Resilience and Economic Growth in the Sahel – Accelerated Growth (REGIS-AG) Quarterly Report (FY15/Q3)

1 APRIL TO 3O JUNE 2015

Prepared for review______by the United States Agency for International Development under USAID Contract No. AID-625-C-REGIS-AG14-00001, Quarterly Resilience Report, and 1 AprilEconomic – 30 June Growth 2015 (Contractin the Sahel No. AID-625-C-– Accelerated14-00001) Growth (REGIS- AG) Project, implemented by Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA). 1 Resilience and Economic Growth in the Sahel – Accelerated Growth (REGIS-AG) Project

QUARTERLY REPORT (FY15/Q3)

1 APRIL TO 3O JUNE 2015

Submitted by: Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA) USAID Contract No. AID-625-C-14-00001 Implemented by CNFA

Submitted to: Camilien Saint-Cyr COR USAID/Senegal Regional Mission

Submitted on 1 August 2015

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

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2 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents ACRONYMS ...... 4 1.0 BACKGROUND ...... 5 2.0 OVERVIEW ...... 6 4.0 Components ...... 8 4.1 Component 1: Identify Opportunities through Value Chain and End-Market Analysis ...... 8 4.2 Component 2: Strengthen Vertical and Horizontal Value Chain Linkages and Relationships in Selected Value Chains...... 9 4.3 Component 3: Strengthen Input Supply and Other Supporting Services and Improve Smallholder and Agro-Pastoralist Access to these Interconnected Markets ...... 10 4.4 Component 4: Increase Access to Finance, Innovation, and Private Sector Investment ...... 12 4.5 Component 5 – Improve the enabling environment for local and regional private sector investment ...... 13

ACRONYMS

A2N Association Nodde Nooto AGED Association pour la Gestion de l’Environnement et le Développement AREN Association pour la Redynamisation de l’Elevage au Niger BDS Business Development Services COP Chief of Party COR Contracting Officer’s Representative CRS Catholic Relief Services DFAP Development Food Aid Program DGSV Directorate General of Veterinary Services EMMP Environmental Mitigation and Management Plan GIE Groupements d’Intérêt Economique HKI Helen Keller International IEE Initial Environmental Examination INRAN Institut National de Recherche Agricole du Niger IR Intermediate Result JPC Joint Planning Cell LAHIA Livelihoods, Agriculture and Health Interventions in Action (Save the Children) M&E Monitoring and Evaluation MFI Micro-Finance Institution MOU Memorandum of Understanding NGO Non-Governmental/Non-Profit Organization OPVN Office des Produits Vivriers du Niger PICS Purdue Improved Cowpea Storage PMP Performance Monitoring Plan RCO Regional Contracting Officer REGIS-ER Resilience and Economic Growth in the Sahel-Enhanced Resilience RISE Resilience in the Sahel Enhanced SAREL Sahel Resilience Learning SAWKI Mercy Corps DFAP SNV Netherlands Development Organization SONAGES Société Nationale de Gestion du Stock de Sécurité Alimentaire SO Strategic Objective SVPP Services Vétérinaires Privés de Proximité ToT Training of Trainers VSF-B Vétérinaires Sans Frontières-Belgique WV World Vision

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1.0 BACKGROUND

During the course of the Horn of Africa Crisis Conference, held in Nairobi in September 2011, African leaders called for a new approach to addressing recurrent crises in the region. The joint declaration from this meeting called on development partners to support long-term programs and strategies to build resilience. The declaration specifically called on the international community to support reform of emergency humanitarian response and development assistance systems to enhance resilience and promote long-term solutions; this declaration led directly in April 2012 to the Global Alliance for Action for Drought Resilience and Growth in the Horn of Africa, and in July 2012 to the Global Alliance for Resilience in the Sahel.

USAID defines resilience as: The ability of people, households, communities, countries, and systems to mitigate, adapt to, and recover from shocks and stresses in a manner that reduces chronic vulnerability and facilitates inclusive growth (USAID, 2012). In 2012, in line with its new policy, Building Resilience to Recurring Crisis, USAID organized the Sahel Joint Planning Cell (JPC), as a new way of supporting development initiatives across the Sahel region. The Sahel JPC coordinates humanitarian and development assistance, as well as new investments based on in-depth analyses of chronic vulnerability.

