October 31, 2017 Prepared for Review by the United States Agency for International Development Under USAID Agreement No

October 31, 2017 Prepared for review by the United States Agency for International Development under USAID Agreement No. 669-A-16-00005

Feed the Future Liberia Agribusiness Development Activity (LADA) implemented by CNFA

Re-Submitted March 5, 2018 to: USAID/Liberia Dr. Maurice Ogutu, AOR; Author: Communications/M&E Department; Photo Concept: Communications/M&E Department

TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ...... 2 ANNEXES ...... 3 ACRONYM ...... 4 1. Executive Summary ...... 6 a) Background ...... 6 b) Progress after Year 2:...... 6 LADA Performance Highlights from FY17 ...... 7 2. LADA Fiscal Year 2017 Activities ...... 12 Component 1 (IR 1): Increase private sector investment in agricultural inputs systems ...... 12 Sub IR 1.1 – Increased demand for agro-inputs ...... 13 Sub IR 1.2 – Increased capacity of input dealers ...... 14 Component 2 (IR 2): Increase private sector investment in post-harvest handling – storage, packaging, transportation, marketing and auxiliary services ...... 17 Sub IR 2.1 – MSME’s access to finance and business development services improved ...... 29 Sub IR 2.2 – Increased knowledge of post-harvest handling practices ...... 31 Quarter 4 Updates: ...... 32 Component 3 (IR 3): Strengthen facilitation of investment, market information, advocacy and support systems ...... 32 Sub IR 3.2 – Capacity of AIN to increase investment in selected value chains strengthened ...... 35 Sub IR 3.1 – Increased access to market information and digital financial services ...... 37 3. LADA CROSSCUTTING ACTIVITIES ...... 37 Quarter 1 through Quarter 3 Summary: ...... 37 Access to Finance: ...... 37 Gender and Youth Activities ...... 39 Monitoring and Evaluation...... 42 4. LADA FY17 PERFORMANCE INDICATORS RESULTS ...... 45 5. Challenges and Lessons Learned ...... 46 6. Priorities for FY18 ...... 47 7. SUCCESS STORIES ...... 48 LADA Initiates Food Safety Regime in Liberia ...... 48 Access to Loan increases Rural Woman Farmer’s Productivity ...... 49

ANNEXES

Annex 1: Indicator Performance Monitoring Table (IPMT)

Annex 2: PY2 Implementation Plan

Annex 3: LADA Monitoring & Evaluation Plan

Annex 4: LADA First Data Quality Assessment Report

Annex 5: Gender and Youth Integration Work Plan

ACRONYM

AIDAL Agro-Input Dealers’ Association of Liberia AIIC Agriculture Infrastructure Investment Company AIN Agribusiness Investment Network AOR Agreement Officer’s Representative BDS Business Development Services BSC Business Start-Up Center BSP Business Service Provider CARI Central Agricultural Research Institute CBDSPL Consortium of BDS Providers of Liberia CIF Co-Investment Fund CNFA Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture COP Chief of Party DCA Development Credit Authority DEN-L Development Education Network- Liberia DFS Digital Financial Services EMMP Environmental Mitigation and Monitoring Plan EOI Expression of Interest FED USAID Food and Enterprise Development Program FtF Feed the Future FY Fiscal Year HHs Households IEE Initial Environmental Examination IES Initial Environmental Screening IFAD International Foundation for Agricultural Development LADA Liberia Agribusiness Development Activity LATA Liberia Agricultural Transformation Agenda LEAD Liberia Entrepreneurial & Asset Development GCCA Global Cold Chain Alliance GIS Geographic Information System GoL Government of Liberia GPS Global Positioning System HQCF High Quality Cassava Flour M&E Monitoring & Evaluation MFI Microfinance Institution MOA Ministry of Agriculture MOCI Ministry of Commerce & Industry MSME Micro Small Medium Enterprises MT Metric Ton NGO Non-Governmental Organization PERSUAP Pesticide Evaluation Report and Safer Use Action Plan SHF Small Holder Farmer

SME Small Medium Enterprises SMS Short Message Service USAID United States Agency for International Development USG United States Government WFP World Food Program

1. Executive Summary a) Background

On December 9, 2015, USAID awarded the Associate Cooperative Agreement No. AID-669-A- 16-00005, to Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA) to implement the Feed the Future (FtF) Liberia Agribusiness Development Activity (LADA). LADA is a five-year, $19.3 million, program to be implemented in four counties in Liberia. The goal of LADA is to increase the incomes of smallholder farmers (SHFs) through increasing private sector investment in the Liberian agribusiness sector. LADA aims to achieve this goal through the following three (3) objectives:

1. Increasing private sector investment in agricultural (production) input systems; 2. Increasing private sector investment in post-harvest handling support, storage, packaging, transporting, marketing, and auxiliary services as well as the overall policy-focused; and 3. Strengthening facilitation, market information, advocacy, and support systems.

Two years on, LADA is achieving this goal by expanding access to and encouraging use of agricultural inputs and post-harvest handling, processing, packaging and marketing services with the aim to increase the on-farm productivity as well as supporting the Government of Liberia (GoL) in agro-policy development. A complementary activity in support of this goal is establishing an Agribusiness Investment Network (AIN) to serve as platform for linking actors in the agribusiness sector and advocating for sector-friendly policies that contribute to increased agricultural investment in Liberia. To summarize the approach, LADA is achieving these objectives through the implementation of three activity components: LADA also focuses on a number of cross-cutting areas that support all activity components. These include gender and youth integration, environmental compliance, access to finance as well as monitoring, evaluation, and learning.

b) Progress after Year 2: After two years of implementation, the LADA team can point to early fruits of effective stakeholder relationship building as well as to some tangible results from activity implementation. Collaboration and coordination with key partners is rapidly improving and buy-in is yielding benefits; the MOA donated small-scale mills worth US$60,000 to LADA and IFAD pledged US$360,000 to construct facilities some LADA beneficiaries. Implementation of CIF projects have started. One project, improving access to finance using the DFS platform through LEAD was fully executed in year 2. A number of agro-store upgrading got underway and the rest of the projects planned for year 2 were in advanced procurement stages. On the policy front, LADA facilitated the drafting and presentation of two very significant acts: the National Standards Act and the Food Law.

A lot was done in the first two years of LADA but there is a lot more to be done to ensure that the activity achieves its goal. Stakeholders buy-in has been achieved, systems and procedures have been fine-tuned, the requisite teams are in place and LADA is poised to making great leaps toward achieving its goal in FY18.

LADA Performance Highlights from FY17

In FY17, LADA made great strides and achieved many milestones, both from the conceptual perspective as well as from the M&E Plan indicator deliverables, necessary to ensure successful implementation of this important USAID Feed the Future activity.

Refurbishment of agro-dealer stores: Through its Co-Investment Fund grant, LADA refurbished six (6) agro-dealer stores costing US$30,000 in FY17. The refurbishment involved the replacement of wooden shelves with aluminum and fiber shelves within each beneficiary agro-dealer store as well as provision of stack of new wooden pallets. The agro-dealers’ contributions (co-share) will include additional upgrading involving the painting of the facility and the procurement of additional stock to increase inventory. Upgrading of these stores in addition to training is expected to increase sale of agro-inputs and create jobs in this subsector. Over the next year, LADA plans to upgrade 10 additional agro stores in its four targeted counties.

Development of the LADA PERSUAP: With assistance from the Cadmus Group, LADA developed its PERSUAP in FY17. This 117-page document establishes the set of pesticides for which procurement, use or support for use is authorized by these activities; and sets the conditions under which the authorized pesticides may be procured, used, or their use supported to best ensure user, consumer and environmental safety. The LADA PERSUAP was approved by USAID in July 2017. Before then, LADA only provided theoretical training focusing on the importance, safer handling and use of agro-inputs to 3,305 SHFs in FY17. Taking guidance from the PERSUAP, LADA expects to train additional 10,000 SHFs over the next years of implementation.

Launch of Agro-Inputs Dealers Association of Liberia: A key milestone in its quest to strengthen the agro-input supply chain in Liberia and increase private sector investment in the inputs supply system was realized in FY17 with the launch of the Agro-Inputs Dealers Association of Liberia (AIDAL) in March 2017. This was the brainchild of LADA’s training, coaching and advocacy in the previous fiscal year. AIDAL now has a membership of 70 agro- input businesses and the association is poised to deliver affordable and higher quality inputs to farmers, effectively represent the interest of agro-dealers nationally and influence policies on the agro-inputs subsector.

CIF grants to beneficiaries: There were increased activities in LADA’s CIF grants administration in FY17 with 8 agro-dealer businesses, 16 aggregation/agro-processing enterprises and 3 agricultural support service providers receiving approvals for co-investment grants totaling US$1,871,700. CIF projects with LEAD and 6 of 8 agro-dealer businesses were fully executed during the year. Projects for the rest of the beneficiaries are in the procurement phase with the majority expected to be completed in the first quarter of FY18.

Donation of processing machines: Continuous stakeholder engagements by LADA and effective collaboration with the MOA resulted in donation of 15 small-scaled cassava processing equipment (worth approximately US$30,000) to 15 cassava processing enterprises and groups in LADA targeted counties in early FY17. LADA upgraded and distributed these machines, trained beneficiaries in their use and is currently providing follow-up technical assistance worth US$35,000 to covered equipment operation and maintenance as well as business management

7 skills development. During the short period after start of operations, available data show that the beneficiaries have processed 24,445kg cassava based products generating US$10,774 in business incomes.

Agriculture sector productivity and food security training: LADA increased the frequency and number of agricultural sector productivity and food security related training in FY17 reaching 9,547 persons including 3,658 males and 5,889 females (EG.3.2-1). The training covered inputs utilization, post-harvest handling, basic agri-business management as well as other sector-specific training. While the inputs training is expected to lead to the channeling of high quality agro-inputs by dealers and proper utilization by farmers, the post-harvest handling training is expected to result in reduction in post-harvest losses and increase the supply of food raw materials for aggregators and processors. In the same vein, the business management training is expected to improve record keeping and better business planning among aggregators and processors.

Launch of the Agribusiness Investment Network (AIN): In terms of policy advocacy, one significant achievement of LADA in FY17 was the launch of the Agribusiness Investment Network in November 2016 at the 4th MSME National Conference which LADA co-sponsored. This ancillary organization was established and is supported by LADA to facilitate business relationships that link suppliers, buyers, producers, investors, etc. to participate alongside LADA targeted value chains to maximize investment in addition to promoting policy interventions that will improve the regulatory environment in Liberia. The AIN is managed by LADA partner BSC Monrovia

CODEX, National Standards Act and the Food Law: Perhaps the biggest achievement of LADA under its Component Three in FY17 was facilitating the establishment of the National Codex Committee which led to formulating the National Standards Act and the Food Law. In response to deficiencies in Liberia’s food safety standards, LADA provided two US expert consultants who assessed the Liberian food industry and recommended adherence to the CODEX Alimentarius to which Liberia was a signatory. LADA followed up by facilitating the establishment of the National Codex Technical Working Group (TWG), a joint initiative of the Government of Liberia, CNFA/LADA, and the private sector, who worked with technical experts and consultants hired by LADA to draft the National Standards Act and the Food Law. These drafts were validated and presented to the GOL for passage into law.

Increased collaboration with partners: During the year, LADA’s continuous stakeholder engagements resulted in a collaborative relationship with the MOA on sustentative issues such as training of farmers and joint monitoring of program activities as well as the MOCI where LADA was the lead sponsor for the 4th annual Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSME) Conference which took place in November 2016. These relationships resulted in increased ministerial engagements on many of LADA’s activities and buy into policies that will benefit the beneficiaries of the Activity. Other partnerships with IFAD and ACDI/VOCA farmer to farmer resulted in substantive gains in FY17.

Crosscutting Activities: In FY17, LADA continued to integrate its cross-cutting activities with activities from the other components. The Access to Finance team worked closely with Components One and Two Leads to select and prepare loan packages for beneficiaries, facilitating US$502,714.30 in agricultural loans in the process (EG.3.2-6). The Gender and Youth Specialist collaborated with the program team to conduct a gender integration workshop for LADA staff as well as monitoring and reporting on field level gender issues. The Environmental Compliance team worked closely with the Component One Lead to develop the LADA PERSUAP and worked with the Component Two Lead to conduct over 10 IES during the year.

Monitoring and Evaluation: The USAID Mission, through the Liberia Strategic Analysis (LSA), conducted LADA’s first Data Quality Assessment (DQA) in January 2017. The assessment was conducted on 10 of LADA’s 13 standard indicators on which data have been collected and reported and due to be reported for the FY 17 Performance and Program Reporting (PPR). The result showed that even though there were few challenges with the precision and validity standards, the indicators assessed got an overall average score of 3.4 out or 4 demonstrating that the data reported meets the requirement to be published and used and are good for program and management decision making (Annex 4). The LADA team have since addressed all the recommendations from the report.

