Cultivate Africa’s Future
Cultivating Africa’s Future Fund Why focus on smallholder agriculture and gender equality?
Investing in research that improves small-scale agriculture is an especially effective way to meet the food security needs of vulnerable populations – especially women and children – while building economic livelihoods. Recent studies estimate that over 475 million family farms globally, which constitute 98% of all farms, produce more than half of the world’s food. Women constitute most farmers in these family farms; and in Eastern and Southern Africa, they constitute up to 60% of the agricultural labour force. Rural women assume critical roles in household and community food and nutritional security, although their role is generally undervalued and constrained by limitations on their access to resources, services, and labour market opportunities. Also, the region has a growing population of educated but unemployed youth who could transform the agriculture sector through profitable agripreneurship. Research has substantial potential to improve the food security situation by identifying ways in which effective interventions can be undertaken.
Who we are Cultivate Africa’s Future Fund (CultiAF) is a partnership between the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) that leverages the strengths and resources of each organization to improve overall food and nutrition security across Eastern and Southern Africa. The partnership represents a CA$ 35 million (AU$ 37 million) investment between 2013 and 2023. The main objective of CultiAF is to improve food and nutrition security in Eastern and Southern Africa by funding applied research to develop and scale-up sustainable, climate resilient and gender responsive innovations for smallholder producers. The portfolio
©FRANCIS NGUMBA
Agriculture is central to fostering economic growth, reducing poverty, and improving food security in Eastern and Southern African regions. More than 70% of the rural population depends on agriculture for their livelihoods, and poor performance in the agriculture sector has led to constrained regional economic growth. Food insecurity is a significant challenge for most countries in the region, which are especially vulnerable to economic and climate-related shocks that affect food production and distribution systems.
of CultiAF research projects cuts across four research themes: increasing productivity and reducing postharvest losses; linking agriculture, nutrition and human health; gender equality; and climate change and agricultural water management. These projects are being implemented by research teams from Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. CultiAF emphasizes the need for research projects to deliver on gender equality outcomes by integrating gender transformative approaches that address underlying social and gender barriers. The evidence generated will be scaled-up for wider impact using innovative business models that successfully include women and youth in technology development, value chains, entrepreneurship, and capacity building with the intent to increase their strategic leadership and influence over agriculture and food systems.
What we do The main objective is to improve food and nutrition security in Eastern and Southern Africa by funding applied research in agricultural development to: •
Develop sustainable, climate-resilient, and gender responsive innovations for smallholder farmers;
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Develop and implement business models that empower women and youth to scale-out innovations that bring equitable benefits to smallholder farmers and consumers;
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Use research results to inform food security, nutrition, climate change and water policies and programs.
CultiAF project portfolio CultiAF projects were selected through a rigorous, transparent and competitive process, and met the standards of scientific quality and rigour in addressing diverse aspects of food security. Inclusive financing for scaling improved fish processing technologies in Malawi In Malawi, gender inclusive financing mechanisms are being tested by researchers to scaleup the application of improved fish processing technologies for enhanced food and income security of artisanal fish processors, and other actors in the fish value chain. A combination of innovative financing and marketing strategies, such as product bulking, improved packaging and links to formal markets, are being assessed for their effectiveness in reaching diverse groups; reducing post-harvest losses; enabling women’s empowerment; and increasing fish availability and consumption. Implementing partners: Malawi’s Chancellor College, the Fisheries Research Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture, WorldFish Centre, the Malawi Bureau of Standards, FDH Bank, and People’s Trading Centre LTD
the Busara Centre for Behavioural Economics and the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization Funding: CA$ 741,000 (AU$ 784,036) Duration: 24 months, October 2018 – September 2020 Scaling supply of precooked beans for food and nutrition security In Kenya and Uganda, researchers are evaluating the effectiveness of public-private partnerships and gender responsive financing to expand the use of precooked beans. In the project’s first phase, the bean product was found to improve food and nutrition security, increase household incomes, conserve the environment and reduce women’s time spent cooking.
Duration: 24 months, October 2018 – September 2020
Implementing partners: The National Agricultural Research Organization, the Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization, the International Center for Tropical Agriculture, Lasting Solutions Limited, Community Enterprises Development Organization and CARITAS
Gender inclusive youth entrepreneurship development
Funding: CA$ 744,000 (AU$ 788,872)
Innovative business models are being tested by researchers in Kenya to find out what works in building successful youth-led agribusinesses. The project will assess the value of training, mentoring and start-up capital in building successful youthled businesses, and explore the influence of gender and other factors on business growth. The research will increase the skills and capacities of participating youths to run and manage their own businesses; increase business growth; and provide employment opportunities for other youths. The evidence will also inform current youth-focused agribusiness initiatives currently being promoted in the region.
