usaid c4-cotton partnership (c4cp) project · 2020. 10. 5. · centre international pour la...
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INTERNATIONAL FERTILIZER DEVELOPMENT CENTER
PO BOX 2040 | MUSCLE SHOALS, AL 35662 | USA
USAID C4-Cotton Partnership
(C4CP) Project
FINAL REPORT | APRIL 2014 – MARCH 2018
USAID Cooperative Agreement No. AID-624-A-14-000002 June 2018
C4CP Final Report
April 2014 – March 2018
USAID Cooperative Agreement No. AID-624-A-14-000002
P.O. Box 2040
Muscle Shoals, Alabama
35662 USA
www.ifdc.org
COVER PHOTOS:
Top left: Extension officers from OBEPAB with extension materials developed by the project in Djidja,
Benin.
Top right: Field visit to Bonza-Pougli, Burkina Faso with a farmer association trained by COPSA-C, one
of the project implementing partners.
Bottom left: Teaching and demonstration farm of organic cotton belonging to Mrs. Adele Tama, member
of the Bepro farmer group in Kandi, Benin.
Bottom right: Observation of an insect attack (Bemissia tabaci) on a cotton leaf in a farm near Bobo-
Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, during the training of extension officers working in partnership with Savana.
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed in this document do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Agency for
International Development or the United States Government.
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 i
Table of Contents
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................... vii
I. INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................... 1
II. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY ........................................................................................... 2
III. PROJECT MANAGEMENT .................................................................................................... 4
3.1. Implementation Challenges .......................................................................................... 4
3.2. Staff Recruitment .......................................................................................................... 5
3.3. Granting Subsidies ........................................................................................................ 6
3.4. Monitoring and Evaluation ........................................................................................... 6
3.5. Communication ............................................................................................................. 7
IV. PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND RESULTS .............................................................................. 7
4.1. Intermediate Result 1 (IR 1): Support for increased agricultural productivity promoted
through regional and national actors and stakeholders ............................................... 10
4.1.1. Development of Training Modules and Tools for Advocacy and Policy
Dialogue ........................................................................................................ 10
4.1.2. Promote Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and Post-Harvest Technologies
(PHTs) to Process and Add Value to Rotational Crops ................................ 14
4.1.3. Carry out a Three-Year Study on Soil Health ............................................... 17
4.1.4. Decision Support Tools for Farmers ............................................................. 20
4.1.5. Improving Ginning Operations ..................................................................... 22
4.2. Intermediate Result 2 (IR 2): Partnerships that support the development of the cotton
sector are strengthened ................................................................................................ 28
4.2.1. Enhanced Coordination, Capacity Building and Strategic Relationships
among Stakeholders ...................................................................................... 32
4.2.2. Strengthening UEMOA’s Regional Coordination Capacities in the Cotton
Sector ............................................................................................................. 40
4.3. Intermediate Result 3 (IR 3): An enabling environment for the social and economic
empowerment of women producers and processors is promoted ............................... 46
4.3.1. Gender Initiatives at Continental Level ......................................................... 47
4.3.2. Sharing Best Practices and Lessons Learned ................................................ 49
V. LESSONS LEARNED ............................................................................................................. 53
VI. CONCLUSION....................................................................................................................... 55
ANNEXES .................................................................................................................................... 56
Annex 1. Technical Datasheets or Technologies Developed by the Project and Its Partners 56
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 ii
Annex 2. List of Partner Structures of the Project with Indication of Resource Persons and
Partnership Mechanisms ............................................................................................. 58
Annex 3. Questions/Issues Discussed at the Learning Event ................................................ 66
Annex 4. Roadmap ................................................................................................................ 74
Tables
Table 1. Selected Implementing Partners .............................................................................. 10
Table 2. List of 18 IP Beneficiaries of Grant Agreements in 2015 Fiscal Year.................... 11
Table 3. Distribution of Tools Produced by the Project and Disseminated among
National and Regional Partners ............................................................................... 14
Table 4. Objectives and Achievements for Intermediate Result 1 during the Project Life ... 25
Table 5. Evolution of the Number of Events Organized by the Project and Its Partners ...... 31
Table 6. Objectives and Achievements for Intermediate Result 2 during the Life of the
Project ...................................................................................................................... 43
Table 7. Objectives and Achievements for Intermediate Result 3 during the Life of the
Project ...................................................................................................................... 51
Figures
Figure 1. Geographic Situation of C-4 Countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali and Chad) ...... 1
Figure 2. Links between the Different Levels of Implementation of the USAID C4CP
Project ........................................................................................................................ 4
Figure 3. Results Framework of the USAID C4CP Project ..................................................... 9
Figure 4. Modules Development Summarized in 10 Steps .................................................... 12
Figure 5. Diagrams of Project Tools Distribution among C-4 Countries and Regional
Partners .................................................................................................................... 15
Figure 6. Increase in the Number of Humidifiers ................................................................... 22
Figure 7. Constellation of USAID C4CP Project Partners ..................................................... 29
Figure 8. Dynamics of Building Network of Partners ............................................................ 30
Figure 9. Diagram showing the Evolution of the Number of Events Organized by the
Project and Its Partners during the Life of the Project ............................................ 32
Figure 10. Number of Farmers from UNPC-B Trained on Composting Using “Compost
Plus” of GREEN CROSS ........................................................................................ 40
Figure 11. Areas of Collaboration with Partners ...................................................................... 42
Figure 12. Women’s Participation in Agricultural Value Chains (AVC) of Cotton and
Rotational Crops ...................................................................................................... 47
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 i
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Acronyms/ Abbreviations
English French
ACA African Cotton Association Association Cotonnière Africaine
AFD French Development Agency Agence Française de Développement
AfDB African Development Bank Banque Africaine de Développement
AEZ Agro-Ecological Zone Zone Agro-Ecologique
AGRHYMET Regional Center for Agriculture,
Hydrology and Meteorology*
Centre Régional d'Agriculture,
d’Hydrologie et de Météorologie
AIC Cotton Interprofessional Association* Association Interprofessionnelle du
Coton
AICB Burkina Faso Cotton
Interprofessional Association *
Association Interprofessionnelle du
Coton du Burkina Faso
AIFO Oleaginous Sector Industrialists’
Association *
Association des industriels de la
filière oléagineuse
ANADER National Agency for Rural
Development*
Agence nationale pour le
développement rural
ANaF Benin National Association of
Women Farmers *
Association Nationale des Femmes
agricultrices du Benin
AProCA Association of African Cotton
Producers*
Association des Producteurs de
Coton Africains
ATT Agriculture Technology Transfer Transfert de Technologie Agricole
AUC African Union Commission Commission de l’Union Africaine
C-4 Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali Bénin, Burkina Faso, Mali et Tchad
C4CP Cotton Partnership Program Partenariat pour le Coton dans les
pays du C-4
CAADP Comprehensive Africa Agriculture
Development Programme
Programme Détaillé pour le
Développement de l'Agriculture
Africaine
CBN Capacity Building Needs Besoins en Renforcement des
Capacités
CCRFA Regional Consultative Committee for
Agricultural Sectors
CEMAC Central Africa Economic and
Monetary Community
CILSS Permanent Inter-State Committee for
Drought Control in the Sahel
Comité Permanent Inter-Etats de
Lutte contre la Sécheresse dans le
Sahel
CMDT Malian Company for Textile
Development*
Compagnie Malienne pour le
Développement des Textiles
CoP Community of Practice Communauté des Pratiques
CoP Chief of Party Chef de Projet
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 ii
Acronyms/ Abbreviations
English French
COPSA-C Cooperative of Agricultural Service
Providers – COOBSA*
Coopérative de Prestation de Services
Agricoles- COOBSA
CORAF/
WECARD
West and Central African Council for
Agricultural Research and
Development
Conseil Ouest et Centre Africain pour
la Recherche et le Développement
Agricoles
COTIMES
Afrique
Cotton and World Industries Africa Coton et Industries du Monde
CotonTchad SA Chad Cotton Company* Société Cotonnière du Tchad
CP Cultural Practice Cultural Practice
CRA-CF Center of Agricultural Research-
Cotton and Fibres *
Centre de Recherches Agricoles
Coton et Fibres
CRS Catholic Relief Services Service de secours catholique
CRS RECOLTE Catholic Relief Services Revenue
through Cotton Livelihoods, Trade
and Equity project
Service de secours catholique Projet
« Revenus grâce aux moyens de
subsistance du coton, au commerce et
à l'équité »*
DICAF Directorate of Agricultural
Counseling and Operational
Training*
Direction du Conseil Agricole et de la
Formation Opérationnelle
DQA Data Quality Assessment Evaluation Qualité des Données
DRAAH Regional Directorates of Agriculture
and Hydraulic Infrastructure*
Direction Régionale de l’Agriculture
et des Aménagements Hydrauliques
DREA Department of Rural Economy and
Agriculture
ECCAS Economic Community of Central
African States
Communauté économique des États
d’Afrique centrale
ECOWAS Economic Community of West
African States
Communauté Economique des Etats
de l’Afrique de l'Ouest
EU European Union
FAQ Frequently Asked Questions Questions fréquemment posées
FerWAM Fertilizer Recommendation for West
Africa Map
FNZ NIAN ZWE Federation* Fédération NIAN ZWE
FSALS Food, Agriculture and Land Security
Section
FTF Feed the Future
FTFMS Feed the Future Monitoring System Système de Suivi de FtF
FUPRO Federation of Union of Producers
Benin*
Fédération des Unions de
Producteurs du Bénin
FY Fiscal Year Année Fiscale
GAP Good Agricultural Practice
GBC Gender-Based Constraints Contraintes Basées sur le Genre
GCB Green Cross – Burkina Faso
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 iii
Acronyms/ Abbreviations
English French
GIMAC Gender is My Agenda Campaign La campagne Genre est mon agenda*
ICRA International Center for Agricultural
Research for Development
Centre international pour la recherche
agricole orientée vers le
développement
ICRISAT International Crops Research Institute
for the Semi-Arid Tropics
Institut International de Recherches
sur les Cultures des Zones Tropicales
Semi-Arides
ICT Information and Communications
Technology
Technologie d'Information et de
Communication
ICT4D Information and Communication
Technology for Development
Technologies de l'Information et de la
Communication au service du
Développement
IER Institute of Rural Economy* Institut d’Economie Rurale
IFDC International Fertilizer Development
Center
Centre International le
Développement des Engrais
IITA International Institute for Tropical
Agriculture
Institut international d'agriculture
tropicale
ILRI International Livestock Research
Institute
INERA National Environment and
Agricultural Research Institute*
Institut de l’Environnement et de
Recherches Agricoles
INGIA-VC Promoting Gender Equitable
Opportunities in Agricultural Value
Chain
Intégration de la problématique du
genre dans les chaines de valeur
agricoles
INRAB National Agricultural Research
Institute
Institut National des Recherches
Agricoles du Bénin
INSAH Sahel Institute* Institut du Sahel
IP Implementing Partner* Partenaire de Mise en œuvre
IPM Integrated Pest Management Gestion Intégrée des Ravageurs
IR Intermediate Result Résultat Intermédiaire
ISFM Integrated Soil Fertility Management Gestion Intégrée de la Fertilité des
Sols
ITRAD Chadian Institute of Agronomic
Research for Development*
Institut Tchadien de Recherche
Agronomique pour le Développement
LoA Letter of Agreement Lettre d’Accord de Collaboration
M&E Monitoring and Evaluation Suivi et Evaluation
MoBioM Malian Biological Movement* Mouvement Biologique Malien
MoU Memorandum of Understanding Protocole d’Entente
NA Need Assessment
NAC National Advisory Committee Comité Consultatif National
NARS National Agricultural Research
System
Services Nationaux de Recherche
Agricole
NCC National Consultative Committee
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 iv
Acronyms/ Abbreviations
English French
NEPAD New Partnership for Africa’s
Development
Nouveau Partenariat pour le
Développement de l’Afrique
NGO Non-Governmental Organization Organisation Non Gouvernementale
NUTMON Nutrient Monitoring Suivi des Nutriments
OBEPAB Beninese Organization for the
Promotion of Organic Agriculture*
Organisation Béninoise pour la
Promotion de l'Agriculture
Biologique
OHVN Office of the “Haute Vallée of
Niger”*
Office de la Haute Vallée du Niger
OM Organic Manure Fumure organique
ONDR National Office of Rural
Development*
Office National de Développement
Rural
ONDR National Office of Rural
Development*
Office Nationale de Développement
Rural
OPICT Professional Organization of Cotton
and Textile Industries in WAEMU
Countries*
Organisation Professionnelle des
industries Cotonnières et Textiles des
pays de l’UEMOA
OSC Civil Society Organization* Organisation de la Société Civile
PAFST Chad Soil Fertility Improvement
Project*
Projet d’Amélioration de la Fertilité
des Sols du Tchad
PCRM Pan-African Cotton Road Map
PH Post-Harvest Post-Récolte
PHT Post-Harvest Technologies
PIRS Performance Indicator Reference
Sheets
PMP Performance Monitoring Plan Plan de Suivi des Performances
PRASAC Regional Research Center Applied to
the Development of Savana Areas of
Central Africa*
Pôle Régional de recherche
Appliquée au développement des
Savanes d'Afrique Centrale
PROPAC Regional Platform of Farmer
Organizations of Central Africa*
Plateforme régionale des
organisations paysannes d'Afrique
centrale
PR-PICA Regional Integrated Cotton
Production in Africa Program
Programme Régional de Production
Intégrée du Coton en Afrique
TFP Technical and Financial Partners Partenaires Techniques et Financiers
RAC Regional Advisory Committee Comité Consultatif Régional RAIS Regional Agriculture Information
System of UEMOA Système d’Information Agricole
Régional de l’UEMOA
RAO Regional Agreement Officer Responsable du Programme régional
RC Regional Coordination Coordination Régionale
REC Regional Economic Community* Communauté Economique Régionale
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 v
Acronyms/ Abbreviations
English French
RECOLTE Revenue through Cotton Livelihoods,
Trade and Equity
Revenus grâce aux moyens de
subsistance du coton, au commerce et
à l'équité*
RISING Research in Sustainable
Intensification for the Next
Generation
RITD Regional Integration and Trade
Division
ROPPA Network of Farmers’ Organizations
and Agricultural Producers of West
Africa*
Réseau des Organisations Paysannes
et des Producteurs Agricoles de
l'Afrique de l'Ouest
SHS Soil Health Survey Etude Santé des Sols
SMS Short Message Service
SOCOMA Cotton Company of Gourma* Société Cotonnière du Gourma
SOFITEX Textile and Fibers Company* Société des Fibres et Textiles
ST Senior Trainer
TCB Training and Capacity Building Formation et Renforcement des
Capacités
TDF Training and Demonstration Farm Champ Pédagogique de
Démonstration
TFP Technical and Financial Partner* Partenaire Techniques et Financiers
TOGUNA Input Distributor* Distributeur d'intrants
ToR Terms of Reference
ToT Training-of-Trainers Formation des Formateurs
UCC WAEMU’s Cotton Competitiveness
Project
Projet de compétitivité du coton de
l'UEMOA
WAEMU/
UEMOA
West African Economic & Monetary
Union
Union Economique et Monétaire
Ouest Africaine (UEMOA)
UGCPA/BM Union of Groups for the Marketing of
Agricultural Products of Boucle du
Mouhoun*
Union des Groupements pour la
Commercialisation des Produits
Agricoles de la Boucle du Mouhoun
UNDP United Nations Development
Program
Programme des Nations Unies pour
le Développement
UNECA United Nations Economic
Commission for Africa
Commission Economique des
Nations Unies pour l’Afrique
UNPC-B Burkina National Union of Cotton
Producers*
Union Nationale des Producteurs de
Coton du Burkina
USAID United Stated Agency for
International Development
Agence Américaine pour le
Développement International
USAID/WA United Stated Agency for
International Development/West
Africa
Bureau de l'Afrique de l'Ouest de
l'Agence des Etats-Unis pour le
Développement international
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 vi
Acronyms/ Abbreviations
English French
USDA United States Department of
Agriculture
Département de l'Agriculture des
Etats-Unis
WACIP West African Cotton Improvement
Program
Programme de Renforcement des
Capacités du Secteur Coton en
Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre
WAEMU West African Economic & Monetary
Union
Union Economique et Monétaire
Ouest Africaine (UEMOA)
WAFP West Africa Fertilizer Program Programme Ouest Africain des
Engrais
WASCAL West African Science Service Center
on Climate Change and Adapted
Land Use
Centre de services scientifiques de
l’Afrique de l'Ouest sur les
changements climatiques et
l'utilisation adaptée des terres*
WCA West and Central Africa Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre
WeCAPSoil West and Central Africa Partnership
for Soil Fertility Management
WTO World Trade Organization
N.B.: Translations with * are not official
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 vii
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The USAID C-4 Cotton Partnership Project (USAID C4CP) is a four-year project funded by the
United States Government to improve food security by increasing the incomes of producers and
processors (men and women) of cotton and its rotational crops in targeted areas of the C-4 countries
(Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali). This project is implemented under the Cooperation
Agreement No. AID-624-A-14-000002 between IFDC and the United States Agency for
International Development/West Africa Mission (USAID/WA), dated April 2, 2014. The initial
project budget amount of $14.8 million was reduced by 16% to $12.4 million in July 2017. This
change made it necessary for the project team to develop a communication plan with its regional
partners and other stakeholders, to prioritize activities, and to achieve planned objectives in order
to capitalize on the knowledge generated beyond the life of the project. This was the second project
funded by USAID following the West and Central Africa Cotton Improvement Program (USAID
WACIP), also implemented by IFDC from November 2006 to December 2013.
The strategic objective of to the USAID C4CP project is to increase the incomes of cotton
producers and processors (men and women) in targeted areas of the C-4 countries, with the aim of
sustainably increasing food security in these areas. Three intermediate results (IRs) contribute to
the achievement of this strategic objective:
• IR 1: Supporting increased agricultural productivity in targeted areas of C-4 provided.
• IR 2: Strengthening partnerships supporting the development of the cotton sector.
• IR 3: An enabling environment is created for the economic and social empowerment of
women producers and processors.
The following is an overview of activities carried out and results achieved for each IR.
IR 1: Supporting increased agricultural productivity in targeted areas of C-4 provided
During the life of the project, the major activities under this component focused on: (1) the
selection of project implementation partners (IPs); (2) the development of tools (data
sheets/technologies, innovative gender-sensitive training modules, advocacy materials, training
posters, etc.); (3) the implementation of a pilot activity using Ignitia’s technology to provide
rainfall forecasts via Short Message Service (SMS) to cotton producers; (4) the dissemination of
agricultural technology packages and other tools developed by the project; (5) the completion of
the three-year Soil Health Study in seven West and Central African (WCA) countries, including
the C-4 countries; and (8) capitalization studies on the achievements of the USAID WACIP project
in the areas of ginning and standardization of WCA cotton.
The project selected 37 IPs and worked with about 20, to which 23 grant agreements and contracts
were awarded. A total of 79 senior trainers were directly trained on Good Agricultural Practices
(GAPs) and Post-Harvest Technologies (PHT). Seven innovative gender-sensitive training
modules on GAPs and PHT were also developed. These were grouped into three manuals, and
1,100 copies were printed. Also, 7,900 copies of technical data sheets on GAPs and PHT and 1,000
copies of policy briefs and advocacy manuals were printed for distribution. A total of 22 training
and demonstration farms (TDFs), mostly led by women, were set up to test the different
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 viii
agricultural technology packages developed and the recommended approaches. The project has
strengthened the capacity of 2,036 people, including 96 women from public and private
organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and civil society. Thus, the partners who
have been trained have, in turn, provided training to 13,724 producers, including 1,236 women, on
the agricultural technologies developed. Regarding Ignitia’s ISKA technology, 7,070 producers,
including 56 women, were trained to use this decision support tool. Through the Soil Health Study,
researchers from the National Agricultural Research Services (NARS) have developed two new
fertilizer formulas to control soil acidification under cotton and rotational crops. More than 10
researchers and 20 field workers have enhanced their capacities in farm inventory and monitoring
and in the use of the “Nutrient Monitoring” (NUTMON) decision support tool; they have, in turn,
strengthened the capacities of about 300 other actors in nutrient management.