Some of the results shown in FY17 include the following:

EG.3-1 Number of households benefiting directly from USG assistance under Feed the Future: LADA’s activities benefitted 3,709 households in FY17 achieving 105.97% of its target for the year. This figure is up from 283 in FY16 and over the next 3 years LADA is expected to benefit 15,000 households.

LADA 0.1 Average annual agricultural income of targeted smallholder farmers: The average annual agricultural income of targeted SHFs in LADA’s counties is likely to increase from US$399.61 measured in FY161.

EG.3.2-22 Value of new private sector capital investment in the agriculture sector or food chain leveraged by Feed the Future implementation: LADA leveraged new private sector capital investments in agriculture among its beneficiaries in the amount of US$292,905.40 in FY17. This figure is up by 98% from FY16 even though it is only 10.14% of the FY17 target due to delayed implementation of the CIF projects and challenges with loans facilitation schemes.

EG.3-9 Number of full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs created with USG assistance: LADA assisted in the creation of 148.49 FTE jobs in FY17, over-achieving its target of 100 by 48.49%.

1 At the time of finalizing this report, the average income data had not been verified. Data will be verified and submitted to the PIDS and FTFMS 9

FY17 Summary per Value Chain

Value Chain Major Accomplishments Rice - Facilitated a week-long study tour of industrial rice processing facilities and rice value chain development projects in Nigeria from November 20 – 25, 2016. - Initiated the procurement of two integrated rice mills for Selma Agricultural Development Corporation (SADC) and the Agricultural Infrastructure and Investment Corporation (AIIC) in order to increase their rice milling capacities from two metric ton per day to 10 metric tons per day each. The two mills will be installed in Voinjama and Foya Districts, Lofa County. - Finalized the procurement two medium scale rice mills for the Dokodan Farmers’ Cooperative and Gbelay Geh Women Multipurpose Farmers’ Cooperative of Gbiden and Karnplay, Nimba County. The two rice mills are expected to be installed and commission in early 2018. - On June 20, 2017, LADA’s management and USAID representatives (Samba Kawa and Maurice Ogutu) held a collaboration meeting with the management of Supplying West Africa Traders (SWAT, Liberia) to establish business relationship that would enable SWAT to offtake milled rice from LADA supported rice milling enterprises. Cassava - LADA facilitated a 10-day study tour of industrial cassava processing facilities and cassava value chain development projects in Nigeria from May 23 – 31, 2017. - LADA awarded $617,070 of its CIF matching investment grants to four cassava processing enterprises to upgrade their processing facilities to modern, efficient and high-capacity agro-processing enterprise that will have the capacity to uninterruptedly supply high quality cassava based products to clients including local consumers, restaurants and supermarkets. - On October 25, 2016, the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with CNFA/LADA donated 15 cassava processing machines (worth approximately US$30,000) to 15 small scale cassava processing enterprises that were identified and selected by LADA in Montserrado, Bong, Nimba and Lofa Counties.

Vegetable - 77 vegetable smallholder farming groups formed into clusters and placed under LADA as beneficiaries. - 2,490 SHFs trained in post-harvest handling and loss prevention; agro input utilization and composting and business management - 6 vegetable clusters received US$44,000 in the form of micro loans from LEAD - 198.52 metric tons of vegetable sold by aggregators and farmers as a result of LADA’s intervention, resulting into a sale amount of US$248,049.89.

- Successfully linked vegetable aggregators to Farmington Hotel, Royal Grand Hotel, Libassa Echo-Lodge, China Union, Supreme Food (UNMIL), RLJ Resorts, etc. These companies received supply from LADA’s farmers and aggregators - Began the process of engaging the professional services of a reputable Vegetable Packing House within the African sub-region to provide technical assistance to vegetable producers’ organizations and aggregators in Liberia

Cocoa - Profiled and enrolled 25,829 SHFs (18,575 males and 7,254 females) from 16 cocoa farmers’ cooperatives and 15 cocoa aggregators in Bong, Nimba and Lofa Counties

Aquaculture - Identification and assessment of aquaculture enterprises in LADA operational areas; - Training of 26 aquaculture farmers on stock management, local feed formulation using locally available feed ingredients and business management; - Training of 23 technicians of the Bureau of National Fisheries and technical staff of fish farming enterprises. The training topics included production and brood stock selection, stock management, fish nutrition and feed formulation using locally available fish feed ingredients etc.; as well as business management; - Identification of technical shortcomings of equipment distributed by the Ministry of Agriculture, and introduction of modifications of the equipment; - Approved a $70,000 capacity building grant to Catalyst

2. LADA Fiscal Year 2017 Activities

Component 1 (IR 1): Increase private sector investment in agricultural inputs systems

Quarter 1 to Quarter 3 (FY17) Summary:

In FY17, the message from INGOs and government organizations was made clear: “the days of free distribution of agro-inputs are becoming a thing of the past. Agro-dealers now have a need to acquire appropriate training, access and provide quality inputs and extension services to SHFs”. As a result, LADA intensified its efforts to train and encourage agro-dealers to start providing quality inputs and extension services to SHFs. DuringFY17, LADA provided training to 41 new agro-dealers and encouraged them to continue to invest in their businesses through assistance in creating business linkages.

In early 2017, LADA facilitated a partnership between the agro-dealers association and the Ministry of Agriculture to distribute agro-inputs (fertilizers and seeds) to more than 15,000 SHFs registered under the MOA’s LATA (Liberia Agriculture Transformation Agenda) inputs distribution scheme. At the completion of the distribution exercise, MOA paid a commission (approximately US$ 6.0 per farmer served) to agro-dealers that participated in the exercise. The some of the monies (commission) were re-invested to procure additional inventory for the dealers’ shops.

A number of agro-dealers did make investments in their businesses and LADA can report that new private sector capital investment in the agricultural sector or food chain leveraged by LADA amounted to US$292,905.40 in FY17 (EG.3.2-22). Of this total, US$68,861.62 was leveraged by agro-dealers (LADA 1.1) while US$224,043.78 (LADA 2.1) was invested by post-harvest agribusinesses. By location, US$34,100.00 was made in Nimba County, US$22,782.50 in Montserrado County, US$8,297.72 in Lofa County followed by US$3,681.40 in Bong County.

Launch of the Agro-Inputs Dealers Association of Liberia (AIDAL)

During quarter 2, LADA achieved a key milestone with the launch of the Agro-Input Dealers’ Association of Liberia (AIDAL). Over 150 participants attended this ceremony including the formal Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Moses Zinnah, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Axel Addy, Deputy Minister for Small Business Administration at the MoCI, Andrew Paegar, Daniel

Gies, former LADA Chief of Party, as well as representatives of the USAID/Liberia Mission including the former AOR for LADA, Dr. Samba Kawa., AIDAL’s members and other private sector actors.

Serving as the key note speaker at the event, Dr. Zinnah thanked LADA and USAID for their support to AIDAL. He stated that even though the GoL does not have all the resources to aid all groups, it will take the initiative of groups like AIDAL that can provide the right direction.

The AIDAL was formed after LADA’s first agro-dealer training in FY16 where agro-dealers from around the country came together to receive training and certification on proper use of agro-inputs. From this initial training, the attendees organized independently of LADA, to create AIDAL and even though the association was not a direct partner with LADA, LADA saw its potential to deliver affordable and higher quality inputs to farmers and has committed money and other resources to support its formation and operation. AIDAL’s mission now is to effectively represent the interest of agro-dealers nationally and influence policies on the agro-inputs subsector.

Business Development Services to agro-dealers and SHF groups

In early November 2016, LADA partnered with the Consortium of Business Development Service Providers of Liberia (CBDSPL) and CARI to provide a series of training that included forecasting, post-harvest handling and business management skills to SHF groups. The objective of the training was to work in close collaboration with agro-dealers and aggregators to strengthen their technical capacities and outreach to key markets. The training engaged approximately 840 SHFs and agro- dealers in LADA’s counties of intervention. In addition, LADA provided business development services to more than 25 agro-dealer businesses during FY17. This included assistance with organization of business documents, legal registration, and project proposal development.

Sub IR 1.1 – Increased demand for agro-inputs

High quality and affordable agro-inputs applied appropriately boost crop production and ultimately increase the incomes of SHFs. The increase use of and demand for agricultural inputs is an indicator of the importance of inputs in the crop value chains. In order to demonstrate the benefits of agro-inputs and thereby increase their demand, LADA provided training to targeted agro-dealers and worked with these agro-dealers and farmer cooperatives to provide training on the proper use of agro-inputs to SHFs in their catchment areas.

In FY17, a total of 3,305 farmers including 1,360 males and 1,945 females were trained by LADA on the importance and use of agro-inputs (LADA 1.1.2). These farmers were from Bong County (694), Nimba County (941), Lofa County (774) and Montserrado County (896).

Training on organic composting and integrated soil fertility management

During quarter 2 of FY17, LADA also partnered with Organic Matters, a small Liberian-owned start-up company that produces organic fertilizer, to provide training on organic composting and integrated soil fertility management. The focus of the training is enable participating SHFs to

13 utilize decomposed farm wastes to produce organic fertilizers. A total of 342 SHFs (163 males; 179 females), mainly vegetables’ growers were trained in Montserrado, Nimba and Bong Counties. The newly acquired knowledge has enabled farmers to adapt environmentally-sound crop husbandry practices including the production of assorted vegetables produce with minimum chemical inputs. The trainings have also facilitated business linkage between different farmers’ groups and agro-inputs Farmers being taught how to prepare compost during dealers. To track the demand for agro-inputs, LADA one of the training in Bong tracked the volume (in tons) of agricultural inputs sold by its assisted input dealers. Among LADA-assisted agro-dealers, a total of 253.119 MT of agro-inputs (excluding machinery/equipment) was sold in FY17 (LADA 1.1.1). This is made up of 24.02 MT of assorted plant seeds, 213.08 MT of fertilizers and 16.01 MT of agro-chemicals (pesticides, herbicides, etc.). By location, Montserrado County accounted for 178.96 MT of total sales, Bong County 34.22 MT, followed by Nimba County with 20.32 MT and then by Lofa with 19.61 MT.

Sub IR 1.2 – Increased capacity of input dealers

LADA continued to increase the capacity of agro-input dealers through training so that they can effectively respond to the needs of farmers. Working with the MOA, CARI, AIDAL and some importers, LADA conducted two training sessions for agro-dealers in FY17. The training topics included the importance of agro-inputs, safer inputs utilization (mainly seeds and fertilizer), basic business skills and extension outreach. The first training was held in Monrovia between May 23 and 24, 2017 and drew participants from Montserrado County. The second was held in Gbarnga between May 26 and 27, 2017 drawing participants from Lofa, Nimba and Bong Counties. In total, participants from 41 agro-dealer businesses including 29 males and 12 females were trained.

To include local expert knowledge in the training, LADA brought in a representative from Alkhouka Green of Liberia, a branch of the Mali-based fertilizer manufacturer and importer company, Group Toguna. The company produces and sells assorted varieties and grades of fertilizers including Urea, NPK (15-15-15; 15-17-12; 24-10-12), Ammonium phosphates and Ammonium sulfate, and were able to provide expert knowledge on the uses and applications of fertilizers. Including Alkhouka Green of Liberia was also intended to create business linkages between members of AIDAL and the fertilizer company.

A team of highly experienced facilitators led by Jerry Turnbull, a CNFA Agro-Inputs Consultant, Sam G. Mentee of the Group Toguna, Augustus Flomo of the Consortium of BDS Providers of Liberia (CBDSPL) and facilitators from CARI and the MOA delivered the training.

In addition to gaining knowledge on the types of fertilizers including organic and inorganic, essential plant nutrients; advantages and disadvantages of fertilizers use; fertilizers label; transport and handling of fertilizers, agro-input dealers are expected to benefit from knowledge on daily

14 record keeping including revenue and expense tracking which will hopefully increase the capacity of these businesses to be profitable.

The sale of agricultural inputs is an indirect way of measuring the transfer of training knowledge. LADA tracked the value of sales (in USD) of agricultural inputs sold by assisted agro-dealers during the year and among LADA-assisted agro-dealers, a total of US$729,580.44 worth of ago- inputs (including small machinery/equipment) was sold in FY17 (LADA 1.2.1). This is made up of US$88,685.69 of assorted plant seeds, US$188,249.26 of fertilizers, US$206,920.46 of agro- chemicals (pesticides, herbicides, etc.) and US$245,725.03 of small machinery/equipment. By location, Montserrado County accounted for US$417,073.38 of total sales, Bong County US$217,981.63, followed by Nimba County with US$49,575.74 and then by Lofa with US$44,949.69.

