Training for Post Harvest Loss (PHL) Reduction

More than 30% of the world’s food is lost between the field and the plate, which threatens food security. PHL have been addressed in almost all country packages of the Green Innovation Centers. In 2020, a so-called “PHL Booster” has been launched in 8 country packages targeting various value chains. Women play a major role in post-harvest activities and are specifically targeted. The post-harvest management (PHM) is generally part of training approaches on Good Agricultural Practices and Farmer Business School. However, specific training material has been elaborated in some countries. The training not only refers to technical solutions, but also assesses the perceptions of stakeholders along the whole value chain and identifies critical loss points to locate the most effective entry points for successful interventions.

The main implementing organizations are partners from the public and private sector and training centers in the countries.

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Kajiado County Natural Resource Network: Improved Planning, Awareness and Scale-Up of FLR among communities

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Farmer Field Schools demonstrating conservation agriculture with trees to scale up soil conservation

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System of rice intensification (SRI): A tool for enhancing the productivity of farmers and reducing the ecological footprint in the rice sector

SRI provides an agroecological and climate-smart solution by using less seed, water and fertilizer on soil that is rich in organic matter. SRI is grounded in four fundamental principles, which include promoting a rapid and healthy establishment of young plants, reducing competition among rice plants, creating fertile soils abundant in organic matter, and carefully managing water to avoid flooding and water stress, ensuring the optimal development of plants. To implement SRI, the Green Innovation Centers have developed, jointly with their partners, a cascade training strategy to disseminate the approach on a large scale. The experts train lead farmers, who supervise one or several groups of 20 to 30 producers each. Training involves practical comparison tests to demonstrate SRI in parallel to the conventional system. SRI involves six practices, ranging from land preparation and transplanting of seedlings to using organic fertilizer, weeding and harrowing, as well as irrigation management.

SME Training and Coaching Loop to support small and medium enterprises

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More information and training material is available on the website of the International SME Loop Association e.V. (sme-loop.com).

SME Training and Coaching Loop

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This project is part of the IUCN Save Our Species African Wildlife initiative, which is co-funded by the European Union

Farmer business school (FBS): Entrepreneurship training to understand agriculture as a business.

Micro, small, and medium agribusiness enterprises provide incomes, jobs and feed the growing population. However, entrepreneurship, despite its importance to empower farmers for business and equitable participation in sustainable economic growth, remains a marginalized field. The FBS approach has been developed by GIZ in 2010 together with partners and with the support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) as well as the World Cocoa Foundation. FBS training strengthens agricultural smallholders’ business skills for more income from diversified production. During five subsequent morning sessions, male and female producers discover that agriculture

is business and how to improve it. Different public and/or private stakeholders pool resources to implement FBS training. By doing so they reduce risks of business and open access to a wider range of services and new business opportunities. In practice, FBS complements agricultural extension and financial services.

Adapting to climate change: Innovative techniques in the smallholder aquaculture sector

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Gender transformative approach to promote women in fisheries and aquaculture

The Global Programme Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The aim of the programme is an increase of fish supply from sustainable and resource-friendly fisheries and aquaculture to boost a healthy and diverse nutrition. Sustainable production and processing techniques are promoted along the value chain in order to create jobs and income, with a special focus on youths and women. Local organisations are strengthened in their capacities to carry on programme interventions on a long-term basis. And policy advice is contributing to favourable framework conditions for a sustainable development of these sectors.

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Saving the lions of the Mpem-Djim National Park, Center Cameroon

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From bare to cover: Kasale Community roll up sleeves to dress up the deforested Mvai Forest Reserve

In Ntcheu District, Malawi, a Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) project, supported by FAO, IUCN, WRI, GIZ and funded by BMUV, empowers local communities to conserve Mpira Dam Catchment. The catchment is essential for the ‘life ‘of Mpira Dam which is source of drinking water for Ntcheu as well as surrounding Districts. The catchment is source of rivers that feed into Mpira Dam. Mpira Catchment also harbors the famous Mvai Forest Reserve. The reserve is 5600 ha. The reserve is divided into five blocks for ease of management. However, the blocks got deforested through unsustainable practices such as charcoal making and farming. Through the Forest Landscape Restoration under the Alliance for the Restoration of Ecosystems and Landscapes in Africa AREECA, the blocks committees and surrounding communities were strengthened to manage the reserve at block level through natural regeneration. One such block is the Kasale community who embarked on a journey to conserve the Kasale Block of 1400 ha.

Multi-Stakeholder Engagement for Improved Management of the Mvai Forest Reserve in Ntcheu District, Malawi

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