IR 2: Strengthening partnerships that support the development of the cotton sector
Partnering was the backbone of the USAID C4CP project implementation strategy. Therefore, this
approach was cross-cutting to all project components. Under this pillar, the following major
activities were carried out: (1) the establishment of several mechanisms to develop and strengthen
partnerships, including 12 National Advisory Committee (NAC) sessions, a Regional Advisory
Committee (RAC) session, 11 Letters of Agreement (LoA), a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) and three revised MoUs with leading regional partners, and 20 grants awarded to
implementing partners; (2) the establishment of a network of partnerships with more than 40
structures, including farmer associations and their apex organizations, and regional economic
communities – Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the West African
Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA/WAEMU); (3) several forums, workshops and meetings
with stakeholders of the WCA cotton sector; and (4) close collaboration with UEMOA’s Cotton
Competitiveness Project (UCC) funded by USAID/WA.
The results achieved under this main pillar include: (1) partnership mapping; (2) building a
partnership network to facilitate regional coordination among cotton stakeholders; (3) holding
more than 10 fora and regional workshops on various themes; (4) participation of the project team
in more than 150 events; and (5) organization of the end-of-project regional workshop for sharing
results achieved and lessons learned (Learning Event) in Ouagadougou on March 20-21, 2018.
IR 3: Promoting an enabling environment for the social and economic empowerment of women producers and processors
This pillar was also cross-cutting since any activity carried out by the project had to take into
account gender. During the life of the project, the following gender-specific activities were carried
out: (1) a study on country-specific gender strategy in the C-4 countries; (2) gender and value chain
analysis for organic cotton and conventional cotton with two rotational crops in each of the C-4
countries (carried out using the “Promoting Gender Equitable Opportunities in Agricultural Value
Chain” approach [INGIA-VC]); (3) development of a directory (a country-specific database) on
women entrepreneurs in the C-4 countries; (4) organization of regional forums on gender issues;
and (5) establishment of a Community of Practice (CoP) on gender, cotton and security with 150
members and the participation of delegates from the project (18) and CoP partner structures (11)
in pre-summit meetings organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) and “Gender is My
Agenda” Campaign (GIMAC) on gender mainstreaming in agricultural activities. The project also
strengthened its collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 ix
(UNECA), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the West and Central African Council for
Research and Development (CORAF/WECARD).
A key result is the participation of 250 delegates in two forums organized in Bamako and Abidjan
on the themes “Women’s Access to Productive Resources (land, credit, equipment)” and “Women’s
Access to Appropriate Agricultural Technologies,” respectively. Other key results include the
production of advocacy materials and policy briefs about women and two documentary films on
Women, Cotton and Food Security: (i) “Access to Agricultural Extension Services” and (ii)
“Access to Productive Resources.”
In terms of prospects for development in the WCA cotton sector, the relevant recommendations
made by the external evaluators of the project and those formulated during the Learning Event
helped to identify possible solutions leading to the development of a roadmap to be implemented
under the regional coordination of UEMOA.
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 1
I. INTRODUCTION
Sub-Saharan Africa is the fifth largest cotton
exporter in the world. Cotton is grown by 3.4 million
smallholder farmers and more than 20 million
people on the continent depend, directly or
indirectly, on cotton for their livelihoods. Therefore,
cotton is widely considered a strategic crop for
poverty reduction, food security and economic
development.
In four of the largest cotton-producing countries in
WCA, known as the C-4 countries (Benin, Burkina
Faso, Mali and Chad), cotton provides livelihoods to
over 10 million households (Figure 1). A study
carried out by IFDC in 2012 (“Linking Cotton and
Food Security in the C-4 Countries”) showed that in
these countries, where the agricultural sector
accounts for 30% to 40% of the economies, the share of cotton varies considerably, from a
substantial proportion in Burkina Faso (20%) and Benin (13%) to a minor proportion in Mali (4%)
and Chad (1%). Cotton companies employ about 4,000 permanent workers and 8,000 seasonal
workers, while official statistics show that about 900,000 farms produce cotton annually, providing
employment for 7-8 million adults. Moreover, in WCA, cotton is not grown in isolation, but rather
as part of integrated and dynamic agricultural production systems that include rotational crops,
such as cereals (maize and sorghum) and legumes (cowpea, groundnut and soya). Thus, as a cash
crop, cotton plays a key role in the fight against poverty and makes a major contribution to
household food security. However, smallholder farmers have not always been able to fully exploit
this potential to improve their livelihoods, as they face many challenges, such as low productivity,
fluctuating world market prices, and inadequate infrastructure.
In the 2000s, the African cotton sector went through an unprecedented crisis following the collapse
of cotton prices in 2001/02, mainly due to market distortions resulting from subsidies granted to
cotton producers in industrialized countries. To tackle this situation, the C-4 Trade Ministers
launched the Sectoral Initiative for Cotton in 2003 within the framework of the agricultural
negotiations of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Round. The aim was to obtain
compensation for income losses due to low world prices resulting from U.S. and European cotton
subsidies. The political pressure exerted by the countries carrying this initiative has drawn attention
to the negative impact of these subsidies on producers in developing countries. In addition,
recognition of the crucial importance of cotton in agricultural development and food security in
the C-4 countries prompted USAID to launch its first project to support WCA cotton producers in
December 2006. Implemented by IFDC, USAID WACIP provided U.S. $18,987,800 in support to
the C-4 countries, with limited activities in Senegal, from December 2006 to November 2009.
USAID WACIP was extended for four years until the end of November 2013, for a total cost of
U.S. $31,360,092.
USAID WACIP demonstrated that with GAPs, including the use of improved cotton seeds and
inputs, farmers could increase cotton yields by 39% as well as the yields of crops grown in rotation
Figure 1. Geographic Situation of C-4 Countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali and Chad)
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 2
with cotton by up to 25% for maize and 5% for cowpea. Similarly, investments in increasing the
efficiency of ginning operations through the introduction of better data management and decision-
making systems and humidifier equipment have had dramatic impacts in terms of improving fiber
quality, reducing costs and mitigating risks to human health and the environment. This has
prompted several cotton companies to adopt these measures spontaneously without the assistance
of USAID WACIP.
Capitalizing on the achievements made over these years of investments in cotton research and
extension services, the evaluation report of WACIP in 2010 recommended strengthening linkages
between the projects and Feed the Future programs/projects. Based on this and additional
recommendations, the United States Government agreed to provide U.S. $12,430,722 in funding
for the USAID West Africa Cotton Partnership, known as the USAID C4CP Project. Also
implemented by IFDC, this four-year project (April 2014 – March 2018) aimed at improving food
security by increasing the incomes of cotton producers and processors in the targeted areas of the
C-4 countries. It has developed and strengthened numerous partnerships with several West and
Central African cotton sector stakeholders at the continental, regional and national levels with a
view to mobilizing resources, enhancing synergies and increasing the dissemination of
technologies and other tools developed.
This final report is a summary of the activities carried out and major quantitative and qualitative
results achieved throughout the implementation of the project. It comes after the final evaluation
of the project and the regional workshop “Learning Event” held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso,
March 20-21, 2018, to share the achievements and lessons learned from WACIP and C4CP, two
projects funded by the United States Government in the last 10 years in the WCA cotton sector.
This report provides an overview of the USAID C4CP project implementation methodology, which
was based on developing and strengthening partnerships among stakeholders in the cotton sector.
It presents the regional vision and objectives of the project, describes its activities, highlights major
results and achievements and draws lessons learned.
II. IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY
The project implementation strategy was designed to support the efforts and priorities of regional
partners to maximize impact on the overall project goal. This strategy focused on: (1) gender
mainstreaming across the cotton value chain; (2) knowledge development and sharing;
(3) leveraging resources through strategic partnerships; (4) improving communication through
education, extension and awareness-raising; (5) facilitating advocacy and policy dialogue;
(6) expanding large-scale interventions; and (7) ensuring sustainability of achievements. The
components of this strategy are described below:
a. Gender mainstreaming or “Genderization” along the cotton value chain: A key component of
the USAID C4CP implementation strategy was gender mainstreaming in all activities.
Moreover, a number of project activities were specifically aimed at improving the social and
economic conditions of women, including their access to productive resources (land, credit,
equipment) and agricultural extension services. These activities were developed under project
pillar 3.
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 3
b. Knowledge development and sharing: The project activities allowed for the development and
sharing of information useful to regional and national organizations related to agricultural
producers in the C-4 countries and beyond.
c. Leveraging resources through strategic partnerships: The project partnering strategy consisted
of creating partnerships between the cotton sector stakeholders, which through collaborative
activities, developed synergies, pooled resources and ensured co-financing. Partnership is the
central mechanism for scaling up project activities with a greater emphasis on regionalization.
Strategic partnerships that are vital for the development of the sector at the regional level were
anchored in the collaboration of the project with WAEMU, ECOWAS, Permanent Inter-State
Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS) through its specialized institutions
(INSAH and AGRHYMET), CORAF/WECARD, and the African Union.
d. Improving communication through education, extension and awareness-raising: For the
USAID C4CP project, promoting the use of technologies and practices to sustainably increase
agricultural productivity was a strategic goal that required the deployment of an effective
communication system at both national and regional levels.
e. Facilitating advocacy and policy dialogue: Another important element of the project
implementation strategy was to provide leadership to facilitate advocacy and policy dialogue.
The project provided informed leadership on technical issues and key themes for the cotton
sector at the regional level.
f. Expansion of interventions across borders: To capitalize on the United States Government
investments in the WCA cotton sector during the last decade, the project relied on partner
institutions within C-4 countries and beyond.
g. Ensuring sustainability of achievements: To ensure sustainability of achievements, the project
developed a strategy to facilitate outreach and dissemination of the tools developed. This
enabled the project not only to share project achievements with partners but also to work with
them to develop their own plans for disseminating these tools beyond the life of the project.
Thus, partnering was at the heart of the USAID C4CP implementation strategy, which involved a
wide range of actors and stakeholders with a particular focus on regional institutions, such as
regional economic communities (WAEMU and ECOWAS); intergovernmental organizations such
as CILSS; regional agricultural research structures (CORAF/WECARD, PR-PICA, PRASAC,
etc.); apex farmer associations such as ROPPA and PROPAC at the regional level and ACA,
AProCA, etc., at the continental level; NGOs such as CRS, GREEN CROSS Burkina; private
companies such as SAVANA, etc. In addition to these organizations, National Advisory
Committees (NACs), one in each of the C-4 countries, and a Regional Advisory Committee (RAC)
have been set up. These committees include representatives of the various links in the value chain
of cotton and its rotational crops. Through the guidance and counseling services provided by these
various bodies, it was possible to target and involve a wide range of farmer organizations, research
institutes, private companies and public and private extension/advisory service providers.
Thus, the project’s strategy aimed at facilitating the collection and sharing of information common
to the C-4 countries among national partners and then transmitting this information to relevant
stakeholders at the regional level. Figure 2 shows the links between the different levels of project
implementation.
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 4
Figure 2. Links between the Different Levels of Implementation of the USAID C4CP Project
III. PROJECT MANAGEMENT
3.1. Implementation Challenges
The USAID C4CP project has experienced a number of challenges. These include:
• One challenge was the withdrawal of the prospective Project Leader (Chief of Party [COP]),
Dr. Jean-Francois Guay, followed by the recruitment of an Interim COP, Dr. Vas Aggarwal,
and a Consultant Start-Up Manager, Dr. Ibrahim N. Sourabie, to start the project at the end of
April 2014.
• The project has undergone several changes in top management (see the staffing section below),
exacerbated by changes in leadership at IFDC at the regional level and at the level of
USAID/WA concerning the Regional Agreement Officers (RAOs) assigned to the project.
These changes have disrupted the smooth-running of the project.
• Insecurity: Insecurity in the sub-region has kept the C4CP team from USAID constantly on the
alert. Events include the popular uprising of October 30-31, 2014, and the coup of September
16, 2015, in Burkina Faso. There were also concerns about jihadist attacks in Chad, Mali and
Burkina Faso.
• In June 2016, a USAID/WA visiting mission recommended that IFDC and the project should
enhance their presence at the regional level to reach beyond the local and farm levels, in
compliance with the regional vision of the project. According to the recommendation, “You
must remove your boots and wear ties.”
• The decrease of over U.S. $2 million from the initial budget in July 2017 led the project into
financial difficulties that forced the termination of agreements, grants and contracts in progress
and the cancellation of planned activities that had not yet started.
These challenges have been overcome thanks to a competent, supportive project team committed
to the successful implementation of the project.
Continental
Strategies/Synergies
AU/CAADP
Regional Strategies/
Synergies
WAEMU/Donors
Benin Cotton Sector
Burkina Faso
Cotton Sector
Mali Cotton Sector
Chad Cotton Sector
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 5
3.2. Staff Recruitment
Dr. Vas Aggarwal was the first Interim Project Manager from April 30 to July 20, 2014. He was
replaced by Mr. Mustapha Niang, recruited by IFDC effective July 14, 2014. Following the
resignation of Niang and his replacement Mr. Bruno Ouedraogo (Acting COP who also resigned),
Dr. Sarah Gavian, Chief Economist at IFDC served in the position from March to July 2015. IFDC
then launched the process of recruiting a new COP, which led to the hiring of Dr. Michael J. Simsik,
who assumed office on July 1, 2015. He resigned on July 23, 2017, and on July 24, Dr. Ibrahim N.
Sourabie was appointed Interim COP and will lead the project to its end on March 31, 2018.
For the implementation of the project, IFDC through its North and West Africa regional office in
Accra, Ghana, hosted the project's Regional Coordination (RC) team on the premises of its Burkina
Faso Representation in Ouagadougou. IFDC partnered with two sub-contractor organizations,
Cultural Practice (CP), an American company specializing in gender and the International Centre
for development oriented Research in Agriculture (ICRA). The RC team consisted of an Integrated
Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) Specialist and Project Coordinator, Dr. Sansan Youl, a Gender
Specialist, Dr. Christiana George, a Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Specialist, Mr. Ousmane
Ouedraogo, a Specialist in Training and Capacity Building (TCB), Mr. Christophe Kinha, an
administrative and financial manager, serving as grants manager, Mr. Epifane Tougma, and a
bilingual assistant, Madam Lise Ella Samboue. In each of the C-4 countries, a National
Coordinator was based in the IFDC country office, except in Chad where the coordinator had an
office at the National Agency for Rural Development (ANADER), formerly the National Office
for Rural Development (ONDR). The National Coordinators MM. Amadou Ouadidje for Mali,
Honore Moyenga for Burkina Faso, Moïse O. Adégnika for Benin and Prosper Gassinta for Chad
were responsible for all activities implemented in their country, including partner management.
To better meet the project's regional objectives, some adjustments were made at the staff level
during the 2016 budget year.
a. The collaboration of the project with ECOWAS has been strengthened by the secondment of
an IFDC staff member (Mr. Amadou Sagnon) to ECOWAS to support efforts of both USAID
C4CP and USAID WAFP at the regional level.
b. Recruitment of Mr. Abey Meherka Woldesenbet as Consultant and Liaison Officer at the
Women, Gender and Development Directorate of the African Union Commission (AUC) to
facilitate partnership on gender with the AU.
c. Recruitment of a Communication Specialist (Mr. Daniel Mensah), on a full-time basis, for
greater visibility of the activities and results of the project, based at IFDC’s Directorate in
Accra, and whose costs are shared by several other projects.
d. Employment of a staff member of IFDC Senegal (Dr. Bocar Diagana) (one to two months per
year) to support the project in building and strengthening partnership relations with
CORAF/WECARD.
e. Extension/adaptation of the activities of key project staff, Gender, M&E, ISFM and TCB
specialists, to ensure the implementation of activities are in line with the regional strategy of
the project.
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 6
3.3. Granting Subsidies
During its first two years of implementation, the project team focused on developing tools, such
as training manuals on good agricultural practices and post-harvest technologies, building on those
developed by USAID WACIP and improving them with gender mainstreaming. This was done
mainly in collaboration with project partners in the various C-4 countries that benefited from
implementation grants, as well as resource persons from research institutes and universities. The
request of implementing partners was also required for carrying out studies on agricultural value
chains and the gender strategy of the project. The choice of these collaborators and the
contractualization of services for carrying out planned activities were based on an iterative process,
which will be explained in the next chapter. A total of 23 grants and service contracts were
awarded, totaling U.S. $1,283,033 and representing 10.3% of the revised cooperation agreement
budget.
3.4. Monitoring and Evaluation
The Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) developed in the first year was reviewed in the second
year to better reflect the emphasis placed on regionalization. In fact, the indicators of impact on
gross margins and yields were removed since the project was no longer active at the farm level.
Documents, including the PMP, Annual Work Plan, and Mitigation and Environmental Monitoring
Plan, are developed annually and subject to prior USAID approval. In addition, the project is bound
to submit quarterly and annual progress reports. In the same way, the project is responsible for
publications and communications on all achievements and results in the form of success stories,
data sheets or brochures, etc.
To ensure the quality of the data collected, a training program was organized for the M&E officers
of the project partners as well as the national project coordinators. This training covered themes
such as project performance indicators, their definitions, collection methodologies, and also data
quality control issues. This was aimed at better involving partners in the M&E process.
The financial managers of partner structures also participated in this regional workshop in order
to benefit from the training on grant administrative and financial management procedures, to
ensure better implementation of the budget for planned activities.
The project has also:
a. Regularly supplied the Feed the Future Monitoring System (FTFMS) with information on the
following three FTF indicators: (i) Indicator 1.3: Number of people having received short-term
training on productivity and food security, funded by the United States Government; (ii)
Indicator 1.4: Number of people using climate-related information or implementing risk-
mitigating actions to improve resilience to climate change, with support from the United States
Government; and (iii) Indicator 1.6: Number of non-profit private enterprises, farmer
organizations, water user associations, women groups, trade associations and community
organizations that apply improved technologies or management practices at the organizational
level with the assistance of the United States Government.
b. Carried out internal missions on data quality assessment (DQA) and created workbooks for
each of the 20 project indicators, each workbook containing the Performance Indicator
Reference Sheets (PIRS).
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 7
As part of the pilot activity with Ignitia, the project was to work with Ignitia’s M&E manager to
design data collection tools and develop an M&E tracking system to measure the effects and
impacts of the weather forecasts provided. Following the suspension of activity with this partner,
the project had to develop a data collection sheet for a mini-survey to measure the degree of
satisfaction of producers with this technology. The survey was conducted during the first quarter
of the 2018 fiscal year, and a success story was developed to document the pilot experience.
3.5. Communication
As a partnership-oriented project, communication has been put forward at all levels of activity
achievement. For this purpose, the project team started by adapting USAID’s Branding & Marking
strategy and action plan to its specific situation and developed its own communication strategy. In
developing this communication strategy, USAID C4CP and its partners had two objectives:
a. Promote, share and disseminate information gathered and lessons learned through the
implementation of the USAID-funded project in the cotton sector of the C-4 and WCA
countries.
b. Develop, through a series of products and other communication materials, an identity that is
distinct and recognizable for USAID C4CP, a project working to improve food security in the
target areas of C-4 countries.
To this end, the project developed the following products:
a. USAID C4CP Project Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ).
b. A project brochure (factsheet) and country-specific brochures for each of the C-4 countries,
which are updated periodically.
c. A newsletter on the project (News Flash), of which 17 issues have been published.
d. Several success stories on various project results and related events. e. The creation of a digital library containing 18,163 digital photos and two film documentaries
classified according to the level of activity covered, national or regional.
f. Regarding C4CP’s online presence, the following sites have been created and can be visited:
• www.ifdc.org/usaid-c4cp
• https://www.facebook.com/usaid-c4cp
• https://twitter.com/USAIDC4CP
g. Project contract reports and documents published on a regular basis include:
• Quarterly and annual reports, annual work plans and PMP.
IV. PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND RESULTS
The strategic objective assigned to the USAID C4CP project was to increase the incomes of cotton
producers and processors (men and women) in targeted areas of the C-4 countries, with the aim of
sustainably increasing food security in these areas. The project implementation strategy was based
on three pillars:
• Pillar 1: Supporting increased and sustainable agricultural productivity through national and
regional actors and stakeholders.
• Pillar 2: Strengthening partnerships that support the development of the cotton and rotational
crops sectors.
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 8
• Pillar 3: Promoting an enabling environment for the socio-economic empowerment of women
producers and processors.
These pillars or sub-objectives (Intermediate Results [IR]) were critical to the achievement of the
project strategic objective. The project IRs are defined as follows:
• IR 1: Support for improving sustainable agricultural productivity is encouraged by regional
and national actors and other stakeholders.
• IR 2: Partnerships that support the development of the cotton sector are strengthened.
• IR 3: An enabling environment for women’s social and economic empowerment is promoted.