Quarter 4 Update:

Refurbishment of agro-dealer stores

LADA project proposal development assistance to agro-dealers has enabled the businesses access funding from LADA’s CIF grant. Funding from the CIF grant was used to assist six agro-dealer businesses with up to 50% of the cost to refurbish their shops. The upgrading principally involves the replacement of wooden shelves with aluminum and fiber shelves within each beneficiary agro-dealer store. The refurbishment package also includes stack of new wooden pallets. The improvements have resulted to the separation of agro-inputs from other general merchandise as well as promoting Joan Agriculture Business in Monrovia after the environmental safety. On average, LADA is refurbishment exercise expending approximately US$ 5,000 to upgrade each agro-input dealer store. Individual agro-dealers’ contributions (co-share) will include additional upgrading involving the painting of the facility and the procurement of additional stock to increase inventory.

Table 1: Six agro-input dealers’ enterprises that benefited from shop refurbishment via LADA’s CIF grant fund during FY17

No Names of agro-dealers’ Location County Key tasks Amount . enterprise (LADA contributio n: US$) 1. Joan Agriculture Business Monrovia Mont. Replacement of wooden 5,000.0 Center shelves with aluminum and fiber shelves 2. New Farm Center General Monrovia Mont. Replacement of wooden 5,000.0 Supply shelves with aluminum and fiber shelves 3. Quarpulo Business Center Totota Bong Replacement of wooden 5,000.0 shelves with aluminum and fiber shelves 4. Arise and Shine Farmers’ Totota Bong Replacement of wooden 4,500.0 Supply shelves with aluminum and fiber shelves 5. Lorena Business Center Palala Bong Replacement of wooden 5,000.0 shelves with aluminum and fiber shelves 6. Rain Forest Agriculture Ganta Nimba Replacement of wooden 5,000.0 Enterprise shelves with aluminum and fiber shelves Total amount expended by CNFA/LADA (US$) 29,500.0

AIDAL delivered extension outreach support to LADA supported SHFs In line with LADA capacity building initiatives to agro-input dealers and smallholder farmers; the Agro-input Dealers Association of Liberia (AIDAL) supported LADA through a professional service agreement to provide extension outreach support and advisory services to LADA supported smallholder farmers. The scope of the engagement spanned over a period of 35 days was rolled out across LADA program locations and implemented between July and September 2017. During the field visits, AIDAL’s technical team provided advisory services to smallholder farmers on safe inputs handling. The team also monitor and actively participated in the distribution of agricultural inputs to registered farmers under the MOA’s LATA inputs distribution scheme. Inputs provided to MOA registered farmers under the LATA inputs distribution scheme are sold to the targeted farmers at reduced/subsidized price. During the exercise, lowland farmers were provided a package containing 50kg of NPK (15-15-15), 25kg of Urea and 10kg of lowland rice seeds - worth approximately US$102.5; while upland farmers received a package containing 25kg of upland rice seeds - worth approximately US$55. Under the subsidy arrangement, farmers paid a subsidized price of about US$10 for each package received. The rest were covered by financial assistance provided by the African Development Bank through the Ministry of Agriculture. More than 10,000

16 smallholders were served. A final field report cataloguing the total quantity of inputs distributed as well as the dollar value of inputs distributed will be submitted to CNFA/LADA by AIDAL’s leadership in Q1 of FY182.

Component 2 (IR 2): Increase private sector investment in post-harvest handling – storage, packaging, transportation, marketing and auxiliary services

Quarter 1 through Quarter 3 (FY17) Summary:

New private sector investment in post-harvest agribusinesses leveraged by LADA amounted to US$224,043.78 in FY17 (LADA 2.1). The investments were made in the rice, cassava and vegetable value chains. No recorded investments were made in the aquaculture and cocoa value chains. Lofa County accounted for more than 70% of this investment particularly in the rice sector.

LADA Co-Investment Fund (CIF) Activities

The Co-Investment Fund (CIF) remains a key instrument LADA is using to leverage private sector investment in post-harvest handling among its beneficiary aggregators and processors. In FY17, LADA continued to work with key financial sector actors in Liberia, mostly local banks and the nascent venture capital players, to move this agenda forward.

The CIF is a segregated fund within the LADA activity with the goal to provide matching investment grants to support private sector investment in agricultural projects in the targeted LADA value chains. LADA has committed up to $2,455,300 in matching investment grants to make improvements along LADA’s selected value chains (rice, cassava, horticulture, cocoa and aquaculture). These grants serve as a vehicle for introducing innovations, new technologies and business models that, once proven successful, can be replicated by entrepreneurs without donor involvement in the future. In FY17, twelve agro-dealer businesses, 16 aggregation/agro-processing enterprises and five agricultural support firms were approved for CIF grants. The owners of these businesses demonstrated the need for the funds and submitted proposals to CNFA/LADA. Ten (10) of these businesses are owned by women entrepreneurs and were deliberately targeted to ensure that LADA exceeded its threshold of women’s participation in its interventions. A total of $2,455,300 in-kind grants are being disbursed to these enterprises in line with CNFA/LADA’s plan to increase private sector investment in post-harvest handling and agro-input system in Liberia.

As part of efforts to improve the livelihoods of rice farmers in Liberia, CNFA LADA signed three contracts with a UK based manufacturer for the supply of commercial rice mills to three beneficiaries in Lofa and Nimba counties. CNFA/LADA will sign the fourth contract as soon as the bank approves the loan application submitted by the grantee, Agricultural Infrastructure Investment Corporation of Foya, Lofa County. The loan will cover part of the cost share commitment. CNFA is also concluding modalities for the construction two factory buildings to house two integrated rice mills in Voinjama and Foya Districts, Lofa County. Beneficiaries of the

2 By the time of the second revision of this report in February 2018, the final distribution report had been presented to CNFA/LADA. 17 rice milling equipment include Selma Agricultural Development Corporation of Voinjama, Lofa County, Agricultural Infrastructure Investment Corporation of Foya, Lofa County, Dokodan farmers’ Cooperative of Gbiden, Nimba County and Gbelay Geh Women Multipurpose Cooperative in Karnpaly, Nimba County.

LADA has granted $617,070 of its CIF matching investment grants to five commercial scale cassava processing enterprises to upgrade their cassava processing facilities to modern, efficient and high-capacity agro-processing enterprises that will have the capacity to uninterruptedly supply high quality cassava based products to clients including local consumers, restaurants and supermarkets. Additionally, all Liberians will benefit from varieties of cassava based products including high quality cassava flour (HQCF), cassava starch, gari, odorless fufu and deepa that will be produced by these enterprises because of the new line of equipment that are being procured with assistance from LADA. It is also projected that these enterprises will scale up their partnership with the World Food Program (WFP) and Mary’s Meal (school feeding programs) to meet the increased demand for processed cassava products by school going kids through the Public Primary School Feeding Program being implemented by WFP and Mary’s Meals.

The five sets of commercial scale cassava processing equipment are being procured by LADA and expected to be installed and commissioned in March 2018, barring any unforeseen factors that may result in delays. The managers and equipment operators will be trained on the operations and maintenance of the equipment. Follow up technical assistance and coaching will also be provided to ensure proper operation and maintenance of the equipment and the overall management of the enterprise.

Table 1: Category of CIF Grantees and Cost-share Amounts Committed by LADA and Grantees in FY17. Total Grant LADA Agro-Dealer Amount Contribution Grantee Contribution Sub Total 145,360 72,680 72,680 Total Grant LADA Processors/Aggregators Amount Contribution Grantee Contribution Sub Total 3,659,037 1,962,620 1,695,417 Total Grant LADA Capacity Amount Contribution Grantee Contribution 420,000 470,000 50,000 Sub Total Total 4,274,397 2,455,300 1,818,097

Beneficiary Cost Share

Table 2: Grantee Cost Share to date FY17

Grant Total Cost Year to Date Amount Share Comments - Contributed Grantee name Total (Grantee) Items Amount Amount submitted verified Life Focus Liberia $108,100 $55,000 Refrigerated Van ($55k) Processing Facility Construction ($60k) Moonlight Processing Equipment $178,900 $ 139,400 ($39,900) $39,900 $36,680 Loans to 57 women under the LEAD $100,000 $50,000 grant agreement $50,000 $50,000 Land ($20,000) Building Construction Pape Natural ($50,000) Foods Bagging Station and Burner $187,015 $91,250 ($1,250) Working Capital Selma $213,000 Land $11,200 $11,200 Mill installation cost ($5,000) $3,500 Construction-Processing Center ($10,000) Gbeh-Leh Gay Rice Milling Machine Contribution ($100,000) $381,000 $218,000

Power Tiller ($5,000) 65kva Generator ($18,000) $18,000 $18,000 Dokodan Warehouse building ($35,000) Remodeling/Environmental $234,580 $101,000 Mitigation ($10,000)

LADA is currently in the process of hiring an independent consultant who will verify higher value assets including buildings, machinery and land that were pledged by grantees as their cost share amounts. LADA has only been able to very receipts of inventories, lease agreements and smaller assets that were pledged by grantees.

The Access to Finance team worked closely with approval from the CIF team to prepare loan packages for potential beneficiaries who sought loans from USAID Development Credit Authority (DCA) & LADA Guarantee Fund partner banks as part of the matching portion of their financing needs.

Major Initiatives Promoted, Funded and Facilitated by LADA within the Rice, Cassava, Horticulture, Cocoa and Aquaculture Value Chains in FY17

Activities with CARI

CARI and LADA remain close collaborators in the facilitation and dissemination of knowledge to agro-dealers and SHFs. In FY17, CARI supported the LADA team to developed four trainings and two training manuals, conducted two capacity assessments and assisted GCCA/WFLO in the creation of a feasibility study among other accomplishments. CARI and LADA developed two training manuals – one on Safer Handling and Utilization of Agro-inputs and the other on Post-Harvest Handling. The manual on Safer Inputs Handling and Utilization is being used as a reference material and/or training guide for agro-dealers’ trainings on safer inputs utilization and all field-based trainings delivered to LADA supported SHFs on safer inputs handling and use. The manual on Post-Harvest Handling is being used as a reference material and training guide for all field-based trainings on post-harvest handling and loss prevention delivered to LADA supported SHFs, aggregators and processors. Key topics covered in the safer agro-input handling manual include planting materials (seeds, importance of quality seeds, seed management), pesticides inputs, types of pests, basic steps in pest management, fertilizers inputs, types of fertilizers and methods of application, soils, etc. Topics covered under the Post-harvest handling manual include post-harvest handling of rice, cassava and vegetables. Additionally, CARI supported LADA in delivering trainings on safer agro-inputs handling, business management and extension outreach to LADA supported agro-inputs dealers in late May 2017. A post-harvest lost assessment and Equipment Gaps/Needs Assessment were also conducted by CARI this fiscal year. The assessments were carried out with assistance from the LADA

20 component 2 team in project counties of intervention between May and June 2017. These assessments targeted LADA supported SHFs and aggregators. The focus of the post-harvest baseline survey was to gather basic information on post-harvest practices associated with rice, cassava and vegetables. The findings revealed that significant proportion (25.0% or more) of produce is lost by SHFs along the different post-harvest operations. Overall, the results of the post-harvest baseline study are being used to design appropriate strategies and interventions (including awareness and trainings) aim at reducing post-harvest loss. The program intends to carry out an in-depth study in FY18 to capture empirical data on the actual losses. The goal of the equipment gap assessment was to determine the status of post-harvest processing equipment in LADA’s program locations with special focus on two value chain crops in Liberia – rice and cassava. The study identified several gaps with regards to the use of agro-processing equipment along the three value chains. Key among the gaps included the use of smaller rice mill; the unavailability of equipment such as rice harvester, portable rice thresher, etc. Findings from the assessment are being used to better target beneficiaries (clients) as well as identifying specific needs of SHFs, aggregators and processors.

During FY18, LADA will continue collaboration with CARI to conduct a long term in-depth post- harvest in line with cropping season of the major value chain crops – rice, cassava and vegetables.

