Final Report: FY2009-FY2013

The program expanded its focus to positively impact the development of key agricultural value chains in each country through country projects meticulously researched and prepared. CNFA's country projects included grains, oilseeds, and horticulture in Kenya, grains, legumes, and horticulture in Tanzania, as well as grains and oilseeds in Uganda. The program also completed seven flex projects in Rwanda and Bolivia. A total of 321 volunteer assignments were completed in support of these value chains and flexible projects, exceeding program target by 11 assignments, representing a completion rate of 103%. The breakdown by country appears in the tables above. CNFA F2F volunteers provided assistance to 86 host organizations during the life of the program. A total of 6,337 volunteer days were completed, surpassing the target of 5,980 by 6%. Volunteers directly assisted over 21,000 individuals, of which nearly 8,700 (41%) were female. The percentage of female participants increased as implementation progressed. Over 13,500 individuals were directly trained with 46% female participation. Furthermore, out of the total 321 volunteers fielded over five years, 78 (24%) were female. Over 700 recommendations were adopted by hosts during the five-year period, exceeding the LOP target by 19%. Thirteen technical manuals and presentations were created by volunteers and customized to local conditions during the LOP. These sources of information were sometimes applicable for hosts living in different countries within the region and distributed to multiple countries, when appropriate. Program outreach, both in the field and in the US, steadily increased over the life of the project. F2F staff in several countries developed strong relationships with local media outlets. Volunteer assignments, recommendations, and program events were regularly broadcast on television, websites, and through newspapers, agricultural magazines, and other relevant media. This local outreach, as well as strong collaboration with local partners throughout the region, afforded the program a wider audience, allowing for better host selection and enhancing the effect of volunteer recommendations. CNFA's outreach activities in the US support F2F's secondary goal of enhancing the public's understanding of US development efforts overseas. Outreach efforts included 40 press releases, 436 media events, and 348 group presentations, totaling 824 activities, 133% of target. Collaboration with local USAID Missions, local government entities, and program outreach were key considerations for CNFA's F2F work in East Africa. CNFA developed and further strengthened relationships with USAID Missions in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, as well as with local government entities and other stakeholders. The program's strong relationships with local partners and media outlets enabled it to effectively disseminate information and promote its activities, ultimately contributing to its success in achieving its goals.