In partnership with the European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM), FAO is implementing since 2019, the project “AgrInvest-Enabling inclusive and efficient private sector investment in agri-food systems”, aiming at fostering SDG-aligned investments in agri-food systems in Africa to contribute to sustainable economic growth and boost rural employment, particularly for women and youths.
With the financial support of the Government of Italy, the project is implemented in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya and the Niger.
Based on its longstanding experience in Agricultural Risk Management (ARM) and its technical expertise, PARM partnered with FAO to organize two training workshops on ARM in the dairy value chain within the framework of the AgrInvest project in Ethiopia.
The workshops have been organised using the PARM methodology whereby a total of 45 experts (Oromia and Amhara regions) from small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and government structures were trained on Agricultural Risk Management (ARM).
The training workshops, sought to create a proof of concept to derisk agricultural investments with the aim of increasing access to finance for MSMEs operating in the dairy sector. The training focused on creating, common understanding about concept and principles value chain approaches, improve understanding of participants about ARM concept, approaches and tools and strengthen their capacity towards multi-stakeholders facilitation.
The FAO-PARM collaboration paves the way for a new operational sector in PARM: the management of agricultural risk linked to livestock and pastoralism activities.
Watch full video of the FAO-PARM training organized in Ethiopia
More about the project
The AgrInvest initiative attracts and de-risks private-sector investment in agri-food systems and value chains, with the purpose of benefitting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and other local actors in agri-food systems, investors and services providers, local and national authorities as well as regional organizations. The project eases access to finance for agrifood-system actors through solution-oriented platforms, lending technical assistance for critical backstopping, leading to:
- Creation of enabling conditions, laws and policies, to support access to finance and investment for micro, small and medium-sized agro-enterprises, as well as a vibrant, efficient and sustainable business environment for financial institutions and investors;
- Enhancement of inclusivity by involving smallholders in policy dialogue, developing smallholder-based market linkages, promoting the formation of cooperatives and addressing the financial needs of the “missing middle”, agriculture’s small and medium-sized enterprises;
- Leverage of FAO’s expertise and international instruments for sustainability and SDG alignment, such as its Guidance for Responsible Agricultural Supply Chains, to ensure that agrifood-system development is environmentally and socio-economically sustainable;
- Capitalizion on the potential of innovative finance, including blended finance, to de-risk and mobilize more private investment to achieve the SDGs and address the challenges of climate change, hunger and malnutrition;
- Enhancement of the knowledge and innovation focus of private investment to promote the use of digital solutions and other disruptive technologies to achieve the SDGs
Read the project factsheet: https://bit.ly/3BYrHD8
Learn more about AgrInvest initiative: https://bit.ly/3QF24ex