Quarterly Report: April – June, 2016

The project is implemented by ACDI/VOCA and is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Food for Peace (FFP) program. The project's strategic objective is to increase agricultural production and improve household incomes. To achieve this, the project focuses on improving agricultural practices, increasing access to agricultural inputs, and promoting market linkages. The project also aims to reduce chronic malnutrition by improving maternal and child health and nutrition practices, increasing access to health services, and promoting hygiene and sanitation practices. The project's implementation is divided into four strategic objectives: SO1: Increased and Diversified Agricultural Production, SO2: Increased Household Incomes, SO3: Reduced Chronic Malnutrition in Children Under Five and Pregnant and Lactating Women, and SO4: Monitoring and Evaluation. Under SO1, the project promotes the professionalization of producer groups, improves technology and agricultural practices, and ensures the development and preparation of lowland and irrigated perimeters. The project also creates links between producers and public and private suppliers through a voucher program. Under SO2, the project trains producers on the Farming as a Family Business approach, links producer groups to markets, and works with the Ministry of Women's Promotion and Gender to improve women's empowerment. The project also identifies and supports non-farm employment and microenterprise development. Under SO3, the project conducts formative research on key health and nutrition behaviors, enacts community mobilization and messaging, and establishes individual and community social behavior change through Animatrices. The project also distributes food rations to children under two and pregnant and lactating women. The project's monitoring and evaluation activities include tracking progress towards the project's objectives, conducting regular assessments, and providing feedback to stakeholders. The project also conducts cross-cutting activities, including gender, environment, and environment and food security. The project's implementation is led by ACDI/VOCA, with support from local partners, including the Association des Grossistes et Distributeurs d'Intrants Agricole (AGRODIA) and the Alliance Technique d'Assistance au Développement (ATAD). The project's budget is funded by USAID through the FFP program. The project's achievements include the establishment of 15 producer groups, the training of over 2,500 farmers, and the distribution of over 1,000 metric tons of agricultural inputs. The project has also improved market linkages, with over 50% of producers selling their products to local markets. The project's challenges include limited access to credit, limited availability of agricultural inputs, and limited market access. The project is working to address these challenges through the establishment of savings groups, the promotion of essential hygiene actions, and the construction of water and sanitation facilities. The project's impact is expected to be significant, with improved agricultural production, increased household incomes, and reduced chronic malnutrition. The project's achievements and challenges will be monitored and evaluated regularly to ensure that the project is meeting its objectives and making progress towards its goals.