On 3 February 2014, during the high-level launch of the United Nations’ Sahel Humanitarian Response Plan in Rome, USAID announced the RISE Initiative – Resilience in the Sahel-Enhanced - which initially committed more than $130 million over the first two years of a five-year effort to build resilience to recurrent crisis in the Sahel. RISE, based on joint analysis and planning, brings together humanitarian and development assistance to address the root causes of persistent vulnerability.

The RISE strategy served as the foundation of three new programs, Sahel Resilience Learning (SAREL), a Sahel learning agenda, Resilience and Economic Growth in the Sahel-Enhanced Resilience (REGIS-ER), a multi-sector resilience program, and Resilience and Economic Growth in the Sahel-Accelerated Growth (REGIS-AG), a project designed to apply value chain methodology to the development of agro-pastoralist and marginal agricultural zones in Niger and Burkina Faso. REGIS-AG comprises five integrated components:

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

REGIS-AG will directly contribute to the USAID Sahel Joint Planning Cell (JPC) Strategy Results Framework, specifically to Objective 1: Increased and Sustainable Economic Wellbeing; IR 2: Intensified production and marketing for livestock and high potential crops; and Sub IR 2.2, High potential value chains strengthened.

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2.0 OVERVIEW

On 28 January 2015, USAID signed a contract awarding implementation of Resilience and Economic Growth in the Sahel-Accelerated Growth (REGIS-AG) to the US-based international NGO; Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture (CNFA).

CNFA as Prime Contractor subsequently negotiated subcontractor relationships with three international NGOs:

1. SNV-USA provides technical support to Components 1, 2, and 4 and provides the technical lead for Component 5. 2. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) brings its experience in developing local cow pea value chains to REGIS-AG as it supports activities in Components 1 and 2 and provides the Value Chain Governance Specialist for Component 5. 3. Vétérinaires Sans Frontières-Belgique (VSF-B) leads all activities related to poultry and animal health.

CNFA also negotiated subcontracts with four local partners – two in Burkina-Faso and two in Niger:

1. Association NoddeNooto (A2N) works out of Dori in Burkina-Faso to strengthen the capacities of producer groups, especially women’s groups, in management and administration to become more competitive in commercialization of cow pea and sheep and goats. 2. Association Pour la Gestion de l’Environnement et la Développement (AGED) also works out of Dori in Burkina Faso on organizational development of producer groups as well as capacity-building I commercialization of production and activities related to disease prevention and climate-change. 3. Karkara NGO is working out of Départements of Zinder, Maradi, and Tillabéri in Niger to strengthen the capacity of cow pea and poultry producers and producer organizations and incorporate them into developing a broader institutional base in Niger for horizontal and vertical linkages with value chain actors. 4. Association pour la Redynamisation de l’Elevage au Niger (AREN) is providing capacity building support through technicians based in Maradi, Zinder, and Tilabéri in the implementation of the value chain of small ruminants development activities, including participation in the analysis of the value chain under Component 1, the support for establishing links in the value chain under Component 2, and assistance to the co-management of livestock markets under Component 5.

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3.0 START-UP ACTIVITIES

3.1 Mobilization of REGIS-AG

The expatriate staff including the Chief of Party (COP), Finance and Operations Manager, and Value Chain Advisor, were fielded to Niger in March and April 2015. The Deputy Chief of Party (DCOP) was mobilized in Burkina Faso in March 2015. By the end of the reporting period, 23 local staff members were recruited and mobilized.

REGIS-AG is currently still recruiting for eleven local long-term staff positions, all of whom are ultimately subject to approval by the USAID RCO before employment contracts are issued. The project expects to be fully staffed (44/Niger; 27/Burkina) by the end of August.

