Feed the Future Democratic Republic of the Congo Strengthening Value Chains Activity: First Quarter Report (Q1) Fiscal Year (FY) 2020, October 1-December 31, 2019

The program aims to strengthen value chains in the coffee sector, with a focus on improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and their families. The program is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and is part of the Feed the Future initiative. The program is divided into four components: Component 1, which builds capacity of vertical and horizontal actors in targeted value chains; Component 2, which enhances coffee production; Component 3, which develops and implements public-private partnerships (PPPs); and Component 4, which provides access to finance (A2F). The program also has cross-cutting priorities, including gender, youth, and social inclusion (GYSI), social behavior change communication (SBCC), and conflict mitigation. In the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2020 (October 1-December 31, 2019), the program made significant progress in all four components. Component 1 implemented a series of training sessions for farmers, traders, and other stakeholders, with a focus on improving their knowledge and skills in areas such as coffee production, processing, and marketing. Component 2 conducted a series of activities aimed at enhancing coffee production, including the distribution of high-quality coffee seeds and the provision of technical assistance to farmers. Component 3 made progress in developing and implementing PPPs, including the establishment of a coffee service provider (CSP) that will provide a range of services to coffee farmers, including processing, marketing, and finance. Component 4 implemented a series of activities aimed at providing access to finance for smallholder farmers, including the establishment of a revolving fund that will provide loans to farmers at favorable interest rates. The program also made progress in its cross-cutting priorities. In the area of GYSI, the program implemented a series of activities aimed at promoting the participation of women and youth in the coffee value chain. These activities included the establishment of a women's coffee cooperative and the provision of training and technical assistance to young farmers. In the area of SBCC, the program implemented a series of activities aimed at promoting positive social behaviors among coffee farmers and their families. These activities included the development and dissemination of a range of communication materials, including posters, leaflets, and radio messages. The program also made progress in its environmental monitoring and mitigation plan (EMMP) activities. These activities included the establishment of a system for monitoring and reporting on the environmental impacts of the program, as well as the implementation of a range of activities aimed at mitigating these impacts. Despite the progress made in the first quarter, the program faced a number of challenges, including delays in the implementation of some activities and difficulties in accessing some of the target areas. However, the program is confident that it will be able to overcome these challenges and achieve its objectives in the coming quarters. The program's key findings for the first quarter include: * The program has made significant progress in building the capacity of vertical and horizontal actors in the coffee value chain. * The program has enhanced coffee production through the distribution of high-quality coffee seeds and the provision of technical assistance to farmers. * The program has developed and implemented PPPs, including the establishment of a CSP that will provide a range of services to coffee farmers. * The program has provided access to finance for smallholder farmers through the establishment of a revolving fund. * The program has promoted the participation of women and youth in the coffee value chain through the establishment of a women's coffee cooperative and the provision of training and technical assistance to young farmers. * The program has promoted positive social behaviors among coffee farmers and their families through the development and dissemination of a range of communication materials. The program's recommendations for the coming quarters include: * Continuing to build the capacity of vertical and horizontal actors in the coffee value chain. * Enhancing coffee production through the distribution of high-quality coffee seeds and the provision of technical assistance to farmers. * Developing and implementing PPPs, including the establishment of a CSP that will provide a range of services to coffee farmers. * Providing access to finance for smallholder farmers through the establishment of a revolving fund. * Promoting positive social behaviors among coffee farmers and their families through the development and dissemination of a range of communication materials. The program's conclusion is that it has made significant progress in the first quarter and is confident that it will be able to achieve its objectives in the coming quarters. The program will continue to work closely with its partners and stakeholders to ensure that it is meeting its objectives and making a positive impact on the lives of smallholder farmers and their families in the DRC.