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FARM-Africa appoints new Chief Executive

FARM-Africa has appointed Nigel Harris as its new Chief Executive Officer. Nigel is currently Chief of Staff at Save the Children UK and has a strong background in finance, relief and development.  Previously, he was the chief executive of New Philanthropy Capital, and has also worked for Tearfund and the Department for International Development. He spent the earlier part of his career as an investment banker for Schroders.

Nigel will join FARM-Africa on 1^st March 2011, taking over from the current Chief Executive Dr Christie Peacock who will become the Chair of FARM-Africa’s new social enterprise, the first livestock service franchise based in Kenya.  

Nigel Harris said “I am excited to join FARM-Africa at this crucial period in its work of improving agricultural production, food security and eliminating rural poverty. I look forward to working alongside the staff and Board of Trustees to enable farmers to access a sustainable, viable and secure livelihood and to improve the lives of the rural poor in Africa”

Martin Evans, Chairman of FARM-Africa said, “Nigel brings an enormous wealth of leadership and private sector and NGO experience with him to FARM-Africa.  The Board of Trustees and staff of FARM-Africa are delighted to welcome him into our organisation and we look forward to him taking FARM-Africa forward at this time of great opportunity for us.”

About FARM-Africa:

For over two decades, FARM-Africa has worked to develop and test innovative agricultural solutions to poverty. Founded and rooted in Africa, it has always worked at the grassroots, in partnership with farmers and herders to help to lift families out of rural poverty and offer them hope and dignity for the future ahead. For more information on FARM-Africa please visit www.farmafrica.org.uk or contact Ngaio Bowthorpe on +44 (0) 20 7067 1252 or by email on ngaiob@farmafrica.org.uk.  

Help FARM-Africa to mark World Food Day

In 2009 FARM-Africa helped over four million people to build pathways out of poverty. This year’s UN World Food Day is calling on people around the world to unite against hunger. FARM-Africa is asking our supporters to tell us how they think we can best tackle hunger. FARM-Africa believes that farming is the best way to end hunger. Why don't you let us know your thoughts?

Half Marathon success in Cardiff!

Our fantastic supporter Simon has raised almost £400 by running the Cardiff Half Marathon and hopes to raise more for us in the future! To find out how you can get involved with fundraising for FARM-Africa click here.

Make DOUBLE the difference today!

Give a gift to FARM-Africa today and you can make double the difference to some of Africa's poorest communities. This Christmas FARM-Africa is taking part in the ‘The Big Give Christmas Challenge' and from 10.00am – TODAY – December 10th every pound you give will be doubled UNTIL the matched giving fund runs out. So don't delay, donate now.

FARM-Africa proposes a new agricultural fund at the Clinton Global Initiative

FARM-Africa, an international non-governmental organization working with African farmers, is presenting the Maendeleo Agricultural Enterprise Fund as a Commitment to Action at the Annual Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative in New York this week.

 The Fund will seek to provide grants to consortia of local partners to support small-scale agricultural producers to incubate innovation, access new technologies, skills, and inputs, add value to their produce, and link to profitable markets. Aiming to fund around 48 projects over five years, the Fund will benefit 96,000 farmers directly, enabling them to move beyond subsistence production and build sustainable enterprises. FARM-Africa will also seek investment to scale up successful projects, to reach more than 3 million people.

FARM-Africa has previous experience in managing such an initiative. The Maendeleo Agricultural Technology Fund started in 2002 in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and supported small-scale agricultural producers. Results were impressive; for every dollar spent, the return on investment in terms of increased farmers' income was between $1.30 and $24.67 and increases in crop yields were as high as 400 percent. More than 900,000 people benefited from the initiative. The new Fund will aim to build on this success by expanding the geographical remit and introducing new and more flexible funding mechanisms to embrace a wider range of both applicants and donor-investors.

Dr. Christie Peacock, Chief Executive of FARM-Africa said, “Our previous work has shown that with just a little investment, subsistence farmers in Africa can benefit from improved food security and better household incomes. FARM-Africa is delighted to be given this opportunity to showcase our work at such an eclectic and influential gathering and we hope that the current unprecedented interest in the potential of smallholder farmers from partners, donors, investors, and corporations can translate into real commitment and tangible results through our work.”

