who do not have adequate training or permission to practice. This situation is enabled by the structural weakness of animal health services (private and public) in both Niger and Burkina Faso.

To address this situation (low drug use and the development of a fraudulent drug circuit), REGIS-AG has developed the concept known as the Private Veterinary Service of Proximity (SVPP) in Niger and Animal Health Proximity Network (RSAP) in Burkina Faso. SVPP is a private advisory support system for producers and local animal health services, under the responsibility of a private veterinarian supported by a maximum of 30 Breeding Assistants (AE) to ensure strong services in the animal health system in the project area. AEs are linked to a private veterinarian of the network and cover a small portion of the veterinarian’s region. The latter guarantees the quality of the products used by its AEs and ensures, in compliance with the relevant departments of the State, the quality control of the AE’s delivery of services within their network. AEs provide local care to breeders and their services are paid for by the producers directly.

In Burkina Faso during FY2016, the project facilitated the establishment of three RSAPs around three private companies (VETOPROX Sahel, SIRBA VETOS, and the veterinary clinic AGRO-SERVICES in Burkina Faso). In Niger, three neworks were established in Tillaberi, Magaria and Mirriah during FY2016.

However, the number of RSAPs remains inadequate to ensure access to local animal health services throughout the project area. In Burkina Faso, in February 2017, the project identified two (02) private veterinary establishments (VETO Consult and VETO Assistance) that are already located in Fada N'Gourma (Eastern Region) and are willing to manage an RSAP. In Niger, the recruitment of a new private veterinarian is under way and will be installed in Aguié Department. They will manage 30 AEs in their geographic area.

The activities carried out by REGIS-AG during Q2FY17 focused on the selection of AEs for these two new networks and support for a vaccination campaign in Burkina Faso and the refresher trainings of AEs in Niger. This section of the report presents the details of these activities.

Activity 3.7: Establish SVPP networks in the project intervention area

a) Sub activity 3.7.4: Select new AE et women-vaccinators of new SVPP networks Village General Assemblies to identify the 40 AEs in Burkina Faso From March 27-31, the REGIS-AG team led 6 general assemblies (GAs) for the selection and identification of 40 AEs who will be members of the two new AMPS networks in the Eastern Region. The latter will be placed under the supervision of the 2 veterinarians (VETO Consult and VETO Assistance) operating in the Eastern Region. A total of 12 GAs were scheduled and six (06) were held during the quarter and the remainder are due to close next quarter to cover all the targeted communes. The purpose of the meetings were to: (i) meet and inform the administrative authorities of the plan to create a new network; (ii) choose 40 AEs democratically by ensuring their good distribution throughout the province of N’Gourma. The basic criteria for the selection of EAs are as follows:

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• To be from the territory and establised in the commune (family, children, work) to avoid recruiting someone who will not stay ; • To be a producer • To be a member of one of the OPs • To be between the age of 20-45 • To be able to read and write • To be available and ready to mobilize at any time to respond to a call in the zone of intervention • To be proposed by the general assembly • To meet soft skills such as motivated, available, financially and technically honest, devoted, etc.

Additionally, the following were considered preferred: • Knowedge of animal breeding • Able to speak a local language • Former or current AE • Have a mode of transport (moto)

Four (04) GAs will be held during the month of April in order to reach all the targeted communes in the Eastern Region. At the end of these GAs, the list of the 40 AEs selected according to the criteria defined above will be finalized and the training sessions for them will be carried out.

In Niger, TDRs will launch the process of selecting a private veterinarian based in Aguié, selecting 30 new AEs and training all four private veterinarians and 122 AEs (30 in Tillabéri, 32 in Magaria, 30 in Mirriah, and 30 in Aguié) will be completed during the next quarter.

Activity 3.8: Strengthen the technical capacity of existing networks SVPP

a) Subactivity 3.8.2 : Refresher trainings for AEs in the project zone In Niger, the training and refresher training of the AEs of Torodi, Filingué, Dakoro and Guidan Roumdji took place during the reporting period. In total, 46 AEs from Dakoro, 40 AEs of Guidan Roumdji, and 20 AEs of Torodi received refresher training on the following 4 modules: • Module 4: Diagnosis, treatment and prevention of major diseases of domestic animals; • Module 5: Immunization; • Module 6: Poultry farming; • Module 7: Strategic complementation.

These modules cover the following topics: • the process of immunizing in an animal; • the practice of vaccination on an animal and the possible reactions resulting therefrom; • the annual vaccination schedule and the different types of vaccines used in Niger; • good practices for the improvement of village poultry farming and advising livestock keepers; • treatment of major poultry diseases; • the annual vaccination schedule for poultry; • good dry season feeding techniques; • the main energy and protein foods needed for strategically complementing animal’s diets.

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In Burkina Faso, the need for refresher trainings for AEs has not been expressed by private veterinarians nor by the AEs themselves. Refreshers are recommended after one year of activity, which undoubtedly improves the quality of the delivery of the AEs.

Activity 3.13: Fight against major epidemic diseases of livestock

a) Sub activity 3.13.1: Participate to national vaccination campaign 1450 animals vaccinated in Burkina Faso On 8 February 2017, REGIS-AG, in the fight against epizootics of small ruminants and poultry, supported the US and Burkina Faso armies in the organization of a day of vaccination campaigns for small ruminants and poultry for the populations of the Dori commune. To initiate this vaccination campaign, a military team from the US Embassy in Burkina Faso contacted the regional office of REGIS-AG based in Dori to present the objectives of the immunization efforts through the civil-military collaboration composed of the Burkinabe and American armies. In order to An agent of DPRA debugging one of carry out the vaccination campaign, REGIS-AG contributed by the the animals. active participation of a member of its staff, Dr. Guiro Souleymane, during the immunization sessions. In addition, REGIS-AG and the Provincial Directorate of Animal Resources (DPRA) of the Sahel contributed to the mobilization of breeders of small ruminants and poultry through its RSAP under the tutelage of Dr. Alphonse Coulibaly. The US Army also provided the veterinary products that were used to vaccinate the animals. A total of 900 heads of small ruminants and 100 head of poultry were vaccinated through the RSAP of Dori, which is supported by REGIS-AG. In a context of high mortality, this intervention corresponds to a real saving for Dr. Guiro Souleymane of REGIS-AG the beneficiary producers who, without vaccination, would certainly have lost a good part of their livestock.

On March 9, 2017, in response to the success of the vaccination operation in Dori commune, the US and Burkina Faso forces focused on the N'Djomga commune in the Sahel region for their vaccination operation. This time the target animals were large and small ruminants. REGIS-AG played a key role in the mobilization of breeders in this commune. As in Dori, REGIS-AG has involved its RSAP which has vaccinated 750 oxen and 450 small ruminants. The success of this day of vaccination in Djomga was enhanced by the The US Ambassador to Burkina visit of HE Ambassador of the USA to Burkina Faso who Faso greeting one of the encouraged the populations of N'Djomga on the importance of participants. vaccination.

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In Niger, vaccination began the last week of March. The results will be reported in the next quarter's report (Q3FY17). 2.4. Component 4 - Increase access to finance, innovation and private sector investment Under the Component 4, REGIS-AG focuses on facilitating access to finance for beneficiaries targeted under the project’s components 2 and 3 in a way that enables product, process and/or function upgrading described in project description section of this report. To increase investment for these necessary upgrades by targeted beneficiaries, it is critical to address factors limiting access to finance that stem from both the “supply” and “demand” sides. For this, in addition to linking farmers’ groups and SMSEs with MFIs and commercial banks when appropriate, the project has two important tools: (a) its Strategic Services Subawards (3S) Fund of $500,000 and (b) the DCA program. The 3S Fund is a tool targeting value chain actors and service providers (selected competitively19) that are in a position to stimulate growth of the target value chains by jumpstarting product, process or function upgrading of another value chain actor. In other words, the 3S Fund is designed to be responsive to the needs of scaling up investments in technology and REGIS-AG’s value chain development activities without creating dependency.

During Q1 of FY17, activities carried out focused on organizing an awareness raising campaign with the plan to select 25 new centers in Q2 of FY17, continuation of training in existing centers, and initiation of a consultancy aimed at refining the project strategy in facilitating project beneficiaries’ access to finance. The following paragraphs present the details of the different activities carried out during Q2FY17.

2.4.1. Functional Literacy Capacity Building Activities

Activity 4.1: Provide training in functional literacy to project participants particularly women Improving families’ and vulnerable communities’ access to markets, financing, innovation and private sector investment in the project areas of intervention constitutes a major priority for REGIS-AG. However, the literacy rate for most of these stakeholders in the project intervention areas is very low. Most producers cannot read or write and this limits their ability to negotiate with microfinance institutions or banks. Low literacy also limits the adoption of new technologies and the development and use of marketing strategies for their products. It is therefore imperative to build the capacities of these actors in order to make their participation in these value chains more productive while at the same time enhancing their personal development and empowerment.

19 As stated in the project documents, selection is expected to be done through RFA issued by the project. To be eligible, BDS providers must have been in existence for at least three years, have performed similar work for public or private sector clients, and be able to provide full financial statements. Local organizations already involved in the program as consortium partners are not be eligible to participate in the 3S fund. Proposals are evaluated against the selection criteria published in each RFA, which will include the strength of the technical approach, past performance, demonstrated relevant expertise, quality of proposed staff and cost.

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During FY16, REGIS-AG launched 43 functional literacy centers (18 in Burkina Faso and 25 in Niger). A total of 1,397 beneficiaries (571 in Burkina Faso and 826 in Niger) were trained, including 1,219 women (468 in Burkina Faso and 751 in Niger). Due to the success of FY16 functional literacy activities, REGIS- AG planned to open 50 new literacy centers (25 in Burkina Faso and 25 in Niger) for total of 1,500 learners in the project interventions zone. The following describes the activities that were implemented for this purpose during Q2FY17.

a) Sub activity 4.1.1: Identify appropriate center for literacy training (25 in Niger and 25 in Burkina Faso) and Sub activity 4.1.2 Identify beneficiaries (450/Niger; 750/Burkina Faso), and evaluate training needs Opening of 25 new literacy centers and identifying 761 learners (including 629 women) in Burkina Faso For this fiscal year, REGIS-AG's functional literacy activities started in Burkina Faso after the adoption of the State Strategy for Literacy in Burkina Faso. This adoption allowed REGIS-AG to have a reference document that outlines all the steps required to carry out a literacy program.

During the period from November 2 to December 4, 2016, two REGIS-AG teams made up of AGED and A2N staff, all members of the consortium, undertook outreach and awareness raising activities to literacy providers20 and POs operating in the small ruminant, poultry and cowpea value chains in the Sahel, North-Central and Eastern regions to further explain the objectives and approach of the literacy project. At the end of the outreach tour, the literacy workers selected by the project to carry out literacy activities appointed 25 community instructors and 9 supervisors from the literacy centers. In accordance with the national literacy strategy, the communities themselves designated the instructors with support from the providers based on the following criteria set by the state technical services: (i) Morality of the candidate, (ii) sociability and courtesy, (iii) competence, and (iv) gender. Instructors and supervisors are supported by the project.

This activity, which was carried out in conjunction with the REGIS-ER and DFAPs projects and with the state technical services, also identified 113 POs in the three targeted value chains that would benefit from literacy training during FY17. For a PO to be selected, it must: (i) be receptive and motivated, (ii) have a bank account, (iii) have a governance system for accountability, (iv) be a beneficiary of a DFAP or REGIS-ER, and (v) be close to where the literacy center will be located.

After identifying the POs who would benefit from the project activities, the literacy sites were selected taking into account: (i) their proximity to the villages of the beneficiary groups, and (ii) the condition of the buildings to serve as literacy centers. A total of 25 new literacy centers were identified at the end of the outreach tour (Annex 4). These centers are for the most part already-existing investments21 which

20 In Burkina Faso, a literacy center provider is a state-recognized private entity (e.g. NGO, cabinet) and is involved in all aspects of organizing literacy in communities. Specifically, they are tasked with identifying beneficiaries, conducting environmental studies, seeking funding, and implementing the programs in which they carry out the internal monitoring and evaluation of the training. 21 These are investments already made either by the State or by other previous projects and which would remain unused if REGIS-AG does not use them.

36 are being showcased by the project. The involvement of REGIS-AG thus makes it possible to capitalize an investment that would otherwise have remained unused.

The same activity is planned in Niger for the following quarter.

