Alliance for Seed Industry in West Africa

(ASIWA)

Yacouba DIALLOAgribusiness and Marketing specialist

CORAF/WECARD

Abidjan. 5th - 6th August, 2015PSAO/WASP

IS THAT ASIWA?

West Africa Seed Context

Gaps in production and supply of quality seeds

Gaps in breeder and foundation seed production capacity

Poor market information to guide seed production

Small fragmented private seed sector

Inadequate storage facilities across distribution chain

Challenging seed policy environment

Inconsistent and inappropriate national seed regulations

Mixed implementation of ECOWAS Regional Seed Regulations

Added time and cost of introducing new seeds to market

Underdeveloped Seed Markets

Output markets served by seed industry small and fragmented

Low farmer adoption rates reduce demand for quality seeds

Real and perceived costs of acquiring and using quality seeds

Overall Goal of ASIWA?G

ove

rnm

ent/R

egu

latory

Science

and R

ese

arch

Seed P

roductio

n &

Trad

e

Seed U

sers, E

nd B

uye

rs

ASIWARegional and National Platforms

Development Community

Sustainable, inclusive, effective platform to advocate and act upon

key national and regional issues in seed sector development to

expand production, supply and use of quality seed in West Africa

Shared Value Amongst Seed Stakeholders

Private

InterestsDevelopment

Goals

Shared Value

=

Partnership

Opportunity

Farmers

Seed Companies

Agro-Dealers

International Seed

Companies

Grain Buyers

Private Sector

Organizations

NARS/NARIs

NSTAs

Universities and

Research

Donors

Regional Organizations

MoA/Public Agencies

International Research Orgs

ECOWAS/EUMOA

ASIWA Rationale: Shared Values between

Development and Private Sector

Proposed ASIWA Functions

• Provide a point of engagement for seed stakeholders for seed sector development Consultation, coordination, and collaborative troubleshooting

• Capture synergies between national and regional seed development initiatives

• Increase involvement of the private sector in seed development efforts

Convening Point for Seed

Stakeholders

• Platform to exchange and disseminate ideas, experience, best practices in seed development, possibly within context of a Community of Practice

• Drive coordinated analysis and activities supporting seed development across West Africa

Communications

• Coordinate advocacy to accelerate harmonization of regional seed policies and facilitate cross-border seed trade

• Increase involvement of the private sector in regional policy dialoguesPolicy Advocacy

• Coordinate and support efforts to ensure quality of seed, build confidence in the seed sector and give farmers protection and recourse

• Platform for quality control and self-regulation by private sector seed tradeSeed Quality

• Develop technical, credit and market solutions involving multiple stakeholders to increase utilization of improved seeds by farmers

• Incubate the development of local businesses, including farmer associations

• Facilitate investment and credit to expand/strengthen seed production and supply

Market Facilitation/Industry Development

Key Points to Remember

• Result-oriented platform for voluntary engagement for private, public, NGO and development partners with interest in seed sector development

• A point to facilitate stakeholder facilitation across multiple seed and agriculture development programs in West Africa

• A new ‘program’

• A new organization requiring formal protocols

• A talk shop

Strategic Principles for ASIWA

• Orient ASIWA efforts increasing the role of private sector in all aspects of the seed sector

• Demonstrate added value to attract a critical mass of private sector partners

• Encourage private sector ‘champions’ to ‘self-select’ and play larger roles in the ASIWA direction and management

• Explore means to aggregate market demand for quality seeds (and higher yields) through engagement with farmers, farmer federations, and larger output buyers

• Focus on issues that impact stakeholders across various seed and grain markets

• Connect stakeholders across multiple WASP and other seed initiatives

• Communications needed to build awareness across stakeholders

• Coordination to capture synergies and optimize programming

• Collaboration to develop solutions requiring multiple partners

Proposed ASIWA Structure

• Small management unit with steering committee of “Champions” from seed sector, including robust representation across private seed sector and end market buyers

• Communications hub for regional dialogue, knowledge sharing, Community of Practice, capturing synergies and lessons of seed development programs