ENDS 

Notes to editors:

About FARM-Africa: FARM-Africa is an organization that passionately believes in the potential of Africa’s farmers to break the cycles of hunger, poverty and misery that have encumbered the continent for too long. For over two decades, we have worked hard to develop and test innovative agricultural solutions to poverty. Founded and rooted in Africa, we have always worked at the grassroots, in partnership with farmers and herders, on the plots, plains, forests and farms that make up the continent’s diverse rural economy. We strive to make a big impact through being dynamic, innovative and ambitious. We have seen our models adopted by governments, NGOs, and donors. Above all, we have seen them lift families out of rural poverty and offer them hope and dignity for the future ahead. For more information on FARM-Africa visit www.farmafrica.org.uk or contact Ngaio Bowthorpe on +44 (0) 20 7067 1252 or by email on ngaiob@farmafrica.org.uk. For more information on FARM-Africa’s previous initiative, the Maendeleo Agricultural Technology Fund, please visit http://www.maendeleo-atf.org or contact Ngaio Bowthorpe via the above contact details.

About the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI): Established in 2005 by President Bill Clinton, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI Annual Meetings have brought together more than 125 current and former heads of state, 15 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, hundreds of leading CEOs, heads of foundations, major philanthropists, directors of the most effective nongovernmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made more than 1,700 commitments valued at $57 billion, which have already improved the lives of 220 million people in more than 170 countries. The 2010 CGI Annual Meeting will take place from September 20-23, 2010, in New York City. The CGI community also includes CGI University (CGI U), a forum to engage college students in global citizenship, MyCommitment.org, an online portal where anybody can make a Commitment to Action, and CGI Lead, which engages a select group of young leaders from business, government, and civil society. For more information, visit http://www.clintonglobalinitiative.org/

‘Maendeleo’ is a Swahili word that means ‘development’.

A photograph of Dr. Christie Peacock is available on request.

An interview with Dr. Christie Peacock is available on request.

Major support for FARM-Africa

FARM-Africa had the privilege of welcoming The Right Honourable Sir John Major KG CH to host an exclusive private dinner for supporters at the historic Fishmongers’ Hall in London this week.

At the sparkling event, Sir John spoke to a select audience about his early career in banking in Nigeria and how this inspired his life-long love of Africa.  During his talk, Sir John described his positive view of Africa’s future, given the dynamism and potential of the Continent and its people.

Sir John said, “I wish to pay tribute to FARM-Africa.  It works to help African communities feed themselves and then become small businesses.  Charity can feed a man, but wise charity helps him to feed himself, sell his surplus to his neighbours – and then more widely.”

Sir John was Prime Minister from 1990-1997.

Photo by Theodore Wood

The Guardian launches new development website

The Guardian has launched a new website in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation this week to help focus the world’s attention on global development.  One key aim is to follow and monitor global progress towards the millennium development goals. The website features articles from some of the Guardian’s finest development journalists, together with blogs and opinions from some of the world’s leading development experts, including Dr Christie Peacock, Chief Executive of FARM-Africa.

New report showcases practical approaches to improve livelihoods for Africa’s smallholder farmers

On the back of recent international initiatives to improve global food security, a new report released by the African Smallholder Farmers’ Group (ASFG) focuses attention on ways to increase food security in Africa by improving the livelihoods of Africa’s largely neglected smallholder farmers.  

The report, Africa’s Smallholder Farmers: Approaches that Work for Viable Livelihoods, presents nine case studies of successful approaches from across Africa which have increased access to decision-making, assets, markets, science, knowledge and technology for smallholder farmers.

It illustrates how historical donor neglect has marginalised smallholder farmers, describes how the food and climate crises have spurred on new initiatives to address the needs of these communities and assesses how these initiatives can transform the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Africa.

The report recommends the need for the UK Government to make a commitment to increase the amount of aid for African smallholders, and to focus agricultural aid allocations on areas with the greatest potential to support small-scale farming systems. These areas include soil and water conservation, climate and disaster risk reduction, strengthening extension systems, and research that can address the needs of vulnerable farmers.

The report also highlights the need for increased provision of support for agriculture across all UK Department for International Development (DFID) country programmes.