Opening of 21 new functional literacy sites and identifying 631 learners (including 499 women) in Niger As part of the opening of the new functional literacy centers in Niger, new villages who will host the literacy centers have been identified. This activity began with exchanges with the REGIS-ER and DFAPs projects in order to select the villages to house the centers from the lists of the intervention villages of these projects and based on the following criteria: (i) the proximity of the villages of the beneficiary groups, and (ii) the status of buildings as literacy centers. The exchanges consisted of: • Determining which value chain the POs proposed by REGIS-ER work on; • Listing the villages of POs involved in the value chains (cowpeas, small ruminants and poultry) with which REGIS-AG will work; • Selecting the 25 new villages who will house the 25 new literacy centers based on exchanges with REGIS-ER, DFAPs and technical services

After identifying the new villages that could house the centers, the activity of community awareness and mobilization continued in the regions of Maradi, Zinder and Tillabéri, in conjunction with the relevant departmental technical services, regional literacy coordinators from REGIS-AG, and representatives of the DFAPs. This awareness focused on the importance of functional literacy and how it was initiated by REGIS-AG in the community. This stage took place from February 10 to 22, 2017. It consisted of several sensitization meetings held with the actors of the value chains in each village under the presence of the traditional chiefs and the leaders of the villages in order to discuss the establishment of a literacy center.

The main topics addressed during the meetings were: • socio-economic importance of literacy in the farmers’ lives; • Community involvement in program implementation; • Criteria and modalities for identifying learners and selecting learning sites, in particular their proximity to the villages of the beneficiary groups and the capacity of the communities to manage the literacy activity; • Criteria for the appointment of instructors, which are determined by a Ministerial Arrêté22; • Number of days classes will be held during the week and the importance of respecting the schedules agreed upon;

22 According to Order No. 000092/MEP/A/PLN/EC/SG/DGAENF/DPAFA/DENF/DL dated 21 May 2014 Article 2 provides that setting up the instructors of the literacy and non-formal education centers may be a facilitator of adult literacy and adult education structures, who meet the following criteria: (i) be literate or have at least completed the 4th level of college general education, (ii) have received facilitator training (iii) be of Nigerien nationality (iv) be at least 18 years of age; (v) have a favorable opinion from the beneficiary community; and (vi) be available during the literacy campaign.

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• Process of setting up and composing the Management Committee of Literacy Actions (CGAA)23; • Duration of the literacy campaign.

Table 7: Distribution of learners at the new literacy centers in Niger

Tillabéri Maradi Zinder Total # of confirmed locations with technical services 5 15 1 21 # of learners identified for literacy training 151 450 30 631 • Women 117 367 15 499 • Men 34 83 15 132 # of CGAA set up 5 15 1 21 # of sites to host literacy centers (Annex 5) 5 15 1 21 # d'animatrices endogènes identifiées et recrutées 5 14 1 20 • Women 0 2 0 2 • Men 5 12 1 18 The schedule of classes determined for each center yes yes yes

It should be noted that in all three regions, the instructors are all or largely predominantly men. This situation can be explained with two reasons: first, the refusal of certain husbands to allow their wives to follow the training of non-village leaders and second, only the men selected met the criteria. Moreover, in Maradi, the Hardo Maidaoua village still needs an endogenous community instructor because during the outreach tour no literate people were identified there. Finally, in Zinder, the selection process for the four (4) other centers was interrupted because the Regional Literacy Service, the entity validating the selections, required a MoU to be signed REGIS-AG. Therefore, the activity to select the remaining four centers will continue in the following quarter.

a) Sub activity 4.1.3: Training of managers and literacy facilitators (basic training and retraining)

Training 25 instructors and 9 supervisors from the 25 new literacy centers in Burkina Faso After the identification of the new literacy centers and learners, REGIS-AG initiated exchanges with the technical public services responsible for functional literacy (e.g. the Provincial Directorate of National Education and Literacy Centers – DPENA) and literacy center providers working in the project area in order to agree on the working conditions and training sessions timetable for the instructors at the literacy centers. The State is responsible for the providing guidance, monitoring and evaluation, and

23 The CGAA is composed of (5) five members, namely: A President, Secretary, Treasurer and two (2) Members. The Village Chief / Ward / Tribal Leader is ex officio Honorary President of the CGAA. The President and the Treasurer are elected in the Village General Assembly. Any person belonging to the beneficiary community and interested in literacy actions may be eligible. Two representatives for the learners are elected by their peers. The position of secretary goes to the community organizer. The CGAA's task is to create learning conditions conducive to the training of learners and to monitor their work regularly.

38 control of literacy activities. For example, DPENA produced a training session schedule for instructors and is also responsible for their training. • Training 10 instructors and 4 supervisors From December 27, 2016 to January 10, 2017, training took place in Dori for 10 instructors (including 7 women) and 4 supervisors (including 2 women) from the 10 new literacy centers under A2N. This training was facilitated by two (02) agents of the Non Formal Basic Education Development Department of the SENO commune's DPENA. The language used throughout the training was Fulfudé. In order to make the instructors fully operational, REGIS-AG not only made a commitment to ensure their care, and organized their training over a period of three weeks in order to strengthen their capacities.

Before starting the training itself, a test was organized by trainers to assess the level of these instructors and supervisors. The test showed the need to strengthen their ability to transcribe the Fulfudé language to provide quality services. Based on this, trainers developed and implemented a capacity building plan for new instructors and supervisors on the themes presented in Annex 6. • Training 15 other instructors and 5 supervisors From February 6 to 23, 2017, the other 15 instructors (including 6 women) and 5 supervisors (all men) from 15 new literacy centers under the responsibility of AGED were trained. The trainings were organized concurrently in Gayéri for the gourmantché instructors and in Kaya and Boulsa for the moréphone instructors. These training sessions were facilitated by two (02) agents from the Non- Formal Basic Education Development Department from the DPENA of each locality over a period of 10 days, in particular in Gayeri, Boulsa and Kaya. These trainings were conducted in the local language. REGIS-AG made a commitment to ensure the care and training of instructors and supervisors.

Retraining 17 instructors and 6 supervisors from 18 former literacy centers in Burkina Faso24 From December 27, 2016 to January 10, 2017, eight former leaders (including 6 women) and two supervisors (including one woman) from former literacy centers under A2N were retrained over two weeks on specific topics. The training was aimed at building instructors’ capacity for better management of the centers. It was moderated by two (2) officers from the Department of Development of Non- formal Basic Education of the DENA of the SENO and focused on the same themes mentioned above.

From January 11 to 19, 2017, alumni and supervisors of the literacy centers under the responsibility of A2N were trained to learn basic functional French (A3F). This training session lasted 7 days. Two (2) officers from Non-Formal Basic Education Development Service of the SENO DPENA also provided this training.

During the period from February 6 to 23, 2017 AGED retrained 9 former leaders (including 4 women) and 4 supervisors (including 2 women). Again, the refresher sessions were conducted by two (02) officers of the Non-Formal Basic Education Development Department of the DPENA in each locality over a period of 10 days. The same themes that emerged during the training session in Gayeri, Boulsa

24 This activity will take place in Niger in the following quarter.

39 and Kaya surfaced here and similar retraining was given. During this period, these leaders and supervisors were also trained to learn basic functional French (A3F25).

Evaluation and mobilization of the 25 former centers, mobilization of former learners, and confirmation of former leaders in Niger26 During the reporting period, the project carried out an evaluation of five former centers (Dioga, Pagogi Fada, Kobadje, Lossa Kado, and Pagogi 1) in the Tillabéri region from March 26 to April 1, 2017. This activity will continue in the Maradi and Zinder regions during the month of April 2017. The overall objective is to assess the 25 former learning centers determining learning acquired by learners during the first year of the literacy campaign. More specifically, the evaluation was carried out on the following aspects: • Mastery of the educational themes discussed throughout the campaign • Level of performance and knowledge gained by learners • Physical and organizational conditions of the centers • Learners’ satisfaction, expectations and needs • Motivation and organization of CGAAs

At the level of each center, the evaluation was carried out by a team composed of the literacy inspector in charge of the center, some agents, a representative of the Regional Directorate for Primary Education in Literacy and the Promotion of National Languages and Civic Education (DREP / A / PLN / EC), and the Literacy Coordinator of the region. The team collected and analyzed the qualitative and quantitative data based on the tools (in particular, the questionnaires and tests, which were prepared by state technical services and administered in focus groups or individually depending on the nature of the information). The evaluation process took place in 3 stages: • Stage 1: Framing meeting and finalization of tools It was held in each region before the team's departure into the field.

• Stage 2: Collection of qualitative and quantitative data Initially, the evaluation focused on qualitative aspects such as the centers’ management and organization. These data were collected through (a) focus group interviews with learners, instructors, CGAA members, communities, and (b) individual interviews based on a questionnaire. In the second phase, the team evaluated each learner to understand his or her level of learning by administering literacy and numeracy tests. • Stage 3: Data Analysis and Reporting Based on the qualitative and quantitative data collected, the team processed and analyzed the information to produce a report highlighting the following points: − Results from the learners' assessments and their levels − Conclusions on the mastery of educational themes,

25 Basic functional French consists of the acquisition of basic reading and writing for illiterate adults. 26 This activity has already taken place in Burkina Faso.

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− Conclusions on the centers’ management and organization practices, − Constraints and difficulties encountered during the campaign. − Recommendations for improving the implementation of the functional literacy program for future campaigns. The evaluation results of the 5 centers highlight the following points:

a) Organization and supervision at the center level In each center, the trainees' training began (apprenticeship course) from the end of April 2016. The centers worked for six (06) months without interruption. Guidance was provided by trained literacy instructors. The evaluators judged that the organization of the centers was fair especially when considering that that most of the centers are at their first experience.

b) Learner attendance at the centers Overall attendance at each center is presented in Table 8 below. This shows that attendance was considered very satisfactory and this is despite the delay in opening the centers in April due to financial resources being disbursed late. The table shows that of the 160 learners who started at the beginning of the campaign, 134 took the courses until the end (e.g. retention rate of 83.75%). It should also be noted that the regular attendance regresses during the planting season because learners’ daily tasks increase significantly in this period.

Table 8: Attendance recorded at literacy centers during the training period Villages Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5 Month 6 Lossa 30 28 30 28 25 24 Kobadjé 24 22 21 19 20 20 Dioga 44 40 41 39 30 39 Pogogi I 30 28 25 24 20 20 Pogi Fada 32 29 30 28 27 31 TOTAL 160 147 147 138 122 134

c) Importance of literacy for learners During the assessment, learners identified the following advantages of taking literacy courses: • Literate people feel that they are now capable to read documents written in local language; • Writing and computing skills acquired help them write messages better, thus facilitating stronger communication with mobile phones; • From now on, many of them will be able to make purchases without being helped (e.g. knowing their shoe size); • They are now able to orient themselves by reading the signs indicating the villages.

d) The difficulties encountered The main difficulty encountered during the training was the delay in opening the center, which kept the courses going during the winter season. This situation is not conducive to learning, even if students are

41 motivated to learn. This difficulty is exacerbated by the fact that during this time students and their families are undernourished and hungry. This often prevents some learners from attending courses on a regular basis.

e) Results of the assessment pedagogical levels

Of a total of 160 registered students in the 5 Tillabéri centers, 134 were evaluated. Table 9 below shows that 8 students are still at the beginner level, 63 are at level ½, 47 are at level ¾, and 16 have reached level 5/6. It should be noted that this evaluation took place 5 months after the end of the courses, which may have affected the results. The pedagogical results are given in the table below.

Table 9: Results of the centers’ performance assessment by pedagogical level27

# registered # tested at Assessment of the pedagogical levels in Centers at the start the end of Reading Calculation of classes classes Beginner 1/2 3/4 5/6 Beginner 1/2 3/4 5/6 Lossa 30 24 8 6 6 4 6 1 14 3 Kobadjé 24 20 0 14 3 3 0 13 4 3 Djoga 44 39 0 22 15 2 0 19 18 2 Pogogi fada 32 31 0 17 8 4 0 21 5 1 Pogogi I 30 20 0 14 3 3 0 13 4 3 Total 160 134 0 67 29 12 0 66 31 9

In conclusion, literacy centers have worked well despite the delay in opening. These satisfactory results are attributable to the support of the inspection, and more importantly to the beneficiaries who, despite the beginning of the winter season, continued to attend classes. Protocol signed with the Regional Directorates for Literacy in Zinder, Maradi and Tillabéri During the reporting period, the project signed protocols or MoUs with the DREPs in Zinder, Maradi and Tillabéri. The purpose of these MoUs is to establish a partnership between the REGIS-AG project and the Regional Directorates for Primary Education, Literacy, Promotion of National Languages and Civic Education (DREP / A / PLN / EC) in order to achieve the common objective of improving the sustainable economic welfare of the people of Niger. Thus, in these protocols, the commitments of two stakeholders are summarized:

27 Pedagogical levels are defined and set in the national policy as follows : ▪ The level of beginner - corresponds to ability to read or write letters in local language ; ▪ Level ½ - corresponds to ability to read or write words in the local language ; ▪ Level ¾ - corresponds to ability to read or write sentences in the local language ; ▪ Level 5/6 - corresponds to ability to read, write or understanding texts in the local language.

