Work advances with a recent visit by the project manager and members of the team to the three niche partnerships. Further capacity building was arranged for November, and preparations are in full swing for the ‘marketplace event.

Visits to partnerships

Country programme manager Fátima do Nascimento and national innovation facilitator Lito visited the three CDAIS innovation niche partnerships between 16 and 20 October. They took the time to discuss progress in detail with all niche actors, and assessed progress, remaining challenges, and suggested how these could be overcome. And as part of this monitoring and evaluation, they also made a photographic record of activities. A final objective of each niche visit was to collected inputs and information to support preparations for the ‘marketplace, and to support niches in this preparation for the event.

In brief, it became clear that the rural entrepreneurship and the seed cooperative niche partnerships still require further support to improve the businesses plans that they had prepared earlier. Regarding the rice partnership, more farmers are expected to join soon, and this may require some changes to existing plans.

Further support to niches

Following identification of capacity needs by the seed cooperative, Fátima do Nascimento facilitated arrangements with the national Agronomic Research Institute (IIA) for experts to provide training on seed production technologies to produce seeds. This is planned for the second week of November, when IIA will also provide improved seeds.

CDIAS is also responding to the needs of the rice partnership by facilitating the involvement of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA). JICA will provide a one-day training course on rice production on 30 October, and deliver seed of improved rice varieties.

Marketplace preparation

Preparations for the marketplace event to be held at the end of November are in full swing. Niches are all aware of what to do and what to expect after the visits to each, and flyers and posters for each partnership to present in the marketplace are being prepared.

Featured image: Country project manager meets with Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to schedule technical assistance for the rice partnership.