Finally, as part of technical capacity building support to CARI, CNFA/LADA partnered with Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) to conduct feasibility studies for the establishment of a post- harvest technology service center at CARI’s research facility in Suakoko. GCCA is a strategic partner to CNFA/LADA in facilitating increased private sector investment in post-harvest handling and loss prevention through technical assistance. During the assessment, GCCA team found that the establishment of a post-harvest service center that will address post-harvest loss along the vegetable value chain will go a long way in not only supporting CARI, but will also assist SHFs in reducing post-harvest loss of vegetables. The center will also serve as a model facility for learning and knowledge adoption that could be replicated by private sector agribusinesses in major vegetables growing hubs in different parts of the country. The report on the studies has been submitted to LADA management by GCCA. Rice Value Chain Development Initiatives

Rice Study Tour to Nigeria

As part of efforts to develop the rice valve chain in Liberia to commercial scale, CNFA/LADA facilitated a week-long study tour of industrial rice processing facilities and rice value chain development projects in Nigeria from November 20 – 25, 2016. The study tour participants, which included two CNFA staff, two Ministry of Agriculture staff, three major local rice processors and one staff from each of the Central Agricultural Research Institute and the University of Liberia visited industrial rice processing plants and rice value chain development projects in Nigeria and gained insight of the operations of industrial rice processing plant, interacted with the management

21 teams and other rice value chain actors and take on key lessons learned. The selection of Nigeria for the study tour was based on the dramatic successes the country has attained in developing its rice value chain since the inception of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) which started in 2012 and ended in 2015. The ATA initiative focused on rebuilding an agricultural sector whose relevance had shrunk dramatically. This was reflected in the lack of lending to farmers by financial systems and the dramatic levels of food imports from across the world.

The most important output of the study tour was the in-depth understanding acquired by participants on the operation of industrial rice processing plants, the lessons learned included successes and challenges that have been encountered by the Nigerian Government in developing its rice value chain. The additional experience with commercial scale rice processing and rice value chain development approaches have enabled LADA to effectively commence the development of the rice value chain in Liberia and minimize the recurrence of Figure 3: Liberian stakeholders at rice study tour in Nigeria mistakes by using the best practices of other rice value chain development interventions. The study tour has enable the beneficiaries to commence collaboration with financial institutions to access the needed resources to expand their enterprises. Additionally, the study tour participants are currently using the learnings from the study tour to develop or strengthen their out-growers’ schemes and market linkages with other rice value chain actors. Procurement of Commercial Scale Rice Processing Equipment:

Two integrated rice mills, with a daily capacity of 10-15 MT high quality parboiled rice, are currently being procured and will be installed in Voinjama and Foya District, Lofa County while the procurement and instillation of two medium scale rice mills, with a daily capacity of 6-8 MT, in Gbedin and Karnplay, Nimba County will be completed in March 2018. LADA is collaborating with the MOA/IFAD J-Rice project to construct one factory building in Voinjama, Lofa County to install one integrated rice mill for Selma Agriculture Development Corporation. A local construction Firm, ADI Contractors has been awarded a contract to commence site preparation and mobilization of resources for the construction works. The value of the Selma’s rice milling warehouse construction project is US$210,000 and it is expected to be implemented from January 8, 2018 – February 28, 2018.

To date, five (5) CIF grants have been approved under the rice value chain and are in the pipeline for implementation.

County Number CIF Grantees Grantees Lofa 2 SADC AIIC Nimba 3 Dokodan Gbelay Geh Women Kpodo

LADA’s CIF matching investment grants to these enterprises are being matched with $1,108,500 of the grantees’ own money; bringing the total investment package to $2,362,180. Collaboration with Major Rice Importer in Liberia to Offtake Milled Rice being processed by LADA Beneficiaries

On June 20, 2017, LADA’s management and USAID representatives (Samba Kawa and Maurice Ogutu) held a collaboration meeting with the management of Supplying West Africa Traders (SWAT, Liberia). SWAT imports approximately 60% of the 300,000 MT of rice imported into Liberia each year. In attendance were representatives of four major rice processors being supported by LADA. During the meeting, the CEO of SWAT (Mr. George Nehme) advised that his company would intake any amount of rice processed by LADA beneficiaries. He stressed, however, the need for consistency in Figure 4: CNFA and USAID Team Members in a meeting with the CEO production and the need to know how of SWAT – Mr. George Nehme. much rice SWAT could expect monthly, for allocation of funds and to establish the purchase price. He also explained his preference for parboiled, red local rice and white local rice, respectively. Four rice processors sent representatives to this meeting with rice samples for SWAT to test. As expected, the samples did not meet SWAT minimum quality standards but, after the purchased four commercial scale rice mills are in place for rice processors in Lofa and Nimba Counties, these rice processors will then have the capacity to produce milled rice that meet SWAT’s quality standards.

The CEO of SWAT pledged to start purchasing locally milled rice y once the quantity and quality of the rice is assured. During FY 2018, signature of a PPP between LADA and SWAT is anticipated and identified activities will be implemented. This budding private-public partnership could lead to significant financial gains for SHFs throughout LADA’s beneficiary counties and the sector as a whole.

Cassava Value Chain Development Initiatives

Cassava Study Tour to Nigeria

In addition to the Rice Mill Study Tour, LADA facilitated a 10-day study tour of industrial cassava processing facilities and cassava value chain development projects in Nigeria from May 23 – 31, 2017. The study tour participants included 11 cassava processors, 5 MOA staff, 2 LADA staff and one staff from ZOA International. The participants visited industrial cassava processing plants and cassava value chain development projects in Nigeria and gained insight of the operations of industrial cassava processing plant, interacted with the management teams and other cassava value chain actors and take on key lessons. As with the Rice Mill Study tour, Nigeria was chosen for its success of their Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA).

Figure 5: Liberian stakeholders at cassava study tour in Nigeria The study tour was consisted of site visits, one-on-one discussions with owners and managers of industrial and medium scale cassava processing facilities, representatives of equipment manufacturers, aggregators, SHFs, research institutions and policy makers. Moreover, the Liberian team was able to see live processing operations carried out by both industrial and medium scale cassava millers, tour the processing facilities and saw the work of various processing operations including the production of HQCF, industrial starch, and quality gari. Discussions were also held with some key informants including local equipment manufacturers, processing plant operators/workers and ordinary citizens of Nigeria who provided their prospective on the successes, challenges and lessons learned from the cassava value chain development in Nigeria before and after the launch of the ATA. The participants were able to bring back to Liberia a greater understanding of industrial cassava processing plants and the lessons learned by the Nigerian Government in developing its cassava value chain. It is hopeful that this tour of commercial scale cassava processing as well as the Nigerian cassava value chain development approaches will enable CNFA/LADA, the Ministry of Agriculture, and cassava processors to meaningfully commence implementing plans to intensify cassava commercialization in Liberia. After the trip to Nigeria, CNFA/LADA has aggressively begun promoting private sector investment in commercial scale cassava milling equipment and the development of high value cassava based products including HQCF, industrial starch and odorless fufu. Procurement of Commercial Scale Cassava Processing Equipment

In FY17, LADA awarded $617,070 of its CIF matching investment grants to four cassava processing enterprises to upgrade their processing facilities to modern, efficient and high-capacity

24 agro-processing enterprise that will have the capacity to uninterruptedly supply high quality cassava based products to clients including local consumers, restaurants and supermarkets. The upgrading of these cassava processing enterprises guarantees a stable and reliable supply of products to their clients and a stream of income for the enterprises and partner SHFs. The procurement of cassava processing equipment and expansion of existing processing facilities of these enterprises are currently ongoing and expected to be commissioned in early 2018.

Three (3) CIF grants have been awarded to cassava processing enterprises3 in LADA operational counties.

County Number CIF Grantees Grantees Montserrado 1 Bravo Sisters Bong 1 Women and Children Nimba 1 Royal Investment

LADA’s CIF matching investment grants to these enterprises are being matched with $193,817 of the grantees’ own money; bringing the total investment package to $305,945.

CNFA/LADA Collaborates with MOA to Strengthen Productive Capacities of Small Scale Cassava Processors in LADA Operational Areas

On October 25, 2016, the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with CNFA/LADA donated 15 cassava processing machines (worth approximately US$30,000) to 15 small scale cassava processing enterprises that were identified and selected by LADA in Montserrado, Bong, Nimba and Lofa Counties. The original structural design of the processing equipment needed to be modified, however, before handing them over to the beneficiaries due to engineering defects.

Figure 6: LADA former AOR and COP at the donation ceremony of cassava processing equipment

3 Total current production of these enterprises is not available at this moment, but will be evaluated during the development of business management coaching plans in FY2018. Monitoring of future production will be part of the coaching activities.

CNFA/LADA funded the modification of the processing equipment and trained the beneficiaries, distributed the equipment, and currently are providing follow-up technical assistance to beneficiaries (worth approximately US$35,000). The training and follow up technical assistance includes business management skills development and equipment operation and maintenance, which will continue over a period of 3 years.

Upon successfully handing over and installing the processing equipment, beneficiaries of the donated equipment commenced full scale operations and have processed a total of 24,445kg cassava based products that were sold at a market value of $10,774. This slow start of commercial scale processing is due to limited supply of fresh cassava by cassava farmers whose harvest are largely being consumed by their households. However, it is anticipated that in FY18 and beyond, the processing output of these enterprises will be expanded to meet the growing demand for cassava based products due to LADA’s continual support to the development of out-growers’ schemes.

Vegetable Value Chain Development Initiatives

During FY17, two major vegetable aggregation enterprises and other producers’ organizations being supported by CNFA/LADA aggregated and sold a total of 198.5 metric tons of assorted vegetables to leading hotels, supermarkets, restaurants and other market outlets in Monrovia; as well as Supreme Food (supplier of dry food rations to the United Nations peace keeping mission in Liberia – UNMIL). The two aggregation enterprises include Life Focus Liberia and the Careysburg Vegetable Cluster of Montserrado County. A total of $248,050 was generated from sales made by the two vegetable aggregators and producers’ organization that sold their produce directly to end-markets. All of the vegetables that were aggregated and sold by these aggregators and producers’ organizations were produced by more than 2,000 SHFs who are beneficiaries of LADA intervention. LADA is currently providing technical assistance to these SHFs for them to consistently produce assorted varieties of high value vegetables being demanded by end-markets in Monrovia and other urban centers in Liberia. The technical assistance being provided by LADA include farm business planning, appropriate agronomic practices, business management, post- harvest handling and market linkages.

Life Focus - Liberia and the Careysburg Vegetable Cluster4 are the biggest vegetable aggregators in Liberia with strong business relationships with more than 100 vegetable producers’ organizations and major hotels and supermarkets in Monrovia including the Farmington Hotel at the Roberts International Airport, Royal Grand Hotel, Boulevard Hotel, LIBASSA Eco Lodge, RLJ (Kendeja); as well as Greenland Supermarket, Exclusive Supermarket etc.

4 Total current production of these enterprises is not available at this moment, but will be evaluated during the development of business management coaching plans in FY2018. Monitoring of future production will be part of the coaching activities.

To further strengthen the technical capacities of vegetable producers’ organizations and aggregators, LADA in FY18, will engage the professional services of a reputable Vegetable Packing House within the African sub-region to provide technical assistance to these enterprises. It is anticipated that the selected Vegetable Packing House will deploy to Liberia one vegetable production specialist and a vegetable aggregation and marketing expert who will work closely with CNFA/LADA team to deliver trainings and coaching on appropriate vegetable production practices as well as aggregation and marketing of high-value vegetable varieties for both domestic and international markets. Cocoa Value Chain Development Initiatives

LADA’s activities and accomplishments in support of the cocoa value chain were concentrated on identification of value chain actors for further support. A total of 25,829 SHFs (18,575 males and 7,254 females) from 16 cocoa farmers’ cooperatives in Bong, Nimba and Lofa Counties were profiled and enrolled into LADA’s pipeline for technical assistance. These farmers will receive technical capacity building support from LADA in 2018. The technical assistance package will include trainings and advisory services on farmers’ organization development, business management as well as post-harvest handling, warehouse management and produce marketing. Additionally, 15 major cocoa aggregators from Bong, Nimba and Lofa were profiled and enrolled into LADA’s pipeline. These aggregators will be provided technical assistance on appropriate post-harvest technologies, warehousing, business management and market linkages. The technical assistance will provide the cocoa cooperatives and aggregators with best business management principles, appropriate quality control measures and as well as access high value markets for their produce; thereby strengthening the productive capacities of SHFs and agro-enterprises within the cocoa value chain.

Table 4: Cocoa farmers’ cooperatives and aggregators profiled in Bong, Nimba and Lofa Counties during FY17. Program Number of Membership Qty of Produce Sale Location Cooperatives sold during last Amount (County) & M F Total harvest season (USD) Aggregators (2016) MT Bong County 10 1,394 632 2,026 263 438,879 Nimba County 12 2,802 356 3,158 1,176 2,032,539 Lofa County 9 14,379 6,266 20,645 450.8 766,404 Total 31 18,575 7,254 25,829 1,889.8 3,237,822

Due to the commercial relevance and high-income generation potential of cocoa as clearly shown in the table above, LADA will also link the above-mentioned farmers’ cooperatives and enterprises to financial institutions to access the needed working capital to expand their businesses. The technical assistance coupled with the acquisition of working capital would enable these cooperatives and aggregators to sustainably increase their operational capacities and productivity levels.