Subcontracts for all 7 subcontractors (local and international) were fully executed during the reporting period. Recruitment and labor approvals are still ongoing for subcontractor employees. CNFA anticipates finishing subcontractor labor mobilization by the end of Quarter 4. In March, CNFA had fully executed subcontracts with international partners CRS and VSF-B; the SNV subcontract was finalized on 6 April. An orientation meeting and exchanges involving teams from the administration and finance of REGIS-AG of CNFA Headquarters and VSF-B Niger was held by teleconference June 11 in Niamey, to better facilitate the implementation of program management by both parties.

3.2 Finance, Operations, and Administration

REGIS-AG has made significant progress on the start-up activities related to finance, operations and administration.  Financial systems and procedures have been established with the Finance and Operations Manager, George Peterson and his team of local Senior Accountants, Issouf Aghali and Francine Nezien.  Program Offices have been secured for Niamey, Ouagadougou, Zinder and Dori. Both offices in Niamey and Ouagadougou are shared with the REGIS-AG sister project, REGIS-ER. These shared spaces will result in unforeseen savings in operational costs that will help both REGIS projects.  Program vehicle procurement was initiated during Quarter 3 and is expected to be finalized in August 2015. Once project vehicles are fully insured and in REGIS-AG possession, a Vehicle Use Policy will be distributed and explained to all local staff members to ensure proper vehicle use and maintenance.  Office furnishings have been installed in the project office and IT equipment for both offices was ordered during the reporting period. All computers are anticipated to be delivered by August 2015.

3.3 Work Plan Submission

On April 8-10, 2015, REGIS-AG held a consortium-wide work planning atelier in Niamey, Niger. This atelier, facilitated by the COP, the Value Chain Adviser, and two CNFA Home Office representatives – Paul Sippola, Vice-President for Africa and the Middle East and Katie Murray, Program Officer – presented the REGIS-AG vision and methodology, mapped out the implementation plan, designated roles and responsibilities by component, and established a Gantt chart schedule to outline anticipated dates for activities and events. In addition to REGIS-AG staff, REGIS-ER and SAREL representatives participated in the event ______REGIS-AG Quarterly Report, 1 April – 30 June 2015 (Contract No. AID-625-C-14-00001)

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to provide feedback and collaboration on planned REGIS-AG activities. During the course of this three-day collaborative workshop, REGIS-AG staff completed a comprehensive work plan for FY2015, covering the period from project inception to September 2015. This detailed implementation plan was submitted it to USAID/Senegal where, after suggested revisions, it was approved on 4 June 2015.

4.0 Components

4.1 Component 1: Identify Opportunities through Value Chain and End-Market Analysis

Component 1 is critical to these initial months of REGIS-AG implementation. All of the activities of Component 1 will be undertaken and completed by the end of FY15. The desk top studies, value chain analyses, gender analyses, and end market analyses will lay-out the economic, social, and geographic realities of the cowpea, small ruminant, and poultry value chains. The expatriate consulting team, recruited to lead the field research and draft the results, worked closely with REGIS-AG staff throughout Quarter 3 to facilitate stakeholder meetings, conduct interviews with value chain actors, and make visits to work sites in Niger and Burkina Faso. The Value Chain team completed field work in Niger by the last week of June 2015. Field work will be completed in Burkina Faso in July. The final reports, incorporating feedback from stakeholders, will be finalized by July 31, 2015. The value chain assessment will consist of four deliverables: a value chain study, an end-market study, a gender study, and a vision-strategy guide for REGIS-AG though the life project. These value chain assessments will serve as the primary resource documents for planning over the life of REGIS-AG.

In undertaking the Value Chain studies and organizing various stakeholder working meetings, REGIS-AG worked with producers, suppliers, and the following partner organizations who attended one or more meetings:

 Les Nigériens Nourrissent les Nigériens (3N);  ASUSU SA (Banque et Institution de Micro-Finance);  Banque Agricole et d’Investissement (BAGRI);  Centrale d’Approvisionnement en Matériels et Produits Vétérinaires (CAMAVET Maradi);  Collectif des Associations Pastorales du Niger (CAPAN);  Centrale d’Approvisionnement en Produits Vétérinaires (CENTRAVET);  Chambre Régionale d’Agriculture (CRA);  Institution de Micro-Finance KOKARI (IMF-KOKARI);  Les Services Vétérinaires Privés de Proximité;  Mercy Corps Programme SAWKI;  Ministère de l’Elévage;  ONG INF DEV;  Plateforme d’Innovation des Acteurs de la Filière Avicole (PIAFA);  REGIS-ER;  Save Children Programme LAHIA.