• Lead regional efforts in seed certification and seed policy harmonization

Regional “Umbrella” Platform

• Involving private sector (seed companies, NTSAs, agro dealers, seed users, grain end buyers, finance), government and research partners

• Convening point for discussion on seed policies (including regional harmonization), seed certification and issues related to quality of seeds

• Convening point for market facilitation and industry development, linkages within seed chain and linkages between commercial sector and research

National Alliances

• Driven by stakeholders (possibly NSTAs) with vested interest or clear contribution towards objective, coordinated by regional management unit

• Enable interactions between interested public, private, donor stakeholders to troubleshoot/address challenges in seed sector development

• Develop, support or engage in specific initiatives funded by governments, donors, or international orgs, as implementing partners or consultative group

Initiative-Focused Working Groups

Proposed Regional Working Groups

West African Seed Information Exchange (WASIX)

Clearinghouse for information and analysis and leading WASP/ASIWA communications and M&E efforts

Community of Practice to facilitate exchange of ideas, experience, best practices between stakeholders

Gathering and disseminating information on seed demand across markets

Discrete analyses on seed markets, seed market development, lessons learned, best practices, etc.

Information exchange for other working groups

Regional Seed Quality InitiativeRegional Seed

Harmonization/ Trade Group

Market Facilitation and Investment

Solutions

Potential to complement

seed certification efforts to

be carried out by West Africa

Seed Committee (WASC)

Consultative group for long-

term efforts to enhance

private sector role in

production and certification

of quality, certified seeds

Serve observatory function

to collect and share

information on poor quality

seeds

Venue for private sector

engagement and feedback in

ongoing regional policy

harmonization efforts, with

focus on increasing private

sector engagement in

dialogue

Serves as observatory on

seed policy harmonization

at national level, to identify

gaps, non-compliance,

and/or press positive

movement

Facilitate relationships to create technical,

commercial, financial solutions

Expand role of private sector in seed

production/supply

Incubate private seed businesses

Examples:

Credit solutions for farmers

Credit solutions for emerging seed

businesses (working capital, investment in

production, cleaning, storage)

Technical assistance to emerging seed

businesses (including farmer associations)

Work with other input providers to

develop technical packages

Integrate ICT into seed distribution

Organizational Chart

ASIWA Regional Platform(ASIWA Director)

West Africa Seed

Information Exchange:

WASIX(WASIX Coordinator)

Regional Seed Quality Initiative(Regional Seed Quality Coordinator)

Regional Seed Harmonization/Trade Group(Regional Seed Harmonization/Trade Coordinator)

Market Facilitation and Investment Solutions(Market Facilitation and Investment Coordinator)

National Affiliate

(Country Rep)

National Affiliate

(Country Rep)

National Affiliate

(Country Rep)

National Affiliate

(Country Rep)

Hub

Rural/WASP/

ECOWASOperational Oversight

ASIWA

Steering

CommitteeStrategic Oversight

Budget Considerations

• Regional

• ASIWA Director – Commercially and results-oriented; able to build and maintain relationships with a cross-section of regional seed players; able to be broker and thought leader for seed sector

• WASIX Coordinator – Experience in communications strategies; ability to develop, promote and maintain a network of stakeholders sharing knowledge and experience

• Ad Hoc Coordinators – Manage initiatives/working group activities based on available funds. Could be existing WASP staff

• National

• Country Representatives – Commercially-oriented, agriculture experience; able to broker/facilitate engagement between stakeholders. Could be WASP Seed Specialists

ASIWA Rationale: Shared Values between

Development and Private Sector

Proposed ASIWA Functions

• Provide a point of engagement for seed stakeholders for seed sector development Consultation, coordination, and collaborative troubleshooting

• Capture synergies between national and regional seed development initiatives

• Increase involvement of the private sector in seed development efforts

Convening Point for Seed

Stakeholders

• Platform to exchange and disseminate ideas, experience, best practices in seed development, possibly within context of a Community of Practice

• Drive coordinated analysis and activities supporting seed development across West Africa

Communications

• Coordinate advocacy to accelerate harmonization of regional seed policies and facilitate cross-border seed trade

• Increase involvement of the private sector in regional policy dialoguesPolicy Advocacy

• Build regional seed quality to ensure quality of seed, build confidence in the seed sector and give farmers protection and recourse

• Platform for quality control and self-regulation by private sector seed tradeSeed Quality

• Develop technical, credit and market solutions involving multiple stakeholders to increase utilization of improved seeds by farmers

• Incubate the development of local businesses, including farmer associations

• Facilitate investment and credit to expand/strengthen seed production and supply

Market Facilitation/Industry Development

Regional Umbrella Platform

• Serve as communications hub in knowledge sharing and capturing synergies and lessons of seed development program, possibly lead Community of Practice.