These project objectives are aligned with the strategy and goal of development and economic
resilience promoted by USAID/WA among its West African partners. Figure 3 summarizes the
roadmap to achieve the project results. This roadmap is based on a development hypothesis with
three components, all related to each IR, as follows: (i) if farmers in the targeted areas of the C-4
countries have access to the appropriate and affordable technologies and services required to
improve the productivity of cotton and its rotational crops on a sustainable basis; (ii) if
collaboration and partnerships between public and private stakeholders at the local, national and
regional levels are strengthened to advance sector- related priorities; and (iii) if intensive efforts
are made to ensure that women farmers achieve equitable benefits from their cotton and food crops
efforts; then, men and women producers, ginners and other value chain actors will increase their
incomes and advance the goal of increasing food security in the targeted areas of the C-4 countries.
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 9
Figure 3. Results Framework of the USAID C4CP Project
This final report summarizes activities and results achieved by the project during its four-year
implementation. These activities and results are presented by intermediate results.
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 10
4.1. Intermediate Result 1 (IR 1): Supporting increased agricultural productivity through regional and national actors and stakeholders
Activities implemented under IR 1 aimed at achieving the project objective of improving food
security through the sustainable increase of agricultural productivity by strengthening national and
regional institutions on the following key components: 1) improving yields of cotton and its
rotational crops through the application and use of sustainable technologies and improved post-
harvest practices by an increased number of farmers; (2) meeting farmers’ demands for information
and support in agriculture-related techniques; and (3) improving the quality of agricultural
extension service delivery, thereby increasing farmers’ satisfaction with these services.
4.1.1. Development of Training Modules and Tools for Advocacy and Policy Dialogue
During its first two years, the
project developed and tested
gender-sensitive training
modules in collaboration with
implementing partners (IPs).
IPs were the direct
beneficiaries of this project
pillar while the indirect
beneficiaries or “end beneficiaries” were those who received support through IPs. The rigorous
selection of IPs was based on an iterative process that began with an inventory of 79 structures or
institutions in the four countries according to the types and various areas of activities, such as: (i)
farmer organizations; (ii) organizations of processors of agricultural products; (iii) public and
private extension, support and counseling organizations; and (iv) public and private research and
development institutions.
From this list, the project selected 37 IPs whose activities were most related to its intervention
rationale. These partners have been the subject of an assessment of capacity building needs and a
study on “Gender and Value Chain Analysis.” The purpose of this study was to identify gender-
based constraints that hamper the development of value chains in order to define specific measures
to alleviate these constraints. These measures were at the center of the project intervention
approach in the targeted value chains.
The box below outlines the importance of gender issues and gender mainstreaming in all project
activities.
IPs Benin Burkina Chad Mali Total
Private 5 8 3 8 24
Public 4 4 3 2 13
Total 9 12 6 10 37
Table 1. Selected Implementing Partners
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 11
Table 2. List of 18 IP Beneficiaries of Grant Agreements in 2015 Fiscal Year
IPs
C-4 Countries Total C-4 Benin Burkina Faso Chad Mali
Private sector SOCOMA CotonTchad CMDT
(Centre) 3
Farmer Organizations /
Civil Organizations
ANaF
FUPRO
OPEBAB
COPSA-C FNZ
UGCPA/BM
UNPC-B
— MoBioM 8
Public Offices DICAF — ITRAD OHVN 3
NARS INRAB INERA ONDR IER 4
Total 5 6 3 4 18
Of the 37 selected IPs, 18 were awarded grant agreements (Table 2) after a prior assessment of
their ability to manage USAID funds (Pre-Award Assessment). These included four National
Agricultural Research Services (NARS) from the C-4 countries. These NARS were responsible
for carrying out the soil health research activity.
To develop the modules, two forums were held simultaneously in Cotonou during January 12-16,
2015. The forum brought together 34 experts for the GAPs Forum and 19 experts for the Post-
Harvest Technology (PHT) Forum. The first forum focused on five thematic areas: (i) improved
seeds; (ii) ISFM; (iii) Integrated Pest Management (IPM); (iv) organic cotton; and (v) seed cotton
quality. The second forum focused on two thematic areas: (i) storage and conservation of
agricultural products and (ii) processing agricultural food products.
To Better Address Gender Issues in the Framework of the Study
a. Identifying the lack of a gender strategy as a capacity building need is not enough.
Our goal is to ensure that IPs work for and with women. This may entail strengthening
their capacities to better identify these women’s needs, to develop tools/modules for
women, or to deliver specific services to women.
b. Try to understand the “why?” We want to understand the challenges IPs are faced with
in working with women in the cotton and rotational crops sectors and particularly for what
reasons. And when the challenge is explained, always ask the “why” question.
c. Be as detailed as possible in the diagnosis. During the interviews, IPs explained the
challenges/difficulties they have encountered in identifying women’s needs or in
providing appropriate services to them. During the test phase, the IPs stated that they have
difficulty working with women because they are not heads of farms. This detail is very
relevant since it explains their need in capacity building to improve their work with
women.
d. Try to identify specific activities for women.
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 12
The two forums, which initially aimed at developing innovative and gender-sensitive training
modules, ultimately developed only a series of technical datasheets (see the list in Annex 1), which
form the basis of the corpus and technical contents of the training modules. This shift was guided
by the facilitators based on the duration (five days) of the forums and the profile of the participants,
the majority of whom were researchers and not trainers. Thus, in total, 56 technical datasheets
were developed: 39 on GAPs and 17 on PHTs.
The development of these training modules was a long process. Various steps in the development
are shown in Figure 4. This included:
• Training 79 senior trainers (Training of Trainers) in two sessions on GAPs and PHTs. These
senior trainers who have been trained in the C-4 countries know each other and meet each other
in the course of their work in the sub-region. They have taken ownership of all the project
modules and are capable of providing training in any other country.
• Setting up 22 Teaching and Demonstration Farms (TDFs) in the four countries. This provided
the project and its partners with an approach to testing, promoting and disseminating the
innovative and gender-sensitive tools and modules developed by the project.
Approach & Development Stages of Training Modules
Figure 4. Modules Development Summarized in 10 Steps
10. Formatting, editing, and printing
9. Finalization of modules 8. Evaluation and use of
modules
7. Testing of modules by 14 IPs on 22 TDFs
6. Harmonization workshop with 39 focalized STs
5. ToT Development of a training manual with 79 senior trainers (STs)
4. Finalization of technical datasheets
3. Experts/Development of technical datasheets
2. Need Assessment with 37 IPs
1. Identification, analysis and selection of 37 IPs in the C-4
Participative, holistic, iterative and inclusive approach based on the assessment of capacity building needs and adult learning styles
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 13
A total of seven innovative gender-sensitive training modules on GAPs and PHTs were developed
and tested by the 14 IPs during the 2015/16 crop year and were finalized during the first quarter
of the 2017 fiscal year. They have been organized and published in the form of three manuals:
a. Training manual on good production practices for conventional cotton
and rotational crops. This manual contains four innovative and
gender-sensitive training modules including:
▪ 1 module on improved seeds
▪ 1 module on ISFM
▪ 1 module on IPM, crop diseases, deficiencies and control
methods
▪ 1 module on seed cotton quality
▪ Training posters on GAPs
b. Training manual on good production and marketing practices for
organic cotton.
This manual contains a single training module and training posters on
good agricultural practices in organic agriculture.
c. Training manual on post-harvest technologies contains two gender-
sensitive training modules, including:
• 1 module on product storage and conservation
• 1 module on agri-food processing
• Training posters on post-harvest technologies
Other tools were also developed by the project including:
• Posters to raise awareness among cotton sector actors (men and women) on the social and
economic well-being of cotton-producing households when women are considered and
involved in farm management and organization.
• Policy briefs for advocacy with policymakers.
• Advocacy brochures for advocacy with Technical and Financial Partners for policy dialogue.
• Two documentary films on:
o “Women, Cotton and Food Security: Women’s Access to Training and Extension Services.”
o “Women, Cotton and Food Security: Women’s Access to Land, Inputs, Credit and
Equipment.”
• USB drives containing the files of all project tools developed.
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 14
4.1.2. Promote Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and Post-Harvest Technologies (PHTs) to Process and Add Value to Rotational Crops
Once the tools were developed and tested, they needed to be widely distributed among regional,
national and cotton stakeholders for dissemination to end users (producers and processors) in the
cotton and rotational crops sector. For this purpose, 1,100 copies of the manuals were printed.
From the 56 fact sheets, which make up the three manuals (39 on GAPs and 17 on PHTs), a series
of posters have been developed to serve as training material for field agents and extension workers.
These training posters were printed (7,900 copies, including 2,500 copies on GAPs and 5,400 on
PHTs) for dissemination and sharing purposes (see Table 3 below for details).
Table 3. Distribution of Tools Produced by the Project and Disseminated among National and Regional Partners
Co
un
try
No
. o
f E
xte
nsio
n
Ag
en
ts a
nd
Sen
ior
Tra
ine
rs
No
. an
d
Typ
e o
f
Part
ne
r
GA
P M
an
ual
PH
T M
an
ual
Org
an
ic C
ott
on
Man
ual
Seed
s P
oste
rs
ISF
M P
oste
rs
IPM
Po
ste
rs
Org
an
ic C
ott
on
Po
ste
rs
Co
tto
n Q
uality
Po
ste
rs
PH
T P
oste
rs
US
B D
riv
es
Po
lic
y B
riefs
Ad
vo
cac
y M
ate
rials
Na
tio
na
l
Re
gio
na
l
Benin 139 18 5 103 115 54 101 113 99 71 85 691 262 35 52
Burkina 150 27 5 139 96 142 154 204 154 105 115 1,051 370 80 145
Mali 155 29 1 91 97 51 7 23 16 18 35 387 400 30 19
Chad 34 18 1 33 30 16 31 21 10 17 30 336 125 10 15
Other Regions
n/a n/a 6 34 62 37 207 139 271 189 285 2,935 1,043 345 269
TOTAL 478 92 18 400 400 300 500 500 550 400 550 5,400 2,200 500 500
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 15
Figure 5. Diagrams of Project Tools Distribution among C-4 Countries and Regional Partners
The dissemination of training manuals, posters and advocacy tools was done in accordance with
the dissemination strategy of the project during dissemination workshops. As a first step, a regional
dissemination workshop was organized with regional partners. It was followed by four national
dissemination workshops conducted in all C-4 countries to involve national partners in the
dissemination process. (Photos of these meetings are below).
Benin, 1160
Burkina, 2021
Mali, 537
Chad; 491
Others Regional
4063
Benin, 262
Burkina, 370
Mali, 400
Chad; 125
OthersRegional
1043
Advocacy materials and policy briefs
Distribution of USB sticks containing the files of all tools developed
Distribution of posters
0
500
1000
Advocacy Materials and Policy Brief
Distribution of training manuals
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 16
Mr. Delphin Olorounto Koudande (middle), Minister of Agriculture of Benin, delivering the opening speech of the regional workshop; (left) Mr. Christophe Hynak, Head of Financial
Management at USAID/Benin; and (right) Dr. Oumou Camara, Deputy Director of IFDC North and West Africa
Group photo of participants in the regional workshop on the dissemination of tools developed by the project
Cotonou, Benin, March 30-31, 2017
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 17
From right to left: Messrs SIMSIK Michael, USAID C4CP Project Leader; Jim Parys, Representative of USAID-Burkin; RAMDE Tinga, Technical Adviser to the Minister of Agriculture, Chairman of the opening ceremony of the National Tool Dissemination Workshop; YOUL Sansan, Representative of IFDC-Burkina and Project Coordinator;
TRAORE Ouola, cotton expert at UEMOA; and Pierre Guinko, Permanent Secretary of Monitoring the Liberalized Cotton Sector of Burkina Faso (May 4-5, 2017, Ouagadougou,
Burkina Faso)
To promote the use of GAPs and PHTs, the project has trained more than 2,000 people (extension
agents and senior trainers). Through the cascading process, the extension agents of the project
implementing partners have, in turn, trained 13,724 farmers, including 1,236 women farmers out
of a forecast of 15,706, the deficit being mainly due to the non-implementation of the grant
agreement with CORAF. The Teaching and Demonstration Farms (TDFs), which were set up and
managed mainly by women, served as showcases in which the technologies promoted were applied
and taught to producers. These TDFs also served as forums for discussion on the identification of
gender-based constraints and the implementation of corrective measures.
4.1.3. Carry out a Three-Year Study on Soil Health
In sub-Saharan Africa, farmers are faced with low crop yields due to low soil fertility, among other
causes. The latter is caused by natural factors (land degradation, climatic variations and other
natural phenomena) but also by anthropogenic factors (population growth, human activities, etc.).
ISFM technologies have been developed by IFDC and made available to farmers. As part of its
efforts to sustainably increase agricultural productivity, the USAID C4CP project led a three-year
soil health survey (SHS) in cotton production systems.
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 18
This soil health
study aims at
developing site-
specific fertilizer
recommendations
and improved soil
fertility management
practices in cotton
production systems.
The study started in
July 2015 and was
initially carried out
by the Cotton
Programs of C-4
countries’ research
institutes, which
have benefited from
project grants. Over
the following two
years, the SHS was
piloted by the Regional Program for the Integrated Protection of Cotton in Africa (PR-PICA),
which has also benefited from a project grant in the framework of the partnership between this
regional institution and USAID C4CP, sealed by the signature of the Letter of Agreement with
IFDC. The study area was extended to seven countries, including the C-4 countries, Cote d’Ivoire,
Togo and Senegal.
Workshops to evaluate the results of research carried out during the first and second year were
held in Lomé, Togo, August 18-19, 2016, and in Bamako, Mali, June 6-8, 2017. Organized by the
project in collaboration with PR-PICA, these workshops brought together national and regional
stakeholders (UEMOA, CORAF/WECARD, AProCA, CILSS/INSAH), a private company
(TOGUNA Agro-Industries SA, which supplies fertilizers for different trials), and strategic
partners of the project (CRS/RECOLTE, GREEN CROSS), in line with the regional approach of
USAID C4CP.
At the end of the Bamako workshop, the participants issued strong recommendations and a
resolution (see box below).
Group photo of participants in a workshop to evaluate the SHS second year results (June 6-8, 2017, Bamako, Mali)
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 19
The soil health study carried out in partnership with the national and regional actors of the WCA
cotton sector resulted in numerous achievements, including the following:
• More than 10 researchers and 20 field workers have strengthened their capacities in farm
inventory and monitoring and in the use of the NUTMON decision support tool to reinforce
the capacities of around 300 farmers on soil nutrient management.
• More than 500 soil and plant tissue samples were collected and analyzed in the laboratory of
the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in Niamey,
Niger.
To the Governments of PR-PICA Member Countries
• Facilitate access to organic fertilizers for farmers through a suitable mechanism in the
medium and long term.
To PR-PICA
• Advocate with governments to assist farmers in sustainable soil fertility management by
investing in the recapitalization of land fertility.
• Carry out a study on the use of organic manure as an alternative fertilizer source.
• Carry out a study on the relationship of pH to exchangeable aluminum content.
• Organize guided tours of pre-extension trials on new fertilizer formulas with reallocation
of funds for soil analyses in the third year of the SHS budget.
• Carry out an economic evaluation of fertilizer formulas using the services of an agro-
economist.
• Develop a monitoring and evaluation plan specifying the tasks, implementation periods and
expected results.
To Researchers
• Organize as soon as possible the re-training of agents responsible for NUTMON surveys.
• Update the protocol of field activities for the 2017/2018 campaign.
To Farmers
• Fence (enclose) their farming plots to preserve post-harvest residues.
To the USAID C4CP Project
• Bring together researchers to harmonize data processing and present the results of the third
year of the SHS, two days before the SHS workshop.
• Make available to partners a NUTMON notice in French.
• Set up a program for the dissemination of GAPs, including the combined use of organic
fertilizer and chemical fertilizer, in collaboration with GREEN CROSS/Regional Africa
Program.
Resolution
• Researchers involved in SHS pledged to evaluate, in different countries (without additional
funding), the contribution of cotton to food security through conducting trials on the carry-
over effects of new cotton fertilizer formulas on cotton rotational crops.
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 20
• Through field activities, two new fertilizer formulas were validated in research stations in
different agro-ecological zones (AEZ) in the seven countries and in 300 plots delineated in
farmers’ fields. The two new fertilizer formulas, 14-18-18 + 5S + IB + 2.5CaO and 15-15-15
+ 5S + IB +2.5MgO + 2.5CaO, help to correct soil acidity. For the third and last year of the
SHS, these formulas were compared with the popularized formula in each of the seven
countries. The reduction of the project budget led to the termination of the grant agreement
with PR-PICA, which had to look for other funding to complete the work in progress.
At the regional level, a forum was co-organized during April 11-13, 2016, in Lomé by USAID
C4CP, the USAID West Africa Fertilizer Program (WAFP) and the Agricultural Technology
Transfer (ATT) project funded by USAID Bureau for Food Security (BFS) in Ghana. These three
projects share the common objective of improving fertilizer recommendations for crops. The
purpose of this forum was to build on the previous work of USAID WAFP and USAID C4CP in
compiling and mapping fertilizer recommendations for crops in eight West African countries (in
short “FeRWAM”): (i) to provide fertilizer recommendations that will help maintain better crop
yields and returns on fertilizer investments, especially for smallholder farmers, and (ii) to explore
some of the best methods for collecting new information to update fertilizer recommendations in
the West African region. Many collaborative relationships have been established at the regional
level, giving rise to the West and Central Africa Partnership for Soil Fertility (WeCAPSoil). This
network aims at coordinating knowledge development, brokering and strengthening soil fertility
and dissemination among policymakers, researchers, extension services and the private sector
(dealers, importers, mixers) to advance the existing vision, tools and technologies.
The achievements of this project implemented in close collaboration with USAID WAFP deserve
to be shared with other IFDC projects and stakeholders involved in soil fertility management. The
same applies to the book entitled “Improving Crop Nutrients’ Profitability, Sustainability and
Efficiency, through Site-Specific Fertilizer Recommendations in West African Agro-Ecosystems,
Volumes 1 and 2.”
Through IFDC, USAID C4CP has concluded with the Chadian Ministry of Production, Irrigation
and Agricultural Equipment a Memorandum of Understanding to extend the scope of
implementation of the soil health study in Chad within the framework of its new project
"Improving Soil Fertility in Chad” (PAFST).
4.1.4. Decision Support Tools for Farmers
The project has identified and tested several decision support tools and agricultural data
management tools using new information and communication technologies, which can contribute
to achieving IR 1 “Increasing Agricultural Productivity.”
Ignitia’s ISKA Technology: Ignitia is a Swedish high-tech company which provides seasonal,
monthly and daily rainfall forecasts that are accurate to 84% and very localized (a radius of 3
kilometers). Information is provided via SMS on the mobile phones of farmers whose fields have
been first geo-referenced. Two grant agreements signed by USAID C4CP and Ignitia enabled this
company to carry out a pilot activity to bring the technology to an initial target of 5,000 agricultural
producers of the Malian Company for Textile Development (CMDT) and 5,000 other producers
in Burkina Faso, including 4,000 from the Burkina Faso Textile Fiber Society (SOFITEX) and
1,000 from the SOCOMA Cotton Company. The text message or voice message is customized and
delivered in the Bambara language in the case of Mali. A farmer receives information at the same
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 21
time every day announcing if there will be low, medium, heavy rain or no rain on his farm over
the next 48 hours. In spite of poor performance due to the cessation of funding on July 20 following
the USAID C4CP budget cut, this service was highly appreciated by farmers since the technology
meets real needs for building resilience in Africa in terms of adaptation to climate change. This
tool enables farmers to make more informed decisions and plan agricultural activities based on
rainfall, which is the most important factor in a dry culture. With access to accurate rainfall
forecasts, farmers can reduce risks and costs, increase yields, and optimize input use. To measure
these results, a mini-survey was conducted by the project during the first quarter of fiscal year
2018. This survey confirmed the beneficiaries’ satisfaction with the use of the technology and its
effectiveness. In the sample of pilot farmers surveyed, 98% said that technology helped them to
better plan their activities or better use inputs; and 90% felt the technology was reliable. See below
the testimony of Mr. Tiendrebeogo Kader, member of the Tegwende farmer group of Koare near
Fada N‘Gourma in Burkina Faso, who during the evaluation of the pilot activity declared:
“This technology has personally helped me a lot in my farm business this
campaign. Unlike other campaigns, I did not have to re-sow thanks to the weather
information I received. The cotton plants germinated readily because I sowed at
the right time. My treatment also was successful, and I had less pest attacks in my
farm. Before, the fertilizers that I applied in my field were most often carried away
by the runoff of rainwater. Last year, I lost about eight bags of fertilizers washed
away by a heavy rain right after application. I’ve been growing cotton for six
years, but I think this campaign may be the one where I will get the best cotton
yield. I had to share weather information with my neighbors. Every morning, my
neighbors would phone me to ask information on rainfall. Some would come to
my home to get this information. Even employees of the agricultural research
station INERA/Koare near my farm used to call me every day at 9 a.m. to learn
about the forecasts of the day. This technology has allowed us to better organize
ourselves for our farming operations. It is profitable and has allowed us to
improve our incomes. We farmers are ready to contribute to continue benefiting
from this technology.”