Activity 1.1 Summarize Existing Info into Desk Studies.

A thorough literature review was conducted for all three value chains - cowpea, poultry, and small ruminants - providing an initial base on production, processing, support services, marketing (domestically and internationally) information in Burkina Faso and Niger. While there were many valuable sources identified

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and utilized, there were large gaps in what information was available, especially for statistics on cross border trade and household consumption trends. These are important areas for further research with other active partners in our countries of implementation.

Activity 1.2, 1.3, and 1.4 Conduct End Market, Value Chain, and Gender Analyses.

Field research was conducted in the three project zones for Niger (the Départements of Maradi, Tillabéry, and Zinder) and for Burkina Faso (the Provinces of Séno, Sanmatenga, and Gnagna). The field research consisted of working meetings and individual interviews with stakeholders in each zone. These one-day meetings brought together a cross-section of actors along the value chains, from production to processing to marketing, as well as Food for Peace partners working on Development Food Aid Programs (DFAP). The dialogue during these meetings was focused on the identification of the constraints and opportunities by each actor and value chain. During the value chain analyses, gender analyses were conducted simultaneously and participation of female participants was encouraged to ensure that their voices and participation in the value chains was captured. In Burkina Faso, for example, the nine workshops organized to discuss all three value chains brought together 261 participants, including 48 women, involved in different sectors of activities. Their input and those of their male counterparts were utilized in the development of the three analyses and the vision and strategy deliverable for the REGIS-AG project.

4.2 Component 2: Strengthen Vertical and Horizontal Value Chain Linkages and Relationships in Selected Value Chains

Component 2 activities feature the identification and strengthening of producer groups that the project will work with. The identification of these groups is an ongoing collaborative process with development partners including REGIS-ER; DFAP projects implemented by partners such as Mercy Corps, CRS, Save the Children, and ACDI/VOCA; and international agencies such as WFP. Working with these partners, REGIS-AG staff has begun linking with producer groups and developing relationships among them by promoting activities such as agricultural fairs and activities related to commercial opportunities, technical training, biosecurity, and gender equity. One example of the activities that was planned during the reporting period (held in July) with these producer groups is the Niamey Poultry Fair scheduled for 15-16 July. Through these activities, described by value chain below, REGIS-AG will assist these groups to strengthen their ability to aggregate their work effectively and strengthen their connection with other market actors.

A. Cowpea Value Chain

On April 20-23, REGIS-AG participated in a Sawki project training activity - a FFP DFAP program implemented by Mercy Corps, Africare, and Helen Keller International - in Maradi was a valuable opportunity to collaborate and make connections between their field technicians and REGIS-AG. As a result of REGIS- AG participation in the training activity was that project staff were invited to attend an agricultural market fair in Maradi on 15 May. The organizations participating in the fair ranged from seed companies supplying improved varieties to producers, to women’s groups demonstrating and selling innovative products they had processed from cowpeas. One women’s group in particular, AKULA DA KOWA, from Maradi Département, had made significant progress with the help of REGIS-AG partner CRS on developing new products from ______REGIS-AG Quarterly Report, 1 April – 30 June 2015 (Contract No. AID-625-C-14-00001)

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cowpea such as spaghetti, couscous, cookies and various flour mixes and complementary feeding nutritional products for children that they were selling in their town. REGIS-AG staff visited the group before the cowpea fair and gave them technical advice on marketing and labeling in preparation for the fair. The staff also transferred the product information from this group to other women’s groups they met which were funded by FFP. For example, on a field trip to the project LAHIA, Save the Children/World Vision joint program, REGIS-AG staff visited a women’s group in another area of the Maradi region that had received some assistance in milling cowpea but had not realized that they could process so many different value-added products from it. In discussing with the group what new products they could make from cowpeas, the group members showed great enthusiasm in seeing the samples from AKULA DA KOWA. This is the role that REGIS-AG envisages for itself, bringing information on value addition and marketing possibilities to producer groups within our three value chains, and improving knowledge among other USAID implementing partners with regards to market opportunities and value chain development.