Aquaculture Value Chain Development Initiatives

In FY17, LADA’s main accomplishments in the aquaculture were: - identification and assessment of aquaculture enterprises in LADA operational areas; - training of 26 aquaculture farmers on stock management, local feed formulation using locally available feed ingredients and business management; - training of 23 technicians of the Bureau of National Fisheries and technical staff of fish farming enterprises. The training topics included production and brood stock selection, stock management, fish nutrition and feed formulation using locally available fish feed ingredients etc.; as well as business management; - Identification of technical shortcomings of equipment distributed by the Ministry of Agriculture, and introduction of modifications of the equipment; - Approved a $70,000 capacity building grant to Catalyst In December 2016, LADA hired the services of Catalyst – Liberia to support the implementation of aquaculture activities within LADA’s operational areas in Montserrado, Bong, Nimba and Lofa Counties. Catalyst is a national aquaculture development NGO with more than ten years professional experience in implementation aquaculture interventions in Liberia.

As part of the engagement with Catalyst, an assessment was conducted by Catalyst in December 2016 to identify fish farmers per locations in all four Harvest at the Bong County Leprosarium Pond counties of intervention, know their potentials in term of technical capacities and extension knowledge in fish farming. The assessment identified that majority (68%) of the fish farmers are concentrated in Bong County, followed by Nimba 20%, Lofa 11% and only 1% in Monrovia. The assessment illustrated that there are large capacity gaps. Pond owners needed assistance on pond management, local fish feed formulation and production; as well as access to quality breeds of fingerlings, business development services and post-harvest handling support services. To address the capacity gaps and improve the productive capacities of smallholder aquaculture farmers, the Ministry of Agriculture gave LADA 15 fish feed pelleting machines for onward delivery to fish farming enterprises within LADA’s operations areas. However, these machines could not be used on a commercial base du to design issues. The original structural design of the processing equipment needed to be modified before handing them over to beneficiaries due to engineering defects. CNFA/LADA funded the modification of the processing equipment, trained beneficiaries, distributed the equipment and provided follow-up technical assistance (worth approximately US$35,000). The training and follow up technical assistance to beneficiaries covered equipment operation and maintenance as well as business management skills development. Unfortunately, the engineering defects on the fish feed pelleting machines remained

28 a serious challenge in getting the equipment to operate at commercial scale despite of modification of the structural design and persistent repairs and maintenance. For FY2017, LADA did not systematically collect data on fish feed production or fish harvest as the program focus was on strengthening the production capacity of fish farmers. Systematic data collection will be done in FY18. Meanwhile, as part of its commitment to support the development of the aquaculture value chain in Liberia and ensure that beneficiaries of the MOA donated fish feed pelleting machines and other aquaculture farmers have access to locally produced fish feed and good quality fingerlings and technical assistance, LADA granted a $70,000 CIF capacity matching grant to Catalyst – Liberia. The LADA funds, together with the equity contribution of Catalyst – Liberia will be used to purchase five (5) complete sets of fish feed processing equipment for fish farming enterprises that received LADA/MOA donated fish feed pelleting machines to operate the machines on fees for service basis. Additionally, the Gbarnga and Ganta leprosariums that are rearing fish to meet the protein needs of lepers will receive technical assistance, support for rehabilitation work and improved breeds of fingerlings including tilapia, Heterotis niloticus and catfish for the newly rehabilitated fish ponds. Catalyst will also provide technical assistance to aquaculture farmers within LADA program locations as well as improved line of fish breeds at its hatchery on cost- recovery basis in order to replace current breeding stocks as outlined in the Department of Fishery guidelines. Sub IR 2.1 – MSME’s access to finance and business development services improved

The LADA Credit Guarantee Fund

This is another key instrument the LADA activity is using to leverage private sector investment in post-harvest handling among its beneficiaries. This US$500,000 Guarantee Facility (GF) provides up to 50% risk coverage to catalyze extension of credits for agricultural inputs, processing and sales from potential partner financial institutions. The GF risk coverage is provided to catalyze the extension of credit by banks or MFI’s to input supply companies and agricultural processors and aggregators.

In FY17, LADA signed several Loan Guarantee Agreements with local banks to provide risk coverage for its beneficiaries who were accessing loans to develop their businesses. LADA guarantees 50% of each loan. The aggregate maximum guarantee for all banks is $500,000.

The first was with the Liberia Bank for Development and Investment (LBDI). The signing of this agreement created immediate impact as one of the leading rice processor in Liberia, Fabrar Liberia Inc. received a loan of $125,000.00 from Liberia Bank for Development and Investment to purchase 200 metric tons of paddy rice from Dokodan Farmer’s Cooperative in Nimba County. The financing of Fabrar Liberia Inc. by LBDI under the LADA Credit Guarantee Fund not only provided a lifeline to Fabrar, but was also timely in resolving a stalemate between Dokodan farmer’s and the MOA and leading to farmers who had produced the paddy to receive much needed income.

This was followed by the signing of two agreements between LADA and Afriland First Bank Liberia Limited. One was a Loan Guarantee Agreement and the other a Technical Assistance

Agreement (TAA). Under the Loan Guarantee Agreement, Afriland provided financing opportunities or debt financing to key processors and aggregators all beneficiaries of Liberia Agribusiness Development Activity. Under the TA Agreement LADA will strengthen Afriland’s capacities trough training and support to the creation of an Agri-lending Unit. With the TAA, LADA provided direct assistance to Afriland First Bank in order to reduce barriers in lending to actors along the agriculture value chain. In exchange, Afriland committed available funds that could prudently be spared as loans to agricultural clients in the LADA areas of operations, in accordance with the bank’s policies and following good practices that would be determined solely by the bank in the context of providing its own funds. To date, the following beneficiaries have received risk coverage for their loans under the LADA Credit Guarantee Fund:

Table 5: LADA Credit Guarantee Coverage FY17 Beneficiary Bank Loan Amount LADA GF Coverage (guarantee) Fabrar Liberia Inc. Liberia Bank for $125,000.005 $62,500.00 Development & Investment Life Focus Liberia Afriland First Bank $ 75,000.00 $ 9,375.00 Bravo Sister Enterprise Afriland First Bank $ 17,000.00 $ 2,125.00 $217,000.00 $74,000.00 DCA LOANS Moon Light Afriland First Bank $100,000.00 50% DCA Coverage Selma Agriculture Afriland First Bank $100,000.00 50% DCA Coverage Development Cooperative $ 200,000.00 Grand Total $417,000.00

Agricultural Loans Facilitation:

The LADA team facilitated agricultural loans totaling US$546,714.30 for a number of its beneficiaries during the year under review (EG.3.2-6). Of this amount, US$125,000 went to Fabrar Liberia Ltd., US$100,000 for Selma Agriculture Corporation in Lofa County, US$100,000 for Moon Light Metal Works, US$75,000 for Life Focus Liberia Ltd., US$17,000 for Bravo Sisters Enterprise, US$85,714.30 for 57 members of the Gbelay Geh Cooperative and US$44,000.00 to vegetable farmers in Montserrado County. The loan to Gbeley Geh Cooperative is not guaranteed by LADA.

5 Fabrar is respecting the loan agreement that will come to an end in May 2018. Both partners are considering a new credit line. 30

DCA Utilization Rate:

As part of plan to increase its Implementation Plan and further discussions with USAID Mission officials in Liberia as well as officials of USAID/DCA in the US, LADA is a major facilitator for the DCA facility in Liberia. Principal amount disbursed by the three DCA partner’s banks in Liberia is $10,714,482.89, LADA is providing significant training, reporting and administrative assistance to the banks, especially Afriland; as a result, in FY17, there was an increase in cumulative DCA utilization rate for all partner banks from 72% to 75% (LADA 2.1.1) with almost all disbursements done by Afriland First Bank. DCA rates for Eco bank Liberia Ltd, International Bank Liberia Ltd and Afriland First Bank stand at 52%, 81% and 92% respectively.

Sub IR 2.2 – Increased knowledge of post-harvest handling practices

To increase knowledge of post-harvest handling practices in its targeted counties in Liberia, LADA worked closely with the MOA and in particular with its extension staff in the implementation counties. In FY17, LADA reached 9,448 SHFs (3,610 males and 5,838 females) through trainings and advisory services on post-harvest handling and loss prevention, business management and market linkages. These SHFs were drawn from 159 farmers’ organizations and cooperatives in Montserrado, Bong, Nimba and Lofa Counties. Additionally, thirty aggregators and agro- processors of the different value chains were provided with technical assistance on appropriate methods safe handling of farm produce, packaging and storage techniques; as well as agro- processing equipment operation and maintenance procedures and business development services.

Results from post-training follow up visits made by LADA field staff and MOA personnel indicated that most of the training beneficiaries are now applying the knowledge and skills acquired from the training in their day to day agricultural production activities. Specifically, some SHFs indicated that the post-harvest and loss prevention trainings taught them when and how to harvest their crops; as well as safe handling of farm produce and appropriate packaging and storage techniques. These SHFs have claimed that in the utilization of these practices, they have seen an increase in their income due to the better quality of produce they are able to provide in comparison to the period before receiving the trainings. Farmers who benefited from the Business Management training have also indicated that the knowledge acquired in farm business management has tremendously improved their skills in farm planning, farm management, marketing, record keeping and how to manage working capital. In furtherance of its objective to increase knowledge of post-harvest handling practices, LADA collaborated with ACDI/VOCA’s Farmer to Farmer program to bring into Liberia a volunteer who provided technical assistance to LADA’s supported agro-processors on equipment operations, maintenance, repairs and management. The volunteer also supported local agro-processing equipment fabricators with appropriate skills and knowledge on how to fabricate some small scale but very important and appropriate processing equipment for use by SHFs. This technical assistance has increased the enterprises’ productivity levels and make meaningful contributions to the development of the emerging processed food industry in Liberia. Currently, there are 30 aggregators and agro-processors who are aggregating and processing vegetables, rice and cassava

31 at commercial scale within LADA’s operational areas in Montserrado, Bong Nimba and Lofa counties with total sale amount of $525,339 in FY17. Quarter 4 Updates:

Postharvest Technology Training for SHF, aggregators and processors

During the quarter, LADA partnered with the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), major aggregators, processors and smallholder farmers’ organizations and conducted series of workshops for 4,164 smallholder farmers (1,447 males and 2,717 females) in Montserrado, Bong, Nimba and Lofa Counties. The trainings focused on farm business management and post-harvest handling and loss prevention and were jointly facilitated by CNFA/LADA staff and a team of technicians from the MOA. Additionally, the LADA team provided follow up technical assistance to 20 farm produce aggregators and processors on appropriate post-harvest harvest handling practices including harvesting and storage techniques; as well as processing for value addition and the use of packaging materials to package processed food commodities. This technical assistance has enabled these entrepreneurs to start increasing their productivity levels and making meaningful contributions to the development of the emerging processed food industry in Liberia. A total of US$76,538 was generated from sales made by these 20 farm produce aggregators and processors.

CIF Grant Management Activities

As part of LADA’s efforts to provide matching investment grants to support private investment in agricultural projects in the targeted LADA three agro-dealer businesses and three aggregation/agro-processing enterprises were approved for CIF grants. The owners of these businesses demonstrated the need for the funds and submitted proposals to CNFA/LADA. A total of US$433,000 in-kind grants will be disbursed to these enterprises by CNFA/LADA while the grantees will contribute US$332,000 as their cost share of the investment.

The agro-dealer businesses that were approved for CIF grants include Jeff Merchandise, Sunrise Agro-Chemicals and Glay Paw-Jay while the aggregators and agro- processors were Kpodo Farmers’ Cooperative, Patom Enterprise and Pape Natural Food.

Component 3 (IR 3): Strengthen facilitation of investment, market information, advocacy and support systems

Quarter 1 through Quarter 3 Summary:

From co-sponsorship of the Liberia MSME Conference with the MOCI in November 2016, to the launch of the Agribusiness Investment Network (AIN), to facilitating the drafting of the National Standards Act and Food Law, as well as facilitating the establishment of the National Codex 32

Committee of Liberia, LADA activities under Component Three swung into gear in FY17. The long-term impact of these activities will not only accrue to LADA’s beneficiaries in the targeted counties but the country at large.

4th Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Conference

The staff of LADA led by its former COP, Mr. Daniel Gies lent significant support to the MOCI in bringing to the Liberian people the 4th Annual Micro, Small, Medium Enterprise (MSME) Conference in November 2016. The theme of the conference “From Vision to Implementation- Buying Liberian, Building Liberia” and “Promoting Women Entrepreneurship for Economic Empowerment,” focused on women empowerment aimed at encouraging women entrepreneurship, promoting government inclusive growth agenda, and helping women owned businesses to build new partnerships that can transform them. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry reported that the Conference attracted well over 1000 participants.