Giving Ignitia the opportunity to bring its technology to farmers provided farmers with access to
a decision support tool that can improve cotton production and rotational crops while strengthening
farmers’ resilience to climate change.
Information and Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D): The National Union
of Cotton Producers of Burkina (UNPC-B) is a partner of USAID C4CP and has received U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding through the project Revenue through Cotton
Livelihoods, Trade and Equity (RECOLTE) implemented by Catholic Relief Service (CRS). The
overall objective of the project is to develop the organic cotton value chain in order to improve
incomes, economic opportunities and food security for smallholder farmers in Burkina Faso.
CRS conducted an experiment with UNPC-B technical staff using an online system for agro-
economic, commercial and organizational operations. This system, called “ICT for Development
(ICT4D),” has been the subject of a collaboration with USAID C4CP for the scaling up of the
technology, as part of the collaboration between two projects funded by the United States
Government. The system uses iPads for the collection of digital data in the field by agents
connected to an online database that they feed via an Internet connection.
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 22
USAID C4CP intended to capitalize on this experience with CRS and share it with other cotton
sector partners in the C-4 countries or beyond. Unfortunately, the work plan established between
the two partners has not been implemented due to various factors including the delay by CRS in
implementing the technical part of the system and financial difficulties which no longer allowed
the project to pursue this activity.
4.1.5. Improving Ginning Operations
The USAID WACIP project proved that by providing some complementary equipment and
management software to the ginning facilities of cotton companies in WCA, ginning losses could
be transformed into gains. USAID C4CP commissioned a study from the private consulting firm
Cotton and Industry of the World Expertise and Services (COTIMES-Africa) to assess United
States Government investments in cotton ginning in WCA countries, to analyze the potential for
cotton accreditation, certification and traceability, and environmental mitigation in this region of
Africa. The relevant conclusions of this evaluation are that United States Government’s
investments in improving cotton ginning productivity were replicated by direct and indirect
beneficiaries since cotton companies that have tested pilot activities within the framework of
WACIP (2006-2013) not only are pursuing them but also contributing to their extension (see
Figure 6). The study also showed that other cotton companies that participated in the Open Days
organized by the project to share the results of these experiments have also adopted them.
Figure 6. Increase in the Number of Humidifiers
The study showed that the number of humidifiers in C-4 countries increased by 650% from two at
the end of the WACIP project in 2013 to thirteen in 2016. The United States Government support
has had a considerable positive impact on cotton companies in the C-4 countries and Senegal and
has been highly appreciated by all ginners in the region.
Through this activity, USAID C4CP has facilitated the sharing of best practices in ginning
operations, to promote these achievements in collaboration with strategic regional partners such
as UEMOA and the African Cotton Association (ACA) with the view of reaching a wider range
Number of Humidifiers Purchased
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 23
of practitioners and broadening the experiences of the C-4 and other countries in the region with
the technical assistance of COTIMES Africa.
The study also noted the lack of universal standards and mechanisms for cotton accreditation,
certification and traceability in Africa, in line with international trade standards. When these
standards were applied in other parts of the world, they had a significant impact on the
competitiveness of the large world cotton industry. The cotton sector in the C-4 countries remains
marginalized from the essential solutions to be competitive in the international market. In addition,
almost all the fiber produced in the region, until now, has been sold without any added value. In
this regard, the external mid-term evaluation of the project, carried out by Mr. Mark Wentling,
Senior Agriculture Consultant, from November 28 to December 16, 2016, stressed that “Because
of their inclusive nature, the implementation of these concepts in West and Central Africa will
require the organization of a policy dialogue that will bring together key regional and national
stakeholders to share their experiences in cotton accreditation, certification and traceability.”
These conclusions led the project to propose capacity building activities in fiscal year 2017 to
encourage stakeholders of the WCA cotton sector and address these issues through the adoption
of universal standards to create added value for the sector.
To this end, USAID C4CP concluded a second contract with COTIMES Africa to pursue the
activities aiming at improving cotton quality and to hold a policy dialogue workshop on cotton
accreditation, certification and traceability. The workshop was expected to bring together the
General Directors of C-4 cotton companies (plus Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Togo), as
well as their Directors in charge of quality, classification and marketing. COTIMES Africa and
the project began the awareness-raising tour of the leaders of the cotton companies in eight
countries (C-4 plus Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Togo). The tour has been suspended
and the workshop will not be organized due to the financial difficulties encountered by the project.
However, the project encouraged COTIMES Africa, UEMOA, cotton companies, donors and other
stakeholders to combine resources to make this event a reality.
In addition to the activities and results contributing to the achievement of IR 1, the project had
planned to carry out two other activities, namely the promotion of climate-tolerant rotation crop
varieties and the best mechanisms to facilitate access to non-cotton inputs for smallholder farmers
producing rotational crops, particularly women. Both activities were discontinued due to funding
shortfalls resulting from the budget cut. For the same reason, the draft grant agreement developed
with CORAF/WECARD and other agreements planned with regional partners, such as
CILSS/INSAH, CILSS/AGRHYMET, PRASAC and ROPPA, could not be finalized. This had a
significant impact on the results, primarily concerning the indicators related to the dissemination
of the tools developed (see Table 5): (i) Indicator 1.1: Number of modules/technology packages
promoted thanks to the support of the United States Government; (ii) Indicator 1.2: Dissemination
of best practices to sustain increased agricultural productivity; (iii) Indicator 1.3: Number of people
having received a short-term training on productivity and food security funded by the United States
Government; (iv) Indicator 1.4: Number of people using climate information or implementing risk
reduction actions to improve resilience to climate changes with the support of United States
Government; and (v) Indicator 1.5: Number of methods/channels used by the project or its partners
for the dissemination of modules/technologies/packages with the United States Government
assistance, by type.
Notwithstanding these financial difficulties encountered by the project from the fourth quarter of
the fiscal year 2017 that marked a sudden stop to ongoing activities, the results evaluated by the
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 24
external project final evaluation mission (November and December 2017) have shown impressive
progress in achieving its objectives (over 80%). The project monitoring system was transparent,
accountable and in line with the reporting requirements of USAID. Among the negative factors
that impacted the project’s achievements, the evaluators stressed, among other things, changes in
project leadership, reorientation of project interventions (reorientation of the project strategy), and
the reduction of the budget, which disrupted the dissemination of training modules and
technologies.
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 25
Table 4. Objectives and Achievements for Intermediate Result 1 during the Project Life
Indicator
Ty
pe
Un
it
FT
F/
Cu
sto
m
Disaggregated by FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 LOP
Results LOP
Targets
Dif
fere
nc
e
(%)
Comment
Indicator 1.1: Number of
modules / technology
packages promoted with the
support of the United States
Government
Ou
tput
Sta
ge
Cu
sto
m
Stage 1: Developed 9 2 2 0 13 18 -28
The project initially identified
several technologies to be
developed / updated and then
scaled up. These are the 5 GAPs,
2 PHTs, 3 Gender (film,
advocacy material and policies
brief / posters), 1 IGNITIA, 2 soil
health technologies, 1 non-cotton
input, 1 tolerant variety, 1
international cotton grading
standards, 1 traceability of fiber
and 1 ICT4D (CRS Harvest). But
finally, 5 technologies were
partially developed (the 2
technologies of the soil health
study) or were not developed at
all (1 non-cotton input, 1 tolerant
variety and ICT4D) for reasons
mainly related to the budgetary
problem of the program; the
technologies developed were
shared during different events
(workshops, forums, etc.) and / or
disseminated.
Stage 2: Under field
testing 7 9 3 0 2
Stage 3: Finalized 7 0 0
Stage 4: Shared 7 14 8 14 18 -22
Stage 5: Disseminated 7 14 8 14 18 -22
Indicator 1.2: Dissemination
of best practices to support
increased agricultural
productivity by stage
Ou
tput
Sta
ge
Cu
sto
m
Stage 1: Identify
partners 4 0 0
This indicator was also affected
by the project's budgetary
difficulties. The implementation
of the dissemination strategy
had to go through an
institutional setup with the
regional actors (PRASAC,
CORAF, ROPPA, CILSS, etc.)
through technical meetings, the
organization of a round table
and the elaboration of an action
Stage 2: Contact the
lead partner 18 0 0
Stage 3: Meetings held
on core issues with the
lead partners
29 23 0 52 93 -44
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 26
Indicator
Ty
pe
Un
it
FT
F/
Cu
sto
m
Disaggregated by FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 LOP
Results LOP
Targets
Dif
fere
nc
e
(%)
Comment
Stage 4: Organize
round table or regional
forum
4 3 0 7 11 -36
plan for the dissemination of the
achievements of the program.
For the most part, this could not
be carried out.
Ou
tco
me
Stage 5: Elaboration of
action plan 4 6 0 10 16 -38
Indicator 1.3: Number of
people who have received
short-term training on
productivity and food
security with funding from
the United States
Government
Ou
tput
#
FT
F #
EG
.3.2
-1
Total by type of
individual and by sex 631 1,421 11,672 0 13,724 15,706 -13
The deficit is mainly related to
the non-implementation of the
grant agreement with CORAF
under which a number of
training sessions for national
actors were planned as part of
the dissemination of project
achievements. The draft grant
agreement drawn up for this
purpose by the two parties was
finally not concluded.
Producers 0 825 10,863 0 11,688 11,945 -2
Men 220 10,232 0 10,452
Women 605 631 0 1,236
People in government 270 239 54 0 563 692 -19
Men 225 200 41 0 466
Women 45 39 13 0 97
People in private
sector firms 165 119 738 0 1,022
Men 156 114 708 0 978
Women 9 5 30 0 44
People in civil society 196 238 17 0 451 1,616 -72
Men 154 181 16 0 351
Women 42 57 1 0 100
Indicator 1.4: Number of
people using climate
information or
implementing risk reduction
activities to improve
resilience to climate change,
with support from the
United States Government
Ou
tco
me
#
FT
F#
EG
.11
-6 Total 7,070 0 7,070 7,000 1
Men 7,014 0 7,014
Women 56 0 56
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 27
Indicator
Ty
pe
Un
it
FT
F/
Cu
sto
m
Disaggregated by FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 LOP
Results LOP
Targets
Dif
fere
nc
e
(%)
Comment
Indicator 1.5: Number of
methods / channels used by
the project or its partners for
the dissemination of
modules / technologies /
packages with the United
States Government support
by type
Ou
tput
#
Cu
sto
m
Total 38 7 45 117 -62
This gap is also related to the
cessation of scaling up activities
of the project that had to go
through innovation platforms,
workshops / forums, and other
dissemination channels.
Innovative platform 0 0 0 8 -100
Forum/workshop 25 1 26 55 -53
Multi-media 3 0 3 40 -93
Website 1 1 2 7 -71
Others (Email, courier,
etc.) 9 5 14 7 100
Total 6 3 6 5 20
New 3 0 0
Continuing 3 6 6 5 20
Indicator 1.6: Number of
private for-profit
enterprises, producer
organizations, water user
associations, women’s
groups, trade and business
associations and community
organizations that applied
improved technologies or
management practices at the
organizational level with
support from the United
States Government
Ou
tco
me
#
FT
F #
EG
.3.2
-20
Total 11 11 13 10 14 14 0
Private enterprise 3 3 3 1 4 4 0
Women’s groups 1 1 1 1 1 1 0
Trade and business
associations 0 2 1 2 2 0
Producers
organizations 7 7 7 7 7 7 0
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 28
4.2. Intermediate Result 2 (IR 2): Partnerships that support the development of the cotton sector are strengthened
Project activities have been implemented in collaboration with about 40 cotton sector partners at
the international (African continental or beyond), regional, national and intranational levels. The
project has thus established and strengthened linkages among stakeholders in the sector at all levels
of the value chain of cotton and rotational crops: input suppliers, farmers and farmer associations,
public and private extension and consulting service providers, research institutes, cotton
companies, ginners, interprofessional associations and exporters of cotton fiber. A list of these key
partners of the project is in Annex 2. The project heavily relied on strategic regional partners, such
as UEMOA, ECOWAS, AU, CORAF/WECARD, ROPPA and CILSS.
From the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2015, the project team worked to establish or strengthen
contacts and collaboration with regional organizations and other partners identified during a
partnership profiling exercise or partnership mapping. Activities aiming at strengthening
partnerships to support the development of the cotton sector included mainly: (i) harmonizing
activities in the cotton sector; (ii) developing national and regional agricultural strategies including
cotton; (iii) improving coordination and collaboration among donors; and (iv) strengthening and
sustaining partners’ capacity to implement strategic development. In addition to numerous
technical meetings with IPs already identified for the implementation of IR 1 activities, several
other meetings were held in the region to identify opportunities and strategies to strengthen
partnerships. The project’s partnership framework, therefore, includes both regional and sub-
regional projects, as well as other United States Government-funded projects, such as
CRS/RECOLTE and USAID WAFP (West Africa Fertilizer Program). The network of USAID
C4CP project partners was built gradually, as shown in Figure 7 on the constellation of partnerships
and Figure 8 on building dynamics.
Figure 7 shows: (i) at the national level, implementing partners grouped by type: research,
extension, farmer organizations (FOs), private stakeholders, NGOs, and other projects and
development programs; (ii) at the regional level, regional economic communities (UEMOA,
ECOWAS, Central Africa Economic and Monetary Community [CEMAC]), intergovernmental
organizations (CILSS), regional research institutions (CORAF, PRASAC, PR-PICA), farmer
associations and their apex organizations and agricultural professionals (ROPPA, PROPAC), and
private stakeholders, and (iii) at the international level (AU, ACA, AProCA , SAVANA, ICRISAT,
ICRA, CP, TFPs, CRS/RECOLTE, ADB).
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 29
Figure 7. Constellation of USAID C4CP Project Partners
Figure 8 shows the increase in the number of project partners from about 20 in the first and second
years, mainly IPs, NARS, UEMOA, CILSS, ECOWAS, ADB, AU, CP, ICRA, to about 30 at the
end of the third year and about 40 regional and international partners at the end of the project. This
progress was achieved through mechanisms creating legal frameworks for collaboration (11 LoAs,
four MoUs, 20 grant agreements and three service delivery agreements) but also through multiple
meetings.
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 30
Number of Partners
Figure 8. Dynamics of Building Network of Partners
Several of these regional organizations involved in the cotton sector are working in specific areas,
such as UEMOA with its cotton agenda; CILLS in the area of harmonizing seed policies,
biosecurity, certification and pesticide control, climate-smart research, food security, natural
resource management and regional cereal marketing; ECOWAS in the area of regional fertilizer
regulations, regional agricultural policies and biosecurity; CORAF/WECARD in the area of
research on agricultural technologies, their dissemination and adoption, biotechnology and
biosecurity, gender mainstreaming in agricultural bodies and entities; and ROPPA in the area of
advocacy. Moreover, through the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme
(CAADP), the AU is committed to making agriculture the engine of economic growth by
improving agriculture sustainability, food production, and access to markets, and by the
dissemination of agricultural technologies. The USAID C4CP project has worked strategically
with all these structures to strengthen coordination, build capacities and develop relationships
among these major stakeholders, with emphasis on assisting regional partners in fulfilling their
mandates vis-à-vis the cotton sector.
50 39… COTIMES
39 SOCOMA… CMDT, SOFITEX
35 IGNITIA33 33 PROPAC32 ROPPA31 31 AProCA30 CORAF29 PRASAC28 28 ACA27 27 SAVANA26 CRS/RECOLTE25 GREEN CROSS24 PR-PICA22
20
18
16
14 SNRA, 12 PMO's10
8
6 Cultural Pratice5 ICRA4 UA/BAD, ECOWAS, CILSS, UEMOA
Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2
AprJuly Oct Jan Apr July Oct Jan Apr July Oct Jan Apr July Oct Jan
24
FY'15 FY'16 FY'17 FY'18FY'14
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 31
Thus, during its implementation, USAID C4CP structured and organized the actors of the cotton
and food security sector in West and Central Africa, created and facilitated dialogue and exchanges
among these actors, through various mechanisms including a variety of meeting opportunities,
frameworks for dialogue, collaboration, and exchange, thematic forums, regional and national
workshops, trips and exchange visits and many other activities. Table 5 and Figure 9 show the
number of events organized by the project or its partners to which the project team participated.
Through the development of partnerships, the project has achieved positive results, including
networks of non-formal actors that could be strengthened to ensure the sustainability of the
project’s achievements. These include the senior trainer system on GAPs and PHTs in the C-4
countries, the community of practice for advocacy on women’s issues, regional forums, the
platform of actors for the soil health study, National Consultative Committees (NCCs) and the
Regional Advisory Committee (RAC). It is estimated that just over 1,000 people have been directly
involved in these different networks and activities within the framework of the project. Much has
been achieved in terms of the number of sessions and participants in NCCs and RACs, the number
of experts in the sub-region who are involved in project activities, and the number of farmers and
researchers involved in the soil health study.
Table 5. Evolution of the Number of Events Organized by the Project and Its Partners
Years USAID C4CP IP Total
2014 10 1 11
2015 12 5 17
2016 11 10 21
2017 58 35 93
2018 4 11 15
Total LOP 95 62 157
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 32
Figure 9. Diagram showing the Evolution of the Number of Events Organized by the Project and Its Partners during the Life of the Project
4.2.1. Enhanced Coordination, Capacity Building and Strategic Relationships among Stakeholders
The following mechanisms have been implemented to develop and/or strengthen partnerships with
the various players in the cotton sector of WCA.
National Advisory Committees (NACs)
NAC is a consultative framework for stakeholders of the cotton sector and rotational crops at the
national level. Its main role is to guide the implementation of the project through advice on
strategic direction and to encourage the development of linkages within the cotton sector. As a
national body, the Committee is responsible for ensuring that USAID C4CP activities are in line
with the priorities and perspectives of the major players in the country’s cotton industry. As the
name implies, it is an advisory body that accompanies the implementation of the project and
advises the USAID C4CP Regional Coordination on strategies and priorities in the country. Its
members vary in number from one C-4 country to another (between 10 and 15) and are
representatives of: (i) cotton producer organizations (conventional or organic) and other rotational
crops (cereals, legumes); (ii) cotton processing industries (ginners and cotton companies); (iii)
public services, regional economic communities and intergovernmental organizations of the sub-
region (CORAF/WECARD, WAEMU, CILSS, ROPPA, PROPAC, etc.); (iv) specific service
providers for rotational crops (non-cotton input supply and post-harvest techniques); and (v)
financial institutions supporting farmers, the cotton industry and input suppliers.
The first annual NAC meetings served as a springboard for the official launch of the project in the
C-4 countries. They were held in the last quarter of 2014 on the following dates: October 21 in
N’Djamena, Chad; October 23 in Bamako, Mali: October 25 in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso; and
October 28 in Cotonou, Benin. During the life of the project, these NACs held three sessions in
Number of Events
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 33
each country, a total of 12 sessions with the participation of 480 people. They have created in each
C-4 country, a network for sharing experiences, information and communication between actors
of the same sector and those of different sectors. From this experience arose the idea of
regionalizing the committee, which gave rise to the Regional Advisory Committee (RAC).
Regional Advisory Committee (RAC)
RAC networks NAC’s members and thereby contributes to strengthening coordination between
the actors of the cotton and rotational crops sector in the C-4 countries. It serves as a platform
linking national and regional stakeholders in the cotton sector to gather and capitalize on existing
knowledge on the sector. Only one session of RAC was held in Cotonou, on the sidelines of the
13th Day of ACA. This session allowed fruitful exchanges on cross-cutting issues, such as cotton
parasitism, seed cotton ginning, standards and standardization problems, cotton processing, input
supply, stagnant yields, declining prices, soil fertility and the effects of climate change.
Maintaining RAC would have facilitated policy dialogue between the states and actors of the
sector, thus allowing an in-depth approach to the issues of standardization and cotton processing.
As part of the collaboration of the project with UEMOA, it was decided to federate the RAC’s
objectives to one UEMOA’s consultative bodies, namely the Regional Advisory Committee of
Agricultural Sectors (CCRFA).
Regional Forums to Address Common Issues
The project organized several regional forums. The first forum was held in September 2016 in
Lomé, Togo, on the theme “Cotton and Food Security in Countries of West and Central Africa.”