B. Small Ruminants Value Chain

The networking with field technicians at the Sawki training led to a field visit with a women’s group participating in a small ruminants Habaniyé program. REGIS-AG learned about the social benefits of the Habaniyé system and how it operates, although market development aspects were not evident. REGIS-AG will determine whether or not to pursue working with this program after REGIS-ER finishes their evaluation of the program.

C. Poultry Value Chain

During the reporting period, REGIS-AG participated in the Journée de la Volaille on 11 April 2015 in Niamey. This event, sponsored by the Plateforme d’Innovation des Acteurs de la Filière Avicole de la Région de Niamey, was held in Niamey where organizations and projects presented their activities and displayed products including live chickens, roosters, quail, and guinea fowl. REGIS-AG was represented in the booth of its subcontractor partner Vétérinaires Sans Frontières-Belgique, where Charles Stathacos, the value chain advisor, explained the project to visitors. Mr. Stathacos talked briefly with the Minister of Animal Husbandry M. Mahaman El Hadji Ousmane and set up an introductory meeting for REGIS-AG. Other visitors to the booth included the US Ambassador H.E. Eunice Reddick and Nestor Coffi, World Bank Country Representative. This event was a valuable opportunity to communicate the REGIS-AG program to industry and for the REGIS-AG program to identify and connect with key stakeholders and industry leaders for future collaboration.

4.3 Component 3: Strengthen Input Supply and Other Supporting Services and Improve Smallholder and Agro-Pastoralist Access to these Interconnected Markets

Cowpea Value Chain

Activity 3.1 Identification of input providers / agrodealers

Component 3 activities relate to inputs, especially technology transfer through agro-dealer networks. An important activity under this component is related to the extension of Purdue Improved Cowpea Storage

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(PICS) sacks to producer groups. Many financial institutions in the region provide warrantage for cereals, but have limited experience with cowpeas as storage was limited until the development of the three-layered hermetically-sealed PICS sacks, which significantly reduce post-harvest losses from pests when used properly.

In order to identify input supply vendors for activities under Component 3, the team from REGIS-AG/Burkina Faso issued a solicitation for mapping of agrodealers. Terms of Reference were prepared and sent to four consulting groups specializing in the mapping field. Ten (10) days after the mailing of the ToR, offers were evaluated and three - Larsys, Ticanalyse, and Kaboré Group were short-listed for meeting the terms of the solicitation and presenting complete technical and financial offers for the implementation. After receiving these offers, an evaluation committee consisting of 3 persons was set up by the DCOP to proceed with the analysis of different offers. The candidate will be selected once the value chain analyses are finalized in Quarter 4.

Activity 3.5 Establish relationships with PICS sacks suppliers and agrodealers to develop distribution networks in the countryside.

REGIS-AG has begun identifying and establishing relationships with PICS sacks suppliers and agrodealers to develop distribution networks that will eventually reach all the way to farmer groups. These agrodealers will be identified through the agrodealer mapping exercise as described above.

Small Ruminants and Poultry Value Chains

In Burkina Faso, following the recommendations of the Niamey workshop, contacts were initiated with the Directorate General of Veterinary Services (DGSV) in order to identify avenues for cooperation in the response against the outbreak of the Avian Flu. VSF-B is positioned to raise awareness and carry out training and provide support for epidemiological surveillance. The first actions will take place in particular in the regions and provinces where REGIS-AG is active and actions on a national scale through mass media are possible. Meanwhile, VSF-B started the process for the implementation of VG Tropics – a health system for managing animal health data in developing countries - to benefit the DGSV specifically in the epidemiological control of diseases. Other partners will be approached to help cover the cost of the software to ensure shared costs and equal access across our programs. As part of the development of local animal health networks, VSF-B is currently updating the competent services with the data on geographic coverage of project intervention areas by private veterinary professionals. Activity 3.11 Strengthen local, real time, disease surveillance.