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• REGIS-AG Commitments o To take charge, in accordance with the project procedures and the regulations regarding force, per diem, travel, accommodation or any other costs related to the different activities. o Support technical services that carry out project activities which contribute to the achievement of national literacy policy objectives; o Facilitate collaborative and supportive exchanges with other USAID-funded structures such as the DFAP and RISE projects; o Organize periodic meetings with technical literacy services to assess the progress of the partnership. • DREP / A / PLN / EC in Zinder, Tillabéri and Maradi Commitments o Ensure respect for the policies governing the relations between different actors involved in the literacy field; o Submit to REGIS-AG the technical report of each activity accompanied by supporting documents of all expenses covered by the project (invoices paid, statement of payment, logbook) no later than five (5) days after completion of the project activity.

b) Sub activity 4.1.4: Training of learners in literacy centers

Donation of kits and beginning of classes in Burkina Faso28

After training the instructors and supervisors, the courses started immediately upon retun to their respective locations. Training learners was preceded by the endowment by REGIS-AG for equipment, including tables, benches, and chairs at various centers. In each location, each instructor or supervisor trained or retrained was also provided with a trainer KIT from the Department of Development of the Non-Formal Basic Education of the DPENA. At the end of the various grants, all 43 old and new centers started courses with Learners in a class happy when reading a text book an average of 30 learners per literacy center. Annex 4 gives the distribution of new learners by training center. A total of 761 learners were enrolled, including 629 women, attended functional literacy courses. These learners were provided with KITS (learner's booklet, reading booklet, writing and calculating booklet, notebooks, bicos, etc.) by REGIS- AG at the start of the course.

28 This activity is taking place in Niger during the following quarter.

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2.4.2. Access to Finance Facilitation Activities

Activity 4.2: Reinforce capacity of local service providers to offer Business Development Services (BDS)

a) 4.2.1 Execute capacity-building programs for BDS providers Recruitment of a firm to train BDS in GERME29 In Burkina Faso, during the second year of project implementation, REGIS-AG developed a diagnosis of all BDS in the project area. The weaknesses identified centered on the need for a capacity building plan for these BDS. For its operationalization, the project team developed terms of reference for recruit a firm to train BDS in GERME. As part of the recruitment of this firm, a limited consultation was organized by SNV with the beneficiaries during the month of February 2017. Two offers were proposed by various tenderers. A three-person counting committee has been set up to analyze the offers received. The criteria that were evaluated included: • Methodology, • Timetable for carrying out the activities, • Quality and experience of the experts to conduct the study and, • The financial offer. Each committee member evaluated each criterion based on the previously established scale. An average was calculated and attributed to each bidder by the committee. Based on these averages, the Commission selected the offer from the Africa Impact firm as they provided the best technical and financial offer. After notifying Africa Impact that they won the bid for BDS training, the firm established a timetable for the operationalization of training starting in April 2017.

Training twelve (12) members from BDS Providers in Niger on the value chain approach, business plan development techniques, and farm business creation and management In order to facilitate access to financial services through rural and agricultural loans granted with the assistance of the US Government's DCA and to ensure better performance in the services provided to value chain operators (small ruminants, poultry and cowpeas) REGIS-AG supports and strengthens BDS technical and analytical skills in the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of business plans and business plans financed with the assistance of the DCA. In fact, by 2015, the project had made an inventory of local organizations that could provide business development services and support in the execution of certain activities, as well as the assessment of financing needs. To this end, 23 organizations have been identified and selected in Niger. Seventeen (17) of these organizations benefited from project training following the identification of their capacity building needs. These needs were summarized in a skills development plan developed in March 2016.

This system was completed during Q2 FY17 by training the other 12 BDS, including 5 women in a training session held in Tillabéri from March 12 - 20, 2017. This training allowed 12 members from 6

29 Gérer Mieux son Entreprise (or Managing your Business Better).

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BDS Providers from the regions of Zinder (1), Maradi (3) and Tillabéri (2) to be trained in the following areas: • Tools and value chain / supply chain approach, • Creative approaches and principles and, • The structuring and management of agricultural enterprises and centers of economic competitiveness.

During this training session, the following main themes were developed: • Steps for facilitating the value chain, the use of tools, and the chain approach; • Procedures to be followed in the creation, organization and structuring of rural agricultural enterprises in accordance with the OHADA uniform act (in terms of tax legislation applicable to GIEs / Cooperatives, ECOWAS trade rules, Customs legislation applicable to the products of value chains promoted by REGIS-AG); • Management elements relating to small agricultural enterprises and agricultural social enterprises which are: simplified accounting, marketing approach, procurement, cost calculation and stock management; • Necessary rules for group dynamics and good governance for social and business enterprises.

At the end of this training, the project followed up to verify knowledge acquired, the effectiveness of the training by the BDS Providers, and to determine the number of households affected. A second BDS training session will focus on the development of business plans and will take place from April 11 to 21, 2017 in Zinder.

Activity 4.4: Collaborate with DCA program to link potential value chain actors to MFIs and bank

a) Sub activity 4.4.3. Provide technical Assistance to Financial Institutions

Training commercial bank and MFI agents As part of activity implementation for component 4 of REGIS-AG, the project organized two 5-day training sessions in Niger and Burkina Faso for loan officers of commercial banks and MFIs who may collaborate with REGIS-AG. The list of financial institutions who participated in this training and the number of their participants is presented in Table 10. These training sessions focused on the following theme: "Agricultural value chain approach and credit risk analysis of small ruminant, poultry and cowpea value chains". The objective of this training was to train these agents on the analysis of the financial risks of loans to the actors of the small ruminants, poultry and cowpea value chains.

This training session was moderated mainly by the project consultant Owen Graham, who was approved by USAID. He was supported by the Component 4 Lead.

In Niger, the training session took place in Maradi from January 23 – 27, 2017 and brought together 21 participants representing seven (7) banks and microfinance institutions from Tillabéri, Maradi and Zinder. The meeting was held in Burkina Faso from January 31 to February 4, 2017 in Ouagadougou and

45 brought together 20 participants from eight (8) financial institutions from the project's intervention regions. The following table gives the breakdown by category of participants.

Table 10: List of financial institutions who participated in the training and number of their participants Category of Training in Niger Training in Burkina Faso participants Institution # participants Institution # participants ECOBANK 2 ECOBANK 5 Bank BAGRI 4 RCPB 5 ASUSU 5 MECAP 3 KOKARI 4 GRAINE SA 2 MECAT 2 TIN TUA 1 Micro finance YARDA ZINDER 1 FIMBA 1 YARDA TARKA MAGIA 2 COOPEC GALOR 2 MEC AMANA 1 MEC GULMU 1 Total 21 20

The lists of participants from both trainings are presented in Annex 7. Participating institutions clearly viewed these trainings as valuable and important as demonstrated by the quality of the staff they sent. Participants included bank managers and MFIs such as the Director of Operations and Credits, agricultural portfolio managers, heads of agencies and operational executives such as loan officers.

At the end of these training sessions, bank agents and MFIs were better equipped to develop products linked to the cowpea, small ruminant and poultry value chains as well as a plan for monitoring these credits. Their capacities have been reinforced in the following areas:

• Principles of the farm value chain approach, models and importance for financiers; • Risk analysis of cowpea, small ruminant and poultry value chains; • Financial analysis linked to the credits of actors in the cowpea, small ruminant and poultry value chains; • Development of products linked to cowpea, small ruminant and poultry value chains; • Organization of a credit monitoring plan linked to cowpea, small ruminant and poultry value chains.

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2.5. Component 5: Improve the Enabling Environment for Local and Regional Private Investment

REGIS-AG Component 5 focuses on improving the enabling environment for investing in inputs, equipment, storage, and processing in a way that enables upgrading in the targeted value chains in Burkina Faso and Niger. The project is expected to achieve this result through coordination and linkages with relevant projects (REGIS-ER, DFAP and Trade Hub) and by strengthening the advocacy capacity of associations and farmers’ organizations representing the private sector actors throughout the three project’s value chains. Activities carried out by REGIS-AG under this component have focused on raising awareness among stakeholders on laws governing private investments in land and agriculture, promoting an inclusive management livestock markets, facilitating women’s access to land and services, and coordinating with the USAID-funded Trade Hub to address regional constraints to trade.

During Q2FY17, activities carried out in Niger focused (i) disseminating legal texts governing private sector investments in land and agriculture in Niger, (ii) developing an approach for structuring stakeholders in the poultry value chain in Niger, (iii) developing an approach for setting up regional unions of poultry traders, and (iv) signing of 5 new MoU with Communes to reform the management of their livestock market. In Burkina Faso, the project focused on (i) sensitizing value chain actors on legal governing Economic Interest Groups (GIE) and (ii) identifying 3 new livestock markets. In addition, in both countries, the project also assessed three platforms for value chain development advocacy. Finally, the project held a meeting with Trade Hub on constraints to cross-border transportation and trade of agricultural products. At the end of the meeting, the two projects agreed on collaborative interventions.

Activity 5.1: Capacity Building for Value Chain Actors on Policy and Advocacy

a) Sub activity 5.1.1: Develop materials and sensitize beneficiaries on the relevant laws identified by the Laws on studies that govern private investment in land and Agriculture

Dissemination of legal texts governing private sector investments in land and agriculture in Niger The objective of this activity is to contribute to improving the level of implementation of legal texts governing private investments in land and agriculture. In Niger, during FY16, REGIS-AG carried out a study that identified seven laws30 that govern private investments in land and agriculture in the country. These were then synthesized and translated into local languages (Hausa and Zarma) by the project. During the reporting period, these syntheses were shared with the representatives of 103 POs in the Maradi and Zinder regions. The distribution effort will continue in April 2017 in the Tillabéri region. Subsequently, with REGIS-AG support, each of the POs developed a plan to implement relevant parts of these

30 These are: Ordinance No. 93-015 of 2 March 1993 laying down the guiding principles of the Rural Code, the Decree No. 97-367 / PRN / MAG / EL October 02 1997 establishing the conditions for entering land rights in rural file; Law No. 61-37 of November 24th 1961 regulating the eminent domain and the temporary occupation amended and supplemented by Law 2008-037 of July 10th 2008; the Decree No. 2009-224/MPR/MU/H of August 12th 2009 laying down the rules for implementing the specific provisions of Law No. 61-37 of November 24th 1961 regulating the eminent domain and temporary occupation amended and supplemented by law No. 2008-37 of July 10th 2008 concerning the involuntary displacement and resettlement; the Decree No. 97-006/PRN/MAG/E of January 10th 1997 regulating the development of rural natural resources; the Law No. 2014-09 of April 16th, 2014 on the code of private investment in the Republic of Niger; the Decree No. 2014-502/PRN/MM/DI of July 31th, 2014 laying down detailed rules of application of Law No. 2014-09 of April 16th, 2014 on the code of investments in the Republic of Niger.

47 instruments, especially getting a land acquisition document and applying assisted natural regeneration31. Implementation of these plans is being monitored by REGIS-AG regional coordinators. In Burkina Faso, unlike in Niger, the project worked with the directorate responsible for managing the translation of such documents in Q2FY17 and translated four legal instruments32. These will be distributed to POs in Q3FY17 to encourage their application.

Sensitization of value chain actors on legal governing Economic Interest Groups (GIE) in Burkina Faso During the reporting period, three (3) workshops were planned to be held in Kaya, Dori, and Fada in Burkina Faso to sensitize value chain actors on four (04) legal instruments33 governing private investment in land and agriculture and well as those pertaining to GIE. These workshops are expected to gather representatives of 440 POs from the cowpea, small ruminants and poultry value chains. Draft TDRs have been developed and participants have been identified. The workshops will be held in Q3FY17.

b) Sub activity 5.1.2: Evaluation of existing platforms and Inter-professions Assessment of three platforms for value chain development advocacy in Burkina Faso and in Niger The overall objective of this activity is to identify three (3) active platforms in Niger and three (3) others in Burkina Faso on cowpea, small ruminant and poultry value chains to be used for advocacy activities focused fostering the development of these value chains. The assessment will focus determining their motivation and adequacy agenda and ability to carry out their mission. During the reporting period, the project interventions on this activity were limited to carrying out an inventory of existing platforms and drafting of the TDRs. The assessment will be conducted in Q3FY17.