This event gathered 180 participants from 13 countries of West, Central and East Africa, and
France, representing RECs and intergovernmental organizations (UEMOA, ECOWAS, CILSS),
research centers at the regional and national level (CORAF/WECARD, PRASAC, WASCAL,
IITA, NARS, etc.), universities, producers and breeders organizations at the regional and national
level (AProCA, ROPPA, PROPAC, etc.), cotton companies, cotton inter-branch organizations
(AICB, AIC, etc.), women’s organizations, and NGOs.
A second forum was held in Bamako, Mali, in December 2016, on the theme “Women's Access to
Productive Resources in the C-4 Countries.” This forum attracted 133 participants representing
the private and public sectors, sub-regional integration organizations, donor institutions, technical
and financial partners, research and agricultural extension institutes and NGOs.
A third forum was held in June 2017 in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, on the theme “Access of Women
to Appropriate Technologies.” This forum was organized by the project and the Community of
Practice (CoP) on the issue of gender, cotton and food security, in collaboration with the African
Union, the African Development Bank and CORAF/WECARD. As a spin-off from the
collaboration between AU and IFDC, this forum aims at advancing the AU’s campaign on
“sending the hoe to the museum.” The objective was to exchange on ways to facilitate better access
to and adoption of appropriate agricultural technologies and innovations by women farmers and
processors in the region.
Other forums brought together expert groups, regional actors in the cotton and rotational crops
sector at regional and continental levels, regional farmer organizations (PROPAC, PRASAC),
regional community organizations (UEMOA, ECOWAS) and continental organizations (AU,
ADB), etc., to reflect on various topics. All these forums were effective platforms for sharing
knowledge and information, leading to the formulation of recommendations to be implemented by
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 34
the actors and/or organizations concerned. Each forum brought about the need for actors and
organizations to set up exchange networks and even committees for monitoring the
implementation of resolutions. Thus, at the Lomé forum, the virtual platform “Community of
Practice on Gender, Cotton and Food Security” was created. This community, at its meeting held
on the sidelines of the Abidjan forum, took the important decision to merge with the Gender
Community of the African Development Bank “Gender in Practice” whose task is also to advance
the position of women in agriculture and agribusiness. This act aims at scaling up interventions at
the continental level while promoting greater participation of women and ensuring more visibility
on the actions to be taken.
Community of Practice (CoP) on Gender, Cotton and Food Security
To contribute to the improvement of the social and economic well-being of women, the project
initiated the creation of the USAID C4CP CoP on gender, cotton and food security. The CoP is a
platform for both virtual and concrete (face-to-face) exchanges of physical persons willing to be
part of a community of practices to give and receive (learning) practical lessons on issues related
to the participation of women in the sector of cotton and rotational crops: production-related issues,
processing of agricultural products, marketing, access to land, access to inputs, women’s access to
appropriate technologies, credit and equipment, etc. This community was born with a membership
of 150 people (men and women) from more than 15 countries at the Lomé forum. In addition to
facilitating the forums organized by the project on gender issues, CoP representatives participated
in the Addis Ababa pre-summit of the African Union on Gender during January 22-27, 2017.
Within the framework of this pre-summit, the Bamako recommendations were translated into an
action plan, leading to the initiative of creating incubation centers for women and girls around
target crops (organic cotton, groundnut, cowpea and maize). CoP members also participated in the
30th meeting of GIMAC in Addis Ababa on June 27 and 28, 2017, during which they developed
multiple relationships. This platform could have become an effective network for learning,
information sharing and innovation if the project had been able to benefit from all the funding
initially planned for its support.
Research Platform on Soil Health
USAID C4CP funded a major three-year study on soil health. In the first year, the project had
contracted the services of C-4 NARS for carrying out the study. However, from the second year
the coordination of the study was entrusted to PR-PICA with an extension of project coverage
from four to seven countries (C-4 plus Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Togo). The study is now
conducted through a network of national and regional actors. The platform involves various actors,
including national research institutes, cotton companies, farmer organizations of the seven
countries, regional institutions such as UEMOA, CORAF, CILSS/INSAH, CRS/RECOLTE,
GREEN CROSS, and a private fertilizer blending company, TOGUNA SA. The flagship results
of this platform include the update of two less acidifying fertilizer formulas, which have been
validated through trials carried out in the seven countries during the 2017/18 campaign, namely
(14-18-18 + 5S + IB + 2.5CaO) and (15-15-15 + 5S + IB + 2.5MgO + 2.5CaO), the existence of a
network of about 30 members (researchers, technicians) using appropriate tools for farm
monitoring and management and about 10 recommendations on good soil fertility management
practices. This platform enables the pooling of soil fertility research in West and Central Africa
and the strengthening of linkages among researchers in the sub-region. During the three years of
research through this platform, 500 farmers and 50 researchers and research technicians in seven
WCA countries were involved.
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 35
Various Partnerships Developed
Project partners funded by the United States Government
The USAID C4CP project has strengthened synergies with two other projects funded by the United
States Government. The first is the CRS/RECOLTE project, funded by USDA in Burkina Faso.
This project provides technical and financial support to the National Union of Cotton Producers
(UNPC-B), which is another strategic partner of USAID C4CP. RECOLTE is a five-year project
of $14 million seeking to improve the livelihoods of 12,000 vulnerable smallholder farmers
growing organic cotton, at least 30% of whom are women. After several meetings between the
management teams of the USAID C4CP and CRS/RECOLTE projects, CRS and IFDC formalized
their collaboration with the signing of a LoA on January 8, 2016, which sets out the areas of interest
of the two parties and jointly plans collaborative activities.
The second project USAID C4CP has partnered with is the West African Fertilizer Program
(WAFP) funded by USAID. The two projects have mainly partnered in the area of soil analysis,
particularly through the soil health study. The cooperation areas were articulated in the LoA
concluded in February 2016. Both project teams had a proactive stance to align the two USAID
C4CP Soil Health Studies and USAID WAFP fertilizer recommendations. In addition to the joint
planning of meetings for collaborative activities, both projects took part in various events and
training meetings. Thanks to the letter of agreement concluded between USAID C4CP and PR-
PICA, the WAFP team was invited to the annual meeting of PR-PICA, to which the USAID C4CP
project was regularly invited in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Strategic partners at regional and continental levels
The Regional Program for Integrated Protection of Cotton in Africa (PR-PICA) is a scientific,
technical, apolitical and non-profit program that addresses regional issues related to cotton
production and the mitigation of environmental risks. PR-PICA includes members (cotton farmers,
researchers and cotton companies) from six countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali,
Senegal and Togo. After several meetings, USAID C4CP and PR-PICA agreed to establish a
formal collaboration through the signing of a LoA on January 27, 2016. Subsequently, as
mentioned above, the project has provided a grant to PR-PICA for the coordination of the soil
health study in the second and third years.
West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development
(CORAF/WECARD) is a pan-African institution which focuses on coordinating agricultural
research efforts. The USAID C4CP project, after several meetings, obtained the signature of a
MoU between IFDC and CORAF/WECARD at the Lomé Regional Forum in September 2016.
This framework document laid the foundation for collaboration between USAID C4CP and
CORAF/WECARD. The project proposed the terms of reference (ToR) entrusting
CORAF/WECARD with the task of ensuring a wide dissemination, through its regional
operational mechanism, of the tools and technology packages developed by the project. A grant
agreement was to provide CORAF/WECARD with the necessary funding for: (i) promoting the
use of training modules on good agricultural practices and post-harvest technologies; (ii)
strengthening the regional coordination of the soil health study; (iii) promoting the use of climate-
tolerant seed varieties for rotational crops; and (iv) coordinating the community of practice on
gender in the cotton sector, created by the project. The reduction of the project budget in July 2017
put an end to this contracting process.
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 36
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) called on the USAID C4CP project
to support the organization and financing of the first meeting of a Task Force on cotton in West
Africa. The objective of the meeting was to define practical guidelines for the promotion of the
cotton value chain in West Africa but also the mechanisms of cooperation and coordination of all
interventions in the sector in line with the Pan-African Cotton Roadmap (PRGF). The project team
finalized the terms of reference initiated by Mr. Alain Sy Traore, Director of Agriculture of
ECOWAS. A line of communication was established with the commissions in charge of
agriculture at ECOWAS and UEMOA to finalize the ToRs of the meeting originally scheduled for
February 23 and 24, 2017. This platform of players in the cotton sector and food security in the
pipeline should strengthen the regional coordination of actors including the economic communities
(ECOWAS, UEMOA), intergovernmental organizations (CILSS), donors, professionals of the
cotton sector and regional farmer organizations. Concertations to finalize the date of the first
meeting were underway when the activity was suspended following the reduction of the project
budget. USAID C4CP also supported ECOWAS by participating in the COS-Coton meetings held
in Brussels in November 2016 and in Ouagadougou in March 2017.
Permanent Inter-State Committee for Combating Drought in the Sahel (CILSS): The project team
met with CILSS officials to discuss the revised MoU draft and collaboration with its specialized
institutions, such as the Institute of the Sahel (INSAH) based in Bamako, Mali, and the Regional
Center for Agriculture, Hydrology and Meteorology (AGRHYMET) in Niamey, Niger. The
following areas of collaboration with INSAH were identified: (i) disseminating results and scaling
up activities in the regionalization framework and the development of strategic partnerships; (ii)
improving access to improved seed varieties of drought-resistant rotational crops that are adapted
to the agro-pedo-climatic conditions of the C-4; (iii) disseminating GAPs and PHTs; and (iv)
improving the situation of women in the agricultural sector to enable them to benefit from
increased incomes. With AGRHYMET, two activities were proposed: (i) sharing regional climate
data, agro-meteorological information and forecasts and (ii) improving and disseminating climate
information to facilitate adaptation to climate change. The MoU was being finalized when the
project encountered financial difficulties. CILSS through INSAH participated in several events:
the regional workshop in Lomé in April and the SHS workshop held in Bamako in June 2017.
INSAH and the project had planned to update the web tools “ModCartoFertSoil” developed by
CILSS while taking into account the good agricultural practices developed by USAID C4CP.
African Cotton Producers Association (AProCA): The USAID C4CP project signed a LoA with
AProCA on December 28, 2016. The agreement provides for collaboration in a number of areas,
including: (i) sharing and disseminating produced tools, production of agricultural technology kits
and related materials (e.g., posters, reports, success stories, films) through farmer networks; (ii)
joint organization of events and activities on topics of importance to the cotton sector and its
rotational crops; (iii) connecting USAID C4CP national coordinators with AProCA technical staff
working in C-4 countries; (iv) supporting advocacy efforts in support of farmers’ interests,
particularly those related to the improvement of the social and economic situation of women; and
(v) collaboration in M&E activities on the application of technologies generated by the project and
AProCA network members.
USAID C4CP also discussed collaboration with AProCA on its project to strengthen women’s
leadership capacities and women’s participation in cotton farmer organizations. AProCA was
asked to organize a meeting/training/policy dialogue on accreditation, certification, instrumental
measurement and traceability of WCA cotton.
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 37
African Cotton Association (ACA): ACA is a long-standing strategic partner of IFDC. From the
start of the USAID C4CP project, contacts have been established with this association through its
Permanent Secretary Mr. Adeyemi Achamou Fahala. More formal meetings took place with the
visit of the Project Manager and the National Project Coordinator to the Permanent Secretariat of
the association. The purpose of these meetings was to discuss collaboration issues between the two
structures. These visits led to the signing of a LoA by ACA and IFDC on August 16, 2016. By this
agreement, ACA agreed to: (i) disseminate the technical supports (innovative and gender-sensitive
modules, posters, study reports, films, success stories, etc.) developed by the project; (ii) support
USAID C4CP through advocacy, publication on its website, and engagement in lobbying at the
national and/or regional level; (iii) support the project in the organization of forums on topics of
importance to the cotton sector of the C-4 countries; and (iv) link ACA members with USAID
C4CP National Coordinators in C-4 countries. ACA also invited the project to participate in the
13th Annual Days and training workshops organized on the following topics: (i) “Calculations of
production costs and pricing of seed cotton” on December 15-16, 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya, and (ii)
“Gender in African cotton sectors: What roles do women play? What roles can they play to
contribute to the competitiveness of African cotton?” during September 28-30, 2016, in Accra,
Ghana. ACA was identified by the project as its main partner for the implementation of the WCA
cotton standardization activity.
Network of Farmer Organizations and Agricultural Producers of West Africa (ROPPA): USAID
C4CP signed a LoA with ROPPA on December 30, 2016. The agreement provides for
collaboration in a number of areas, including: (i) sharing and disseminating agricultural technology
packages generated by the project and related materials (e.g., posters, reports, success stories,
films) via farmer networks; (ii) joint organization of events and activities on topics of importance
to producers of cotton rotational crops; (iii) linking USAID C4CP national coordinators to ROPPA
contact points in C-4 countries; (iv) supporting advocacy efforts that promote farmers’ interests,
particularly those related to the improvement of the social and economic situation of women
farmers; and (v) collaborating in the monitoring and evaluation by ROPPA network members of
the application of project-generated technologies. Within the framework of this agreement,
ROPPA participated in the regional workshop for the dissemination of project tools in March in
Cotonou, Benin, and received the tools and advocacy materials for dissemination.
Regional Pole of Research Applied to Central Africa Savannah Development (PRASAC):
PRASAC is a specialized institution of CEMAC based in N’Djamena, Chad. PRASAC has been
visited several times by the USAID C4CP team to develop a partnership with this Central African
agricultural research institution. A collaborative framework was established with the LoA signed
on September 23, 2016. A meeting between the USAID C4CP national coordinator in Chad and
PRASAC, held in the week of February 27, 2017 for the operationalization of the LoA, helped to
identify collaborative activities and propose ToRs for their achievement. However, these activities
have not been carried out due to the financial difficulties that the project encountered at the
beginning of the fourth quarter of the 2017 fiscal year.
Regional Platform of Central African Farmers’ Organizations (PROPAC): PROPAC is the
regional apex organization which promotes the interests of the farmer organizations of 10 countries
of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), based in Yaounde, Cameroon.
It plays a role similar to that of ROPPA in West Africa. A LoA was signed with PROPAC in
February 2017 aiming at mutually reinforcing the capacities of technicians and producers on the
use of improved agricultural technologies in the USAID C4CP project areas (Chad) as well as in
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 38
the cotton-producing areas of the PROPAC Member States (in particular Chad and Cameroon,
which are the largest cotton producers in ECCAS). The link between ROPPA and PROPAC is
essential to enable the project to broadly extend project achievements in West and Central Africa
and to ensure sustainability.
African Union Commission (AUC): In December 2016, a USAID C4CP delegation met several
officials at the AUC to exchange with them and establish partnerships that will expand project
activities at the continental scale. These AUC officials included Ms. Mahawa Kaba Wheeler,
Director of Women, Gender and Development, to whom a member of the project staff will be
seconded; H.E. Ms. Rhoda Peace Tumusiime, Commissioner for Rural Economy and
Development (DREA); H.E. Ms. Mary Beth Leonard, U.S. Ambassador to the AU and ECA; Ms.
Taisha Jones, USAID Representative to AU; Mr. Nassirou Ba, Economic Affairs Officer, Regional
Integration and Trade Division (RITD), ECA’s Food, Agriculture and Land Security Section
(FSALS); Dr. Peter Thorne, Research Project Coordinator of the research project on Sustainable
Intensification for the Next Generation (RISING) in Africa; and Dr. Kindu Mekonnen, Researcher
on Crop and Livestock Systems at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). The
USAID C4CP project organized several events related to AU’s Gender Directory, which allowed
the project team and representatives of selected partners as well as members of the project
community of practice to participate in some events in Addis Ababa. The MoU concluded between
AU and IFDC on June 28, 2010 served as a legal framework for collaboration with the various AU
services.
African Development Bank (AfDB): Contacts have been established with AfDB, during the
Bamako forum, in which Ms. Nathalie Gahunga, Gender Officer at the Department of Agriculture
and Agro-Industry at the AfDB participated. Ms. Gahunga ensured follow-up on the forum
decisions in close collaboration with the project gender specialist. The communication thus
established allowed for exchange and collaboration with other project initiatives related to the
activities of IR 3 “Improving the Social and Economic Situation of Women in the Agricultural
Sector.” Thus, AfDB collaborated in the organization and running of the Abidjan forum in June
2017.
Public-private partners SAVANA, GREEN CROSS and IGNITIA
Ignitia is a Swedish high-tech company that the project contacted to make its technology available
to the producers of cotton and rotational crops of CMDT in Mali and SOFITEX and SOCOMA in
Burkina Faso. Through its collaboration with this company, the USAID C4CP project carried out
a pilot activity to strengthen producers’ resilience to climate change by providing them with a
powerful decision support tool. This led to the conclusion of two contracts between IFDC and
Ignitia, one for the benefit of CMDT producers and the other for the benefit of the farmers of
SOFITEX and SOCOMA. Within the framework of these contracts, Ignitia has provided extremely
accurate weather forecasts to farmers via mobile devices as described in previous chapters.
SAVANA is a private company engaged in the supply of goods and services, operating in the area
of agri-pharmaceutical products and specialized agricultural equipment, with representation in
WCA countries. This company approached the project to benefit from the GAP tools that have
been developed. This led to the conclusion of a LoA on May 25, 2016. Under this agreement,
SAVANA has helped the project to disseminate GAP and PHT training modules and posters
through its agents in Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad, Togo, Niger, Senegal, Gabon, Democratic
Republic of Congo and Cameroon. The USAID C4CP project supported the training of SAVANA
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 39
field workers in the C-4 countries while SAVANA assisted the project in gathering information
and feedback on the use of the GAP and PHT modules and posters that have been provided. At the
request of SAVANA, the project strengthened trainers’ capacities on the GAP “Integrated pest
management with a gender perspective,” during a workshop held from September 27 to 29, 2016
in Burkina. This training was extended to SOFITEX and GREEN CROSS partners and gathered
24 participants (23 men and 1 woman), including trainers/technicians and/or sales engineers of
SAVANA West African subsidiaries from Togo, Niger, Mali, Senegal and Burkina Faso, and
senior trainers of SOFITEX and GREEN CROSS. Thus, IFDC and SAVANA joined forces to
form pools of technical expertise in SAVANA’s intervention countries and provide them with
adequate technology transfer tools to effectively and sustainably contribute to increasing
agricultural productivity.
Observation of pest attack in a cotton farm to determine the threshold of the
nuisance
Group photo at a training session for trainers of SAVANA
GREEN CROSS Burkina (GCB) is a National Environmental NGO affiliated with GREEN CROSS
International. As part of its collaboration with the CRS/RECOLTE project, GCB has provided
technical support to UNPC-B. To establish a legal framework for their collaboration, IFDC GCB
concluded a LoA dated June 27, 2017. Under this agreement, GCB and IFDC supported each other
in developing and maintaining a partnership to strengthen the capacities of farmers and technicians
in the production and use of organic manure (OM), which is badly lacking in the cultivated soils
of the areas covered by the USAID C4CP project. Based on the experience of GCB, the use of the
“Compost Plus Activator” and the windrow composting technique can produce organic manure in
less than two months, which allows for increasing the supply of this agricultural input. At the end
of the training sessions on OM production with the use of Compost Plus, the following data were
shared with UNPC-B.
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 40
Figure 10 shows the number of
farmers trained, about 300 in
the seven areas of UNPC-B.
The project team provided
support in organizing and
implementing a training activity
involving the dissemination of
agricultural modules generated
by the project. GCB was invited
by the USAID C4CP project to
all meetings with themes of
interest to this organization
(Forum on soil fertility, Lomé
Forum, annual workshops to
evaluate the results of the soil
health study).
4.2.2. Strengthening UEMOA’s Regional Coordination Capacities in the Cotton Sector
From the start of the project in April 2014, contacts were made with the Department of Agriculture
of the UEMOA Commission. At that time, UEMOA was negotiating with USAID/WA with the
view of concluding a cooperation agreement to directly fund activities under its cotton agenda. In
the meantime, the project had made limited progress in developing a strategic partnership with this
regional economic community. Nevertheless, five potential areas of collaboration were identified:
(i) soil health; (ii) the development of innovative training modules on GAP and PH technologies;
(iii) ginning in the framework of UEMOA’s cotton contamination prevention project (financed by
the European Union); (iv) organizing and/or facilitating regional workshops on common themes
(such as improving cotton quality); and (v) strengthening the ginners’ capacities.
The USAID C4CP project held about 30 meetings with UEMOA, participated in several
workshops at its invitation and co-organized several forums under UEMOA’s sponsorship (Lomé
Forum and regional workshop on the project’s Learning Event). Among these, the following are
notable:
a. UEMOA-USAID C4CP Technical Meeting on February 11, 2016, at IFDC offices for the
identification and planning of 19 collaborative activities during the 2016 fiscal year.
b. At the request of UEMOA, the project team had a working session on February 25, 2016, with
the international consultant responsible for developing a pan-African strategy for cotton: The
Pan-African Cotton Road Map (PCRM). This led to a joint note proposing the participation of
USAID C4CP in the working group for finalizing the strategy and identifying the tools,
technologies and specific products developed by the project to take into account among the
instruments and mechanisms of the proposed strategy.