• Serve as convening point for regional seed development dialogue and advocacy

• Coordinate activities with and amongst national affiliates and working groups

• Umbrella organization with members and partners from throughout West Africa

• Reports to steering committee of “Champions” from seed sector, including robust representation across private seed sector and end market buyers

• ASIWA Director – Commercially and results-oriented; able to build and maintain relationships with a cross-section of regional seed players; able to be broker and thought leader for seed sector

• WASIX Coordinator – Experience in communications strategies; ability to develop, promote and maintain a network of stakeholders sharing knowledge and experience

National Affiliates

• Convening point for discussion and advocacy on seed policies (including regional harmonization), seed certification (could be linked with WASC/COAsem) and issues related to quality of seeds

• Convening point for market facilitation and industry development, linkages within seed chain and linkages between commercial sector and research

• Involving national private sector (seed companies, NTSAs, agro dealers, seed users, grain end buyers, finance), government and research partners

• Dynamic NSTAs could serve as national affiliates (one and same?)

• Country Representatives – Commercially-oriented, agriculture experience; able to broker/facilitate engagement between stakeholders. Could be WASP Seed Specialists

Initiative-based Working Groups

• Enable interactions between interested public, private, donor stakeholders around specific challenges and opportunities in seed sector development

• Could develop own initiatives and approach development partners for initiative-based funding.

• Involving and led-by stakeholders with vested interest or clear contribution towards objective, coordinated by regional ASIWA management unit as needed

• Depending on funding, focus of working group, and alignment for donor programs, could involve coordinators to facilitate working group activities (including existing WASP staff)

• NOT designed to be a new governing body or structure, but focused on bringing interested parties together to jointly solve problems.

Proposed Working Groups

• Clearinghouse for information and analysis related to seed sector development

• Community of Practice to facilitate exchange of ideas, experience, best practices between stakeholders

• Gathering and disseminating information on seed demand across markets

• Analyses on seed markets, seed market development, lessons learned, best practices, etc.

• Information exchange for other working groups

• Potential to complement seed certification efforts to be carried out by West Africa Seed Committee (WASC)

• Consultative group for long-term efforts to enhance private sector role in production and certification of quality, certified seeds

• Serve observatory function to collect and share information on poor quality seeds

• Could be linked to Market Facilitation and Investment Solutions Group

Proposed Working Groups

• Venue for private sector engagement and feedback in ongoing regional policy harmonization efforts, with focus on increasing private sector engagement in dialogue

• Serves as observatory on seed policy harmonization at national level, to identify gaps, non-compliance, and/or press positive movement

• Facilitate relationships to create technical, commercial, financial solutions

• Expand role of private sector in seed production/supply

• Incubate private seed businesses

• Examples:

• Credit solutions for farmers

• Credit solutions for emerging seed businesses (working capital, investment in production, cleaning, storage)

• Assistance to emerging seed businesses (including farmer associations)

• Work with other input providers to develop technical packages

• Integrate ICT into seed distribution

National stakeholders workshops

Dakar, ASIWA workshop

Bamako, ASIWA Worshop

Ghana, ASIWA WorkshopBenin, ASIWA workshop

Private Sector Stakeholder Map

Private Seed Industry

Local seed companies

NSTAs

International Seed Companies

Agro-dealers

Private Seed Users

Small-holder and Commercial Farmers

Farmer-based Organizations and Federations

End-Markets National grain traders and buyers

National and regional agro-processors

Other Private Seed Stakeholders

Input suppliers (e.g. fertilizers, crop protection, technology)

Financial Service Providers (e.g. banks, impact funds, equity funds, insurance companies)