LADA’s contribution to the Conference comprised of providing a consultant to the MOCI for the event, leading several panel discussions, printing invitations, ensuring two venues would be available to host vendors and conference attendees, all breakfasts, lunches, and the awards dinner in which President Ellen-Johnson Sirleaf attended. LADA facilitated advertisement of the event in print and radio as well as live streaming sessions of the conference online.

LADA also served as coordinator to the MOCI in aggregating SHFs and agri-businesses to showcase their food products to the general public. Over 11 LADA-supported vendors were present to sell their vegetables, processed farina and other goods to dignitaries and local population. Their businesses were prominently placed at the entrance and attracted President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and VP Joseph Boakai who took the opportunity to engage and purchase from the vendors.

LADA’s commitment to the conference resulted in the appearance of the President of CNFA, Sylvain Roy and VP of Programs, Sheryl Cowan who served as guest speaker. During her speech, she spoke of LADA’s goal of ensuring women integration in agribusiness through its financial tools, Co-Investment and Guaranty Funds. She shared the plight faced by rural farming women who exert great effort but see little in financial return because they lack information and opportunity. She explained that LADA will help bring capacity to these women through its many programs. CEO Sylvain Roy launched the AIN with its coordinator William Dennis, from BSC, and expressed his admiration for the dedication of the MOCI and vendors in putting together an event that served a much larger vision of realizing entrepreneurship by women in so many sectors.

Food Safety Workshop

In FY17, LADA hosted a food safety workshop dubbed “HOW SAFE IS YOUR FOOD?” This was done in collaboration with the MOH, MOA and MOCI from March 13 to 30, 2017. Food safety and laboratory support are important agenda activities for many governmental agencies as they identify opportunities to increase exports and improve food safety on the local market. The workshop was attended by 75 major stakeholders in the food industry. The workshops were facilitated by Christine Blackledge, subject matter expert and Dr. Vincent Hegarty of the Institute for Food Laws and Regulations at Michigan State University. The workshop was attended by food manufacturers, producers, distributors and associations, private sector organizations, universities and NGOs.

Due to limited financial resources in Liberia, Hegarty advised the government to concentrate effort and financing on a cohesive unit that can service agro-processing needs and oversee the safe production of food. This can only be done with the involvement of Liberian government, academics, ministries, and local industries. Hegarty explained that with the current food laws and regulations, Liberia could serve as a dumping ground for unsafe food which could drastically reduce or prevent export opportunities for food producers.

CODEX Alimentarius or "Food Code

Though not initially part of LADA’s plans, the activity launched a major new initiative to address deficiencies in Liberia’s food safety standards in FY17. This action was necessitated by the need to substitute imported food with locally-grown food and explore the international market for the export of local products after an arrangement to export food (vegetables) from Liberia to European markets failed due to lack of food safety standards. In response, LADA therefore initiated a process to examine how Liberia could achieve a food safety regime that would support vegetable exports. To facilitate this effort, LADA provided two US expert consultants in food law to the Government of Liberia through the MOCI. Their duties were to assess the Liberian food industry, identify gaps, determine a path forward, and advance world-standard recommendations.

After the 3 weeks assessment, the CNFA/LADA experts concluded that: “food safety programs in Liberia are either non-existent or completely ineffective. The country has no food laws and regulations; no food inspection service; inadequate laboratories to test for harmful chemicals and

34 pathogenic microorganisms in food; very few, if any, personnel trained in food safety; and no food safety teaching and/or research at the universities.”

The National Standards Act and Food Law

As a follow-up, LADA facilitated the establishment the National Codex Technical Working Group (TWG), a joint initiative of the Government of Liberia, CNFA/LADA, and the private sector. The initiative gained the strong support of the Ministers of MOA and MOCI, who sent formal requests for CNFA/LADA leadership in this effort. To support these ministers, the TWG developed a roadmap that would lead to the drafting and adoption of the first National Standards Act and the National Food Law in late June 2017, in line with the President of Liberia’s deliverable for legislative reform before the end of her tenure of office. Building on this commitment by the Liberian President, LADA agreed and provided the technical expertise to develop the National Standards Act and Food Law. To leverage this effort, CNFA/LADA also received co-funding from the ECOWAS Quality System Program that provided regional experts which ensured that all legal documents related to food safety were in conformity and in line with ECOWAS’ standards. As part of the Government of Liberia’s 150 days deliverable backed by a request from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry under a tight time limit, CNFA/LADA hired four local consultants backed by ECOWAS’ consultant to draft and validate the National Standard Act and Food Law within 30 days. The documents also received inputs from African Union Consultant and other major stakeholders in Liberia including the Liberia Chamber of Commerce, the Liberia Business Association, and the Liberia Marketing Association, among others.

Within a one-month period, several meetings were held to get stakeholders’ buy-in including reception awareness. On June 30, 2017, the consultants and the National Codex Committee validated the two documents at the Corina Hotel in Monrovia. About 100 persons representing different institutions from public and private sectors attended the validation; including representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, World Health Organization, ministries of Health, Agriculture and Commerce and Industry, the Liberia Business Association, the Liberia Chamber of Commerce, the Liberia Marketing Association, Baker Union of Liberia, the Consumer Council of Liberia among others. All of the representatives applauded LADA for supporting the development of the National Standards Act and Food Law and at the same time called on the government of Liberia through the National Legislature to quickly pass the law and the Act.

Sub IR 3.2 – Capacity of AIN to increase investment in selected value chains strengthened

The AIN was launched by Mr. Sylvain Roy, President of CNFA at the 4th annual MSME Conference in November 2016. The Agribusiness Investment Network (AIN) is an ancillary organization established and supported by LADA to facilitate business relationships that link suppliers, buyers, producers, investors, etc. to participate alongside LADA’s targeted value chains to maximize investment and promote policy intervention that will improve the regulatory

35 environment in Liberia. This network is under the supervision of the Business Start-Up Center (BSC) Monrovia who coordinates and manages all its day to day activities. During the year under review, LADA signed a four-year agreement with the BSC to ensure sustainability of the AIN.

Since its formal launch, the AIN has been working to establish and build a membership database as well as institute a number of policy initiatives to increase private sector investment in targeted value chains. Key among these included holding its first Roundtable Discussion with stakeholders, the AIN Policy Forum, the Cassava Sector Planning Retreat and the Rice Sector Forum.

The AIN held its first roundtable meeting with over 20 groups and 57 participants in March 2017. The roundtable discussion was intended to bring together all the actors in the agribusiness sector to introduce the Network in detail and discuss the plan for the year 2017 under review, brainstorm on issues affecting them and how can the network address these issues. During the discussion, participants made some salient points and suggestions on how the network can be more effective and sustainable.

The policy forum was intended to provide clarity on laws or policies that are affecting agribusinesses in Liberia and also brainstormed on the creation of new policies for improvement in the agriculture sector in Liberia. The Cassava sector retreat will bring together actors within the value chain to provide strategic framework implementation plan for the improvement of value addition of Cassava in Liberia for economic empowerment. The Rice sector forum or workshop also saw all the actors along the value chain crafting a strategic implementation framework plan for the improvement of production, processing and value addition of rice in Liberia. In summary, the accomplishments of the AIN in FY17 are as follows: • Registered and established the Network (LRB Registration) • Open the Regional Desk in Bong which also covers on Nimba and Lofa Counties. • Database and profile over 200 agribusinesses across Montserrado, Nimba, Lofa, Bong and Grand Bassa Counties. • Organized 4 Periodic AIN Membership Meetings • Submitted to the Seeds, Fertilizer, Pesticides Acts and Regulations to the Senate Committees • Supported and supervised the drafting the National Standard Laboratory and the Food Law

• Supported the planning process and participated in the Macro Small Medium Enterprise (MSME) Conference • Supervising and advising the Local Agribusinesses Networks (LANs) in Bong, Nimba and Lofa Counties (Ongoing) • Developed and launch the AIN website for information purposes Quarter 4 Updates: Sub IR 3.1 – Increased access to market information and digital financial services

Digital Financial Services (DFS):

In September 2017, Liberia Entrepreneurial Assets Development (LEAD), LADA and ORANGE (formerly Cellcom) Liberia signed a memorandum of understanding for the implementation and use of “SMILE MOBILE MONEY” as a means through wish loans are disbursed, repayments are collected from farmers in rural parts of the country. As part of a pilot project implemented by LEAD, an initial amount of $100,000 consisting of 50% contributions from both CNFA/LADA and LEAD was disbursed to 57 women of Gbehley Geh Women Cooperative on 21 September 2017 through SMILE mobile money. So far, the process has proven successful and improved financial services for farmers in rural parts of the country. The use of DFS saves farmers lots of time, stress and challenges of traveling longer distances to banks. Base on the results of DFS and its benefits to farmers all loans to LEAD recommended through LADA are currently being disbursed through DFS and repayment are expected through the same medium.

LADA also carried out some activities under its access to market information initiative. LADA is the producer of On the Farm, a monthly radio program that informs farmers on how best they can engage agro- inputs dealers, processors and aggregators in order to improve crop production, add value, and find market for farm produce. There is a market information section of the program where prevailing prices of LADA value chain crops are given. The market information is gathered by LADA’s Communications and Programs teams.

3. LADA CROSSCUTTING ACTIVITIES

Quarter 1 through Quarter 3 Summary:

Access to Finance:

In addition to its CIF facility, LADA facilitated several loan agreements and provided a number of customized trainings in FY17 in order to increase access to finance for its beneficiaries.

In FY17, under Component Three, LADA established financing opportunities for its beneficiaries through the signing of a loan guarantee agreements and Technical Assistance Agreement. In Q1, FY17, Liberia Agribusiness Development Activity and the Liberia Bank for Development and Investment (LBDI) signed a Loan Guarantee Agreement on 9th November 2016 unlocking financing opportunities for small holder farmers and rice processors in Liberia. The signing of this agreement created immediate impact as one of the leading rice processor in Liberia, Fabrar Liberia Inc. received a loan of $125,000.00 from Liberia Bank for Development and Investment to

37 purchase 200 metric tons of paddy rice from Dokodan Farmer’s Cooperative in Nimba County. The financing of Fabra Liberia Inc. by Liberia Bank for Development and Investment was timely in resolving a stalemate between Dokodan farmer’s and Ministry of Agriculture thereby bringing smiles on the faces of ordinary farmers by increasing their incomes and livelihood.

During Q3, FY17, LADA and Afriland First Bank Liberia Limited signed Loan Guarantee Agreement and Technical Assistance Agreement on 3rd April 20176. Under the Loan Guarantee Agreement, Afriland will provide financing opportunities or debt financing to key processors and aggregators all beneficiaries of Liberia Agribusiness Development Activity.

Loans granted to LADA’s beneficiaries from Afriland First Bank

Upon the signing of the Loan Guarantee Agreement, LADA submitted a total of five loans to Afriland First Bank Limited for considerations: Selma Agriculture Development Corporation (SADC) a local rice processor in Lofa County received amount of $400,000 as loan. $300,000 of the loan amount will be used along with matching fund from CNFA/LADA for purchase of 10-ton modern rice mill from Alvan Blanch, covers operational expenses, settle customs duties and any other cost that may arise. The balance $100,000 of the amount will serve as working capital for day to day operations of the company.

Life Focus Liberia, vegetable aggregator located in Montserrado County received the amount of $75,000.00 as loan for the purpose of purchasing a refrigerator truck and providing working capital. The refrigerator truck will improve storage, quality and safety of vegetables products. Procurement has been completed and truck is expected in the Country in few weeks. Purchasing of this truck will increase Life Focus ability to attract sales from top notch restaurants across the country thereby creating employment and expansion opportunities.

Moonlight Metal Works and Garage, a local equipment fabricator located in Bong County received $100,000. The purpose of the loan is to construct a processing plant, purchase raw materials from Ghana, Togo and Ivory Coast. Relocating the processing plant from its current location is important because current facility is located between a church and a school. As a result of the loan, Moonlight is able to produce high standard equipment and perform key contracts the Company could not deliver on in the past due to the lack of proper equipment.

Bravo Sister Enterprise a food processor in Montserrado County (the processing facility is located in Margibi County but they have their administrative offices and main sale point at Johansen, on the UN Drive in Monrovia) received $17,000. The loan assisted the Company to fulfill a contract from Mary’s Meal International Organization based in Liberia involve in food feeding programs. The loan has transformed the Company’s cash flows; today it is capable of financing many contracts on its own.

6 Notwithstanding Afriland Bank’s participation in the DCA program, LADA signed a loan guarantee agreement with Afriland Bank because Afriland had already used up around 90% of the DCA guarantee and could not enroll new beneficiaries of LADA. 38

Agricultural Infrastructure Investment Corporation (AIIC), a major rice processor in Lofa County request of $375,000 is currently under review at Afriland First Bank. The loan purpose is to provide matching fund along with grant from CNFA/LADA for the purchase of a 10-metric ton modern rice mill from Alvan Blanch.