Figure 10. Number of Farmers from UNPC-B Trained on Composting Using “Compost Plus” of GREEN CROSS
Training on Composting
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 41
c. Participation, at the invitation of UEMOA, in the workshop to validate the Regional Action
Plan of the Professional Organization of Cotton Industries and Textiles of the UEMOA
Countries (OPICT) April 7 and 8, 2016, in Ouagadougou.
d. Participation, at the invitation of UEMOA, in the meeting of the Regional Advisory Committee
on agricultural sectors (CCRFA) extended to the professional agricultural organizations, May
17-19, 2016, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, which aimed to strengthen the involvement of
professional agricultural actors in the implementation of AU’s Agricultural Policy (AUP).
e. Participation in the USAID/UEMOA/USAID C4CP meeting of June 9, 2016, on
(i) development of a monitoring and evaluation plan; (ii) deliverables of UEMOA’s Cotton
Competitiveness Project for the 2016 fiscal year; and (iii) the administrative and financial
procedures of the two institutions (USAID/WA and UEMOA).
f. Participation, at the invitation of UEMOA, in the training of textile technicians of Member
States, in automatic classification, quality control and spinning of cotton fiber June 14-17,
2016, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
g. Participation in the signing ceremony of the USAID/UEMOA Cooperation Agreement dated
June 27, 2016, at UEMOA’s headquarters in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
h. Participation, at the invitation of UEMOA, in the training of the actors of the cotton-textile
sector: “Strengthening the capacities of operators and technicians on the different trades of the
cotton-textile sector,” July 15-19, 2016, in Niamey, Niger.
i. Co-organization and sponsorship by UEMOA of the forum on the theme “Cotton and Food
Security in the countries of West and Central Africa,” held in Lomé, Togo, September 14-16,
2016.
j. Participation in the USAID C4CP-UEMOA Technical Meeting for the identification and
planning of 13 collaborative activities for the 2017 fiscal year, February 15, 2017, at the project
headquarters, with representation of IFDC-Burkina Faso in Ouagadougou.
k. Participation in the launching workshop of UEMOA’s Cotton Competitiveness Project June
14-16, 2017, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
l. Co-organization and sponsorship by UEMOA of the Regional Workshop (Learning Event) on
“Ten Years of USAID Support to the Cotton Sector in West and Central Africa: Learning and
Lessons Learned from WACIP and C4CP Projects,” March 20 and 21, 2018, in Ouagadougou,
Burkina Faso. Fifteen recommendations were made by the project final evaluation team, one
of which called for the strengthening of WAEMU’s capacity in terms of human capital. Based
on these recommendations, the project team identified five key issues for the Learning Event
(see Table in Annex 3). The fifth crosscutting theme was the mobilization of resources to
finance the proposed actions at the end of the Learning Event (see roadmap in Annex 4).
The partnership pillar was the backbone of the implementation of the USAID C4CP project. As
shown in Figure 11 below on collaboration areas, partnership efforts focused on activities aiming
at the development and dissemination of agricultural technology packages (31%), gender activities
(30%), soil health research and development (15%), and knowledge sharing and others (26%).
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 42
Figure 11. Areas of Collaboration with Partners
Products generated by the project through the network of partnerships developed include:
• Four Forum Proceedings: “Cotton and Food Security,” “Women's Access to Productive
Resources,” “Soil Fertility in Cotton Production Systems in C-4 Countries” and “Women’s
Access to Appropriate Agricultural Technologies.” The first two proceedings have been edited
and published. The other two have been disseminated in electronic format.
• A network of women leaders of the sub-region is active in bringing women’s issues to the
highest level: African Union and AfDB.
• A regional research platform involving public and private actors, both at national and regional
levels to pool resources and knowledge on soil fertility in West and Central Africa.
• A database of actors of the cotton and food security sectors in West and Central Africa (to build
from the lists of presence at the various meetings, workshops, seminars, conferences, fora)
organized by the project and/or partners.
As shown in Table 6, the project achieved considerable success in terms of partnership with regard
to the rates of success against the intended targets for two of the indicators: 105% for indicator
2.6: Number of regional or national actors collaborating with the project (USAID C4CP) to address
challenges and create an enabling environment in the cotton sector (by area and duration); and
17% for indicator 2.7: Number of meetings and events at the national or regional levels in which
the project has participated and contributed by zone. The weak performance for the other indicators
resulted from the reduction of funding, which did not allow for the completion of certain activities
with partners.
Gender31%
Dissemination of Agriculture
Technology Kits32%
Soil Health Study15%
Others 11%
Knowledge Sharing
10%
Market Linkage1%
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 43
Table 6. Objectives and Achievements for Intermediate Result 2 during the Life of the Project
Indicator
Typ
e
Un
it
FT
F/ C
usto
m
Disaggregated by FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 LOP
Results LOP
Targets
Dif
fere
nc
e (
%)
Comment
Indicator 2.1: Number
of awareness-raising
documents and
product policies for
creating an
environment conducive
to the improvement of
food security as a result
of assistance of the
United States
Government
Ou
tpu
t
#
Cu
sto
m
5 2 7 7 0
Indicator 2.2: Number
of organizations having
received the modules /
equipment developed
by the project as a
result of the United
States Government
assistance
Ou
tpu
t
#
Cu
sto
m
Total 14 94 201 209 209 274 -24
Due to the cessation of
the scaling up of project
achievements
New 80 107 8
Continuing 14 94 201 209 274 -24
Indicateur 2.3: Number
of public and private
institutions and civil
society organizations
(CSOs) participating in
regional conferences
which are of interest to
the cotton sector thanks
to the assistance of the
United States
Government
Ou
tpu
t
#
Cu
sto
m
122 540 206 0 868 1,020 -15
Due to the cessation of
the scaling up of project
achievements
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 44
Indicator
Typ
e
Un
it
FT
F/ C
usto
m
Disaggregated by FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 LOP
Results LOP
Targets
Dif
fere
nc
e (
%)
Comment
Indicator 2.4: Number
of private companies
involved in food
security (for-profit),
producer organizations,
water user associations,
women's groups,
business and trade
associations and
community
organizations
Ou
tpu
t
#
FT
F #
EG
.3.2
-4
Total 11 12 13 0 13 13 0
Private enterprise 3 3 4 1 4 4 0
Women’s groups 1 1 1 0 1 1 0
Trade and business
associations 1 1 0 1 1 0
Producers
organizations 7 7 7 0 7 7 0
Total 11 12 13 13 13 13 0
New 11 1 1 0 0
Continue 0 11 12 13 13 13 0
Indicator 2.5: Number
of institutions trained
by regional partners as
part of the
intensification
component of project
achievements
Ou
tco
me
#
Cu
sto
m
10 0 10 211 -95
Gap related to the non-
implementation of the
financing agreement
with CORAF with the
numerous training
sessions that were
planned
Indicator 2.6: Number
of regional or national
actors collaborating
with the project
(USAID C4CP) in
addressing challenges
and creating a favorable
environment in the
cotton sector (by area
and duration).
Ou
tpu
t
#
Cu
sto
m
Total 32 66 162 2 164 80 105 This indicator, related
to partnership building
and relevant issues,
provides information on
the success achieved by
the project, particularly
in terms of partnership;
describing the level of
enthusiasm of the actors
of the cotton and food
security sectors in
forging partnerships
with the project team,
Soil health study 4 10 23 1 24 12 100
Dissemination of
technical packages 14 22 52 0 52 25 108
Gender issues 14 21 48 0 48 24 100
Market linkages 2 4 0 4 2 100
Knowledge
brokering/sharing 5 16 1 17 8 113
Others 6 19 0 19 9 111
Total 18 27 32 32 32 30 7
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 45
Indicator
Typ
e
Un
it
FT
F/ C
usto
m
Disaggregated by FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 LOP
Results LOP
Targets
Dif
fere
nc
e (
%)
Comment
New 18 9 5 0 0 but also the relevance of
the themes addressed by
the project in relation to
their needs Continuing 18 27 32 32 30 7
Indicator 2.7: Number
of meetings and events
at national or regional
levels the project has
participated in and
contributes, by zone
Ou
tpu
t
#
Cu
sto
m
Total 32 9 41 35 17 An indicator of success
which informs about
partner’s adhesion to
the strategy of the
project as well as on the
skills of the project
team relating to the
themes addressed, by
inviting its staff to come
and contribute to the
events they organize.
Soil health 4 3 7 6 17
Gender issues 5 1 6 8 -25
Market linkages 3 1 4 2 100
Ginning operation 0 0 0 3 -100
Agricultural policy 15 2 17 13 31
Others 5 2 7 4 75
Indicator 2.8: Number
of training requests or
support requested by
the project from
partners with which
agreements have been
concluded for the
scaling up of project
achievements
Ou
tco
me
3 0 3 5 -40
Due to the cessation of
the scaling up of project
achievements
Indicator 2.9: Number
of actions undertaken
by national or regional
actors using project
outputs in the context
of policy dialogue or
advocacy
Ou
tco
me
2 0 2 4 -50
Due to the cessation of
the scaling up of project
achievements
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 46
4.3. Intermediate Result 3 (IR 3): An enabling environment for the social and economic empowerment of women producers and processors is promoted
During the first project staff retreat, June 8-25, 2014, the subcontracting partners CP and ICRA
were asked to inform the project team about their methodological approaches. CP focused on its
gender approach presenting: (i) the criteria for selecting project partners without neglecting
vulnerable groups, particularly women; (ii) the methodology and tools for assessing needs; and
(iii) the process of mainstreaming gender issues in agricultural value chains: how to address gender
issues, gender analysis and how can gender issues affect or influence agricultural value chains?
This session provided USAID C4CP team members with the tools necessary to undertake, under
the guidance of CP experts, the development of the project’s gender strategy and the analysis of
gender issues and value chains of cotton (conventional and organic) and rotational crops (maize
and soybean in Benin, maize and cowpea in Burkina, sorghum and groundnut in Chad and maize
and groundnut in Mali).
As explained in 4.1., the project relied on local implementing partners to carry out certain
activities. Regarding IR 3, the following results were achieved:
• Twelve partner organizations use innovative gender-sensitive modules, namely Benin (3),
Burkina Faso (5), Chad (2) and Mali (3).
• Fourteen partner organization beneficiaries of project grants have adopted gender-sensitive
service delivery mechanisms, including public and private extension systems and NGOs.
• Creation of a directory (C-4 country database) on women entrepreneurs.
• Seven approaches to building capacities in gender-sensitive techniques corresponding to seven
GAP and PH modules implemented and being tested by 14 IPs through demonstration farms
reserved for women.
• Fifteen studies on gender and value chain carried out: 1 report on gender strategy by each C-4
country and a synthesis report; 4 reports (one per country) on gender analysis and conventional
cotton value chain analysis; 3 reports (Benin, Burkina and Mali) on gender analysis and organic
cotton value chain; 3 reports (Benin, Burkina and Mali) on gender analysis and maize value
chain; 2 reports (Mali and Chad) on gender analysis and groundnut value chain; 1 report
(Benin) on gender analysis and soybean value chain; 1 report (Burkina) on gender analysis and
cowpea value chain; and 1 report (Chad) on gender analysis and sorghum value chain.
These studies allowed the project to explore the general data available on the gender issue in
relation to cotton production and target rotational crops, to conduct a quantitative and qualitative
assessment of gender in the target value chains, to identify gender-based constraints and to make
recommendations suggesting actions and indicators to overcome these constraints to the
development of cotton and rotational crops value chains. These studies were carried out using the
“Promoting Gender Equitable Opportunities in the Agricultural Value Chain” approach, better
known as “Integrating Gender Issues into the Agricultural Value Chain” (INGIA-VC).
As shown in Figure 12, although women contribute up to 50% to the production of conventional
cotton and 100% to the production of organic cotton, they are virtually absent in the processing of
both types of cotton. They virtually do not benefit from conventional cotton and only 50% from
organic cotton. By contrast, they achieve maximum profit with rotational crops. These women
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 47
would be able to improve their incomes if they had access to agricultural information (extension
services) and productive resources (land, equipment, credit, etc.).
Figure 12. Women’s Participation in Agricultural Value Chains (AVC) of Cotton and Rotational Crops
This information will guide the project team in adopting the Training and Demonstration Farm
(TDF) approach for women or women-dominated associations/groups to facilitate women’s access
to agricultural extension services and exchange of experiences among women in the cotton sector
in the C-4 countries and in WCA and their access to productive resources.
From the 2016 fiscal year, with the reorientation of the project’s intervention strategy towards
regional partners, the activities identified in IR 3 will be focused on gender-related initiatives at
the continental level and linkages to regional efforts and on sharing best practices and lessons
learned about the effective participation of women in the cotton sector.
4.3.1. Gender Initiatives at Continental Level
Organization of Forums: A forum in Bamako during November 22-25, 2016, on women’s access
to productive resources drew more than 100 participants, and more of 120 people attended a forum
in Abidjan during June 7-9, 2017, on women’s access to appropriate agricultural technologies. A
regional forum organized in Lomé during September 14-16, 2016, on the theme of cotton and food
security in West and Central Africa attracted 170 participants. During this forum, the 150-member
Community of Gender and Food Safety Practices was set up and held its meetings as side events.
These regional forums have always seen the participation of representatives of the African Union,
the African Development Bank, CORAF/WECARD, ACA, AProCA and many other
organizations at the African continental and international level. They provide an opportunity to
exchange and share experiences on the role and place of women in the agricultural sector in general
and in the cotton sector in particular.
Production Processing Profitability
Conventional cotton value chain Organic cotton value chain Rotational cotton value chain
INGIA-VC Approach
“Integrating Gender Issues into Agricultural Value Chains”
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 48
Participation in Pre-Summits on Gender at the African Union: Collaboration with the AU was
established with the conclusion of a MoU dated June 28, 2010, which aims at integrating USAID
C4CP’s activities into regional agricultural policies.
In this context, AU’s Women, Gender and Development Directorate invited the project to
participate in gender-related meetings held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The first meeting was the
pre-summit on gender held on the sidelines of the Summit of African Heads of State during January
22-27, 2017, and the second was the 30th pre-summit consultative meeting Gender is My Agenda
Campaign (GIMAC) on gender mainstreaming in the African Union, June 27-28, 2017. The
project sponsored the participation of a delegation of 18 and 11, respectively, including women
farmers, experts from the Community of Practice on Gender, Cotton and Food Security, experts
from gender ministries in C-4 countries, and two members of the project team. Farmers, project
partners, presented the recommendations of the Bamako Forum of November 2016 and asked that
their concerns about access to land and other productive resources be seriously taken into account.
In addition to the AU Director of Gender, interviews were held with the leaders of GIMAC, the
Executive Secretary of the Mano River Union, UNDP Project Coordinators and the Executive
Director of the African Leadership Forum.
Group photo of participants in GIMAC at AUC headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
During the roundtables of the GIMAC meeting, the USAID CACP team presented the project
achievements and invited partners to join hands to ensure the sustainability of these achievements.
The project took advantage of the presence of young women and girls to present its initiative on
agribusiness incubation centers for women. The interest generated among the participants in the
Incubation Center Initiative led to the adoption of a recommendation calling on all parties,
particularly governments, to support the establishment of agri-food incubation centers for women
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 49
and girls across the continent. GIMAC is also committed to working with the project, through the
Empowering Women in Agriculture/Kilimanjaro Initiative, to intensify the incubation center
initiative. Moreover, the organizers of GEVIAC, as well as AU’s Gender Directorate, expressed
their appreciation of the support and partnership with the USAID C4CP project and looked forward
to further collaboration in the future.
Collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB): A delegation of the USAID C4CP
project attended a meeting with AfDB representatives at AfDB’s headquarters in Abidjan on
February 28, 2017, to discuss possible collaboration paths. The project role in facilitating AfDB
activities in the areas of social and economic empowerment of women in the agricultural and
cotton sectors was particularly emphasized. One of these activities is the creation of Incubation
Centers for women and girls on specific agricultural products in the C-4 countries. AfDB has
expressed interest in exploring potential synergy between the project’s initiatives on women and
those of the bank. To this end, more than 50 members of the Community of Practice on Gender,
Cotton and Food Security registered on AfDB's “Gender in Practice” platform. The two
communities decided to merge at the end the Abidjan forum.
The Community of Practice (CoP) on Gender, Cotton and Food Security: The CoP held its first
meeting organized by the project and its main partners (AU and CORAF/WECARD) in Bamako
during the Forum on Women's Access to Productive Resources. The second meeting organized by
the project, with the support of its main partners (AU and CORAF/WECARD) and AfDB
collaboration, took place as a side event of the Abidjan Regional Forum.
4.3.2. Sharing Best Practices and Lessons Learned
Participation in the celebration of the International Day of Rural Women in Mali: The project
participated in the International Day of Rural Women held in the rural commune of Dioila,
Koulikoro region in central Mali, on October 20, 2016. The women’s group Benkadi of Gouana,
supported by USAID C4CP, benefited from a booth offered by the Ministry of Women's Affairs.
The project facilitated the participation of 13 women and two men from the group. The project’s
involvement in this event was covered by four local radio stations.
Farmer Exchange Visits: Women farmers of the three other C-4 countries visited their
counterparts in Burkina Faso during October 23-29, 2016, to share their experiences on their
activities and, more specifically, on access to land and other productive resources. Invited partner
structures included: ANaF, CMDT, COPSA-C, FNZ, ONDR, SOCOMA and UGCPA, totaling 22
participants, including three USAID C4CP project team members. In addition to field visits
(TDFs), the program included exchanges with the traditional authorities of the villages visited and
meetings with governmental and administrative authorities, including the Director of Rural Land
Tenure in the Regional Directorates of Agriculture and Hydraulic Infrastructures (DRAAH) of
Tenkodogo and Dedougou. At the meeting with the mayor of the commune of Dedougou, one of
the participants made the following request: “Mayor, the request I am going to direct to you is that
in one year or two years, you make sure that in your commune, cases of women having access to
secure land are mentioned.”
Participation in the celebration of International Women’s Day, March 8, 2017: USAID C4CP
project staff participated in events related to the celebration of International Women’s Day on
March 8. The Project Consultant based in Addis Ababa was invited to AU’s Headquarters.
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 50
Similarly, the national project coordinator in Chad participated in an agricultural fair in
N’Djamena that included exhibitions of women’s groups working in partnership with the project.
Agricultural Incubation Centers for Women and Girls: The project facilitated the acquisition of
land for the establishment of agricultural incubation centers in Benin and Burkina Faso. The
project also facilitated preparation activities for the 2017 crop year. However, these activities had
to be suspended before the end of the planting period due to the financial situation of the project.
Nevertheless, the project developed a detailed concept note on the establishment of the Cowpea
Incubation Center in Burkina Faso and invited the implementing partners concerned, OBEPAB
and FNZ, to seek funding to continue their activities.
Production of documentary films: Two films entitled “Women, Cotton and Food Security” were
produced in the women’s TDF throughout the cropping calendar. The first deals with women’s
access to agricultural extension services and the second deals with women’s access to land, credit,
inputs and equipment. Speaking on the project, Mrs. Adjaratou Nignan, a member of FNZ, said:
“The USAID C4CP project has given me the opportunity to express myself in any forum to promote
rural women and serve as an endogenous counselor. That is why I have succeeded in reporting
the dowries of women producers to the African Union in Addis Ababa so that decision-makers can
find solutions to the problems women are faced with in terms of access to land, equipment and
credit.”
The gender component has been cross-cutting to all activities carried out by the project. Regarding
IR 3, the results of gender-specific activities were largely achieved, except for Indicator 3.3:
Number of partner organizations using gender-sensitive modules, for which results targets were
not met due to reduced funding that led to the suspension of certain activities.
Table 7 shows all the results achieved under this pillar.
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 51
Table 7. Objectives and Achievements for Intermediate Result 3 during the Life of the Project
Indicator
Typ
e
Un
it
FT
F/
Cu
sto
m
Disaggregated by FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 LOP
Results LOP
Targets
Dif
fere
nc
e
(%)
Comment
Indicator 3.1: Number
of training workshops
organized by the project
and its partners using
gender-sensitive
modules with the
United States
Government assistance
Ou
tpu
t
#
Cu
sto
m
20 35 422 0 477 368 30
An indicator of the
relevance of the tools
developed by the
project and used by
partners to strengthen
the capacities of their
support system for
agricultural producers
(men and women)
Indicator 3.2: Number
of approaches /
mechanisms put in
place to address
women-related
constraints as a result of
the United States
Government assistance.