Two training events of two days each were carried out in Maradi from 1-2 June, and in Niamey, for players in Tillaberi region, from 9-11 June 2015. These were good theoretical and practical training sessions which involved the agents of the national epidemiological surveillance network - private and public veterinarians - in the region of Maradi and Tillaberi. Each training session included the following:  A description of the monitoring protocol and case studies of major diseases and a manual compiling all the data used to support participants. A particular focus was made on avian flu.

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 Use of VGTropics system that improves the national epidemiological monitoring system by improving communication and providing tools for collecting and spatio-temporal analysis for better decision making real time by different actors.  The trained officers were equipped with smartphones to collect epidemiological surveillance data via mobile VGTropics. They were also equipped with biological sample materials provided by the Ministry of Livestock. Data and samples are already being sent in VGTropics system and are monitored in real time. No alarming epidemiological information has been recorded to date.

Activity 3.12 Sensitize population about avian influenza.

During the reporting period, VSF-B continued to monitor and report on the evolution of events related to the avian flu outbreak that appeared in Maradi in April. Activity 3.13 Develop/share prophylaxis calendars.

Meetings were also organized by VSF-B with the College of Veterinarians and the Association of Private Veterinarians for the preparation of Veterinary Technical Refresher training days scheduled for 25 – 27 September 2015.

4.4 Component 4: Increase Access to Finance, Innovation, and Private Sector Investment

As part of project start-up, the Component 4 Head and COP made courtesy visits to several banks and MFI’s, most notably: Asusu Bank and ECOBANK, both of which are currently managing Development Credit Authority (DCA) facilities and have expressed interested in expanding their agriculture portfolios (Asusu began as a micro-credit institution); and Banque Agricole du Niger (BAGRI). In Burkina-Faso, the DCOP has also met with DCA holder ECOBANK to discuss credit availability for producer groups. Component 4 has begun tracing the existing linkages between producer groups and micro-finance institutions.

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

Component 4 team is in the process of identifying BDS providers who might be capable and interested in providing practical business training for agrodealers in the cowpea value chain.

Activity 4.3 Connect project participants with MFI's to apply for warehouse receipts credit and other financial services.

As part of the continuing exercise to bring the actors working in the three value chains together with banks and MFIs, a panel on financing of poultry farming was organized with ECOBANK, Asusu, and BAGRI. This panel allowed actors in the poultry value chain to see the terms of access to poultry credits and the opportunities offered by these banks and MFIs to finance their activities. This event has already helped to put some actors in the poultry chain of Tillaberi into credit negotiations with ECOBANK, Asusu, and BAGRI.

Activity 4.4 Collaborate with REGIS-ER to link producer groups to MFIs for warrantage ______REGIS-AG Quarterly Report, 1 April – 30 June 2015 (Contract No. AID-625-C-14-00001)

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Diagnosis in the warehouse receipt process was completed (identification of umbrella and potential MFIs warrantage) as part of REGIS-AG and EGIS -ER planning during the reporting period. A meeting with the REGIS-ER staff to discuss collaboration in the funding framework of the actors was held and REGIS-ER presented on the activities related to financing it on two axes: 1) Funding of project beneficiaries through MFIs such as Asusu, Yarda, and KOKARI. This funding will follow sensitization, training, advisory support, and support for credit assembly. 2) Auto Finance: At this level, REGIS-ER has implemented a savings strategy and self- managed credit (SECA) regarding the more vulnerable people to enable them to mobilize savings to allow them in the long run to have access to bank credit.

Following these discussions, it was decided that the REGIS-ER team should share diagnostic results and other documents with REGIS-AG to allow AG staff to brief themselves on the achievements of ER for better synergy and collaboration in the implementation of activities.

Activity 4.5 Identify different financial institutions and funding opportunities.

As part of the continuing exercise to bring the actors working in the three value chains together with banks and MFIs, a panel on financing of poultry farming was organized with ECOBANK, Asusu, and BAGRI.

Activity 4.7 Select opportunities with high potential for upgrading.

REGIS-AG staff have conducted exchanges with I3N on collaborating in Zinder on financing for the likely rehabilitation of the beef processing in Zinder.