Activity 5.2: Improve administrative and financial management for inter-professional groups and other platforms

a) Sub activity 5.2.1: Improve administrative and financial management for inter- professional groups and other platforms The value chains analyses REGIS-AG carried out during the project inception period in 2015 highlighted constrains to value chain development that are related to weaknesses in governance within organizations operating in the target value chains in the project intervention zones. This finding was confirmed in April 2016 by the analysis of data collected when developing REGIS-AG strategy for mainstreaming governance in project interventions. To improve the level of understanding of the concept of good governance within the project beneficiary POs and the 9 livestock markets targeted for market reform in Niger, REGIS-AG organized a training activity for 43 trainers selected from these POs and General Secretaries of livestock

31 RNA is an agroforestry approach that aims to stimulate or stimulate the natural regeneration of multi-purpose woody species and / or their development and integration into agricultural space (field) so that they can increase Total yield of this area (IUCN, 2009). 32 These texts are: the Law No 34/2009 on / AN regime on rural land in Burkina Faso; Investment Code (Law No. 62/95 / ADP of December 14th amended Law No. 07-2010 of January 29th , 2010; Uniform Act of OHADA on cooperatives; and act to agrarian and land reorganization (RAF). 33 These are the following: (i) Act No. 034-2009 / AN of 16 June 2009 on rural land tenure; (ii) Uniform Act Relating to Cooperative Societies (AUSC); (iii) Law n° 62/95 / ADP of 14 December 1995 on the Investment Code; and (iv) Law n° 034-2002 / AN of November 14, 2002 on pastoralism.

48 market GIEs in Maradi (23 to 25 March) and for 53 in Zinder (28 to 30 March). This training will continue in April in Tillabéri and in Burkina Faso in Q3FY17. The training focused on the following topics: • Improving their understanding of : − The values and principles of an organization as well as key governance concepts, − The different governance bodies within an organization and their roles and responsibilities, and the rights and duties of members − The importance of record keeping and archiving − The importance of giving feedbacks on and monitoring activities • Sharing information on : − the farmers' organizations currently operating in the target value chain actors, key elements of their statutes and by-laws, and experiences of their governance practices, as well as lessons learned; − Some tools for implementing good governance within an organization. • Strengthening their capacity in : − Developing an action plan to achieve the organization’s objectives, − Writing the minutes of a PO meeting or an activity report, − Conducting or managing a meeting, − Decision making process within an organization, − Giving feedbacks on and monitoring activities using tools for good governance, − Record keeping and archiving

These trainers are expected to replicate the training received in their respective organizations in May 2017 and then ensure that the actions recommended are effectively implemented by the PO. The project Value Chain Coordinators will be monitoring implementation and an assessment of the training outcomes will be carried out by the project governance specialist and the MEL team.

Activity 5.3 Organize multi-stakeholder workshops

a) Sub activity 5.3.1: Develop and share a VC Poultry structuring approach with key stakeholders (DGPIA, REGIS-ER, DFAP, PPAO, etc.)

Developing an approach for structuring stakeholders in the poultry value chain in Niger In FY16, under Component 2, the project planned to support the development of an action plan for strengthening the apex organization of poultry value chain actors in Niger. But, when the project set out to identify existing Interprofessions under Component 5, the survey carried revealed that there is no recognized interprofessional organization in the poultry value chain in the project intervention areas in Niger; Rather, there is an informal regional platform for the urban community of Niamey.

The non-existence of such an organization prompted REGIS-AG interest in facilitating its emergence, notably for facilitating horizontal and vertical coordination, but also for operating as a platform advocating for a favorable institutional environment for the production, processing, and marketing of products and by- products from the poultry value chain. As a result, in FY17, REGIS-AG envisaged supporting (in conjunction with the REGIS-ER, DFAP and PPAO projects) the structuring of poultry value chain actors I professional and interprofessional organizations. More specifically, the project envisaged facilitating the setting of 9 professional regional unions, 3 regional interprofessional platform (on in each region), 3 49 national professional associations and one national interprofessional organization. Setting up these organizations involves:

• Drafting of a road map with key stakeholders such as DGPIA, REGIS-ER, DFAP, PPAO, etc. ; • Carrying out a survey to map out the organized groups in the poultry value chain and grouping them by type or their position in the value chain; • Organizing awareness-raising sessions on the challenges of professional and interprofessional organizations to enable stakeholders to understand the medium and long term expectations; • Facilitating the setting of these organizations with mandates built on the principle of subsidiarity which holds that nothing should be done by a larger and more complex organization which can be done as well by a smaller and simpler organization.

During the reporting period, the project drafted a working document that will be used in a workshop scheduled to be held in April 2017 with poultry value chain stakeholders (Projects, technical services, and apex organizations such as RECA) to develop a consensus on the procedures and the various level of structuring or organization that are needed in the poultry value chain.

Developing an approach for setting up regional unions of poultry traders in Niger During the reporting period, the project also developed an approach for setting regional unions of poultry traders. A workshop was scheduled for March 2017 for poultry traders and institutional stakeholders to validate the approach and thereby on the process for achieving the expected result of regional unions of poultry traders. The workshop was postponed to April due to conflicting schedules of the participants targeted.

Activity 5.4: Identify pilot markets in Niger and Burkina Faso a) Sub activity 5.4.3 Negotiate agreements with 6 municipalities in focal areas in Niger and 1 in Burkina Faso to establish co-management of markets Signing of 5 new MoU with Communes in Niger and identifying 3 new livestock markets in Burkina Faso The value chains and ends markets analyses REGIS-AG conducted in 2015 showed that livestock markets in the project intervention areas were poorly organized. This finding was confirmed by the results of the project’s evaluation of 27 livestock markets (23 in Niger and 4 in Burkina Faso) carried out in Q1FY16 with the objective to organize a fact-based support to reform their management.

During FY16, the project selected 13 livestock markets to work with (9 in Niger and 4 in Burkina Faso) based clearly defined criteria34. After selecting the markets, the project team engaged the municipality governing those markets to help them revitalize their management and performance. This led to the signing of nine (09) 2-year MoU in Niger35 and 4 in Burkina Faso36, demonstrating the municipality’s commitments to implement activities that can revitalize the livestock markets. Activities envisaged include

34 These are the following: the number of small ruminant heads, the level of revenue per municipality, the level of commitment of the municipality through its executive body, the level of market governance, and the level of actors’ commitment to accepting reforms of their livestock market management. 35 Three in Tillabéri (Balleyara, Filingué, and Torodi), three in Maradi (Dakoro, Mayahi, and Sabon Machi), and three in Zinder (Gada, Magaria, and Kwaya). 36 These are the four markets listed in Table 35 (Dori, Manni, Pissila, and Seytenga).

50 setting inclusive and more effective market management committees, supporting actors into transforming their committee into economic interest groups (GIE), supporting the development of a market management manual, and training on domestic and foreign trade.

In Q1FY17, REGIS-AG Component 5 continues to support new livestock markets. Five (5) protocols with new selected communes with livestock markets in Niger were drafted for to the Communes of Mirria, Yaouri, Matamèye, Guidan Roumdji, and Chadoua. The MoUs are currently being amended. It is expected that these protocols will be finalized and signed in April 2017.

In Burkina, three (3) new markets in the Eastern Region were also identified. These are: • Kibaaré in Bilanga commune, • Haaba in Bartiebougou commune, • Tankoualou in Foutouri commune

TORs for assessing the viability of these markets were developed for implementation in Q3FY17.

b) Sub activity 5.4.4: Support establishing, organizing, and training market management committees Facilitating the transformation POs into GIE in Niger After training of the nine (9) GIE in livestock, the team, through the representatives of the Regional Trade Departments for Promotion and Private Sector (DRC/PSP,) continued to support the process of official recognition of these GIEs. As a result, on January 25 six (6) co-management agreements were signed from Sabon Machi, Mayahi, Dakoro, Kwaya, Gada, and Balleyara. In addition, three (3) GIE were fully registered, with six (6) others in the agreement process. Tax authorities reported a clear increase of tax revenues in the Dakoro, Sabon Machi, Gada, Balleyara, Kwaya livestock markets. Another report indicated a marked improvement in sanitation in Gada.

Suivi des GIE mis en place au Burkina Faso et au Niger Thirteen (13) GIEs of livestock markets were set-up and trained in 2016. Regular monitoring of these GIEs revealed significant changes in their management. The changes are significant enough that they warrant being highlighted. Consequently, the REGIS-AG project team worked with the project communicator to document the changes as a success stories publication. A draft success stories issue was developed and is currently being finalized for publication in April 2017.

Activity 5.6: Coordinate with the Trade Hub on regional trade issues

a) Sub activity 5.6.1: Coordinate with the Trade Hub on regional trade issues and on collaboration with regional inter-professional associations; participate in regional meetings From January 10 to 21, representatives of the REGIS-AG and the Trade Hub projects met in Ouagadougou to discuss possible areas of collaboration. The discussion focused on constraints to cross-border transportation and trade of agricultural products. In the end, the following collaborative interventions were agreed upon:

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• Linking private producers of one-day chicks who are beneficiaries of the Trade Hub project with REGIS-AG poultry farmers; • Linking Trade Hub fodder producers with REGIS-AG farmers and seed producers; • Offering business opportunities to the beneficiaries of the other project in each other’s B2B and fairs through information sharing and collaboration in event planning. • Linking REGIS-AG livestock markets GIEs (Filingué, Balleyara, Torodi au Niger, Seytenga, Diori, Mani, and Pissila in Burkina Faso) with Trade Hub livestock buyers; • Sharing information on key workshops organize to give the opportunity to the other project to explore the possibility of participating. This is for example for a workshop Trade Hub is planning to organize to review the international texts for trade promotion, to identify ways of getting countries to recognize the different certificates; • Working with Borderless Alliance37 to expand the setting up of its border information posts in key trade corridors to reduce harassments; • Updating and expanding the production and distribution of Trade Hub’s fact sheets on documents required in cross-border transportation and trade of agricultural products.

In addition, the REGIS-AG team participated in a tripartite Trade Hub meeting involving CILSS and COFENABVI-AO to share information on CILSS’ advocacy-focused intervention. This meeting provided an opportunity for the REGIS-AG team to gather more information on the platform COFENABVI-AO initiated with Trade Hub support.

37 Borderless Alliance represents a private sector-led coalition to increase trade by eliminating barriers to trade and transport in West Africa and foster regional integration using evidence-based advocacy. It provides an independent, sub-regional platform for leading producers, traders, transporters and financiers to propose and advocate for systemic and practical improvements to the movement of goods, transport, capital and services across West Africa. Through evidence-based advocacy activities that leverage data collected from its many partners, the Alliance provides a vehicle for the private sector to voice its concerns, collaborate with decision makers on finding solutions to common problems, and encourage decision makers to take corrective action. This advocacy work allows the BA to improve trade facilitation by resolving bottlenecks, increasing trade flows and reducing their costs throughout West Africa. The BA helps to monitor corridors in eight countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo.

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PART 3 - PROJECT PERFORMANCE - Level of Achievements in Q2FY17, Expected Outcomes and Performance Indicators

Activities carried out as part of the monitoring and evaluation of project performance during Q2FY17 can be grouped into three broad categories: MEL system strengthening interventions, activity implementation monitoring and evaluation interventions, and data collection interventions for the main project indicators.

3.1. Strengthening of the M&EL system 3.1.1. Staff training on the MEL system Following the recommendations of data quality assessment (DQA) SAREL carried out in November 2016 and the internal project consultancy undertaken in December 2016 and January 2017 after USAID approval, REGIS-AG organized a training of its technical staff on the monitoring and evaluation system with a focus on the project indicators and the data collection tools that were amended with the assistance of the consultant. This training took place during the months of January and February 2017 in two sessions, one in Dori for the Burkina Faso staff and another one in Maradi for those in Niger. These two sessions gathered 15 staff (13 men and 2 women) from the Burkina Faso team and 27 (22 men and 5 women) from the Niger team.

3.1.2. Recruiting additional staff for project monitoring and evaluations In March 2017, following USAID approval, recruitment was initiated in Burkina Faso and in Niger to supplement the staff shortfall of the project's monitoring and evaluation team by adding three MEL Assistants in Burkina Faso (Ouagadougou, Dori, and Fada N'gourma) and three in Niger (in Maradi, Tillabéri, and Zinder).

In Burkina Faso, three candidates have already been selected and the contracting process is underway. These staff will be able to join the team in May 2017.

In Niger, the recruitment process of the three Assistants is at the candidate pre-selection stage and will also be completed during the month of May.

3.2. Activity implementation monitoring and evaluation During Q2FY17, the project's activity implementation monitoring and evaluation consisted of (a) monitoring the implementation of planned activities, (b) conducting a survey to determine the effects of fairs and business-to-business (B2B) events organized in FY16 and FY17, and (c) completing the baseline survey instruments.