Ou
tpu
t
#
Cu
sto
m
Total 1 2 3 3 3 3 0
New 1 0 0
Continuing 2 3 3 3 0
Indicator 3.3: Number
of partner organizations
using gender-sensitive
modules as a result of
the United States
Government assistance.
Ou
tco
me
#
Cu
sto
m
12 14 16 0 16 18 -11
This indicator included
all the regional actors
who should have been
involved in the scaling
up and which ultimately
were unable to
intervene due to the
cessation of activities;
namely PRASAC,
CILSS, CORAF,
ROPPA.
Indicator 3.4: The
community of practice
is created as a result of Ou
tpu
t
Sta
ge
Cu
sto
m
Stage 1: Community
of practice is created 3 0 0 0
Also, an indicator of
success of the project
with the enthusiasm
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 52
Indicator
Typ
e
Un
it
FT
F/
Cu
sto
m
Disaggregated by FY15 FY16 FY17 FY18 LOP
Results LOP
Targets
Dif
fere
nc
e
(%)
Comment
the United States
Government assistance
(in stages)
Stage 2: Community
of practice is
functional
3 3 0 6 2 200
registered in the
running of the
community of practice,
which finally achieved
more than expected
Indicator 3.5:
Contributions are made
in integrating gender
issues in agricultural
policies and laws as a
result the United States
Government assistance
Ou
tpu
t
Sta
ge
Cu
sto
m
Stage 1: Research/
analyze elements 2 0 0 2 2 0
Interactions with
regional or continental
institutions, particularly
the African Union on
gender issues, have
reached unexpected
levels
Stage 2: Provide
analytical inputs to
UEMOA/UA
(NEPAD)
4 0 0 4 4 0
Ou
tco
me
Stage 3: Dialogue
between
stakeholders (AU
(NEPAD)/UEMOA
and government of
member states)
0 4 1 5 3 67
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 53
V. LESSONS LEARNED
Despite the challenges and difficulties encountered during its implementation, the USAID C4CP
project has achieved significant results both in the development of training tools for technology
transfer with an innovative and inclusive approach and the development of partnerships among
stakeholders of the cotton sector at national, regional and continental levels. Lessons can be drawn
and learned at all levels.
At the project management level:
• Those responsible for financing, monitoring and evaluating beneficiaries of grant agreements
should be taken into account during the process of drafting those agreements, making it
possible to enhance the capacities of such staff for grant management, the monitoring of
USAID indicators and quality control of the data collected.
• The multiplication of grant agreements to be allocated should be avoided by mastering the
number of grants with appropriate amounts.
• The strong cohesion of the team made it possible to overcome the frequent change of project
leaders.
• The establishment of country-level coordination facilitated the project implementation by
bringing the USAID C4CP support package closer to beneficiaries in each of the C-4 countries.
At the level of activity implementation IR 1:
• The educational phase of the Need Assessment (NA) process is of central importance since it
allowed for validating the tools and adapting them to the realities on the ground. However, this
phase would have been more effective and productive if leading regional partners, such as
UEMOA, PR-PICA, CORAF, ROPPA, AProCA and ACA, had been involved, considering the
spirit of regionalization that guided the project during its implementation.
• It would be important for future similar projects to: (i) provide feedback on the NA results to
beneficiary partners by country, (ii) identify relevant common needs and work with them on
the prioritization/hierarchization of these needs in relation to project’s objectives, and (iii) to
guide project partners in finding solutions to their specific needs.
• The process of selecting experts by call for applications is an innovative approach which incites
the candidates to prepare themselves thoroughly to be their best while projecting their
expectations into the future of the project. All this has contributed to add value to the various
forums.
• Integrating a gender perspective in the development of modules is an innovation in the process
that has allowed certain institutions or players in the cotton sector to develop a gender strategy.
• Networking senior trainers facilitates knowledge sharing intra and inter-country, which
enhances the dissemination, appropriation and use of tools by agricultural stakeholders, and
this experience deserves to be promoted.
• Dissemination of the project tools in universities and agricultural training centers is an
innovative approach to the appropriation of these tools by teachers for coaching the students
as future managers of technology transfer.
• Module testing through teaching and demonstration farms (TDFs) led by women or farmer
groups comprising at least 50% of women was an innovative approach that has triggered the
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 54
removal of one of the major constraints for women (no access to extension services) in the
value chains of cotton and rotational crops. In short, TDF is an excellent mechanism for the
development and transfer of agricultural technologies to farmers.
• Through these TDFs, stakeholders of the cotton sector have once again realized the importance
and relevance of the role played by women in the different links of the value chains and the
need for organizations to take into account their participation in training sessions.
• In evaluating the use of the training modules, one of the lessons learned and to take into account
when they will be reviewed is the need to integrate in the technical datasheets socio-economic
data justifying the benefits that would be derived from the use of GAP and PH techniques
disseminated and which could facilitate their adoption.
• Taking into account the environmental dimension in the development of training modules has
facilitated their appropriation by farmers and the implementation of risk mitigation measures
for the benefit of the environment and animal and human health.
• Controlling rainfall uncertainty through forecasting information (ISKA technology from
Ignitia) is an important tool for adaptation to climate change and strengthening the resilience
of farmers and an excellent tool for the rational management of agricultural inputs and the
cropping calendar; the mastery of this element will encourage farmers to invest more and adopt
the other proposed technological innovations to increase agricultural productivity.
• Organic cotton is a niche crop with comparative advantages for women who, in general, are
resource-poor; however, poor management of soil fertility leads to its steady decline to the
point of calling into question the sustainability of the system.
• It is important to evaluate projects’ impact several years after their implementation to better
assessed their performance and profitability. Capitalization on the achievements of the USAID
WACIP project during the USAID C4CP project allowed for identifying the improvements
brought by this project to the ginning systems in WCA.
• To improve the competitiveness of the WCA cotton, serious efforts are needed from the
stakeholders concerned to adopt the international standards (accreditation, certification,
traceability and classification by instrumental measurement) and to enhance the value of cotton
fiber.
At the level of activity implementation IR 2:
• Delegation of grant management power not only contributes to strengthening management
capacities of partner organizations, but also is an effective means of ensuring the sustainability
of the effects and impacts of project activities.
• To ensure effective scaling up of project achievements with regional partners, a financial
mechanism is needed to accompany the process. It clearly appears that accompanying
measures, technical and financial support, coordination and facilitation provided by IFDC
through the USAID C4CP project were essential for the successful completion of project
activities.
• Partnership has been the nerve center of the implementation of the USAID C4CP project by
boosting the development of synergies, facilitating the sharing of experiences and knowledge
and avoiding duplication of activities.
• The course of the project implementation highlighted the need to create networks of
partnerships between stakeholders in the cotton sector at national and regional levels to ensure
sustainability beyond the life of the project.
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 55
At the level of activity implementation IR 3:
• The establishment of a support system that takes into account the gender-based constraints and
specificities of women or women’s groups is an effective way of improving agricultural
productivity and hence women’s incomes and living conditions.
• Advocacy for access to productive resources and processing equipment for cotton and
rotational crops, carried directly by women farmers to decision-makers, contributes to
improving the environment agricultural value chains more quickly and more efficiently.
• Appropriate support for women is crucial for their empowerment and strengthening their
ability to defend their interests.
VI. CONCLUSION
The United States Government, in response to the cotton sector initiative carried by four African
cotton-producing countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali and Chad), has successively financed two
projects between 2006 and 2018.
The second project, USAID Four-Country Cotton Partnership (C4CP) Project, implemented by
IFDC, has achieved significant, even compelling, results in terms of developing and strengthening
partnerships among national and regional actors in the sector, sustainably improving the
productivity, quality and competitiveness of cotton fiber, improving processing and marketing of
products, as well as increasing socio-economic benefits for women within cotton-producing
households.
In this framework, many tools have been developed and made available to project partners.
Networks of partners have been established or strengthened and the many lessons learned will be
used in the future for the implementation of similar programs or projects.
However, the final external evaluation of the USAID C4CP project has shown that progress has
been made with a relatively small percentage of beneficiaries in the sub-region, compared to
current and actual needs. Large-scale dissemination of the tools developed and innovative
approaches for their transfer should be carried out by regional and national actors to ensure
sustainability in the sector. In this context, it is necessary to emphasize the importance of the
official handover of a batch of these tools to WAEMU during the opening ceremony of its regional
learning workshop (Learning Event) on March 20, 2018, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
The USAID C4CP project came to completion on March 31, 2018. The challenge facing
stakeholders of the WCA cotton sector is how to preserve these key achievements and maintain
the progress achieved. It is anticipated that WAEMU will ensure the implementation of the
relevant recommendations formulated and translated into a roadmap to guide future actions with
the aim of increasing food security in the UEMOA space and improving the competitiveness of
cotton and its rotational crops.
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 56
ANNEXES
Annex 1. Technical Datasheets or Technologies Developed by the Project and Its Partners
Themes Number of
Sheets Technologies
GAPs Seeds and
varieties
8 How to produce improved cotton seed (Gossypium hirsutum L) for increased productivity:
• How to produce improved maize seed (Zea mays L) for increased productivity
• How to produce improved soya seed (max glycine) for increased productivity
• How to produce improved groundnut seed for increased productivity;
• How to produce improved cowpea seed (Vigna unguiculata L) for increased productivity
• How to produce improved sorghum seed (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) for increased productivity
• How to produce improved millet seed [(Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R.Br.] for increased productivity
• Current regulations for the production and marketing of certified seeds
Integrated Soil
Fertility
Management
(ISFM)
12 Crop management sequence for cotton:
• Crop management sequence for maize
• Crop management sequence for groundnut
• Crop rotation and its effects on soil quality
• Technique of production and use of compost
• Crop management sequence for sorghum
• ISFM and basic principles
• Crop residues management
• Technical guide for cowpea
• Crop management sequence for soya
• Integration of agriculture and livestock
• Risks related to ISFM practices and measures to mitigate their effects on the environment, human and animal health
Integrated Pest
Management (IPM)
7 Recognition of cotton pests and diseases:
• Integrated methods of cotton pest control
• Technique of application and maintenance of treatment equipment
• Integrated management of cowpea pests
• Integrated management of maize pests
• Risks related to the use of pesticides and measures to mitigate their effects on the environment, human and animal health
• Technique of staggered targeted control
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 57
Themes Number of
Sheets Technologies
Organic cotton 05 Technical guidelines for the production of organic cotton:
• Certification of organic cotton
• Soil fertility management techniques in organic cotton production
• How to control pests in organic cotton production
• Techniques for harvesting, drying and storing organic cotton
Improving seed
cotton quality
07 Seed cotton marketing:
• Seed cotton grading
• Seed cotton harvesting
• Seed cotton drying
• Seed cotton storage
• Seed cotton transport
• Seed cotton sorting
TOTAL GAP
SHEETS
39
Post-Harvest Technologies: PHT Storage and
conservation
05 • Storage and conservation of maize in C-4 countries
• Storage and conservation of sorghum in C-4 countries
• Storage and conservation of soya in C-4 countries
• Storage and conservation of cowpea in countries C-4
• Storage and conservation of groundnuts in C-4 countries
Food processing 12 Processing of maize into couscous called Yêkè-yêkè in Benin
• Processing of husked and degermed maize called gambari-lifin in Benin
• Processing of rice into parboiled rice
• Processing of soya into flour and cheese
• Processing of rice into royal rice
• Production of soya cheese or tofu
• Processing of cowpea into cowpea flour
• Processing of cowpea into donuts
• Processing of sorghum into sorghum lumps
• Processing of sorghum into enriched flour
• Technology for the production of groundnut paste
• Process technique for the production of peanut paste
TOTAL PHT
SHEETS
17
TOTAL 56
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 58
Annex 2. List of Partner Structures of the Project with Indication of Resource Persons and Partnership Mechanisms
Level
Institutions/ Partners/
Beneficiaries Contact
(phone and email) Statute Type of
Partnership IP IFDC
International
Fertilizer
Development Center
Dr. Oumou CAMARA
Deputy Director
North and West Africa
International Fertilizer Development
Center - IFDC
No 113A Mbabane Avenue,
East Legon Residential Area
PMB 284 CT Accra, Ghana
Tel: +2233 (0) 560 027 917
Cell: +233 (0) 269 780 484
+ 233 (0) 263 006 831
Email: [email protected]
Public
International
Organization
(PIO)
ICRA
International Centre
for development
oriented Research in
Agriculture
Mr. Sylvain DARDEL
Project Manager / Marketing Specialist
and trainer
1101 Avenue Agropolis, BP 5098, 34093
Montpellier CX05, France
Tel: +33 467 61 26 60/62 (office / bureau)
Mobile: +33 629 76 14 42
Email: Sylvain.dardel @icra-edu.org
Website: www.icra-edu.org
Public Sub-Award
CP
Cultural Practice
LLC
Ms. Deborah RUBIN
Co-Director
Cultural Practice, LLC
4300 Montgomery Avenue, Suite 305
Bethesda, MD 20814-4444
Telephone: 301/654-1787
Email: [email protected]
NGO Sub-Award
Continental AU
Africa Union
Dr. Mahawa Kaba WHEELER
Director Woman, Gender and
Development Directorate,
African Union,
PO Box; 3243,
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Email: [email protected]
Public MoU
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 59
Level
Institutions/ Partners/
Beneficiaries Contact
(phone and email) Statute Type of
Partnership AU
SAFGRAD
Semi-Arid Africa
Agricultural
Research and
Development
Dr. Ahmed ELMEKAS
Program Coordinator
and Research Officer
SAFGRAD | African Union Commission
Ouagadougou Burkina Faso
Tel: 22625306071 & 78603562
Regional UEMOA/WAEMU
West African
Economic and
Monetary Union
Mr. Jonas GBIAN
Commissioner
Department of Food Security, Agriculture,
Mines and Environment
UEMOA
380 Av. Du Professeur Joseph Ki Zerbo,
01 BP 453 Ouagadougou 01 (+226) 25
32 87 75 / (+226) 70 28 45 34
Public MoU
CEDEAO/
ECOWAS
Economic
Community of West
African States
Mr. Alain Sy TRAORE
Director, Agriculture & Rural
Development
The ECOWAS Commission
101, Yakubu Gowon Crescent – Asokoro
PMB 401 – Abuja FCT – Nigeria
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +234(0)8032596402
Public MoU
CORAF/WECARD
West and Central
Africa Council for
Agricultural
Research and
Development
Dr. Abdou TENKOUANO
Executive Director
7 Avenue Bourguiba, BP.48 Dakar-RP.
SENEGAL
Tel:+221-33-869.96.18
Fax:+221-33-869.96.31
Email: [email protected]
Public MoU
CILSS
Permanent
Inter-State
Committee for
Drought Control in
the Sahel
Djimé ADOUM (Ph.D.)
Executive Secretary
03 PO Box 7049 Ouagadougou 03,
Burkina Faso
Tel: +226 25 37 41 25
Fax: + 226 25 37 41 32
GSM: +226 70 20 75 77
Email: [email protected]
Public MoU
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 60
Level
Institutions/ Partners/
Beneficiaries Contact
(phone and email) Statute Type of
Partnership CILSS/INSAH
Permanent
Inter-State
Committee for
Drought Control in
the Sahel/Sahel
Institute
Dr. Sibiri Jean OUEDRAOGO
CILSS/INSAH Natural Resource
Management Expert
Bamako, Mali
(+223) 20 22 47 06
Mobile: +223 70750166
Email: [email protected]
CILSS/
AGRHYMET
Permanent
Inter-State
Committee for
Drought Control in
the Sahel/
AGRHYMET
Regional Center
(ARC)
Mr. Issifou ALFARI
Head of Information and Research
Department
P.O. Box 11011 Niamey – Niger
Tel: (227) 20.31.53.16 / 20.31.54.36
Fax: (227) 20.31.54.35
Email: [email protected]
CILSS/AGIR
Permanent
Inter-State
Committee for
Drought Control in
the Sahel/Global
Alliance for
Resilience
Mr. Issa Martin BIKIENGA
Coordinator AGIR
03 BP 7156 Ouagadougou 03
Burkina Faso
Mobile: (00 226) 70 26 07 58
E-mail: [email protected]
PR-PICA
Regional Program
for Integrated Cotton
Production in Africa
Mr. Felix SAWADOGO
Executive Secretary of PR-PICA
01 BP: 1234 Bobo-Dioulasso 01
Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
Tel (Bur): (+226) 20 98 59 01
Cell: (+226) 70 07 73 51 - 76595501
Email: [email protected]
Public LoA+
Sub-Grant
CRS/RECOLTE
Catholic Relief
Services
RECOLTE project
Mr. Adama SIENOU
Deputy Chief of Party RECOLTE
Catholic Relief Services
Zone industrielle Gounghin, 01 BP 469
Ouagadougou Office: +226.50.34.31.65
Cell: +226.67.36.09.63
Email: [email protected]
NGO LoA
COTIMES –
AFRIQUE
Cotton and World
Industries Expertise
and Services, Benin
Mr. Marcellin AKPOUE
Director General
Cotonou, Benin
Tel: +229 21 32 23 94 /
+229 97 95 90 98
Private Contract
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 61
Level
Institutions/ Partners/
Beneficiaries Contact
(phone and email) Statute Type of
Partnership ROPPA
Network of Farmers’
and Agricultural
Producers’
Organization of
West Africa
Mr. Ousséni OUEDRAOGO
Executive Secretary
ROPPA
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Tel.: (00226) 25 36 08 25
Fax: (00226) 25 36 26 13
Email:[email protected]
Private LoA
ACA
African Cotton
Association, Benin
Mr. Adéyèmi A. FAHALA
Permanent Secretary
Cotonou, Benin
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +229 21 33 73 31 / +229 97 11 96 79
Private LoA
PROPAC
Sub-regional
Platform of Farmers
Organizations in
Central Africa
Mr. Celestin NGA
Executive Secretary
Yaoundé, Cameroun
Tel: (00237)-67-771-2016
Email:[email protected];
Private LoA
PRASAC
Regional Research
Center Applied to
the Development of
Savana Areas of
Central Africa
Dr. Salomon NAMKOSSERENA
Director General
BP 764 N’Djamena, Chad
Tel: (+235) 22 52 70 24
Email: [email protected];
Public LoA
AProCA
African Cotton
Producers
Association (Mali)
Mr. Youssouf SIDIBE
Permanent Secretary
Bamako, Mali
Mobile: +223-72 73 70 70;
+223-62 73 70 70
Email: [email protected]
Private LoA
GREEN CROSS-
Burkina Faso
Non-Governmental
Organization
Mr. Ousséni DIALLO
Coordinator
Green Cross – Ouagadougou, Burkina
Faso
Tel: (+226) 70204161 /+226 78817877
Email: [email protected]
NGO LoA
SAVANA
SAVANA France
Representative
Office in Burkina
Mr. Georges Henri NIKIEMA
Development Manager, West Africa
PROPHYMA/SAVANA
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Bur: (+226) 20985829/209839
Cell: (+226) 76656045/60590098
Tel: +33 450 26 61 74
Email: [email protected]
Private LoA
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 62
Level
Institutions/ Partners/
Beneficiaries Contact
(phone and email) Statute Type of
Partnership AfDB
African
Development Bank
Mrs. Nathalie GAHUNGA
AfDB, Chief Gender Officer
RDGW2
Abidjan, Côte D’Ivoire
Tel: +22520263383
Mobile: +225-77305232
Email: [email protected]
Private Collaboration
Ignitia
Swedish Company
Mrs. Lizzie MERRILL
Project Manager
Accra; Ghana
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +233-502 677 297
Private Contract
Benin International
Fertilizer
Development Centre
(IFDC), Benin
Mr. Mathias AHOUNOU
Country Representative
Cotonou, Benin
Tel: +229 97 50 33 15
PIO
ANaF
Association National
Association of
Women Farmers of
Benin
Mrs. Louise AYLARA
President
Bohicon, Benin
Tel: +229 97 17 67 35/95 45 27 24
Private Sub-Grant
DQIFE/Ex-DICAF
Directorate for
Quality of
Innovations and
Entrepreneurial
Training
Mr. Damien AGUEH
Director
Cotonou, Benin
Tel: +229 97 88 14 85
Public Sub-Grant
OBEPAB
Beninese
Organization for the
Promotion of
Organic Agriculture
Dr. Simplice D. VODOUHE
Coordinator
Cotonou, Benin
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +229 96 69 10 96 /+229 95 60 78 68
NGO Sub-Grant
INRAB
National Agricultural
Research Institute in
Benin
Dr. Patrice ADEGBOLA
Director General
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +229 97 35 40 56
Public Sub-Grant
Dr. Alexis HOUGNI
Director
Agricultural Research Center
Cotton and Fibers
CRA-CF/INRAB
Cotonou, Benin
Email: [email protected]
Tel: +229 95 45 47 66
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 63
Level
Institutions/ Partners/
Beneficiaries Contact
(phone and email) Statute Type of
Partnership FUPRO
Federation of
Producers Unions of
Benin
Mr. Charles GNANGASSI
Executive Director
Bohicon, Benin
Tel: +229 96 03 70 06 / +229 97 43 06 40
Private Sub-Grant
Burkina Faso IFDC
International
Fertilizer
Development Centre,
Burkina Faso
Dr. Sansan YOUL
Country Representative
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Mobile: +22676003868/+22670264538
Email: [email protected]
PIO
Dr. Ibrahim N. SOURABIE
Acting CoP of USAID C4CP
IFDC-North and West Africa
11 BP 82 CMS
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso 11
Tel. +226 25 37 45 03/05
Mobile + 226 70 70 70 60
Email: [email protected] ou
COPSA-C
Agricultural Services
Cooperative Coobsa
Mrs. Félicité KAMBOU
Director Founzan, Burkina Faso
Mobile: +226-76009899
Email: [email protected]
Private Sub-Grant
FNZ
Federation
NIAN ZWE
Mr. Arzouma NAMORO
President
Léo, Burkina Faso
Mobile: +226-76493670
Email: [email protected]
Private Sub-Grant
INERA
National
Environment and
Agricultural
Research of Burkina
Faso
Dr. Hamidou TRAORE
Director
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Tel: (00226)25340270
Mobile :(00226)70258060
Email: [email protected] Public Sub-Grant
Dr. Bazoumana KOULIBALY
Head of Cotton Program
INERA
Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
+226-70239005
Email: [email protected]
SOCOMA Mr. Ali COMPAORE
Director General
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Mobile: +226-70214690
Email: [email protected]
Private Sub-Grant +
LoA
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 64
Level
Institutions/ Partners/
Beneficiaries Contact
(phone and email) Statute Type of
Partnership SOFITEX
Textile and Fiber
Company of Burkina
Faso
Mr. Wilfried YAMEOGO
Director General
Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
Tel: +226-20970025
Email: [email protected]
Private LoA
UNPCB
National Union of
Cotton Producers of
Burkina Faso
Mr. Moussa DIOUNOU
Coordinator
Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
Mobile: +226-79383884
Email: [email protected]
Private Sub-Grant
UGCPA/BM
Union of Greoups
for the Marketing of
Agricultural
Products of the
Boucle of Mouhoun
Mr. Soumabéré DIOM
Executive Secretary
Dédougou, Burkina Faso
Mobile: +226-70 24 47 98
Email: [email protected]
Private Sub-Grant
Chad CotonTchad SN Mr. Fauba PADACKE
Deputy Director General
Moundou, Chad
Tel: (+235)22 51 66 79
Email: [email protected];
Public Sub-Grant
ITRAD
Chadian Institute of
Agronomic Research
for Development
Dr. Koye DJONDANG,
Director General
Ndjamena, Chad
Tel: (+235) 66 26 83 09
Email: [email protected]
Public Sub-Grant Dr. Michel NAITORMBAIDE
Head of the Regional Research Center
Station
Bebedjia, Chad
Tel: +23566298766/99129568
Email: [email protected]
ANADER
National Agency for
Rural Development
(ex-ONDR)
Mr. Souleymane MAHAMAT
ELMAHADI
Director General
Ndjamena, Chad
Tel: (+235) 66 26 51 05
Public Sub-Grant
Mali IFDC
Bamako, Mali Office
Mr. Amadou OUADIDJE
Country Representative
Bamako, Mali
Tel: (+ 223) 44 90 01 22/44 90 05 61
Cell: (+223) 76 23 40 42/66 98 02 36
Email: [email protected]
PIO
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 65
Level
Institutions/ Partners/
Beneficiaries Contact
(phone and email) Statute Type of
Partnership CMDT
Malian Company for
Textile Development
Mr Ibrahima W. SISSOKO
General Manager
Bamako, Mali
Cell:76 181387
Email: [email protected]
Public Sub-Grant
IER
Institute of Rural
Economy
Dr Odiaba SAMAKE
Director of CRRA
Sikasso, Mali
Email: [email protected]
Public Sub-Grant Dr. Fagaye SISSOKO
Agronomist - Cotton Program
Sikasso, Mali
Tel: (00223)21 26 01 07/21 26 03 31
Cell: (00223)66 79 81 71
Email: [email protected]
FENABE
National Federation
of Producers of
Organic and
Equitable
Agriculture of Mali
Mr. Hamidou BAGAYOKO
Executive Secretary
Bamako, Mali
Cell: 76033524
Email: [email protected]
NGO Sub-Grant
OHVN
Office of the Haute
Vallée du Niger
Dr. Mamadou KANE
Director General
Bamako, Mali
Tel: + 223 20230380/66964636
Email: [email protected]
Public Sub-Grant
Ghana Image AD
Mr. Adom Bentil KWAME
Chief Executive Officer
244 Kofi Kportophy Stree West Legon,
Accra, P.O. Box : AN 16909, Accra-
North, Ghana
Tel: +233(0)264295054
Email: [email protected]
Private Contract
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 66
Annex 3. Key Issues Discussed at the Learning Event
Key findings and conclusions from the Evaluation Report that
need stakeholders’ learning and
collaboration for the way forward
What are the appropriate
learning questions to formulate?