4.5 Component 5 – Improve the enabling environment for local and regional private sector investment

Component 5 is working with the enabling environment in the project area, making contacts at the Ministries of Livestock and Agriculture, and with local partners to identify challenges to commercialization, including credit, insurance, transport, taxation, etc.

Activity 5.5 Promote learning agenda.

The COP and the Value Chain Advisor attended a 2-day SAREL workshop from 1-2 April that discussed experiences to date, good practices, and lessons learned from resilience programs in Niger. These discussions will help inform REGIS-AG implementation and ensure that best practices are integrated into project activities

The COP also attended a 1-day workshop, the first Sahel Resilience Learning (SAREL) project CLA (Collaborating, Learning, and Adapting) Training event for RISE Partners. Workshop covered application of CLA principles and operational processes that help to ensure that development work is steered by continuous

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5.0 ZONES OF INTERVENTION

Although the zones of intervention of REGIS-AG will not be formalized until the Value Chain Assessment reports are analyzed and USAID consulted, it is not difficult to make projections based on the areas where partners are already working. The USAID contract for REGIS-AG stated the REGIS-AG would not work in areas without partners.

5.1 Niger

In Niger, REGIS-AG has established an office in Niamey, which will eventually be staffed with up to twenty- three management, administrative, technical, and logistics people. REGIS-AG is programmed to work in the Regions of Zinder, Maradi, and Tilaberi.

In Zinder Region, REGIS-AG has leased a functional office building, the former FAO office, and is in the process of equipping and furnishing it prior to staffing it with up to eleven administrative, technical, and logistics specialists; the office may also house four staff from REGIS-ER. REGIS-AG will likely work in the Département of Dogo, possibly in collaboration with the Mercy Corps SAWKI Project and WFP; in the Département of Bande with REGIS-ER; and possibly in Yaouri, Ichirnaw, or Doungou with CRS. ______REGIS-AG Quarterly Report, 1 April – 30 June 2015 (Contract No. AID-625-C-14-00001)

14 In Maradi Region, REGIS-AG will place four technical staff in office space shared with REGIS-ER. The project will likely work with WFP in Département of Maradi; in the Départements of Guidan Roumdji and Bon Machi with REGIS-ER and SAWKI Project; and in the Départements of Guidan Sory and Sae Saboua with the Save the Children’s LAHIA Project.

In Tilaberi Region, REGIS-AG will probably place four technical staff in office space shared with REGIS-ER. The project will likely work in the Département of Filingue with CRS and REGIS-ER; and probably in the Départements of Tondikandia and Kourteye with REGIS-ER.

5.2 Burkina Faso

In Burkina-Faso, REGIS-AG has established an office in Ouagadougou, which will eventually be staffed with up to twelve managerial, administrative, technical, and logistic staff members. In Burkina-Faso, REGIS-AG staff will implement activities in the Sahel and East Regions.

In the Sahel Region, the project will work from a project base in the Province of Seno; REGIS-AG has leased an office in Dori and is in the process of equipping and furnishing it prior to staffing it with up to thirteen administrative, technical, and logistic specialists. Besides Seno and Yagha Provinces, where REGIS-AG will likely collaborate with REGIS-ER, the project will likely work in Nyamatenga Province with CRS; and in Sanmatenga Province with ACDI/VOCA.

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In East Region, REGIS-AG will probably work with REGIS-ER and CRS in Gnagna Province and possibly in Komondjari Province with CRS.

5.0 Key Problems and Issues

As REGIS-AG is still largely in start-up mode through the third quarter, there have not been too many problems or challenges related to implementation. To date, REGIS-AG staff have identified two main challenges related to operations for the project:  lack of easy customs clearance for USAID projects,  burdensome VAT exoneration procedure

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ANNEX 1 Summary of Partner Contacts

Cowpea, small ruminants, and poultry, the agricultural value chains that are most promising financially and nutritionally, contribute strongly to household food security. This is why the REGIS- AG Project chose to work with these value chains in the three Niger Départements of Maradi, Zinder, and Tillabéry.