3.2.1. Activity implementation monitoring Monitoring the implementation of planned activities during this quarter was limited due to the staff shortfall which reduced the MEL team to one MEL Specialist. As result, the MEL Specialist was only able to supervise one training activity (training of trainers for agrodealers in Burkina Faso) because he had to support the DQA and the consultancy that was commission to improve the MEL system and thereafter follow up on their recommendations. During this trip, he filled out the relevant data collection sheets and 53 was able to better understand the difficulties involved in completing them. Correctives measures are being taken to improve their usability.

3.2.2. Assessment of the outcomes of fairs and B2B events held in FY15 and FY16 Every year, REGIS-AG facilitates the participation of its beneficiaries in a number of fairs (national and international) and B2B events. In addition to the direct sales they beneficiaries make during these events, they generally establish business relationships with potential buyers and these can materialize in actual transactions after the event. It is therefore imperative for the project to monitor progress in these negotiations in order to measure the outcome of its facilitation. To this end, during Q2FY17, the project initiated a survey aimed at (i) inquiring about the outcome of the negotiations initiated at the fairs and B2B meetings organized in the previous FY, and (ii) determining the effects of sales during and after these important project activities in the lives of beneficiaries. Specifically, this involved: • Verifying that participants were able to have at least a formal agreement to sell their products with some of the contacts established during the fairs or B2B meetings organized during the second year of project implementation; • Determining the quantity of cowpea and the number of small ruminants and poultry producers sold after the events and that are attributable to their participation in the fairs and workshops, as well as the additional revenues obtained from these transactions and their uses; • Measuring the quantity of inputs (including seeds) sold by the agrodealers as a result of their participation in fairs and B2B events; • Gathering suggestions for improving the organization of these events to ensure greater impact in terms of revenues and thereby improved resilience of beneficiaries to the various shocks.

The events under consideration are the following: • The small ruminants, poultry and cowpea fair held in the Central North region of Burkina Faso in December 2015; • The Maradi Kollya fair held in Maradi in December 2015; • The International Fair of Agriculture and Animal Resources (FIARA) held in Dakar in April 2016; • The SIBVAO held in September 2016 in Abidjan; • The handicraft fair held at the Wadata artisan village in Niamey; • The poultry fairs held in July 2016 in Maradi and Tillabéri; • The poultry fair held December 2015 in Burkina Faso; • The Tabaski Fair held in September 2016 in Maradi, Tillabéri, Zinder in Niger and in Kaya in the North Center; • The B2B meeting organized for cowpea actors in Dori and Kaya in October 2015 and in July 2016; • The B2B meeting for small ruminants actors held with IP/GE in May 2016 in Maradi; • The B2B meeting between agro-dealer producers, cowpea traders, processors and exporters carried out in August 2016 in Maradi, Tillabéri, and Zinder in Niger.

The completion of this survey will help to inform the indicator "0.1. Value (US $) of Incremental sales (collected at farm level) attributed to program implementation.”

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a) Elaboration de la méthodologie et des questionnaires d’enquête The survey was carried out in two stages. During the first stage, REGIS-AG's MEL Specialist developed during the month of February 2017 the methodological approach that was shared with the project consultant and the SAREL team in Burkina Faso. This consisted of a two-stage survey based on the participants in the fairs and B2B held in FY15 and FY16. At the first level, a fixed number of 40 villages are surveyed in each country. The number of villages per region is drawn in proportion to the number of villages whose FOs and enterprises have benefited from these fairs and connections. At the second level, POs of the three value chains or the enterprises operating in these value chains were sampled in proportion to the size of the POs and enterprises by region. Participating members of these POs and enterprises are retained for the administration of the questionnaires.

The second phase of the survey focused on the development of the four-module survey questionnaire focusing on sales of (i) cowpea, (ii) small ruminants, (iii) poultry, and (iv) agricultural inputs and animal feed.

b) Formation des enquêteurs et collectes des données In Burkina Faso, The training of enumerators took place in early March and involved 4 enumerators and 3 controllers. It consisted of an in-class training during which the questionnaire examined followed by a pre-test of the questionnaire; the pre-test made it possible to finalize the questions by integrating the observations made during the test phase. The field interview phase took place from March 15 to 23, 2017 in each of the three intervention regions of the project. A total of 89 POs and/or enterprises on a sampling frame of 530 were interviewed. The data collected in Burkina Faso were entered on the CSPro software and then transferred to SPSSS for data cleaning and analysis. A statistician was used for the data entry template and data analysis.

In Niger, Training and data collection will be carried out during the month of May 2017 and will involve about ten enumerators and controllers.

3.2.3. Baseline survey The baseline study was planned in the REGIS-AG Work Plan for FY16 for implementation after USAID approval of the M&E Plan in December 2015 to establish the reference values of the project indicators, and better specify the targets. REGIS-AG baseline study was initially focused on the following two indicators: • 01: Aggregated farm-level values of the sales (US $) of the cropping season for the 3 value chains (cowpeas, small ruminants and poultry) resulting from program implementation. • 0.2: Gross margins values (US $) per hectare (for cowpeas), animal (goat, sheep, chickens, guinea fowl, pigeons) or cage of selected products.

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As reported in the project annual report for FY16, REGIS-AG worked with SAREL for its planning. After a slow planning process38, field work is now scheduled to start in April of FY17 with the plan to report to USAID during Q3.

During Q2 of FY17, activities only focused on finalizing the draft survey instruments the consultant submitted. In addition to the aforementioned core indicators, discussion with the project COR led to the inclusion additional data collection effort that will contribute to: • 2.3 % of households in which a woman has benefited directly from ownership of personal fields, new ownership of small ruminants or poultry, or involvement in a savings/loan program; • 2.4 % of households engaged in a new income-generating micro-enterprise as a result of USG interventions ; • 2.5 # of new jobs attributed to USG implementation ; • 2.6 # of stakeholders implementing risk-reducing practices/actions to improve resilience to climate change as a result of USG assistance ; • 3.5 # of private enterprises, producer organizations, water user associations, trade and business associations, and community-based organizations (CBOs) that applied new technologies or management

Furthermore, additional data collection effort will help to determine the following: • indicator of women empowerment (WEAI); • Net income from the value chains sales.

3.3. Status of achievement of performance indicators at Q1 in FY17 REGIS-AG Monitoring and Evaluation Plan includes a list of 36 indicators used to measure and report project progress and impact. All indicators used are designated as either Feed the Future (FtF) indicators (18) or custom indicators (18) developed especially for the REGIS-AG project. Twenty-two (22) of these indicators are Output (OP) indicators while 14 are Impact/Outcome (I/O) indicators. Project performance on these indicators is presented in Table 11 below with justifications and observations.

38 The slowness of the process was due to the instability experienced at the project leadership level. The amended ToR was the submitted to SAREL for approval. On 21 April, a call for financial and technical proposals to carry out the survey was published in the local newspapers in Niger and Burkina. Subsequently, during a business trip in Niamey, of M & E Specialist USAID Senegal held a meeting on 19 May with the team at the REGIS-AG office during which the ToR was reviewed again. REGIS-AG proposed additional inclusions in October 2016 that were integrated and reviewed with the COR guidance in January and February 2017.

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Table 11: Project performance and progress towards achieving project performance results

Target achieved Target Target achieved to Unit/ LOP Target Q2 FY17 Indicator achieved date (FY15-17) Justifications and observations Disaggregation Target FY17 (03/31/2017) FY15-16 Unit Rate (%) Unit Rate (%) 0.1 Value (US $) of US $ by country: This is partly dependent on the baseline Incremental sales − Total $4.21mil $0 $ 400,000 $0 0% $0 0% survey which is now being carried out. (collected at farm − Niger Values of sales are recorded in specific level) attributed to − Burkina Faso activities. Planning for the survey for program determining values of sales throughout implementation US $ by VC the target beneficiaries started in − Cowpea Q2FY17 and it will be carried out in − S. ruminants Q3FY17. The data will be reported in the − Poultry Q3FY17 report.

US $ by Sex: − Men − Women 0.2a Gross margins US $ by country: Planning for the survey for determining (US $) per hectare − Total $1,024 $0 $ 512 $0 0¨% $0 0% this started in Q2FY17 and it will be (for cowpeas) − Niger carried out in Q3FY17. The data will be − Burkina Faso reported in the Q3FY17 report. It was US $ by Sex: not done in FY16 due to the limitation of − Men the MEL system and project leadership instability throughout the first part of the − Women year. 0.2b Gross margins US $ by country: Same as above (US $ per adult − Total $17.00 $0 $ 12 $0 0% $0 0% animal) for small − Niger ruminants (goat and − Burkina Faso US $ by animal: sheep) − Goat − Sheep US $ by Sex:

− Men − Women 0.2c Gross margins US $ by country: Same as above. (US $) for poultry − Total $3.40 $0 $ 2.00 $0 0% $0 0% − Niger

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Target achieved Target achieved to Target Q2 FY17 Unit/ LOP Target Indicator achieved date (FY15-17) Justifications and observations Disaggregation Target FY17 (03/31/2017) FY15-16 Unit Rate (%) Unit Rate (%) (chickens and guinea − Burkina Faso fowl) US $ by poultry:

− chicken − guinea fowl US $ by Sex:

− male − female 2.1 # of Food security # by country: Àt the end of Q2FY17, 56 new private enterprises, − Total 600 616 90 150 166% 672 112% organizations received the project producer, water user − Niger 41 assistance. The remaining 94 reported as or community based − Burkina Faso 109 achieved in Q2FY17 are all old # by VC: organizations, organizations that had already received women's groups, − Cowpea the project assistance FY16. trade and business − S. ruminants associations receiving − Poultry USG-funded # by type of org.: assistance − POs 2.2 # of vulnerable # by country: During Q2FY 17, 437 new households households benefiting − Total 50,525 24,095 11,365 2,104 18% 24,532 49% benefitted from project intervention (234 directly from USG − Niger 768 in Niger and 203 in Burkina Faso). The interventions − Burkina Faso 1,336 remaining 1,667 reported as achieved in Q2FY17 are all old households that had already received the project assistance FY16. 2.3 % of households in % by country: Planning for the survey for determining which a woman has − Total 25% 3% 18% 0% 0% 3% 12% this started in Q2FY17 and it will be benefited directly − Niger carried out in Q3FY17. The data will be from ownership of − Burkina Faso reported in the Q3FY17 report. % by VC: personal fields, new ownership of small − Cowpea ruminants or poultry, − S. ruminants or involvement in a − Poultry savings/loan program 2.4 % of households % by country: Same as above engaged in a new − Total 40% 0 25% 0 0% 0 0% − Niger

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Target achieved Target achieved to Target Q2 FY17 Unit/ LOP Target Indicator achieved date (FY15-17) Justifications and observations Disaggregation Target FY17 (03/31/2017) FY15-16 Unit Rate (%) Unit Rate (%) income-generating − Burkina Faso micro-enterprise as a result of USG interventions 2.5 # of new jobs # by country: Same as above attributed to USG − Total 2,920 166 360 0 0% 166 6%

implementation* − Niger 99 0 99 − Burkina Faso 67 0 67 # by VC: − Cowpea − S. ruminants − Poultry # by Sex: − Male − Female 2.6 # of stakeholders # by country : Same as above implementing risk- − Total 19,840 1,347 3,680 0 0% 1,347 7% reducing − Niger 0 practices/actions to − Burkina Faso 0 improve resilience to # by Sex: climate change as a − Male result of USG − Female assistance 2.7 # of market # by country : 4 fairs were organized during this quarter exchanges (bourses) − Total 95 21 13 6 38% 27 28% in Niger: the cowpea fairs organized in and fairs linking sellers − Niger 15 5 20 the three regions, and the support to a and buyers − Burkina Faso 6 3 1 7 cowpea processing PO for participation # by VC: in the SAHEL fair held in Niamey. − Cowpea − S ruminants − Poultry 2.8 # of women’s # by country : The process of transforming POs in GIEs groups transformed − Total 40 0 5 0 0% 0 0% is still going on. The draft strategy into GIEs − Niger document for achieving the expected − Burkina Faso results was validated during this quarter. # by VC:

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Target achieved Target achieved to Target Q2 FY17 Unit/ LOP Target Indicator achieved date (FY15-17) Justifications and observations Disaggregation Target FY17 (03/31/2017) FY15-16 Unit Rate (%) Unit Rate (%) − Cowpea Implementation will start in Q3FY17. − S ruminants − Poultry 3.1 metric cube (#) of Metric meters By Increase in installed country, VC, & 85,000 - 10,000 0 - - - storage capacity (m3) Sex 3.2 # of Farmers who # by country : Planning for the survey for determining have adopted new − Total 48,550 1,347 13,767 0 0% 1,347 3% this started in Q2FY17 and it will be technologies or − Niger 0 carried out in Q3FY17. The data will be management − Burkina Faso 0 reported in the Q3FY17 report. practices as a result of # by Sex:

USG assistance − Male − Female 3.3 # of agro-dealers # by country : The agro dealers under consideration trained in business − Total 250 0 90 112 124% 112 45% here are in Burkina Faso. management and − Niger 0 technical skills − Burkina Faso 112 # by Sex:

− Male − Female 3.4 # of private # by country : Two new SVPPs were identified in the veterinarian outreach − Total 7 6 2 2 100% 8 114% Burkina Faso with two private services (SVPPs) − Niger 0 veterinarians to be associated with 40 created − Burkina Faso 2 AEs that have already been identified.