(maximum three recommended)
What are the key learning sub-questions to guide learning discussions?
Objectives and expected results from the learning
sessions
Appropriate discussion
format1 during the learning
event
Key stakeholders2 concerned
1. Putting in place a platform
for the exchange of
information and facilitation
of dialogue on the creation
of policies in the cotton
sector in western and central
Africa
To decide on new directions
for the West African cotton
sector, UEMOA and IFDC
will plan a workshop with
major actors in the cotton
chain, the ministries of
agriculture, the ministries of
commerce, national and
regional partners who were
members of USAID C4CP,
organizations involved in the
value chain, national
marketing agencies involved
in the value chain of cotton,
other leaders involved in other
1. What
organizations and
mode of
operation are
needed for an
effective and
sustainable
stakeholders’
platform for the
cotton sector in
WCA?
a. Which key actors?
b. What organization and
what operation mode?
c. What condition for
sustainability?
d. What type of
communication?
e. What type of
relations with existing
initiatives?
f. What resource
mobilization mechanism?
g. How to ensure
sustainability?
Objectives
Create an effective stakeholder
platform for the cotton sector in
WCA
Results
• Key actors are identified
• The structuring process
is defined
• The role of each actor is
defined
• The consensual
facilitator/trainer is
appointed
• Functional relationships
with existing initiatives are
established
• An effective mechanism
for funding mobilization is
defined
• Discussion
groups
• Plenary
sessions
• Economic communities
o ECOWAS, UEMOA,
CILSS
• Research
o CORAF, PR-PICA,
UA/SAFGRAD+ 9 SNRA
• Governments
o 9 Ministry Agriculture/
Trade (8 UEMOA
countries + Chad)
• NGOs/Associations
o Benin (ANAF, FUPRO)
o Burkina (COPSAC,
UGCPA/BM, UNPCB)
o Mali (FENABE, OHVN)
o Chad (ATOSA)
o 5 NGOs/Associations
(Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea
Bissau, Niger, Senegal)
o CRS/RECOLTE
o GREEN CROSS
• Private sector
1 This refers to the proposed format that could be adopted for the Learning Event discussions, e.g., breakout sessions, panel discussions, plenary, etc. 2 All the relevant actors required to effectively discuss the issues identified in the key learning questions. This has the added value of helping us ensure we are
targeting the right participants for the event.
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 67
Key findings and conclusions from the Evaluation Report that
need stakeholders’ learning and
collaboration for the way forward
What are the appropriate
learning questions to formulate?
(maximum three recommended)
What are the key learning sub-questions to guide learning discussions?
Objectives and expected results from the learning
sessions
Appropriate discussion
format1 during the learning
event
Key stakeholders2 concerned
donor projects, and other
international donors and
NGOs.
o SAVANA, TOGUNA SA,
COTIMES Afrique
• 9 cotton companies (8 UEMOA
countries + Chad)
• Regional apex organizations –
producers and ginners
o ROPPA, AProCA, ACA
• Regional apex organizations –
processors
o OPICT, AIFO
2. Strengthening Regional
Coordination of the
Cotton Sector in Western
and Central Africa
• USAID, in collaboration
with other donors, should
strengthen the capacity of
UEMOA & ECOWAS in
terms of human capital
improvement to undertake
the new platform
proposed.
2. Which
skills/capacities
do RECs need to
ensure effective
coordination of
the cotton sector
in WCA?
a. Which actor to facilitate
the TCB process?
b. What are the needs in
TCB?
c. How should funding be
mobilized?
d. What planning is needed
for the implementation of
TCB?
e. Which actors need
support?
Objectives
Identify skills and capacities to
ensure effective coordination of
the cotton sectors in WCA
Results
• A facilitator (technical
arm) of the process is
appointed
• Specific needs of RECs in
TCB are identified
• Group
discussions
• Plenary
sessions
• Economic communities
o ECOWAS
o UEMOA
o CILSS
• Research
o CORAF
o PR-PICA
o UA SAFGRAD
o 9 SNRA
• TFP
o FAO, AFD, EU, French
Embassy
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 68
Key findings and conclusions from the Evaluation Report that
need stakeholders’ learning and
collaboration for the way forward
What are the appropriate
learning questions to formulate?
(maximum three recommended)
What are the key learning sub-questions to guide learning discussions?
Objectives and expected results from the learning
sessions
Appropriate discussion
format1 during the learning
event
Key stakeholders2 concerned
• USAID should encourage
UEMOA & ECOWAS to
develop, with the support
of IFDC, a strategic
regional plan for cotton
development and food
security attainment within
the region.
• Strengthen the regional
bodies already identified
by USAID C4CP that
have the mandate to work
across regional
boundaries in order to
respond to the various
project objectives. These
bodies can be delegated
by UEMOA to take the
lead for each of the main
objectives with guidance
and support from
UEMOA in collaboration
with IFDC.
• An effective mechanism
for funding mobilization is
established
• A TCB action plan is
developed
o ICRA
o BAD
• Regional apex organizations of
farmers and processors
o AProCA, ACA
o OPICT, AIFO
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 69
Key findings and conclusions from the Evaluation Report that
need stakeholders’ learning and
collaboration for the way forward
What are the appropriate
learning questions to formulate?
(maximum three recommended)
What are the key learning sub-questions to guide learning discussions?
Objectives and expected results from the learning
sessions
Appropriate discussion
format1 during the learning
event
Key stakeholders2 concerned
3. Increasing Agricultural
Productivity in West Africa as
a Contribution to Food and
Nutritional Security
▪ UEMOA, with the
support of IFDC, should
work with regional bodies
like ROPPA, AproCA,
PR-PICA, ACA and
others to regionalize the
production of cotton. The
regional organizations
should develop a plan for
how they will use the
approach and
technologies developed
and disseminate them
from the USAID C4CP
project to bring change in
the cotton sector.
▪ UEMOA can work with
the various ministries of
agriculture, ECOWAS,
IFDC, FAO and
interested partners on
chemical use, disposal,
regulations and
enforcement.
3. How to
strengthen
resilience for
food and
nutritional
security in
WCA?
a. How to increase
productivity sustainably?
b. How to increase the
participation of young
people and women in the
cotton sector?
c. How to increase the
resilience of producers?
d. How to mobilize
funding?
Objectives
1
Reinforcing the resilience of
producers in WCA
2
Increasing food and nutritional
security in WCA
Results
R1
• Innovative technologies
are transferred
• The proportion of young
people and women
involved in the cotton
sector is increased
• An effective mechanism
for funding mobilization is
defined
R2
Food and nutritional security of
populations in WCA is
increased
• Discussion
groups
• Plenary
sessions
• Economic communities
o ECOWAS, UEMOA,
CILSS
• Research
o CORAF, PR-PICA, UA
SAFGRAD
9 SNRAs
• Governments
o 9 Ministry Agriculture/
Trade (8 UEMOA
countries + Chad)
• NGOs/Associations
o Benin (ANAF, FUPRO)
o Burkina (COPSAC,
UGCPA/BM, UNPCB)
o Mali (FENABE, OHVN)
o Chad (ATOSA)
o 5 NGOs/Associations
(Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea
Bissau, Niger, Senegal)
o CRS/RECOLTE
o GREEN CROSS
• Private sector
o SAVANA, TOGUNA SA
• 09 cotton companies (08
UEMOA countries + Chad)
• Regional apex organizations –
producers and ginners
o ROPPA, AProCA, ACA
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 70
Key findings and conclusions from the Evaluation Report that
need stakeholders’ learning and
collaboration for the way forward
What are the appropriate
learning questions to formulate?
(maximum three recommended)
What are the key learning sub-questions to guide learning discussions?
Objectives and expected results from the learning
sessions
Appropriate discussion
format1 during the learning
event
Key stakeholders2 concerned
▪ UEMOA, with the
support of IFDC, should
develop a strategic plan
incorporating all leaders
within the sector and
others that demonstrate
the sector can operate as a
regional unit by
delegating responsibility
to each body but at the
same time serving as an
umbrella organization for
the various groups.
▪ UEMOA, with the
support of IFDC, should
develop a plan to show
how the regional bodies
will work as a team or in
close collaboration as a
union. This plan should
show the net benefits to
be derived from any
collaborative efforts.
▪ The process of
technology development,
especially in the areas of
soil health and nutrient
balance, should be
continued by regional
• TFP
o ICRA
o BAD
o FAO
o European Union
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 71
Key findings and conclusions from the Evaluation Report that
need stakeholders’ learning and
collaboration for the way forward
What are the appropriate
learning questions to formulate?
(maximum three recommended)
What are the key learning sub-questions to guide learning discussions?
Objectives and expected results from the learning
sessions
Appropriate discussion
format1 during the learning
event
Key stakeholders2 concerned
organizations such as PR-
PICA and CILSS in close
collaboration with IFDC.
These institutions should
be asked in concert with
the various Ministries of
Agriculture and Natural
Resources and private
business entities to
develop soil maps with
fertilizer
recommendations for
economic crop production
in each of the C-4
countries.
▪ In order to reach a larger
segment of the women
population and better
empower them, an effort
should be made to
increase men’s awareness
of the plight of women. In
order to have a paradigm
shift to provide women
with a greater voice in
society and to attain
equality for women, the
education and training of
men in women’s affairs
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 72
Key findings and conclusions from the Evaluation Report that
need stakeholders’ learning and
collaboration for the way forward
What are the appropriate
learning questions to formulate?
(maximum three recommended)
What are the key learning sub-questions to guide learning discussions?
Objectives and expected results from the learning
sessions
Appropriate discussion
format1 during the learning
event
Key stakeholders2 concerned
must be institutionalized.
Men should be registered
at after-school training
programs or in field
schools in the “ECOLE
DES MARIS,” a set of
concepts to sensitize men
and make them aware that
each man is the brother or
the father of a woman.
4. Improving the
Competitiveness of the Cotton
Sector in Western and Central
Africa
▪ UEMOA, with the
support of IFDC, should
work with regional bodies
like ROPPA, AProCA,
PR-PICA, ACA and
others to regionalize the
marketing of cotton. The
regional organizations
should develop a plan for
how they will use the
approach and
technologies developed
and disseminate them
from the USAID C4CP
4. How to improve
access to markets
for food and
nutritional
security in
WCA?
a. How to increase product
processing?
b. How to improve product
quality norms and
standards?
c. How to improve access to
markets?
d. How to mobilize
funding?
Objectives
Improve access to agricultural
products
Results
• Access to markets for
quality products is
increased
• Product standardization is
promoted
• Discussion
groups
• Plenary
sessions
• Economic communities
o ECOWAS, UEMOA,
CILSS
• Research
o CORAF, PR-PICA, 9
SNRAs
• Governments
o 9 Ministry
(Agriculture/Trade)
• NGOs/Associations
o Benin (ANAF, FUPRO)
o Burkina (COPSAC,
UGCPA/BM, UNPCB)
o Mali (FENABE, OHVN)
o Chad (ATOSA)
o 5 NGOs/Associations (Côte
d’Ivoire, Guinea Bissau,
Niger, Senegal, Togo)
o CRS/RECOLTE
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 73
Key findings and conclusions from the Evaluation Report that
need stakeholders’ learning and
collaboration for the way forward
What are the appropriate
learning questions to formulate?
(maximum three recommended)
What are the key learning sub-questions to guide learning discussions?
Objectives and expected results from the learning
sessions
Appropriate discussion
format1 during the learning
event
Key stakeholders2 concerned
▪ project to bring change in
the cotton sector.
▪ UEMOA, with the
support of IFDC, should
conduct rigorous
technical, economic,
financial and sociological
studies on its proposed
plans for improvement of
the cotton sector in the
USAID C4CP countries
and beyond. The plan
should include all
ministries of trade,
marketing bodies for
inputs and outputs and
major operators of the
value chain to study
various commercial
activities that include:
joint purchase of inputs;
joint cotton processing
and marketing of cotton
and cotton products.
• Private sector
o COTIMES
• 9 cotton companies (8 UEMOA
countries + Chad)
• Regional apex organizations –
producers and ginners
o ROPPA, AProCA, ACA
• Regional apex organizations –
producers and processors
• OPICT, AIFO
• Regional apex organizations –
producers and processors
o AProCA, ACA
o OPICT, AIFO
o CERFITEX
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 74
Annex 4. Roadmap
No. Recommendations Actions Structure in Charge
Deadline Partner
Structures
1 Set up an information
exchange platform
Boost the functioning of the RAIS UEMOA 2019-2020 USAID IFDC
Develop the platform portal UEMOA 2019-2020 IFDC
2
Strengthen the
coordination of the
platform
Provide technical support for the
operationalization of the platform
IFDC 2018 CORAF, PR-PICA
Mobilize funding for strengthening the
coordination of the platform
IFDC UEMOA 2019-2020 USAID
Establish a regional mechanism for
aggregating data at the regional level
IFDC 2018-2020 ACA, AProCA,
UEMOA, CEDEAO,
UA (FRPC), CORAF,
CILSS, PR-PICA
Establish a national mechanism for
collecting country data
Cotton interprofessional
organizations
2018-2020 Cotton companies,
Ministries of Research
and Extension, private
sector
Strengthen actors’ capacities IFDC 2018-2020 Partners at national
and regional levels
3 Increase agricultural
productivity in WCA
Large-scale dissemination of GAPs and
PHTs developed by IFDC
Interprofessional organizations Private sector,
National actors
2018-2020 UEMOA, ACA,
AProCA, CORAF,
PR-PICA, IFDC,
CILSS ROPPA,
SAVANA, CRS,
GREEN CROSS,
national partners
Promote the use of weather forecast
information (SMS)
Interprofessional organizations,
Private sector,
National actors
2018-2020 National partners
UEMOA, IFDC,
IGNITIA, CILSS/
AGRHYMET
PR-PICA, CORAF
C4CP Final Report | April 2014–March 2018 75
No. Recommendations Actions Structure in Charge
Deadline Partner
Structures
Accelerate the extension of supplemental
irrigation
Ministries of Agriculture, Water, Research; Interprofessional
organizations, Private sector, National actors
2018 CORAF, IFDC,
PR-PICA
Popularize new formulas of less acidifying
fertilizers
Interprofessional organizations,
Private sector,
National actors
2018 PR-PICA, IFDC,
CORAF, UEMOA
Promote the use of appropriate agricultural
equipment for various agricultural
operations (fertilizer application, pesticide
treatments, seeding).
Interprofessional organizations,
Private sector,
National actors
2018 PR-PICA, IFDC,
CORAF UEMOA
4
Improve the
competitivity of the
cotton sector
Create an environment favorable to the
adoption of international norms and
standards
UEMOA 2019-2020 COTIMES Afrique,
IFDC
Bring cotton grading laboratories up to
standard
Cotton companies 2018-2020 UEMOA, private
sector, COTIMES
Afrique, commercial
banks, BAD, BID,
BOAD, USAID FIDA
Strengthen the capacities of regional
interprofessional organizations to advance
advocacy of standardization of cotton
grading laboratories
COTIMES Afrique
IFDC
2018-2020 UEMOA, AProCA,
ACA, ROPPA
PROPAC, national
partners
Promote cotton processing technologies and
rotational crops
Interprofessional organizations,
Private sector,
National Actors
2019-2020 UEMOA, ACA,
AProCA, OPICT