Integrated Seed Systems Development Africa
Smallholders in Africa need access to affordable quality seeds of the best varieties, especially in fragile and conflict affected states. The phase 2 of the Integrated Seed Systems in Africa, a successful Swiss supported network of seed professionals, focuses on Seed Systems in the Humanitarian, Development, Peace-Nexus, aiming to strengthen resilience to shocks via the development and mainstreaming of state of-the-art tools, methodologies, and policies, adapted to fragile and conflict-affected states.
| Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Africa |
Agriculture & food security Humanitarian Assistance & DRR
Agricultural development
Emergency food assistance Agricultural services & market |
01.11.2023
- 31.10.2027 |
CHF 2’000’000
|
- International and African support units are functional and effective
- Action learning projects implemented and delivering results on seed sector development in the HDP-Nexus
- Policy dialogue facilitated using joint learnings on seed sector in the Nexus
- Consolidated a Community of Practice in the seed sector in Africa
- Elaborated a range of tools and methodologies on seed sector development widely recognised by seed actors
- Disseminated learnings on improved seed sector interventions and used in policy dialogue endorsed by the AU
- Other international or foreign NGO North
- Wageningen Centre for Development Innovation (WCDI)
-
Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation AGRICULTURE
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
AGRICULTURE
Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation Agricultural development
Emergency food aid
Agricultural services
Cross-cutting topics The project promotes biodiversity.
Crisis prevention
The project also supports partner organisation improvements
Aid Type Mandate without fiduciary fund
Project and programme contribution
Project number 7F10066
| Background | Multiple, overlapping climate and conflict crises are undermining development progresses, plunging millions of people back to poverty and hunger. This is particularly true in fragile contexts, and especially in sub-Saharan Africa hindering smallholder farmers to access high quality, affordable and diversified seed of locally adapted varieties. The result is lack of resilience to shocks, lower farm income, reduced food and nutrition security and loss of agrobiodiversity. Humanitarian, development and peace-building initiatives are mostly disconnected, without synergy and contradictory objectives. What is needed to strengthen seed systems are the development, operationalisation, scaling up and institutionalisation of Humanitarian, Development, and Peace (HDP) Nexus approaches that enables awareness and understanding, collaborative joint action and complementary investments. This will be the key focus of phase 2 of the ISSD Africa project. |
| Objectives |
Impact: smallholder farmers in fragile and conflict affected states have improved access to sufficient, high quality, affordable, diversified seed of locally adapted varieties farmers prefer, resulting in increased resilience, higher farm income, improved food and nutrition security and sustainable use of agrobiodiversity. The main objective of the ISSD Africa phase 2 project is to strengthen a Community of Practice (CoP) comprising humanitarian, development and peace stakeholders (HDP-Nexus), which is able to support, steer, and implement sustainable seed sector interventions particularly adapted to fragile and conflict-affected states in Africa. |
| Target groups |
Direct beneficiaries: HDP-Nexus partners working in the Seed Sector in Africa; African Governments and the African Union End beneficiaries: small-scale farmers in Africa and particularly women and youth benefitting from improved seed aid |
| Medium-term outcomes |
Outcome 1: An enabling structure for the effective facilitation of the CoP is operational and tailored to support the HDP-Nexus Outcome 2: An African-grown solution to boost the HDP-Nexus in the seed sector has been developed Outcome 3: The integration of ISSD Africa derived insights into HDP-Nexus seed sector interventions and policies are supported |
| Results |
Expected results: Results from previous phases: |
| Directorate/federal office responsible |
SDC |
| Project partners |
Contract partner International or foreign NGO |
| Coordination with other projects and actors |
The project is a synergetic collaboration between 15 seed system development projects with main partners: Mercy Corps, SeedSystem, USAID-BHA, FAO, CGIAR, IFDC, as well as indirect partners such as WFP, ICRC, etc. Linkages with SDC programs related to seeds and or food systems such as CROPS4HD, KIT, PROFISEM, MASAP, RLP, RAISE, SIRA, K-Rapid and actions of the Swiss Humanitarian Aid (ex. direct action in Ethiopia or others). |
| Budget | Current phase Swiss budget CHF 2’000’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF 959’500 Total project since first phase Swiss budget CHF 2’157’000 Budget inclusive project partner CHF 4’157’000 |
| Project phases | Phase 2 01.11.2023 - 31.10.2027 (Current phase) Phase 1 01.08.2018 - 28.02.2023 (Completed) |