3.5 # of private # by country : Planning for the survey for determining enterprises, producer − Total 480 59 72 0 0% 59 12% this started in Q2FY17 and it will be organizations, water − Niger 0 carried out in Q3FY17. The data will be user associations, − Burkina Faso 0 reported in the Q3FY17 report. # by Sex: trade and business associations, and − Male community-based − Female # by VC: organizations (CBOs) that applied new − Cowpea − S ruminants 60

Target achieved Target achieved to Target Q2 FY17 Unit/ LOP Target Indicator achieved date (FY15-17) Justifications and observations Disaggregation Target FY17 (03/31/2017) FY15-16 Unit Rate (%) Unit Rate (%) technologies or − Poultry management # by type of ent.: practices as a result of − POs USG assistance

3.6 # of private # by country : These 115 cowpea POs benefitted from enterprises, producer − Total 600 616 90 115 128% 631 122% project assistance and credit from the organizations, water − Niger 32 MFIs for the implementation of user associations, − Burkina Faso 83 warrantage. trade and business associations, and community-based organizations (CBOs) receiving USG assistance 4.1 Value(US $) of US$ by country : As indicated in the FY16 annual report, new private sector − Total $250,000 $0 $75,000 $0 0% $0 0% no major investment was made but good investment in the − Niger opportunity are being developed such as agricultural sector or − Burkina Faso poultry feed production with local US $ by VC: value chain leveraged resources (limited scale, tested), by project − Cowpea investments in PICS bags, glass boxes for implementation − S ruminants selling meat glass cage for sales of meat under reasonable hygienic conditions, solar power for conservation of perishable products, or Kilichi in Burkina Faso. New potential private sectors − Poultry investments were identified during the previous quarter among cowpea processors and meat roasters. None of these have reached the stage of actual investment yet. 4.2 Value (US $) of US$ by country: This is attributable to the warrantage agriculture and rural − Total $6.021 M $0 $1,602,500 $62116 4% $62116 1% schemes that were set up. Unfortunately, loans made by USG − Niger $28649 much of the grains were sold out before assisted financial − Burkina Faso $33466 credit disbursement ($170,435 in Burkina institution and $12,716 in Niger) because farmers

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Target achieved Target achieved to Target Q2 FY17 Unit/ LOP Target Indicator achieved date (FY15-17) Justifications and observations Disaggregation Target FY17 (03/31/2017) FY15-16 Unit Rate (%) Unit Rate (%) had good opportunities (ex.: WFP purchases) to sell and could not ignore them. In addition, during the process, many PO sold their stock without informing the project due to urgent needs and late planning of the warrantage. The next round of warrantage will start much earlier which is likely to mobilize a much higher amount of loans disbursed. 4.3 # of new and/or # by country: No new and/or innovative services and innovative services − Total 12 1 2 0 0% 1 8% technologies were made available to VC (including insurance) − Niger actors as a result of the project during and technologies − Burkina Faso Q1. However, there a number of available to VC actors planned activities that will generate the as a result of USG data that will allow the project to meet assistance the target set for FY17. This is case for example for the study that will lead to piloting insurance products and the support that will be provided to financial institutions to develop innovative products. 4.4 Number of # by country: Same as in indicator 3.6. MSMEs, including − Total 1,540 0 412 950 230% 950 62% farmers, receiving − Niger 466 USG assistance to − Burkina Faso 484 access loans 4.5 # of Strategic # by country: Services Sub-awards − Total 20 0 6 0 0% 0 0% awarded − Niger − Burkina Faso 4.6 # of business plans # by country: No assistance was provided for business developed with USG − Total 280 0 60 0 0% 0 0% plans development during Q1. However, assistance − Niger with the roll out envisages for service − Burkina Faso provision through the 3S Fund and the needs assessment carried out in FY16,

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Target achieved Target achieved to Target Q2 FY17 Unit/ LOP Target Indicator achieved date (FY15-17) Justifications and observations Disaggregation Target FY17 (03/31/2017) FY15-16 Unit Rate (%) Unit Rate (%) the project believes that this target will be met by the end of FY17. 4.7 # of MSMEs, # by country: During this quarter, members of cowpea including farmers, − Total 2,439 1,394 569 362 64% 1,756 72% POs, BDS and agro dealers benefited receiving business − Niger 226 from multiple support to improve their development services − Burkina Faso 136 capacities in marketing of their products. from USG assisted Representatives of MFIs were also services trained for their support in the warrantage credit. 4.8 # of public-private # by country: No public-private partnerships formed partnerships formed − Total 6 0 2 0 0% 0 0% during Q1. However, this target is likely as a result of FtF − Niger to be achieved in subsequent quarters at assistance − Burkina Faso least through the project activity focusing on improving livestock market managements. # by country: 5.1 # of laws or 10 0 2 2 100% 2 20% No law or regulatory action was regulatory actions − Total advocated by associations of value chain advocated by − Niger actors during Q1. In their joint work associations of value − Burkina Faso plan, REGIS-AG and Trade Hub have chain actors (e.g., envisaged to work together to organize farmers, agro- advocacy activities as described in sub pastoralists, activity 5.6.3. cooperatives, traders, processor, exporter associations) and accepted by host government 5.2 # of multi- # by country: These are workshops that were stakeholder − Total 92 22 20 12 60% 34 36% organized to validate the draft report of workshops organized − Niger 10 the study carried out to transform Pos − Burkina Faso 2 2 into GIE or cooperatives 5.3 # of livestock # by country: REGIS-AG facilitated election and markets revitalized − Total 25 2 13 14 108% 16 64% installation of the livestock market through community − Niger 9 management committees in Dori and management − Burkina Faso 5 Pissila (sub activity 5.4.3). In addition, the

project supported the setting up of 9

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Target achieved Target achieved to Target Q2 FY17 Unit/ LOP Target Indicator achieved date (FY15-17) Justifications and observations Disaggregation Target FY17 (03/31/2017) FY15-16 Unit Rate (%) Unit Rate (%) livestock markets management committees as GIE in Niger (sub activity 5.4.3). Three other markets in Niger (Mayahii, Sabon-Machi and Dakoro) are in an advanced stage election and installation of the livestock market management committees. 5.4 # of trade # by country: No trade associations/profession group associations/profession − Total 8 0 2 0 0% 0 0% was supported with advocacy skills and groups supported with − Niger strategic plans during Q1. However, as advocacy skills and − Burkina Faso mention under indicator 5.1, REGIS-AG strategic plans and Trade Hub have envisaged to work

together to organize advocacy activities (sub activity 5.6.3). 5.5 # of quarterly # by country: Two project workshops were organized, learning meetings & − Total 18 4 4 2 50% 6 33% one in Maradi in Niger as escribed in project wide learning − Niger 1 bullet f of section 4.2 of the present summits − Burkina Faso report. Similar meetings are planned for 1 the remaining quarters.

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PART 4 - PROJECT MANAGEMENT Project management activities focused on ensuring adequate project staffing, meaningful reporting, effective communication, and adequate planning and monitoring. This part of the report summarizes activities REGIS-AG carried out in these areas during the reporting period.

4.1. Project staff During the reporting period, the project experienced numerous changes in staff composition. The most significant of the changes was the termination of the Senior Value Chain Advisor Charles Stathacos on March 24th due to unsatisfactory performance. Soon after CNFA decided to terminate his contract, CNFA Vice President of Programs who oversees the project from the home office communicated with the COR and made a special visit to Dakar to explain CNFA’s decision to the USAID Sahel Regional Office leadership. CNFA immediately set out to identify a replacement and a candidate was submitted to USAID for approval. At the time of submission, CNFA received approval for Mr. Steven Humphreysif approved, he is available to mobilize in mid May 2017.

Apart from the project Senior Value Chain Advisor position, as reported in the previous quarterly report (Q1FY17), nine (09) departing employees needed to be replaced in this quarter, five (05) in Burkina Faso39 and four (04) in Niger40. In addition, six (06) new positions for MEL Assistants to be posted in the project satellite offices in Burkina Faso and Niger as well as three new staff for a new satellite office in Fada were included in the project realigned budget CNFA submitted to USAID for approval. Administrative processes for filling the 9 vacant positions were initiated by the end of the previous quarter while the processes for hiring the nine (09) new positions were initiated in Q2FY17. Table 12 shows that three of the nine vacant positions were filled during the reporting period. In addition, Table 13 indicates that staff have been identified for the remaining vacant positions as well as the new positions, and they are expected to start in Q3FY17.

Table 12: REGIS-AG vacant positions filled during the reporting period Date Replacement Location Date started Position vacated staff name (Organization) Functional Literacy Q3FY16 Ousmane Dia Dori, Burkina Faso 3 November 2016 Coordinator (A2N) Small Ruminants VC Same as above Gambi Betodji Tillabéri, Niger 10 January 2017 Coordinator (AREN) BDS Innovator Advisor Q4FY16 Romaric Tarpaga Dori, Burkina Faso 20 March 2017 (SNV)

39 They are the late Administrative and Finance Assistant (Safiatou Kossongonona Boly) and four (04) other staff who had resigned (two Small Ruminants and Poultry VC Coordinator from AGED and A2N, a BDS Innovator Advisor, and a Functional Literacy Coordinator. 40 They are the Small Ruminants VC Coordinator, the Resilience/Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Specialist, the MEL Manager, and the Input & Service Market Advisor.

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Table 13: REGIS-AG approved positions and scheduled to be mobilized during the next reporting period Replacement Location Expected Position Date vacated Status (Organization) start date Administrative December 2016 Zenabou Ouagadougou, May 2017 Assistant (Staff deceased ) Samadoulougou Burkina Faso (CNFA) Small Ruminant VC Lead Vacant since Identified (Diessongo Ouagadougou, April 2017 project start Nayaba) & salary Burkina Faso approved by USAID (CNFA) on March 29 Poultry Value Chain New position Identified (Clement Fada, Burkina Faso April 2017 Specialist approved in the Sibiri Lompo) & salary (CNFA) 28 January 2017 approved by USAID contract on March 29 modification Administrative, Accounting, & Same as above Identified (Antoinette Fada, Burkina Faso April 2017 Logistics Assistant Tiendrebeogo) & (CNFA) salary approved by USAID on March 29 MEL Assistant Same as above Staff identified, hiring Fada, Burkina Faso May 2017 at contracting stage (CNFA) MEL Assistant Same as above Same as above Ouagadougou, May 2017 Burkina Faso (CNFA) MEL Assistant Same as above Same as above Dori, Burkina Faso May 2017 (CNFA) Small Ruminants and Poultry Q4FY16 Identified (Zakaria E. Dori, Burkina Faso April 2017 VC Coordinator Sanou) & approved by (A2N) CNFA on March 22 Small Ruminants and Poultry Q2FY16 Identified (Abdoulaye Dori, Burkina Faso May 2017 VC Coordinator Sanfo) & salary (AGED) approved by USAID on March 29 Input Supply Specialist December 2016 Identified (Yaou Niamey, Niger 18 April 2017 Salifou) & salary (CNFA) approved by USAID on March 29 MEL Specialist October 2016 Identified (Youssouf Niamey, Niger May 2017 Paul Diarra Tidjan) & CNFA salary approved by USAID on March 29. Resilience/Disaster Risk Q3FY16 Staff identified, hiring Niamey, Niger May 2017 Reduction (DRR) Specialist at contracting stage (CRS) Reduction MEL Assistant New position Shortlisted candidates Tillabéri, Niger May 2017 approved in the Interviews (CNFA) 28 January 2017 contract modification MEL Assistant Same as above Same as above Maradi, Niger May 2017 (CNFA) MEL Assistant Same as above Same as above Zinder, Niger May 2017 (CNFA) 66

Throughout the reporting period, the project staff count reported at the end of the previous quarter remained unchanged. By the end of Q2, project implementation was being carried out by a team of 74 staff distributed in the same six (06) as indicated in the Table 14 below. In three of the six project offices, REGIS-AG continued to co-locate with REGIS-ER.

