Feed the Future Nigeria Agribusiness Investment Activity Quarterly Progress Report (January 1 – March 31, 2021)

The program aims to improve the agricultural business environment in Nigeria, increase access to finance, facilitate investment, and enhance the performance of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the agricultural sector. The program focuses on seven states in Nigeria: Benue, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Kaduna, Kebbi, and Niger. The geographic coverage includes the entire value chain, from production to processing and marketing of agricultural products. The program targets MSMEs, particularly women and youth, to improve their access to finance, technology, and markets. The program is divided into four components: Improve the Agribusiness Enabling Environment, Broaden Access to Finance, Facilitate Investment, and Enhance Agribusiness MSMEs Performance. Component 1 aims to improve the regulatory environment, enhance the capacity of government institutions, and promote public-private partnerships. Component 2 focuses on increasing access to finance for MSMEs through the development of financial products and services. Component 3 aims to facilitate investment in the agricultural sector by promoting business linkages and providing technical assistance to investors. Component 4 focuses on enhancing the performance of MSMEs through training, mentoring, and capacity building. The program also integrates cross-cutting themes, including promoting women's and youth's engagement, journey to self-reliance, youth development, policy and governance support, local capacity development, public-private partnerships, conflict mitigation, science, technology, and innovation impacts, and communications. The program also emphasizes monitoring, evaluation, and learning to ensure that the activities are effective and efficient. As of January 1 to March 31, 2021, the program has made significant progress in implementing its activities. The program has trained over 1,000 farmers in good agricultural practices, and more than 500 MSMEs have received training in business development services. The program has also facilitated the signing of several memoranda of understanding between government institutions and private sector companies to promote public-private partnerships. However, the program has faced several challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, which has affected the implementation of activities. The program has also faced challenges in accessing finance for MSMEs, particularly in rural areas. Despite these challenges, the program has made significant progress in improving the agricultural business environment in Nigeria and increasing access to finance for MSMEs. The program plans to continue its activities in the next quarter, including the implementation of business linkages and the provision of technical assistance to investors. The program also plans to continue its monitoring, evaluation, and learning activities to ensure that the activities are effective and efficient.