SkyFarm News: Multi-level collaboration in pluralistic rural advisory services

bySkyFarm

November 17, 2024

3 minute read

Name: Gabriel Adukpo

Country: Ghana

Cadbury Cocoa Partnership: Sustainable Livelihoods Project

Email: gyaduk@gmail.com

Service providers: Cadbury, Voluntary Service Overseas, Ghana, and District Departments of Agriculture. I. Cadbury Type: Multi-national confectionery corporation. Role: – Funding, oversight (strategic economic interest) ii. Voluntary Service Overseas, Ghana (VSO). Type: – International Non-Governmental Organization. Role: – Implementing Partner, Collaboration iii. Department of Agriculture. Type: -Decentralized Government Sector. Role: – Extension / Advisory Services and team lead with departments of Community Development and Cooperatives, Collaboration

Starting date: July 2008 after consultation, dialogue, and signing of the partnership agreement

Abstract

7.1 The Problem / Issues addressed:

Cocoa is a major export crop for Ghana. Despite the deserved attention, the sector has experienced numerous challenges, including low productivity, an aging farming population, poverty in cocoa-growing areas, and social, and environmental issues

It was imperative to take every opportunity to retain cocoa production as a core business for farmers and their communities. The farmers also produced food crops and animals alongside other enterprises.

The Cadbury Cocoa Partnership (CCP) was therefore designed to address the challenges as mentioned earlier, focusing on three intervention areas: I. Sustainable livelihoods from cocoa; ii. Sustainable livelihoods from other means; and iii. Community-centered development. Increased women’s empowerment, environmental sustainability, and eliminating child labor were incorporated as cross-cutting activities.

The partnership left remarkable footprints and the innovative collaborative service delivery remained relevant and worth emulating.

7.2 Target: Smallholder Farmers – women, men, and youth

7.3 Funding mechanisms and contributions

I. CCP: Grants

Ii. VSO Ghana: Volunteers, Expertise in Sustainable Livelihoods

iii. Department of Agriculture: Extension staff, Office, pickup vehicle

7.4 On-the-ground coordination and governance

I. VSO coordinated activities at all levels across the value chain. Cadbury selected VSO using their criteria and procedures.

ii. Governance structure: Program Management Unit (PMU) for facilitation, coordination, monitoring and reporting.

iii. Risk and conflict management: embedded in partnership agreement.

7.5 Communication: I VSO led a two-way communication with PMU in face-to-face meetings and emails ii Extension agents linked communities with CCP

7.6 Approach

Integrated and built on sectoral strategies of participating institutions.

Fieldwork by a team comprising extension, volunteers, community development, and cooperatives. VSO and Directors of Agriculture performed backstopping of team. Directors of Agriculture led a special rehearsal termed “Go ye”.
Media, methods, and techniques: – various groups, individuals, interviews, demonstrations, farm visits, meetings, forums, radio, etc.
Style: Institutional engagement, policy advocacy, capacity building

7.7 Impacts of VSO-partnered operations in the Eastern Region

I. Thirty communities covered; Better access to extension and entrepreneurial training

ii. Three viable cooperatives: one per district, receiving enhanced Fair Trade Premium Cocoa prices

iii Export/import supply chain developed enhancing traceability of cocoa beans from farmers

7.8 Innovations

I. Financing: cost sharing. CCP paid no salaries

ii. Service delivery: teamwork

iii. Resource mobilization – best done by NGOs

iv. Expertise: tapped from all ends

v. Youth cocoa ambassadors from tertiary schools organized for future farming

vi. “Quick Wins” were introduced in Phase I to sustain interest and enthusiasm

vii. Placement of community women extension facilitators