Table 14: REGIS-AG staffing and geographic distribution

Number of staff Co-location Project offices Technical Admin & Finance Total with REGIS-ER In Burkina Faso: 23 6 29 - • Ouagadougou 7 4 11 Yes • Dori 16 2 18 No In Niger: 33 12 45 - • Niamey 15 9 24 No • Maradi 4 0 4 Yes • Tillabéri 5 0 5 Yes • Zinder 9 3 12 No

All project employees continued to be fully equipped and USAID approved the purchase of six (06) motorcycles for Niger and one (01) additional vehicle for Burkina Faso. The administrative procedures for acquiring this material has been initiated. They are expected to be available for use by the staff in early May 2017.

During the reporting period, staff mobility and the ability to do the field activity implementation and monitoring continued to be a challenge. It was evident to the project management team that the 15 Value Chain Coordinators (6 in Burkina Faso and 9 in Niger) who are the frontline technical staff working with the 686 POs the project targeted in the two countries (Annex 2) are not enough to provide adequate and necessary support to all project beneficiaries. As a result, the potential for significant project impact is reduced and data collection negative affected. This situation is likely to continue even when the additional motorcycles and vehicles will be acquired. To address this challenge and deepen project impact, the management team initiated a process to set up a network of project focal points or community liaison agents (ReCom41) identified within the beneficiary POs (one in each). Value chain coordinators will be linked with these ReCom to facilitate activity implementation within the PO while at the same time building capacity within the PO to continue interventions well after the end of the project. Each Value Chain Coordinator will have a number of ReCom representing the POs he/she works with. This cluster (a Value Chain Coordinator and his ReCom) will hold one-day meetings on a monthly basis to follow up on implemented activities and help address challenges that POs are facing. In addition, the Coordinator and each of his ReCom will communicate by phone for the implementation and/or supervision of activities. For example, the Coordinator can communicate to the PO members through the ReCom (by phone) that it is

41 Stands for Relais Communautaire in French.

67 time to vaccinate their poultry. The project is considering using data collection apps to strengthen the MEL system. For this, the management team invited specialists to present tools used by a number of projects in Niger to collect data using IT.

To deepen project impact, the project management team concluded that REGIS-AG needed to be a little more proactive in helping POs increase their production42. This implies working with the POs and the RISE partner project supporting them to develop market-oriented production objectives with clear target markets, determining POs financial and technical capacity building needs to meet their objectives, and addressing those needs through collaborative project support and facilitation. This innovative approach will be piloted in Q3FY17 with a limited number of POs in each of the project value chains.

4.2. Management activities During the reporting period, the project COP provided the overall leadership for project management. However, for each of the project components, specific staff members were formally assigned the leadership responsibility for the day-to-day management of activities under a component. Key management activities carried out during the quarter are the following: • Weekly project planning/review meetings with staff in Burkina Faso and Niamey. • Coordination meeting with the project subcontract partners in Niamey in February to review implementation progress and challenges. • Skype-based meetings43 with CNFA backstopping team in Washington DC. • Multiple meetings between the COP, the DCOP and Project Manager to monitor activity implementation and discuss challenges encountered. • Multiple Project Managers’ meetings with staff in field offices in Niger and Burkina Faso. • Multiple email and face-to-face exchanges between the COP and the COR that often resulted in critical guidance and direction which led to significant improvements of project implementation. • Work planning meeting held in Niger (29 November to 2 December) and Burkina Faso (6-9 December). • A critical ReCom planning process that focused on the following: − Team level discussion of the concept and its operationalization (started in December 2016 at the quarterly planning meeting and continued in January 2017) − Team level consensus building on the roles of a ReCom as well as roles and responsibilities of the Value Chain Coordinators in the ReCom roll out (i.e., in the actual implementation of the concept).

42 This decision was made based on observations that POs tended to be subsistence-oriented and the support currently being given to them by RISE partners project are largely focused on livelihood improvement. As a result, their production has been too small for REGIS-AG to achieve the expected level of market linkages. 43 These are meetings that bring together the REGIS-AG management team (i.e., COP, DCOP, Program Manager, Value Chain Advisor, and DFO) and the CNFA backstopping team based in Washington DC (Program Manager, Program Coordinator, Finance Officer, and Vice President for Programs) to discuss updates on activities and administrative issues. They are led by the DC-based Program Manager who sends an agreed upon agenda before each meeting. This platform allows the Washington DC team to guide and support the COP.

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− Identification of a ReCom in each POs by members of the PO in February 2017 based on clearly stated criteria44. − Development in January of key data collection tools needed when deploying the approach and these were finalized during a training of Value Chain Coordinators on the ReCom concept held in Niger (3-4 February 2017). The same training will be carried out in Burkina Faso staring in late April or early May 2017. − Training of Niger ReCom in Niger on the use of the aforementioned tools and to clarify roles and expectations planned for Q3FY17. The same training will be carried out in Burkina Faso staring in late April or early May 2017.

4.3. Collaboration with RISE partners Operationally, REGIS-AG continued to collaborate with RISE partners. This collaboration is built around a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that is implemented through annual collaborative or joint work plan. Table 15 below presents the lists of partners and the geographic area involved.

Table 15: REGIS-AG key implementing partners and geographic areas of collaboration

Lead Geographic areas of Partner Status of the partnership implementer collaboration In Burkina Faso: REGIS-ER CLUSA In 3 regions (Sahel, Center- No formal MOU signed North and the Eastern) PROFIL Burkina Faso In 2 regions (Sahel and Structured and formalized thru Government Center-North) MOU signed on 09/07/2015 ViM ACDI VOCA In 1 region (Center-North) No formal MOU signed Programme Faso CRS In 2 regions (Center-North No formal MOU signed and Eastern Region) In Niger: REGIS-ER CLUSA In 3 regions (Maradi, Tillabéri No formal MOU signed and Zinder) LAHIA Save the Children In in 1 region (Maradi) Structured and formalized thru MOU signed on 03/03/2016 Sawki Mercy Corps In 2 regions (Maradi & Zinder) Structured and formalized thru MOU signed on 12/08/2016 PASAM-TAI CRS In 2 regions (Maradi & Zinder) Being structured and formalized -- MOU signing process in process

Key project accomplishments during the reporting period are the following • Continued to finalize Joint work plan developed with LAHIA and Sawki in Niger. • Continued discussion with REGIS-ER and Trade Hub on the draft joint plan to be submitted to USAID. • Drafted an MOU for collaborating with REGIS-ER and DFAP in supporting and scaling up the

44 A ReCom must be: (a) an actor of the CV and member of the OP, (b) a leader and accepted by members of the PO, (c) committed and voluntarily willing to be ReCom, (d) able to read and write in French and / or local language, and (e) willing and able to travel. Priority is given to an existing / functional focal point.

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network of private vaccinators (RSAP) in Burkina Faso. • Held discussions with the World Food Program (WPF) for join activities in Niger for the benefit of two small ruminant POs in Kobadje (donation of 2-3 animals/member) and a possible purchase of 6.000 mT of cowpea from farmers in Tillabéri. Both initiatives have not yet been concluded.

4.4. Project Reporting and Public Communication During the reporting period, in terms of reporting and communication, the project accomplished the following: • Drafted and submitted to USAID of three monthly reports for activities carried out during the quarter (January, February and March). • Addressed USAID questions on the draft annual report for FY16 which USAID subsequently approved. • Drafted six Success stories that are being submitted progressively to USAID for approval.

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Annexes

Annex 1: Geographic coverage of REGIS-AG POs and their distribution by VC and project partners

REGIS-AG PO distribution REGIS-AG PO distribution # communes REGIS-AG coverage by partner projects by value chain Region Non- Small National REGIS-AG # villages # POs REGIS-ER DFAPs Poultry Cowpea USAID ruminant Niger: 246 45 157 310 46 118 146 124 46 140 Maradi 122 18 69 155 14 87 54 67 12 76 Tillabéri 62 12 42 81 22 6 53 25 22 34 Zinder 62 15 46 74 10 25 39 32 12 30

Burkina Faso: 81 20 195 376 11 138 227 129 73 174 Sahel (Dori) 26 6 54 105 2 0 103 45 20 40 Est (Fada) 27 6 37 66 3 16 47 16 20 30 Centre Nord (Kaya) 28 8 104 205 6 122 77 68 33 104

Total (#) 327 65 352 686 57 256 373 253 119 314 % total POs 8% 37% 54% 37% 17% 46%

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Annexe 2 : Liste des OP bénéficiaires du crédit warrantage par IMF au Burkina Faso

Montant Nombre de membres Quantité Institution Nom du du crédit Localité de Niébé financière groupement octroyé (Kg) Hommes Femmes Total (Fcfa) Groupement Namalgzanga 1 1 2 200 34 000 de Poulallé Groupement Nabonswendé 2 0 2 2 400 408 000 de Nionko Groupement Pengwendé de 0 25 25 2 600 442 000 Dawaka Groupement Relwendé de 0 1 1 300 51 000 Tibtenga Groupement Wendpanga de 0 1 1 100 17 000 Poulallé Groupement Wendwonga MECAP PISSILA 1 0 1 500 85 000 secteur 4 Groupement Nongtaaba 0 1 1 300 51 000 secteur 1 Groupement Zindinooma de 1 0 1 300 51 000 Doundougou Groupement 0 1 1 100 17 000 Konwendmalgré Groupement Kiswendsida 0 1 1 200 34 000 de Ipal

Sous total 5 31 36 7 000 1 190 000

Coopérative Namalgzanga 12 3 15 11 600 720 000

Groupement Namalgzanga 4 6 10 8 100 240 000

Groupement Nabonswendé 2 1 3 500 30 000

Groupement Zoodnooma 0 9 9 3 200 115 000 MECAP NIANGADO Groupement Ratamalgré de 1 0 1 700 120 000 Basnéré

Groupement Nabonswendé 1 0 1 200 25 000 de Ronguin

Sous total 20 19 39 24 300 1 250 000

Groupement Boudnooma 2 1 3 300 44 000

Groupement Wendpanga 0 1 1 100 17 000

Groupement Bénéwendé 5 5 10 1400 268 000

Groupement Wendlamalgda 1 4 5 800 136 000 Groupement Bobleming ne 1 0 1 300 51 000 wendé MECAP FANKA Groupement Natewendé 1 8 9 1000 170 000

Groupement Nongtaaba 1 3 4 400 68 000

Groupement wendlatiipa 1 4 5 500 78 000

Groupement Wendlasongda 0 8 8 1000 170 000

Sous total 10 19 29 3 900 1 002 000

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Montant Nombre de membres Quantité Institution Nom du du crédit Localité de Niébé financière groupement octroyé (Kg) Hommes Femmes Total (Fcfa) Total pour le compte de 3 442 000 MECAP Groupement Pinal E Pamiral 0 2 2 300 76 000

Groupement Ciintal 0 2 2 300 86 000 Groupement Mixte Goole 5 6 11 1700 510 000 Mbouri Haala CPMB DORI Groupement Djamdjoda 0 2 2 200 60 000

Groupement Mixte Djawelli 2 3 5 6800 1 158 000

Groupement Dawla Lumobe 1 0 1 100 30 000

Sous total 8 15 23 9 400 1 920 000

Groupement Harande 0 2 2 1 000 380 000

Groupement AllaBarka 1 0 1 800 300 000

Groupement Pamiral 0 1 1 100 38 000

Groupement Ciinal 0 1 1 200 76 000

Groupement Beydari 1 0 1 100 38 000

CPMB BANI Groupement AllaYidi 1 0 1 400 150 000 Groupement AllaBeydouma 0 2 2 1400 530 000

Groupement Djamwelli 0 1 1 200 76 000

Groupement Hollare 0 1 1 100 38 000

Groupement Annoura 0 1 1 100 38 000

Sous total 3 7 10 3400 1 664 000

Groupement Mixte 1 2 3 600 180 000 Limamba Groupement Tiabirikofe 3 0 3 600 180 000

Groupement Alla Renou 2 0 2 250 73 000

Groupement Mbelga 0 2 2 150 42 500

Groupement Mixte Bemtare 1 2 3 300 90 000 CPMB SEYTENGA Groupement Kebal e 1 0 1 100 26 000 Hollare Groupement Mixte Boyaba 1 1 2 200 52 000

Groupement Potal 1 0 1 100 30 000 Groupement Mixte 1 3 4 1200 330 000 Aldiouma Djougal

Sous total 11 10 21 3 500 1 003 500

Groupement Cutugure 0 12 12 1400 464 800

Groupement Nafa 1 2 3 400 132 800 CPMB SEBBA Groupement Tiguindjori 0 1 1 100 33 200

Groupement Bogga lantou 1 1 2 300 99 600 73

Montant Nombre de membres Quantité Institution Nom du du crédit Localité de Niébé financière groupement octroyé (Kg) Hommes Femmes Total (Fcfa) Groupement Hanboupougui 0 1 1 100 33 200