Workshops were organized which saw the participation of stakeholders in these three value chains in order to know the strengths and existing opportunities so as to work together to find the mechanisms that will facilitate profitability, sustainability, and development of activities in these value chains.

Workshop Participants

Value Chain Actors Tillaberi Maradi Zinder Total

Input Suppliers 7 5 10 22

Producers 22 14 12 48 Niébé Processors 8 9 8 25

Merchants 4 5 8 17

Input Suppliers 10 13 6 29

Producers 17 10 26 53 Poultry Processors 8 14 9 31

Merchants 7 6 3 16

Input Suppliers 12 14 17 43

Small Producers 13 9 22 43 Ruminants Processors 7 9 10 26

Merchants 12 9 10 31

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From the analysis made in the target areas of the project, in terms of factors of production, it emerged that more than 80% of farmers produce cowpea using improved seed varieties such as KVX, TN5-78, and IT90. As for small ruminants, the most common species are Balami, Ara Ara, Bali Bali, Koundoum, Sahel Goat, Red Goat, and mixed race goats. As for poultry, the preference is for chickens and guinea fowl generally.

Production System

The current production systems of these three value chains is characterized by deficiencies in modern production, quasi existing problem of good quality food for livestock, the marketing problem, the supply problem, and sanitary product poor organization of producers.

Gender Considerations

Women participate in the production process, but are poorly represented – fewer than 30% compared to men because of lack of access to land. They are more present at the agricultural processing level - almost 90 % compared to men.

In the poultry production subsector, only 18% of women keep chickens as opposed to 66% of men. Concerning women’s participation in small ruminant production in the three regions (90% of women producers in Zinder, 60% in Maradi, and 70% in Tillabery) women are more breeding goats than sheep. On average, over 10 small ruminants (6 goats/4 sheep).

The Regis-AG will work closely in support of such partners as:

Stakeholders Projects and NGOs 1. AFRIQUE VERTE 2. Catholic Relief Service 3. Mercy Corps 4. ONG INFIDEV 5. ONG RAFIA 6. ONG TATALI 7. PRODEX 8. REGIS-ER 9. Save the Children 10. SNV 11. Vétérinaires Sans Frontières /Belgique 12. ONG KARKARA Government Service Groups 1. CRA 2. 3N 3. INRAN 4. Ministères

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5. Services Techniques Déconcentrés Farmer Groups and Farms 1. ADI-NIGER 2. APPSN 3. COLLECTIF DES ASSOCIATIONS PASTORALE DU NIGER (CAPAN) 4. FASALI 5. Fédération SA’A 6. FERME SEMENCIERE HALAL 7. FERME RAYUWAR 8. FUBI 9. Groupement ADALTCHI 10. Groupement ALFORMA 11. Groupement FONDEY FABA 12. Groupement HALASSEY 13. Groupement KANDE SOUGUI 14. Groupement MATA MASUKUZARI 15. Groupement SOUGUI MARGOU 16. Groupement WADATA 17. Groupement WETI 18. INDA MANOMA 19. LAREWAN MATA 20. MANOMA 21. MOURNA 22. Organisation Paysanne MARHABA 23. RAYOUWA MANOMA 24. REFAM 25. Union ADIA 26. Union AKOULADAKOWA 27. Union ATAMAKE JOUNA 28. Union BOREY MA WADATA 29. Union ELKOLTA 30. Union HADIN KAI 31. Union HANDINKEY MATA 32. Union HAREY GAREY 33. Union KONZO 34. Union NEMI DA KANKA 35. Union NIYA DA KOKARI 36. Union NOUNA NIYA 37. Union POTOL 38. Union SAMOU KOWA 39. Union SANIN HANYA 40. Union TAIMAKO

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41. Union TINANI 42. Union YAKI DA TALAUKI 43. Union ZAMAN LAHIYA 44. Union RIMN Financial Services 1. ASUSU SA Organizations 2. BAGRI 3. IMF KOKARI 4. IMF YARDA 5. INDA MANOMA

______REGIS-AG Quarterly Report, 1 April – 30 June 2015 (Contract No. AID-625-C-14-00001)

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