Duration: 24 months, December 2018 – November 2020
Funding: CA$ 522,200 (AU$ 553,682)
Implementing partners: The United States International University-Africa,
Insect feed for poultry, fish and pig production in Kenya and Uganda Researchers are promoting the use of insects as a cost effective source of protein for poultry, fish and pigs to enhance food and nutrition security, employment opportunities and incomes for small- and medium-scale farmers and entrepreneurs. Insect rearing techniques for small- and medium-scale enterprises are being tested, along with gender responsive insect feed supply chain models. Implementation partners: The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, the United States International University-Africa,
the Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organization, the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute and Value Addition, Treasure Industries Ltd, Kenya Bureau of Standards, Makerere University and Cottage Industry Development in Africa Funding CA$ 1,495,900 (AU$ 1,559,880) Duration: 24 months, October 2018 – September 2020 Satellite and cellphone imagery for climate-smart crop insurance In Kenya, researchers are working to improve the performance of crop insurance by testing the use of cellphone and satellite imagery to protect farmers against climatic hazards, and help overcome barriers to investment in resilience technologies. A combination of satellite data and pictures will help to assess agricultural loss, build trust between farmers and insurance providers, and lead to increased adoption of insurance products. Implementing partners: Agriculture and Climate Risk Enterprise Ltd, the International Food Policy Research Institute, Wageningen University and the Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organization Funding: CA$ 1,695,600 (AU$ 1,792,260) Duration: 42 months, April 2019 – September 2022 Harnessing dietary nutrients of underutilized fish and fishbased products A public-private partnership model is being tested by Ugandan researchers to increase availability, nutritional quality and consumption of underutilized small fish and fish-based products by vulnerable groups and populations. The research will lead to reduced micronutrient deficiencies among women of reproductive age and children under 5 years. Implementing partners: Makerere University, the National Fisheries
the University of Queensland Funding: CA$ 2,786,700 (AU$ 2,961,680)
Ethiopia
Uganda
Kenya
Mozambique
Zimbabwe
Resources Research Institute, NUTREAL (U) Limited, and McGill University Funding: CA$ 2,660,500 (AU$ 2,823,190) Duration: 42 months, April 2019 – September 2022 Climate-smart interventions for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia Researchers are developing and intensifying the availability of improved short-duration, high-
Implementation of a sustainable IPM program to combat fruit flies Researchers will test and promote wide-scale adoption of proven fruit fly integrated pest management packages in combating context-specific fruit fly problems in four countries of Southern Africa: Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The research will enhance the quality and quantity of mango, and increase the incomes of farmers and other stakeholders of the mango value chain. Implementing partners: The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Department of Research and Specialist Services, Zimbabwe, Zambia Agriculture Research Institute, Department of Agricultural Research Services, Malawi and the Eduardo Mondlane University Funding: CA$ 2,803,300 (AU$ 2,974,660)
Malawi
Zambia
Duration: 42 months, April 2019 – September 2022
biomass and drought-tolerant sorghum varieties; and equipping farmers with skills, tools and technologies to produce surplus sorghum in a cost effective way that reduces production risk. The project will lead to increased productivity and resilience to climate variability, increased farmer incomes, improved stability of the food supply of dry lowland farmers, and increased economic opportunities for women. Implementing partners: The Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research and
Duration: 42 months, April 2019 – September 2022
User-driven approaches for productive smallholder irrigation in Mozambique Multi-dimensional comparative studies are being used by researchers to assess the extent to which user-driven approaches improve the productivity, profitability and equity of Governmentfunded and smallholder-led irrigation schemes in Mozambique. The research will increase the use of soil and water management technologies; increase crop yields and farm product prices; reduce conflict for shared resources at household and community levels; and lead to stronger and more inclusive water-user organizations. Implementing partners: The Eduardo Mondlane University and the National Institute for Irrigation Funding: CA$ 1,797,800 (AU$ 1,905,890) Duration: 42 months, April 2019 – September 2022
©CIAT
Cultivate Africa’s Future
Developing practical and sustainable solutions
Engaging youth in entrepreneurship
CultiAF supports applied research that builds the capacity of stakeholders to generate practical, lasting solutions that are economically viable, socially acceptable, and environmentally sustainable. Research topics include nutritive value-added products, post-harvest storage technologies, crop insurance, irrigation, and women and youth entrepreneurship, among others. Researchers are engaging the private sector, young and women entrepreneurs, and policy makers through business models that can take these innovations to scale.
The agricultural sector has potential to provide employment for rural and urban youth. It would also benefit from the resourcefulness, technological savviness, and organizational skills of young people. CultiAF projects are actively engaging youth, building their capacity and entrepreneurship to take new innovative business models to scale.
Innovations to enhance women’s productivity, nutrition and income CultiAF funds research that responds to the needs of men, women, and young people and has the potential to transform inequitable gender relations. Research focuses on enterprises that are important for women: fisheries, poultry and pig production, beans, sorghum, and water for production. Research activities are based on strong gender and social analysis. They address inequalities in underlying social norms and in men’s and women’s ability to access and manage resources and make decisions. Technologies and products being tested, such as precooked beans and solar dryers, have the potential to increase women’s income and reduce the workload and drudgery involved in producing and processing food.
Private sector engagement CultiAF-supported researchers are engaging with the private sector, NGOs and civil society organizations early in the research design to foster innovative partnerships that provide insights on markets and product development; extension delivery mechanisms; and pathways for policy engagement. The research teams develop and test innovative business models to move the results of the research to a large scale. Learn more at www.idrc.ca/cultiaf Cultivate Africa’s Future (CultiAf) is jointly funded by IDRC, the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, and the Australian International Food Security Research Centre. The program supports research to achieve long-term food security in Eastern and Southern Africa.