Groupement Mamachirou 0 1 1 100 33 200

Groupement Diamonga 3 9 12 1300 398 400

Sous total 5 27 32 3700 1 195 200

Groupement féminin 0 9 9 1 100 213 000 Zemstaaba Groupement féminin CPMB BOUROUM 0 12 12 1 870 376 000 Nongtaaba

Sous total 0 21 21 2 970 589 000

Groupement Mixte 1 9 10 1710 449 000 Songtaaba Groupement Mixte 2 20 22 1664 437 000 Pengdwendé Groupement Mixte NAGBINGOU 0 20 20 3146 975 000 CPMB Tegawendé Groupement Mixte Teeltaba 0 18 18 2214 450 000 Groupement Mixte 1 8 9 682 190 000 Zamanooma

Sous total 4 75 79 9 416 2 501 000

Groupement Féminin 0 9 9 560 165 000 Nabonswendé KOUINI Groupement Féminin CPMB 0 28 28 2550 615 000 Nongtaaba

Sous total 0 37 37 3 110 780 000

Groupement Malgtaaba 1 0 12 12 1 200 312 000

Groupement Wootaaba 0 8 8 800 192 000

Groupement Wenddata 0 9 9 900 209 000

Groupement Relwendé 0 17 17 1 700 408 000

Groupement Nongtaaba 0 11 11 1 100 264 000 CPMB DARGO Groupement Watinooma 0 21 21 2 100 504 000

Groupement Natewemdé 0 4 4 400 96 000

Groupement Malgtaaba 2 0 33 33 3 300 271 000

Groupement zoodnooma 0 6 6 600 144 000

Sous total 0 115 115 11 500 2 400 000 Groupement Masculin 5 0 5 3500 910 000 Borhammou Groupement Masculin 3 0 3 1000 260 000 Todiyaba CPMB HABBA Groupement Masculin 2 0 2 600 156 000 Kantiadi Groupement Masculin 3 0 3 3000 780 000 Wendyanaaba

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Montant Nombre de membres Quantité Institution Nom du du crédit Localité de Niébé financière groupement octroyé (Kg) Hommes Femmes Total (Fcfa) Groupement Féminin 0 4 4 1400 364 000 HanmiYABIDI Groupement Féminin 0 3 3 1100 286 000 Songtaaba Groupement Féminin 0 2 2 300 78 000 LaafiaManni Groupement Féminin 0 2 2 300 78 000 Namalgbzanga Sous total 13 11 24 11200 2 912 000 Total Gloal 79 387 466 93 396 Total pour le compte de la Caisse Populaire 14 964 700 TOTAL GENEFRAL 18 406 700

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Annexe 3 : Liste des OP bénéficiaires du crédit warrantage par IMF au Niger Montant Région Nom OP/Union Commune Village IMF Tonnage crédit (Fcfa) Cigaban Gari Mayayi Kotaré ASUSU 196.000 1.4 Himma Sabon Machi Sabon Machi MECAT 2.100.000 15.0 ALAD Dakoro Dakoro ASUSU 2.268.000 18.0 INGANCI Aguie Naki karhi MECAT 126.000 4.0 Hadin Kaye Mata Sae Saboua Sae Saboua ASUSU 378.000 2.7 Union Yarda Sae Saboua Sae Saboua ASUSU 672.000 4.8 Tattalin Hwadama Guidan Roumdji Garin Yahaya MECAT 980.000 7.0 Union Dadin Kowa Madarounfa Magna Uku ASUSU 420.000 3.0 Maradi Union Aiki Lafia Gabi Gabi ASUSU 1.120.000 20.0 Uninon Koda Naka Djarataoua Dandja ASUSU 1.120.000 8.0 Union Madubi Djarataoua Radi Magagi ASUSU 1.477.000 5.2 Union Agagi de Dallia Djirataoua Dallia ASUSU 728.000 10.5 Sous total Maradi 11.585.000 99.6 Kandabani Balayara Ganda kokari 440.000 2.0 Bangou Aniya Balayara Ganda kokari 308.000 1.4 Tillabéri Bangou Potal Torodi Torodi kokari 1092000 5.2 Wangari Balayara Dorobobo kokari 264 000 1.2 Sous total Tillabéri 2 104 000 9.8 TOTAL GLOBAL 13 689 000 109.4

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Annexe 4 : Répartition et composition des nouveaux centres d’alphabétisation au Burkina Faso

Name of the # of Number of Number of students # of Region Department Commune Focus of the FBOs Language center Centre instructors total women FBOs

Seno Yacouta Yacouta 1 1 30 30 01 Cowpea Fulfulde Seno Mamassiol Mamassiol 1 1 33 30 03 Small Ruminant Fulfulde Seno Yebelba Yebelba 1 1 36 27 09 REGIS -ER Fufulde Seno Aligaga 1 Aligaga 1 1 1 26 14 12 REGIS –ER + Cowpea Fululde Sahel Seno Aligaga 2 Aligaga 2 1 1 33 23 10 REGIS-ER+ SR Fulfulde Seno Ouro Tougouribè Ouro Tougouribè 1 1 27 27 01 Small Ruminant Fulfulde Seno (Bani ) Kalo Kalo 1 1 30 29 02 REGIS-ER+ Cowpea Fulfulde Seno (Bani) Amsia Amsia I I 30 27 03 REGIS-ER+Cowpea Fulfulde Seno Seytenga Seytenga I I 30 09 21 Commerçants à Bétail Fulfulde Seno Sebba Bandiagara I I 30 30 02 Cowpea+ Small Ruminant Fulfulde S-total 10 10 305 219 64 Pissila Pissila Pissila centre 1 1 30 20 13 Small Ruminant + Cowpea Mooré Pissila Pissila Kiemna yarcé 1 1 30 20 4 Small Ruminant + Cowpea Mooré Barsalogho Barsalogho Kombito mossi 1 1 30 27 1 Groupes CF sorgho REGIS-ER Mooré Barsalogho Barsalogho Kieglecé 1 1 30 30 1 Groupes CF sorgho REGIS-ER Mooré Barsalogho Barsalogho Alamon 1 1 30 30 1 BDL REGIS-ER Mooré Centre- Nord Barsalogho Barsalogho Soudougou konwango 1 1 30 20 1 Small Ruminant (habanaye de REGIS-ER) Mooré Barsalogho Barsalogho Sidogo laada 1 1 30 18 2 Cowpea et CF niébé de REGIS-ER Mooré Kaya Kaya Basbirké 1 1 30 30 5 Small Ruminant + Cowpea Mooré Kaya Kaya Kankandé 1 1 30 30 2 Small Ruminant + Cowpea Mooré Boulsa Boulsa Bonam 1 1 30 30 6 Cowpea Mooré Boulsa Dargo Dargo centre 1 1 30 30 6 Small Ruminant + Cowpea Mooré S-total 11 11 330 285 42 Gourmatchem Bartiébougou Bartiébougou Tamanpera 1 1 35 35 1 Groupes CF sorgho REGIS-ER a Groupes CF sorgho REGIS-ER+ Gourmatchem Bartiébougou Bartiébougou Haaba 1 1 1 30 29 3 SECCA+ Mere leaders a Est Groupes CF sorgho REGIS-ER+ Mere Gourmatchem Bartiébougou Bartiébougou Bingati 1 1 31 31 2 leaders a Gourmatchem Gayeri Gayeri kotougou 1 1 30 30 1 Groupes CF REGIS-ER a 4 4 126 125 7 Total 25 25 761 629 113

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Annexe 5 : Répartition et composition des nouveaux centres d’alphabétisation au Niger Name of the # of Number of Number of students # of Languag Region Department Commune Focus of the FBOs center Centre instructors total women FBOs e

Filingué Tondikandia Sourgho Koira 1 1 32 22 1 Poultry Zarma Filingué Filingué Kania koira zéno 1 1 32 32 4 Small Ruminant+Cowpea Zarma Tillabéri Filingué Imanan Iguéfan 1 1 34 34 1 Poultry Zarma Tillabéri Kourthèye Farié Haoussa 1 1 23 20 2 Small Ruminant Zarma Tillabéri Sakoira Bayé 1 1 30 9 3 Small Ruminant Zarma S-total 5 5 151 117 11 Guidan Roumdji Guidan Roumdji Dogon farou 1 1 30 30 12 Small Ruminant Haousa Guidan Roumdji Guidan Roumdji Elkolta 1 1 30 30 19 Small Ruminant+Cowpea Haousa Guidan Roumdji Guidan Sori Jigawa Kirwai 1 1 30 22 5 Small Ruminant+Cowpea Haousa Guidan Roumdji Guidan Sori Djallo 1 1 30 20 8 Small Ruminant Haousa Guidan Roumdji Sae Saboua Hardo Maidaoua 1 1 30 24 4 Small Ruminant Haousa Guidan Roumdji Sae Saboua Taji Wouka 1 1 30 30 6 Small Ruminant+Cowpea Haousa Guidan Roumdji Sae Saboua Karazomé 1 1 30 25 9 Small Ruminant+Cowpea + Poultry Haousa Maradi Dakoro Sabon Machi Magagi Kori 1 1 30 19 11 Small Ruminant+Cowpea + Poultry Haousa Dakoro Sabon Machi N’wala Dan Kaka 1 1 30 22 19 Small Ruminant+Cowpea Haousa Aguié Tchadoua Hardo Bi Issa 1 1 30 26 8 Small Ruminant Haousa Aguié Tchadoua Hardo Ga hamé 1 1 30 30 6 Small Ruminant+Cowpea PR+N Haousa Aguié Gangara Hardo toukou 1 1 30 21 3 Small Ruminant Haousa Aguié Gangara Dan Gantamao 1 1 30 23 5 Small Ruminant Haousa Aguié Aguié Kira Da Karfi 1 1 30 23 6 Small Ruminant+Cowpea Haousa Aguié Aguié Gidan Doutchi 1 1 30 22 11 Small Ruminant+Cowpea Haousa S-total 15 15 450 367 132 Mirriah Droum Magaria Tounkour 1 1 30 15 2 Small Ruminant+Cowpea Haousa Mirriah Droum Zongon Tambari 1 2 Small Ruminant+Cowpea Haousa Zinder Mirriah Dogo Gada 1 1 Small Ruminant Haousa Mirriah Zermou Chada wanna 1 2 Small Ruminant+Poultry Haousa Magaria Bandé Gaouanawa 1 2 Small Ruminant+Cowpea Haousa S-total 5 1 30 15 9 Total 25 21 631 499 152

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Annexe 6 : Thèmes abordés dans la formation des animateurs et superviseurs au Burkina Faso (alphabetisation)

The capacity building plan for new facilitators and supervisors in Burkina Faso was built on the following themes:

• Generality on the fulfudé language, study of the fulfudé alphabet - letters common to fulfudé and to French; • Letters specific to fulfudé; • Vocal system; • Diphthongs; • Gemination of identical consonants; Not identical; • Study of short and long oral vowels identical to fulfudé and French; • Roots of words; • Consonantal alternation; • Pronouns ; • Vocal system; • Possessives ; • Names: compounds; Geminates; • Verbs and their conjugation; • Tenses ; o negotiation ; o imperative; o future ; • Punctuation ; • Cardinal and ordinal numerical adjectives; • Calendars; • Exercises ; • Andragogy; • Characteristics of adults; • Animation techniques; • Learning strategies; • Chat; • Methodology of the chat; • Practical advice, some foreseeable obstacles, causes and solutions; • History, geography, life and earth sciences; • Methodology of reading; • Conduct of the pedagogical approach to reading; • Practical advice during the sessions; • Reading • Methodology of reading (importance)

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• Level 1 reading and current reading • Reading strategies • Practical advice during training sessions • Lesson presentations-clarification questions; • Development of reading sheets; • Editorial methodology o editing according to the different phases o information phase or step-by-step information: introduction, development, conclusion o writing exercise on a defined topic; • Methodology for 1st year calculation o conducting the Arithmetic Lesson 1 to 9 o revision of the operating techniques (+, -, x,:) • Lessons on the dozen; The hundred ...; • Study of the square, the rectangle, the triangle o dimensions, perimeters, surfaces • Simulation of reading sessions by participants • Conducting a Level 1 writing lesson • Practical advice on sessions; • Lesson preparation model; o group work elaboration of discussion cards, reading, writing, calculation o driving, simulation of all lessons (chat, reading, writing and calculation); • Lesson preparation model. • Group work, elaboration of discussion cards, reading, writing, calculation • Presentation in plenary Presentation of a simulation, • Text of the second year post-alpha book; o driving, simulation of all lessons (chat, reading, writing and calculation) • Evaluations o importance o table of evaluation criteria o conduct of the evaluation o registers: calling, visiting, evaluating, supervising ... • Final evaluation

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