OBJECTIVES
If small farmers are to play a significant role in helping meet the requirements for increased production, regional strategy for agricultural development must provide for a means that enables farmers’ organizations (FOs) to increase the productivity and the income-earning capability of its small farmers. FOs are the primary agricultural stakeholders.
Most concerned by agriculture, their role is central to changing and strengthening agriculture in the region. They have detailed understanding of their immediate surroundings, and play a decisive role in the concrete achievement of agriculture’s potential. Available evidence indicates that FOs can provide a mechanism to increase the efficiency with which resources are allocated on the ground.
The main purpose of the Forum is to provide a platform for IFAD-funded projects and their partners to share experience and lessons learned on their partnership with FOs in West and Central Africa.
Specific objectives are to:
- reflect, take stock of implementation experiences to date about different approaches, and share best practices and evidence-based lessons learned on the role of FOs;
- inform on the evolution of IFAD’s strategic focus and operational approaches with a particular emphasis on the region;
- facilitate continued improvement in project implementation through sharing of experiences and lessons; and
- assess progress and delivery in achieving the targets laid out in the Dakar Action Plan for 2011 and develop measurable follow-up 2012 Action and Supervision Plans for improving project implementation.