Dr. Darren Evans, Head of Policy and Campaigns, Concern Worldwide UK said:

 “With the flurry of international political and institutional activity around the food crises of 2008 it is so easy to forget the people at the frontline - smallholder farmers, often women-headed households.  This report shows us that with the right support, smallholder farmers have the potential to be highly productive, which can help solve the food and economic needs of their families and their local community.”

Dr. Christie Peacock, CEO of FARM-Africa said, “It looks like the donor community and national governments have given up on smallholders- there's no hope and it's pointless investing in them. What we're saying is this is not true.”

Dr. Dan Taylor, Director, Find Your Feet said, “With the new UK Government’s publicly stated commitment to international development, this report provides a timely reminder of the critical role of agriculture in reducing poverty and hunger, and the importance of listening to the voices of African smallholder farmers.”

Andrew Scott, Director, Policy and Programmes, Practical Action added, "This report is a timely reminder that investment in African agriculture is vital. But in order to provide long-term, sustainable solutions to hunger and poverty, the right kind of support is required. Africa’s main food providers, smallholder farmers, need to be at the heart of African agricultural development."

Ray Jordan, CEO, Self Help Africa commented, “This report is an excellent example of collaboration between NGOs - it brings together our collective experience and illustrates with practical examples ways to tackle hunger. The African Smallholder Farmers Group provides a platform to draw attention to the challenges and opportunities that rural African farmers face.” 

Finally, Martin Geake, CEO, Send a Cow said, “This report makes a timely and unequivocal case for the importance of agriculture in poverty and hunger reduction. With the right help and support, we know that poor rural farmers in Africa can be empowered to grow food, protect their land against a challenging climate and develop viable livelihoods. The time is right for the new coalition government to change the face of agricultural aid and enable successful programmes to be scaled up.”

The report is available to download here 

Notes

The African Smallholder Farmers Group is a network of NGOs who are committed to creating an enabling environment for marginalised farmers across Africa.

Members of The African Smallholder Farmers Group include:

Action Aid, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide UK, FARM-Africa, Find Your Feet, Practical Action, Self Help Africa and Send a Cow.

UN Global Compact Leaders Summit 2010

The UN Global Compact Leaders Summit is currently taking place in New York.  In his statement Alan Duncan, Minister of State for International Development highlights FARM-Africa’s planned work with SABMiller to help farmers in Southern Sudan to move from subsistence to commercial farming as an example of how businesses can contribute to the Millennium Development Goals. Click here to read his statement in full.

Watch the FARM-Africa AGM Panel discussion

An energetic panel discussion on the role of enterprise based agriculture in Africa was chaired by Madeleine Bunting, Associate Editor of the Guardian. Kurt Hoffman, Director, TransFarm Africa, Stephen Nairne, Managing Director of Lundin for Africa, Dr Christie Peacock, CEO of FARM-Africa and Dr Martin Evans, Chairman of FARM-Africa took part in the discussion that was broadcast live to the International Fund for Agricultural Development in Rome.

FARM-Africa’s AGM focuses on empowering rural entrepreneurs

FARM-Africa stakeholders and supporters gathered at the offices of Hogan Lovells in London this week to learn about the progress that FARM-Africa is making in transforming farmers in eastern Africa into rural entrepreneurs.

Expert staff from the UK and Kenya presented on the impact of FARM-Africa’s work linking communities to the private sector and markets for their produce.

An energetic panel discussion on the role of enterprise based agriculture in Africa was chaired by Madeleine Bunting, Associate Editor of the Guardian. Koome Imathiu, Vice President, Helios Investments, Kurt Hoffman, Director, TransFarm Africa, Stephen Nairne, Managing Director of Lundin for Africa, Dr Christie Peacock, CEO of FARM-Africa and Dr Martin Evans, Chairman of FARM-Africa took part in the discussion that was broadcast live to the International Fund for Agricultural Development in Rome.

You can learn more about FARM-Africa’s work over the last year by downloading the 2009/2010 Annual Review here.

London Marathon 2010

 A huge thank you to the amazing people who ran the Virgin London Marathon in aid of FARM-Africa yesterday. The running team, who overcame a huge physical and mental challenge to complete the run, are expecting to raise over £25,000 between them to improve the lives of farmers in eastern Africa.