Table 5: Summary of Disbursements from Afriland First Bank during FY17 Beneficiary Loan Amount Disbursement Date Expiry Date MOON LIGHT 100,000.00 May 23, 2017 June 30, 2019 BRAVO SISTER 17,000.00 June 20, 2017 Feb. 28, 2019 SELMA 100,000.00 Aug. 29, 2017 Aug. 29, 2020 LIFE FOCUS 75,000.00 June 13, 2017 May. 31, 2019 TOTAL $292,000.00

Loans from LEAD Micro Finance On 14th June 2017, LADA and LEAD signed Loan Guarantee Agreement. The purpose is to unlock financing opportunities for agro-dealers, processors and aggregators, by providing 50% principal- only guarantee on all loans granted to agricultural clients recommended from LADA. The objective is to ensure that these focused actors have access to investment credit and working capital if they are to maintain inventories sufficient to meet client demand during peak growing seasons. As a result of this agreement, LADA has recommended more than (77) seventy-seven small holder farmers from Montserrado County to LEAD for financing value more than $135,000. To date, about six small holder farmer’s groups have received loans valued a little over $25,000 as LEAD continues to conduct due diligence and disbursements to other farmer’s groups. It is expected once the first group of farmers from Montserrado County is completed LEAD will proceed with financing activities for farmers in Bong, Nimba and Lofa Counties. Capacity Building Training for Afriland Bank Staff As part of Technical Assistance Agreement signed between CNFA/LADA and Afriland First Bank, LADA hired Koen Wasmus, and International Consultant of Wasmus Consultancy to provide Onsight training for Branch Manager, Portfolio Manager, Compliance Officer and Risk Officers of Afriland First Bank on Credit Analysis and International best practices. The training was to further increase Afriland Bank’s agricultural lending capacity. The Consultant performed his work in Liberia in June and July 2017. Specific training objectives were to enhance best- practice agricultural lending skill; and to increase knowledge of key agricultural value chains and crops. The training was completed by delivery of “Lending Toolkit” consisting of practical tools to ease agricultural lending. Gender and Youth Activities Ensuring gender and youth integration into LADA’s activities is a commitment the LADA team takes seriously. This commitment does not only emanate from CNFA’s agreement with USAID but also from the need to positively respond to the gender gap and lack of youth involvement in agriculture as the following empirical data show: In Liberia, women represent 52.2% of Liberia’s farmers and 57% of its farmhands. Further, women reportedly produce more than 60% of Liberia’s

39 agricultural output7”. Even though women perform most of the roles in agricultural activities, their return is very low.8 Youth constitute over 60% of the country’s population with the most favorable age group of a workforce. Sadly, youth unemployment rate of the country is estimated at 85%9. In FY17, LADA continued its gender and youth integration activities by merging the supervisory responsibilities for gender and youth functions under one person. The Gender Specialist became the Gender and Youth Specialist while the Youth Specialist became the Youth Livelihood Development Officer. With the streamlining of these positions, LADA is poised to more effectively respond to gender and youth issues in the targeted areas with activities focused on training, provision of grants and coaching staff, agro-dealers, processors, aggregators and SHFs. During the year, gender awareness training was focused on creating awareness among LADA staff on how to mainstream or integrate gender during activity implementation. In total, 22 staff participated in the Gender Capacity Building Workshop held in February 2017. Among those who participated in the workshop, 14% were above age 45, 54% were between the ages of 30 and 45, 9% were under 30 and the ages of 23% were unknown. Staff from all departments in LADA took part in the training and are now more aware of gender issues and have been active in integrating these into their activities.

In terms of the gender breakdown of the number of SHFs trained by LADA in FY17, the following table is indicative:

Table 6: Training of LADA beneficiaries Inputs utilization, Post-harvest handling & lose prevention and Business Management County Sex Tota Percentage Youth Tota Total Percentage l l Male female Male Female Male Female % youth Male Female Nimba 770 2134 2904 26.5 73.5 619 769 1388 47.8 21.3 26.5 Bong 740 1160 1900 38.9 61.1 301 428 729 38.4 15.8 22.5 Lofa 1028 1305 2333 44.1 55.9 612 845 1457 62.5 26.2 36.2 Monrovia 971 1352 2323 41.8 58.2 285 521 806 34.7 12.3 22.4 Total 3509 5951 9460 37.1 62.9 1817 2563 4380 46.3 19.2 27.1 Source: M&E data and Counties reports 2017 Table 6 above shows that out of the total beneficiaries who have received short-term agricultural sector productivity or food security training by LADA for FY17, 37.1% constitute males and 62.9% constitute females while youth participation is at 46.3%. This data shows that LADA was well above its threshold of 30% female trained.

7 AgCLIR Report on Liberia 2015 8 Women’s hard work tend to be quite modest, a factor that limits them to subsistence agriculture. Women’s access to assets and inputs is limited, beginning with land. Only 10% of women own land, compared with 44% of men. When women do not own land, their chiefs or communities may provide land they can farm, but it is typically of lower quality, and far from their villages and feeder roads. 9 http://www.theperspective.org/2017/1010201701.php Accessed 08/10/2017 40

CIF grants for LADA Women Beneficiaries: LADA is committed to providing at least 25% of its CIF funding to women-owned businesses. This is principally to address the imbalance women face in getting funding for their businesses. In FY17, LADA awarded 27 CIF grants to selected businesses with 10 being women-owned. In terms of the amounts committed to date, 31.35% went to women-owned businesses. The tables show that LADA achieved minimum of 25% female beneficiaries both in numbers and amount on grants approved.

Table 7 LADA grant beneficiaries Approved Grants Number and percentage by gender Amount and percentage approved by gender No. of No. of Total % of % of Amt. to Amt. to Total % amount % amount Males Females number males female males females amount to males to females 17 10 27 62.96 37.04 1,241,550 567,100 1,808,650 68.65 31.35

Grants in Approval 2 0 2 100.00 - 184,000 0 184,000 100.00 -

Grants in Pipeline

Capacity 3 300,000 building grantees 1 1 4 100.00 - 100.00 - 400,000 100.00 -

Total grants approved and in pipeline

20 11 31 64.52 35.48 1,525,550 567,100 2,392,650 72.90 27.10

Source: Grants data from the Grants Team; CNFA/LADA; Note that % was calculated using 2,093,250 which excludes service providers10 of 400,000. Table 8 Working with Agro-Dealers: Agro-Dealers % of Youth % of No. of Females No. of Males Total Female % of Male Youth 18 40 58 31.0 69.0 9 15.5% Source: Component 1 information on Agro-dealers. Table 8 above shows that 31% of agro-dealers are females and 69% are males with 15.5% of them being youth. Considering that not many females are found in the agro-dealer subsector, this result showing LADA reached more than 30% females is worth reporting.

The AIDAL appointed a female, Rebecca Kalayi, to serve as its first President following it formation and formal launching in FY17. Based on her numerous contributions to the agricultural sector and other work she has done with AIDAL and women groups in Liberia, she received an

10 Service providers are not CIF beneficiaries, but rather they provide services (mainly in capacity building and value chain development) to a selected number of grantees. The number of grantees covered by each service provider is not finalized yet, but for Impact Advisory Services (IAS), it is expected that they will render services to 3 rice processors, 3 cassava processors and 2 vegetable aggregators. 41 award of appreciation from the President of Liberia, Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf at the occasion marking the 177th anniversary of the founding of Liberia.

During the reporting period, a graduate intern from the Northwest University, Kirkland Washington State, USA, worked with LADA’s Youth Livelihood Development Officer to carry out a rapid assessment to identify farming enterprises that are involved with or interested in farm level aggregation of produce and processing operations. The team met with over 40 agribusiness enterprises including processors, aggregators and producers/farmers in Nimba, Lofa, Bong and Montserrado Counties. At the end of the exercise, the enterprises decided to organize themselves into networks of agribusinesses to promote aggregation clustering and market linkages. The combined number of workers from the enterprises contacted was 12,560 with 45.5% of them being youth. LADA will facilitate better organization of this network and link them to the Agribusiness Investment Network (AIN) organized by LADA and managed by the Business Startup Center Monrovia. The groups are carrying on their production and aggregation activities in coordination with AIN. Monitoring and Evaluation

LADA’s first Data Quality Assessment (DQA)

Key to the success of LADA is the quality of data reported on the activity’s performance. This is why no efforts were spared in FY17 to ensure that the M&E team was ready and the system was in place for LADA’s first Data Quality Assessment (DQA) in January 2017.

The process kicked off with meetings among the key stakeholders from USAID, LSA and LADA to set the basis and perimeters for the conduct of the DQA. As part of these meetings, several LADA documents including the LADA Project document, M&E Plan, PIRS and progress reports for FY16. This was followed by site visits and interviews with staff and beneficiaries of LADA. The team used a participatory method to conduct the DQA on 10 of LADA’s 13 standard indicators11 on which data have been collected and reported and due to be reported for the FY 17 Performance and Program Reporting (PPR). The process consisted of conducting document reviews, interviews, spot checks and observations, to verify the data that was presented to LSA. A DQA score sheet was used to assess each indicator based on the five quality standards—Validity, Reliability, Timeliness, Precision, and Integrity, considering data reported on the selected indicators in the last fiscal year (FY 2016).

The result of the assessment showed that even though there are few challenges with the precision and validity standards, the indicators assessed got an overall average score of 3.4 demonstrating that the data reported meets the requirement to be published and are good for program and management decision making (Annex 4).

To address observed weaknesses in the M&E system, the DQA team made the following key recommendations: • Capacity building is needed for the M&E Officers and field officers at the county level to provide broader knowledge of the project indicators and data collection tools.

11 DQA is expected to be done on the other three standard indicators in FY18. 42

• For indicator’’EG.3.2-4’’ Number of for-profit private enterprises, producer’s organizations, water users associations, women's groups, trade and business associations, and community-based organizations (CBOs) receiving USG food security related, the M&E department needs to revise the data collection tools to track number of private enterprises and not members to reflect the actual indicator definition. • All data cleaning issues and data reconciliation and changes should be communicated to the field team or county M&E officers to affect similar changes to county data base. • Create separate data collection forms each for the 13 standard indicators on LADA. • Re-organize M&E data filing; use different color codes for each indicator and file by fiscal year. • Installed lockable filing cabinets at all field offices to ensure data security All the recommendations above have been addressed by the LADA team.

The next LADA DQA is planned for FY18. This will be finalized among the AOR, LADA and LSA.

M&E Training for All LADA Staff LADA’s first DQA report recommended a refresher training for all technical staff in the intervention counties and as part of LADA’s commitment to ensure staff deeply understand the indicators and their definitions, the data collection tools and methodologies, the M&E reporting system and plan, the M&E team provided additional M&E training to both Monrovia and field- based staff during the reporting year.

The two-day refresher training was done in each of LADA’s four counties - Lofa, Nimba, Bong and Montserrado - for M&E Officers, Program staff as well as support staff between April 18 and 25, and May 2-3, 2017. The trainings were delivered using Power Point presentations and group discussions and facilitated by Oscar Gurtor Flomo, the M&E Manager, Alfred George, the M&E Specialist and Ansu Bility, the Environmental Specialist.

The main objectives of this second M&E LADA M&E Manager delivering training to field staff in Lofa training were to familiarize LADA M&E staff and Technical staff with the overview of LADA M&E system, LADA indicators & PIRS, M&E reporting functions, M&E data collection methodology and tools, LADA Data Quality Assessment (DQA) and next steps, LADA environmental compliance – the IEE, EMMP, and PERSUAP. Other objectives were to give M&E Officers and other field-based program staff a clearer understanding of their roles and responsibilities as they related to who was responsible for what, when and where with LADA M&E system.

Development of LADA Database and Mobile Data Collection Application

The LADA team set out to build a robust and modern M&E system to enable the highest quality of monitoring, evaluation, learning and reporting on LADA. As part of this building process, the LADA team embarked on the development of an automated database and a customized mobile data collection application at the beginning of FY17. HAK Technologies, a Monrovia-based Information Technology company, was contracted to develop the system, having developed similar systems for the USAID FED project and the MOA.

Work was completed on the system in April 2017. Aptly named LADAMIS, this is a data collection and reporting platform with a multi-user and multi-dimensional data approval levels. The database is developed to capture and organize data on all LADA’s current 26 performance indicators using an online platform. The mobile data collection application mirrors the database and is loaded on tablets to remotely capture and report data from anywhere in LADA targeted areas. With the aid of this application, field data collectors can now input data across all LADA areas of operations and the system will collate and have data approved with just one click.

