Resilience and Economic Growth in the Sahel - Accelerated Growth Quarterly Report

AID-625-C-14-00001. The project aims to improve the resilience and economic growth of smallholder farmers in the Sahel region of West Africa. REGIS-AG focuses on five components: identifying opportunities through value chain and end-market analysis, strengthening vertical and horizontal linkages in selected value chains, strengthening input supply and other services, increasing access to finance, innovation, and private sector investment, and improving the enabling environment for local and regional private investment. The project strategy is based on a value chain approach, with a focus on two pillars: improving market access for producers and strengthening the enabling environment for private sector investment. REGIS-AG targets the cowpea, poultry, and small ruminant value chains, with a focus on Burkina Faso and Niger. The project aims to increase the income of smallholder farmers by improving their access to markets, inputs, and services. REGIS-AG has established partnerships with various organizations, including the Association Nodde Nooto, Association des Distributeurs d’Intrants Agricoles du Niger, and the Association pour la Gestion de l’Environnement et le Développement. The project has also established a monitoring and evaluation system to track its progress and outcomes. The project has made significant progress in its first year, with a stable staff count and minimal turnover. REGIS-AG has also conducted various activities, including value chain and end-market analysis, strengthening vertical and horizontal linkages, and improving access to finance and innovation. The project has also established pilot literacy centers and facilitated access to finance in business clusters and warrantage schemes. REGIS-AG has achieved several outcomes in its first year, including the establishment of 6 pilot literacy centers, the facilitation of access to finance in business clusters and warrantage schemes, and the strengthening of formal networks of agro-input distributors in Burkina Faso and Niger. The project has also improved the policy environment for private sector investment and mainstreamed gender and governance in value chain development. The REGIS-AG project has a strong focus on resilience and disaster risk reduction, with a goal of strengthening the capacity of communities to respond to shocks and stresses. The project has also established a Memorandum of Understanding with various partners to ensure coordination and collaboration. REGIS-AG has a robust monitoring and evaluation system in place, with a focus on tracking progress and outcomes. The project uses a range of indicators to measure its performance, including the number of smallholder farmers reached, the value of sales increased, and the number of jobs created. The project also conducts regular reviews and assessments to ensure that it is on track to meet its goals and objectives. Overall, REGIS-AG is a comprehensive project that aims to improve the resilience and economic growth of smallholder farmers in the Sahel region. The project has made significant progress in its first year and has established a strong foundation for future success.