Expanding Horizons
Meeting the challenges ahead
Nearly half of all the people in Sub-Saharan Africa live in 'absolute poverty', or on less than
60 pence a day. On present trends, the Millennium Development Goal set by the United
Nations - halving both the number of people living in absolute poverty and those suffering
from hunger - will not be met by 2015.
The World Bank forecasts that the number of'absolute poor will actually increase between now and 2015.
To avert this disaster, development in sub-Saharan Africa must occur in rural areas, where three-quarters
of the world's poorest people live.
Grassroots innovation
Our grassroots programmes will contribute to the development of these areas by working directly with rural
farmers. We will continue to explore innovative approaches and run practical projects that will improve
their lives.
In pastoral development, we will improve people's ability to survive droughts by enabling pastoralists to
capitalise on favourable years through improved access to markets and diversification to minimise risk.
In Community Forest Management, our aim is to save Africa's forests by demonstrating to a wide range of
policymakers and practitioners alike that local communities are the best managers of this valuable asset.
New profitable enterprises need to be tested to show that it is viable to live off a sustainably-managed
forest combined with other businesses.
In our Smallholder Development projects, we need to ensure that farmers and their families become self-sufficient
and are able to withstand drought so they are no longer reliant on food aid.
Building on past successes in boosting production, a new emphasis will be placed on sharpening farmers' market focus,
improving market links and adding value to basic commodities like milk by making products such as cheese.
There is still much to do to ensure that farm inputs and services, such as credit and insurance, are delivered in a
financially viable way to even the most remote farmer or livestock keeper.
"I think Michael would be very gratified but not surprised. He believed in achievement and would have been delighted."
Lady Susan Wood (widow of Sir Michael Wood),
on the success of FARM-Africa
Reaching more people
Our Training and Advisory Units (TAUs) enable us to take our innovations beyond project sites, helping us to impact on
millions rather than thousands of people.
The units take the valuable experience that we have acquired and share it by offering advice and training.
Organisations can apply our knowledge, multiplying the impact of our work The units take responsibility for
designing training modules so that they can pass on the knowledge gained from our projects.
They identify the most relevant people for training, such as government staff, other NGOs' field-based staff
and rural community leaders, who are all in a position to spread the innovations to other farmers in their area.
To increase the impact of our work, we will be publishing more material about what we do and developing our website
even further We will also be raising our profile, which will help to disseminate our work benefiting people beyond
the projects and countries where we operate.
FARM-Africa also recognises the profound impact of key issues on rural development, such as HIV and AIDS, gender
inequalities, emergencies and the resolution of conflict based on natural resources. We will incorporate these
issues into our plans wherever appropriate.
Saving lives in Sudan
This year, FARM-Africa has the opportunity to work in southern Sudan for the first time. Although we have wanted
to work there for many years, the civil war in the south, which began in the mid-80s, has prevented us. This war,
which is not to be confused with the recent atrocities in Darfur, displaced more than four million people. Without
land, people were unable to grow food or earn money - malnutrition and starvation became widespread.
A lack of investment in the south also means people have missed out on education and have no access to basic health
care services.There are no roads, bridges or permanent buildings.The 20th century has completely passed these people by.
Beginning the healing process
The signing of the peace agreement on 9 January 2005 gives us the chance to begin work. And with a new government
being set up in the south, there is a rare opportunity to influence the development of agricultural policy ensuring
it benefits people who depend on farming to survive.
FARM-Africa has expertise in many areas that can be directly applied to the current circumstances in southern Sudan
including animal health, livestock production, participatory research, forest management and capacity building of
farmer organisations. Although the larger land holdings and unusual potential for expansion of crop production
presents us with a different set of challenges, we look forward to working in this environment and will require
further support to fund our progress.
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