Private Sector Interests under ASIWA

Stakeholders Motivations Alignment with ASIWA

Private Seed

Industry

• Market growth through increased

demand

• Ability to grow markets through

regional seed exports, sales of

new seed varieties

• Reliable access to quality

breeder/foundation seed

• Upgrade production capacity

through investment

• Removal of poor quality and

counterfeit seeds from markets

• Increased farmer demand for improved

seeds

• Increased ability of farmers to

procure/use improved seeds

• Increased credibility and confidence in

seed supply

• Expanded access to financial and

technical support to grow

• Enhanced adoption/implementation of

harmonized seed policies

• Strengthened linkages within seed

industry

Private Seed

Users

• Increase production and incomes

through higher yields

• Links to stable grain markets

• Minimize production/market risk

• Gaining access to more seed

varieties

• Reduce poor quality and

counterfeit seeds in market

• Initiatives and policies that assure

availability of quality seeds

• Expanded access to credit to purchase

quality seeds,

• Expanded access to extension services

to optimize seed yields

• Strengthened links to broader grain

supply chain

Private Sector Interests under ASIWA

Stakeholders Motivations Alignment with ASIWA

End Markets • Increased market share and

profits through increased

production

• Securing reliable/consistent

sources of raw inputs

• Reducing currency, policy risk

through expanded local

procurement

• Overall improvements in national and

regional seed markets and policies to

ensure seed users have access to seeds

needed to enhance yield and production

of selected grain varieties.

• Development of credit solutions and

technical solutions to strengthen grain

supply chains

Other Input

Suppliers

• Growing markets through

complete input and crop

protection packages

• Increasing demand for high

quality inputs.

• Enhanced farmers’ confidence in quality

input supply

• Development of credit solutions to enable

procurement of higher quality seeds

• Improving farmers’ access to extension

services to ensure customers’ high yields

Financial Service

Providers

• Increasing market share by

expanding in new sectors/

customers while managing

risk

• Investments in high

potential/high growth sectors

such as agriculture.

• Development of credit solutions for seed

enterprises and seed users

• Development of credit

enhancement/guarantee programs to

support financing in agriculture and seed

sector.

Role of Private Sector Champions

• Private sector oriented stakeholders with the influence, credibility and interest needed to attract a critical mass of seed stakeholders to ASIWA

• Able and willing to contribute human and financial resources to the operations and success of ASIWA

• Stakeholders in seed industry and agriculture sector active and present in majority of West African markets

• Could include international seed companies, large grain buyers and regional farmer organizations

• Stakeholders with vested interest in seed sector development in national market and motivation and credibility to help convene others and ‘make things happen’

• Can include leading seed companies, NSTAs, farmer groups, grain buyers, processors, and regional champions.

Establishing ASIWA Steering Committee

• Provide strategic oversight, direction and guidance

• Ensure shared value in alliance activities

• Play leading or active role in working group initiatives

• National and Regional Private Sector Champions

• Intergovernmental organizations

• NGOs and development partners

• Finding balance to ensure private sector orientation

• Balance on effectiveness and efficiency versus protocol

Relationships with other programs and

initiatives

West Africa Seed Committee (also WASP program)

Africa Seed Trade Association (AFSTA)

Africa Seed Network (ASN)

FAO

AGRA (Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa)

West Africa Agricultural Productivity Program

West Africa Fertilizer Program (IFDC-WAFP).

West African Trade Hub Network

Syngenta Foundation

Monsanto

Ingredients of Successful Alliances

Clearly defined objectives & expectations based on shared value

Ability to deliver added value to partners’ core operations & interests

Robust ownership by stakeholders (limited reliance on donors)

Clear lines of communications among partners

Clear sustainability plan from start

Strive balance between protocol and efficiency

THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION AND FOR YOUR IN TO THE SEED ALLIANCE EN WEST AFRICA

ASIWA

ROPPA

AFSTA

UPV

FAOUSAID

BADAGRA

AFRICA RICE

CGIAR

CILSS

UEMOA

CEDEAOCORAF

Banque Mondiale

HUB RURAL CTA

syngenta

AGRAIFDC

Africa Seed

Monsanto