In May 2017, HAK Technologies conducted training for LADA staff on how to use and manage the database system. The training was facilitated by two staffers from the developers and topics covered included system intro and overview, users’ credential and role, simulation of the system, data entry at primary level, data approvals and comments and generating reports. All members of the M&E team including the Communications, Environmental and IT Specialists attended this training. In September 2017, the LADAMIS application was used to collect survey data for FY17 annual reporting. Monitoring of Field Activities

The M&E team undertook routine monitoring of field activities involving all program components in FY17. The team monitored and reported on agro-dealer activities and inputs utilization training under Component One; CIF and Access to Finance activities and post-harvest training under Component Two; the rice sector assessments and other policy initiatives under Component Three as well as cross-cutting activities on LADA.

During the year, the Environmental Specialist, Ansu Bility, along with the Monitoring and Evaluation Manager, Oscar Flomo, conducted site visits at the Gbehley-Geh Rural Women Cooperative in Karnplay, Dokodan Farmers’ Cooperative in Gbedin, and Kpodo Multipurpose Cooperative in Zayglay, all in Nimba County. Similar visits were carried out at Selma Agriculture and Development Cooperative, Keledu Youth in Foya in Lofa County, War Affected Women, Welekamai Multipurpose Cooperative in Sanoyea in Bong County and New Generational Women, and Sunrise Agro Chemicals in Montserrado County. The purpose of the visit was to ensure that LADA’s activities are conducted in accordance with its Environmental Monitoring and Mitigation Plan (EMMP) and USAID’s environmental regulations. LADA Environmental Compliance

In FY17, LADA achieved a number of milestones in its quest for ensuring environmental compliance of program activities. Key among these were the following:

Modification of the IEE: When the IEE was written, LADA was allowed to intervene in three value chains: rice, cassava and vegetable. Following approval from the BFS for LADA to add cocoa and aquaculture value chains, there was need to modify the IEE to reflect this change. This modification was completed in April 2017.

Modification of the EMMP: In line with modifying the IEE as stated above, the LADA EMMP was also modified to reflect mitigation and monitoring activities in LADA five approved value chains of rice, cassava, vegetable, cocoa and aquaculture.

Development of the LADA PERSUAP: After the initial draft was developed by the LADA Environmental Specialist with guidance from the M&E Manager and an external consultant, Karen Menczer, the LADA PERSUAP was finalized by the Cadmus Group and approved by USAID for use by CNFA/LADA in July 2017. The LADA PERSUAP addresses the requirements in 22 CFR (216) (“Pesticide procedures”) regarding assistance for procurement and/or use of Pesticides (“Pesticides Support”) in LADA activities. The LADA SUAP has been submitted to the Mission Environmental Officer for review.

IES for CIF beneficiaries: In FY17, the LADA Environmental Specialist carried out 30 IES for beneficiaries as part of the CIF approval process. The essence of the screening is to ensure that LADA’s intervention does not pose any significant negative environmental impact. The screening sets the basis for continuous monitoring.

Improvements in handling rice wastes: During the year, the USAID Mission Environmental team and the LADA Environmental Specialist and M&E Manager made several field visits at program sites in the counties to check if LADA’s activities are being conducted in accordance with its Environmental Monitoring and Mitigation Plan (EMMP) and USAID’s environmental regulations. The visits led to identification of issues related to the improper waste disposal especially rice wastes by some processors. The team had to make several monitoring visits to check and encourage beneficiaries to ensure proper disposal of the rice wastes. Improvements were observed after several visits.

Additionally, there were a number of environmental training during the year. In April 2017, environmental compliance training sessions for staffs was held in Montserrado, Nimba, Lofa, and Bong Counties. The training goal was to provide field staffs the opportunity to understand their role in environmental compliance at the field level. This training also sensitized field officers on how to share the appropriate environmental compliance information with LADA beneficiaries.

4. LADA FY17 PERFORMANCE INDICATORS RESULTS

The FY17 LADA performance indicators results are contained in the Indicator Performance Monitoring Table (IPMT) which accompanies this report.

5. Challenges and Lessons Learned

In FY17, the LADA team faced a number of challenges in implementing the activity. The key challenges and lessons learned are presented below: Key Challenges LADA supported agro-dealers are experiencing low sales mainly due to the continuous free distribution of agro-inputs by GOL agencies and other NGOs in the country. This contradicts LADA’s message of the private sector led growth and investment in the input supply system in Liberia. LADA will work more closely with key stakeholders in FY18 to mitigate this situation. There were serious difficulties encountered by LADA during the selection of a suitable vendor to supply commercial scale rice processing equipment to beneficiaries. Respondents of initial RFPs advertised by LADA in November 2016 and early 2017 could not clearly demonstrate their abilities to supply the equipment. This prompted LADA to re-advertise the RFP until a suitable vendor (Alvin Blanch, a UK based rice milling equipment manufacturing company) was finally selected to supply the equipment.

Difficulties securing factory buildings to house two large scale integrated rice mills LADA plans to put in Voinjama and Foya Districts, Lofa County through its co-investment fund was a major challenge during the year. The Government of Liberia initially promised to offer two warehouses to house the rice milling equipment but this fell through due to the government’s inability to commit the buildings as promised. However, LADA is currently working with the Ministry of Agriculture under its Japanese Rice grant to secure the required funding to construct factory buildings for the two integrated rice mills being procured for two CIF grantees in Lofa County.

Verifying beneficiary cost share commitments was also a challenge. Under the CIF grants projects, beneficiaries are expected to contribute up to 50% of the cost of the projects and in most cases, this contribution is in the form of fixed assets such as land, building and machinery. However, for many of them, the value of these assets cannot be easily verified as there is no documentary evidence to support the value of the assets. LADA will work with beneficiaries in the future to get a valuer to determine the value of these assets for proper cost share accounting.

Quarter 4 of FY17 coincided with the Presidential and Representative Elections in Liberia and this constrained LADA implementation during the period. MOA and other key private sector stakeholders had reduced level of engagement resulting in slow or no respond to previous commitments. LADA data collectors had to compete with political party actors for the attention of beneficiaries during the annual data collection exercise. This affected the amount of and quality of data collected.

Key Lessons Learned

Working with trade or professional interest groups like the Agro-Inputs Dealers Association of Liberia (AIDAL) can be more effective in advocacy for passage of policies by the government. AIDAL was able to reach an agreement with the GOL to form part of the distribution of inputs under the LATA initiative. Even though the inputs distribution was subsidized, AIDAL members were part of the process and had the opportunity to reach farmers beyond their areas.

The needed infrastructure for the expansion of agribusinesses, mainly processing facilities should be secured before commencing the implementation of activities leading to the expansion of the enterprises. LADA should not depend on assumptions that other stakeholders including the government will provide support without concrete commitments. If it requires a waiver from USAID to move ahead with construction, LADA should initiate such process within sufficient timeframe.

It is not worthwhile trying to actively implement project activities during national electioneering periods. Beneficiaries and major stakeholders have vested interests in these elections and tend to be less engaged.

6. Priorities for FY18

Under Component One, priority areas of intervention will include refurbishing additional agro- dealer stores under the CIF grants initiative and using the approved LADA PERSUAP to provide in-depth practical training on the use of agro-inputs particularly fertilizers and pesticides to agro- dealers ultimately leading to the certification of more than 30 agro-dealers. The team will focus on building the capacity of agro-dealers to effectively track and keep business records as well as strengthening the capacity of AIDAL to build mutually beneficial backward and forward linkages with other actors in the inputs supply chain. For FY18, priority areas under Component Two will include leveraging the necessary funding to construct two buildings in Lofa to house two large rice mills under LADA CIF grants initiative, acquire and install two other rice mills in Nimba, install and commission four commercial scaled cassava mills already in procurement and also complete a number of cold chain and vegetable handling projects under the CIF grants. Other priority areas include strengthening the business management capacity and packaging and branding of CIF beneficiaries as well as facilitating market linkages among beneficiaries and other actors within LADA-targeted value chains. Facilitating the passage into law of the National Standards Act and Food Law in addition to several other policies through advocacy will be a priority for FY18. Working closely with BSC to strengthen the capacity of the AIN to facilitate additional private sector investment into the businesses who are members of the network will also be a priority.

7. SUCCESS STORIES LADA Initiates Food Safety Regime in Liberia

Liberia, Africa’s oldest republic and one of the most food insecure countries in the world, until recently, had limited capacity to ensure food safety for its people. The country lacked food laws and regulations as well as adequate laboratories to test for harmful chemicals and pathogenic organisms in food. Even though Liberia joined the Codex Alimentarius Commission in 1971, but it has not been an active participant.

This lack of a proper frame work for ensuring food safety was inimical to the health and wellbeing of residents and a limiting factor in the country’s quest to generate income from agricultural exports.

Recognizing this constraint, the Liberia Agribusiness Development Activity (LADA), a Feed the Future, global food security initiative of the U.S Government, in November 2016 initiating a process to determine how Liberia could achieve a food safety regime.

LADA provided two U.S experts in food law to the Government of Liberia who after accessing the Liberian food industry recommended the establishment of an effective food legislation and food control service to protect the health and safety of domestic consumers and to assure the safety and quality of foods from the country entering international market as well as ensure that imported food conform to national requirements.

After collaborative efforts by key national “We are going to lobby with the national stakeholders and international partners led by LADA legislature to ensure the speedy passage to draft a food law and a national standard act, the of the draft Food Law and Standard Act” Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Health, in August 2017 launched the National CODEX Committee (NCC) of Liberia. This body is responsible for ensuring that Liberia makes representation to international CODEX meetings and guides national policies on food standard, safety and international food safety issues. “The launch of the NCC is a milestone that demonstrates the commitment of stakeholders to establishing an effective national food safety regime in Liberia. We are going to lobby with the national legislature to ensure the speedy passage of the draft food law and Standard Act”, Dr. Cuallau Jebbeh Howe, Director of Country Health Services at the Stakeholders at the launch of the National Ministry of Health, said at the launching. CODEX Committee of Liberia. With the passage of the Food Law and National Standards Act, local food producers and processors will be encouraged to conform to international best practices on food production and handling. This in turn will boost the confidence of consumers in locally produced food, increase the demand for locally produced food, increase the potential for food export and ultimately increase the incomes of small holder farmers in Liberia. NDA students are trained in soil analysis techniques in a new soil science laboratory as part of the NDA curriculum. 48

LADA is a 5-year Feed the Future initiative aimed at increasing the incomes of targeted SHFs through increased private sector investment in the rice, cassava, vegetable, cocoa and aquaculture value chains 4 targeted counties in Liberia.

Access to Loan increases Rural Woman Farmer’s Productivity Farmers, particularly in the rural parts of Liberia, often lacked access to credit to improve farm production and processing activities mainly because they do not have the necessary collateral for such transactions. In March 2017, the Feed the Future Liberia Agribusiness Development Activity (LADA), a U.S Government’s food security initiative, attempted an innovative way to alleviate some of this constraint. LADA partnered with the Liberia Entrepreneurial Asset Development (LEAD), a micro financial lending institution and Orange GSM to pilot access to loan for rural farmers in Liberia through the Digital Financial Services (DFS) platform using Smile Mobile Money. Farmers will receive the loans and make repayments using their mobile phones. Under this arrangement, LADA provided a grant of US$ 50,000 to LEAD who matched it with By supporting rural farmers through US$ 50,000 of their own and loaned the US$100,000 access to finance, LADA hopes to crease (minus administrative costs) to 57 members of the productivity of smallhoder farmers. Gbealay-Geh Rural Women Multipurpose Farming Cooperative (GRWFC) in Karnplay, Nimba County. The loan payments were made through the Smile Mobile Money service. The GRWMFC, made predominantly of women, is engaged primarily in rice and cassava production and operates a processing facility that produces 2-4 metric tons rice daily. This loan to the group was to give members access to finance to upgrade their processing capacity to process enough rice for the local market as well as to create market for paddy so that smallholder rice farmers can improve their incomes. Annie Kruah, Chairlady of the group, received the . amount of US$20,000.00 which she invested in her lowland rice project by hiring more laborers and purchasing fertilizers and other farm inputs. Before she got this loan, Annie cultivated 0.8 hectares and harvested 200 bags of 50 kg paddy rice last farming season. With this loan, she expanded her farmland to 4.8 hectares and more than double the number of farm laborers. She also used part of the loan to expand her one-acre cassava farm to 2 acres and she is expecting bumper harvests from both projects this farming season. “The money provided by LADA and LEAD has greatly helped me to increase the sizes of both my rice and cassava farms. Frankly, I do not know how I would have done this without the loan they gave to me.”

Annie and members of the group have not only use the loans to advance their individual projects but that the majority of smallholder rice farmers in their community now have a market for their paddy. Since receiving the loans, the group has bought approximately 53.55 metric tons (1,071) of paddy from SHFs to process for the local market. LADA plans to reach 1,745 SHFs with access to loans using the DFS platform over the next 3 years.