 FARM-Africa was fortunate to have a large number of supporters who lined the route to cheer our intrepid runners on in the sunshine and rain. Thank you to the people who made the marathon such a success.

 If you are interested in running the marathon for FARM-Africa in 2011 please click here.

FARM-Africa backs campaign to make this election count for the world’s poor

As a great many new MPs are likely to be elected at the upcoming election, it is up to us to convince them that world poverty and climate change are issues worth addressing. The Vote Global manifesto, launched on World Poverty Day, is packed with ideas for the next government to solve these issues.

It has five sections: More and better aid and debt relief, Tackling climate change, Making the global economy work for the poor, Good governance and addressing corruption, and Responding to conflict situations. 

Each of the political parties fighting the forthcoming election has a duty to work in the interests of the most vulnerable in our global society. We all have a responsibility to make sure they do. We all have an important duty to make sure that the UK plays a direct role in tackling global poverty.

Click here to learn more and read the manifesto

New independent journal 'World Agriculture' launched in London

Global embassies converged in London last week for the launch of the independent journal World Agriculture, a peer-reviewed, completely independent, non-profit, journal, which will explore scientific, economic and social evidence concerning agriculture and its interaction with forestry, climate change, population growth, migration, disease and ecology.

Editorial board member Dr Christie Peacock, a Tropical Agriculturalist and Chief Executive of FARM-Africa welcomed the launch of World Agriculture; ‘It is a timely publication and I have every confidence that this independent journal will be a source of scientifically sound information, sensitive to current evidence on important agricultural issues. World Agriculture will be able to play a role in guiding the actions of policy-makers and practitioners alike.”

Embassies and High Commissions from South Africa, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Denmark, Canada, the US, Argentina and Ecuador among others, are already are pledging their support for and interest in the Journal. The World Bank has also offered distribution support from its 15 centres located around the world. 

Chairman of the Editorial Board, Professor Sir Colin Spedding, explains: "World Agriculture is not yet another specialist journal. It will provide policy makers and advisors, particularly in developing countries, with unbiased assessments of the impact of new technology, population and climate change on the development of world agriculture."

Click here to view the journal online

FARM-Africa celebrates World Water Day

Access to water is critical in helping farmers to grow more food and improve their livelihoods. FARM-Africa works with farmers across eastern Africa to meet their needs for water for drinking, food preparation and farming. At a time when much of eastern Africa has experienced periods of unreliable rainfall and drought, there is a great need to work with farmers to find coping strategies to deal with water insecurity.  Especially since this insecurity often creates tensions in communities.

FARM-Africa is currently working with pastoralist communities in drought prone Moyale, northern Kenya, to reduce extreme poverty by providing access to sustainable water sources. These pastoralist communities have insufficient water for their households or livestock and are highly vulnerable to drought induced poverty and conflict over scarce resources.  

The project will be working in eight locations elected by the local community and will help provide 19,500 people with access to sustainable water sources through the rehabilitation of shallow wells, the construction of roof catchments for rainwater harvesting and the construction of underground tanks for storage. The community will take full control of the project during its lifetime, learning how to maintain these life changing water points.

World Water Day has been launched to help focus attention on the need for water and its sustainable management.

Band Aid

FARM-Africa is grateful for Band Aid’s significant support in helping to achieve our mission to reduce poverty for African farmers, herders and forest communities. With the support of our donors FARM-Africa has been able to improve the lives of thousands of farmers in eastern Africa over the last 25 years.

Currently Band Aid’s support is helping our work to reduce the poverty of Ethiopia’s pastoralists who are some of the most economically and politically marginalised populations in the world. The Ethiopian pastoralist project is working with 15,500 people to improve their household assets, food security and access to water.

FARM-Africa has robust systems in place for financial reporting and auditing of how donations are spent. Our donors give to FARM-Africa safe in the knowledge that their money is spent to make a sustainable difference to the lives of farmers in eastern Africa.

Highlands and Pridelands Ball a roaring success

The third Highlands and Pridelands Ball in aid of FARM-Africa took place in Edinburgh on the 5th February.  Guests arrived at the prestigious Assembly Rooms to the sound of Scottish bagpipes and African drumming, and after a champagne reception they moved into the dining room to the sounds of the Zawadi African Women’s Choir. 

