January 17, 2024

10th Anniversary and Replication Event: Reflecting on a Decade of Impact in Promoting Inclusive Agribusiness in Africa

Ivory Coast

Mali

Burkina Faso

Niger

On December 6th and 7th, 2023, the 2SCALE program marked its 10th anniversary with a replication event in Côte d'Ivoire. This celebration, hosted in Côte d'Ivoire at the Noom Hotel Abidjan, drew participation from over a dozen countries spanning America, Asia, Europe, and Africa, with a notable presence of Francophone countries where 2SCALE's initiatives are implemented. The event was a grand showcase of a decade's worth of impact, innovation, collaboration, and experience-sharing in agribusiness.

The event was graced by distinguished guests, including key stakeholders such as farmers, business champions, financial institutions, service providers, input providers, and business support service providers. These participants engaged in enriching panel discussions, offering insights into the various strategies employed by 2SCALE to bolster the agri-food sector.

A highlight of the event was the panel on green agricultural innovations, led by Drissa Sangaré, 2SCALE's Green Innovations Specialist, which explored the challenges and opportunities within Africa's agriculture sector, emphasizing the critical role of green innovations in addressing the challenges of food security, environmental preservation, and climate resilience in sub-Saharan Africa.

They highlighted successful interventions, such as the adoption of improved seeds and sustainable farming practices that enhance yields while minimizing environmental impacts, and the development of efficient irrigation and agricultural processing techniques, reducing post-harvest losses.

Ms Aminatou Issoufou, Director of FEDER, the Business Support Services (BSS) in the MORINGA-2SCALE partnership in Niger, shared insights on the transformation achieved through the program,

Before the intervention of 2SCALE, farmers employed poor agricultural practices, including the harmful use of chemicals and pesticides on their farms, which typically cause soil pollution, loss of biodiversity and water pollution. Some processors would also work in very unhygienic conditions, such as drying moringa from the ground exposing them to dust.

She goes on to say,

Faced with these constraints, with the intervention of the 2SCALE program, we sensitized the actors and mobilized them towards the use of composting and solar drying techniques. Adoption was difficult initially, but today it is quite the opposite because the majority of our actors use them.

Digitalisation of APCA: Innovative approach to financial inclusion

The event also placed a strong emphasis on financial inclusion, spotlighting the digitalization of the Association for the Promotion of Community Assistance (APCA). The APCA (formerly VSLA) is a community association that offers low-cost financial services to its members. These services include savings, credit, micro-insurance and training. This model has been central to providing accessible financial services to its members, fostering community support, and driving economic development.

The panel on financial inclusion highlighted the innovative approaches and the five-step process developed to enhance access to finance for stakeholders, demonstrating the critical importance of financial inclusion in the program's partnerships.

The success stories of APCA members were particularly inspiring. Alice Dakiélé, president of the TEN'D cooperative society in Daloa, Côte d'Ivoire, shared:

Thanks to the partnership with the 2SCALE program that put us in touch with CARE, today all our contributions are accurately recorded and are used according to rules.

She further highlighted the benefits of transitioning to mobile money accounts through the partnership with CARE and 2SCALE, emphasizing the safety and operational advantages gained.

Ms Dakiélé continues,

Our APCA has contributions of more than 600 women. Some members have been assaulted several times by people who assume we keep money from the contributions in their homes. This is why we are happy to learn that now the technique of saving via mobile money accounts has worked in other groups. Within my cooperative, I am sure every woman will adopt it easily because it addresses the safety issues we face. In addition, through the APCA, we have been able to acquire a store to keep our farm produce and are pleased that the partnership has also linked us to banks for eased access to financing.

The exhibition space at the event was a vibrant showcase of the innovative products and services developed through the partnerships fostered by the 2SCALE program. This platform allowed partners to highlight the role of their processed by-products in improving food security and nutrition for low-income populations. Attendees had the opportunity to engage directly with the innovators, learning about the tastes, nutritional values, and affordability of these sustainable products.

In her concluding remarks, Marina Diboma, Director of the 2SCALE Program, captured the essence of the event:

The replication event paves the way for inclusion, innovation, and sustainable growth in inclusive agribusiness in Africa. Today we honour the milestones, achievements, and lessons learned.

The 10th anniversary and replication event not only celebrated the successes of the past decade but also laid the groundwork for future endeavours, aiming for continued impact and collaboration in promoting inclusive agribusiness across Africa.

Experience all the insightful discussions, innovative showcases, and celebratory moments through our recorded live stream here:

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