Resilience and Economic Growth in the Sahel – Accelerated Growth (REGIS-AG) Project Quarterly Report (FY16/Q1)

The project aimed to support targeted vulnerable groups by marrying partners' push-pull approaches. REGIS-AG worked with organizations implementing USAID programs in the operational areas to identify groups who fit the specified criteria to benefit from the project's support. In Burkina Faso, REGIS-AG teamed with REGIS-ER and PROFIL to organize commercial marketing and networking events held during the December fairs in Burkina Faso. Value chain actors in the small ruminants and cowpea value chain were able to identify the available product in the potential markets, with an estimated 1,414 small ruminants and 4,780 tons of cowpea available. The sales intentions from these workshops were estimated to be 198,135,000 CFA for small ruminants (approximately $330,225 USD) and 1,200,000,000 CFA for cowpea (approximately $2 million USD). In Niger, REGIS-AG and partners organized a poultry vaccination campaign in the Tillaberi region to respond to the fight against Newcastle disease. A total of 723,704 subjects were vaccinated, and more specific themes on the disease were developed and disseminated through the SVPP network. The project also involved in poultry vaccination caravans to strengthen the skills of SVPP through immunization sessions in the field. To ensure sustainable and effective epidemiological surveillance of livestock diseases, the project, in collaboration with the Ministry in charge of Livestock, organized a joint monitoring of the national epidemiological surveillance network in the regions of Maradi and Tillaberi. During the reporting period, REGIS-AG identified a short-term consultant to provide support to revise the Value Chain studies and End Market Analyses. These reports will be submitted in February 2016 for USAID review. In Burkina Faso, the identification of needs and obstacles for economic groupswas completed in December. The report detailing the results of the assessment will be available in the second quarter of the fiscal year. The results of this assessment will serve as the guide for working with producer groups throughout the life of the project. In Niger, a literature review was begun, and a visit to a GIE was made for background for the study, which will be completed in the second quarter. REGIS-AG facilitated the participation of women entrepreneurs processing goat milk and livestock food to SAFEM fair in Niamey. The women were able to build relationships with buyers and present their products, including livestock food and cheese based on goat milk. The REGIS-AG project in Burkina Faso and Niger aimed to strengthen vertical and horizontal value chain linkages and relationships in selected value chains. The project focused on the cowpea value chain, with activities including carrying out comparative analysis of existing forms of producer organizations and planning and implementing cowpea market fairs and meetings. In Burkina Faso, REGIS-AG, PROFIL, and REGIS-ER collaborated on cowpea market meetings in Dori and Kaya. The events were attended by 30 people, composed of cowpea producers and professional buyers. The B to B method was used to facilitate active contribution of participants, and simultaneous translation was provided in Fulfuldé. The project aimed to catalyze and sustain business relationships between cowpea buyers and producer groups. The events were successful in identifying the available product in the potential markets, with an estimated 1,414 small ruminants and 4,780 tons of cowpea available. The sales intentions from these workshops were estimated to be 198,135,000 CFA for small ruminants (approximately $330,225 USD) and 1,200,000,000 CFA for cowpea (approximately $2 million USD). The REGIS-AG project in Burkina Faso and Niger aimed to improve the enabling environment for local and regional private sector investment. The project focused on increasing access to finance, innovation, and private sector investment. REGIS-AG worked with organizations implementing USAID programs in the operational areas to identify groups who fit the specified criteria to benefit from the project's support. The project aimed to catalyze and sustain business relationships between cowpea buyers and producer groups. The events were successful in identifying the available product in the potential markets, with an estimated 1,414 small ruminants and 4,780 tons of cowpea available. The sales intentions from these workshops were estimated to be 198,135,000 CFA for small ruminants (approximately $