A highlight of the evening was a talk given by Kate Adie OBE about her agricultural experiences in Africa.  Humorous and poignant in equal measure, Ms Adie spoke about FARM-Africa’s Dairy Goat Project in Kenya, describing how the goats provided to farmers on credit have begun a “micro-revolution that grows onwards and outwards.”  As well as providing a much needed source of nutrition and income to families, goats are a symbol of value and status in the community.  Ms Adie recalled a delighted farmer saying that he had spoken to his neighbours for the first time in several years, now that he was able to offer them goat milk as a crucial part of his hospitality. 

Over 40 lots were auctioned during the evening with highlights including a week-long break at a Victorian Castle located on the Indian Ocean coast of South Africa, a pair of limited edition Rossignol Olympic 41 skis, roe deer stalking and salmon and trout fishing trips.  The Grand Raffle prize was a six-day Kenyan safari and beach holiday for two with all flights included.

Yet again, the Ball proved the Scottish farming community’s unstinting support of rural farmers in eastern Africa.  We would like to say a very heartfelt thank you to all those who attended the Ball and who have supported our work so generously through this event.

Kofi Annan interview - final instalment

In the final part of our exclusive interview with Kofi Annan, he reveals his greatest achievement while at the UN and talks about the importance of putting the human being at the centre of decision making.  Audio footage not to be missed! Picture by Theo Woods.

Part Four - Greatest achievement while at the UN

Part Three - African Food Security

Part Two - life growing up in Ghana

Part One - Experiences of early life

Picture by Theo Woods

Why No Thought for Food?

The culmination of a nine month inquiry evaluating the UK’s current contribution to global food security, in which FARM-Africa’s Chief Executive was a witness, has been published by The All Party Parliamentary Group on Agriculture and Food for Development. “Why No Thought for Food?” was presented in Westminster by the co-Chair of the group David Curry MP and was discussed by Olivier De Schutter, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food and Geoff Tansey, Joseph Rowntree Foundation Visionary and Author in front of a packed audience.

The report examines the prospects of achieving global food security by 2050 and evaluates the UK’s current contribution to meeting this. The report took evidence from a large number of expert witnesses.

FARM-Africa is a founding member of the parliamentary group. The report can be downloaded

Improving access to clean, safe water in Southern Sudan

As part of our project in Southern Sudan, FARM-Africa is continuing to give people, like those in Ajiek Village, improved access to clean, safe water by drilling new boreholes and rehabilitating old ones. Since the start of the project, FARM-Africa has provided over 9,200 households with access to water.

At the end of 2009, FARM-Africa rehabilitated a borehole in Ajiek Village, giving an estimated 120 households a local source of water.

“Before this borehole was drilled in our village by FARM-Africa, every day we had to walk distance not less than three hours one way to get water. We couldn’t carry more than 20 litres of water each, so water was restricted for cooking and drinking only.” Ajonk Makog

Since people no longer have to make the six hour round trip to collect water, children are able to spend more time at school and adults have more time to work and earn an income. People in the village can now make several trips a day to the borehole, giving them enough water to irrigate their crops.

As well as rehabilitating old boreholes, FARM-Africa has also drilled six new boreholes, providing 1,500 households with access to a water point.

Since the beginning of the project, 31 pump mechanics have received training to ensure that the new and rehabilitated water points do not fall into disrepair. This month, the pump mechanics will receive training to refresh their skills.

Ajonk Makog

Highlands and Pridelands Ball

Kate Adie OBE, a long standing supporter of FARM-Africa’s work, will be the guest of honour at this year’s much anticipated third Highlands and Pridelands Ball in aid of FARM-Africa, which takes place in Edinburgh this Friday.

The ball, a must on Edinburgh’s social calendar, will take place in the Assembly Rooms where a select audience will hear Kate Adie share her experiences of reporting from Africa and her personal experience visiting FARM-Africa’s work in Kenya.

The event is organised by a committee of young farmers and young professionals with rural backgrounds.  Guests will be part of a sumptuous evening combining Scottish and African entertainment. There will also be a fabulous auction of donated lots, including a week-long break at a Victorian Castle located on the Indian Ocean coast of South Africa, fishing on the river Tweed and afternoon tea in the late Queen Mother’s private sitting room at the Castle of Mey.