ICCO Interchurch organisation for development cooperation

1. ICCO Interchurch organisation for development cooperation Funding agency and development partner Based in Netherlands

2. Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) Programme Ghana-Liberia Programme Coordinator and CB advisor Jochem Schneemann based in Accra

3. RESULTS OF FEASIBILITY STUDY Dec 07- April 08 • Allanblackia parviflora and guttifera • Rough survey: indicates main areas with occurrence • Inventory in three counties - 19 villages  1700 trees (of which 520 fruiting) counted in 14 hrs walking • Poor infrastructure: roads, crushing facilities, tree nurseries etc

4. SUPPLY CHAIN TESTING Jan- April 2008 • Wild collection • gatherers  focal persons  supervisor(s) (SDI-SAMFU)  market provider (UNILEVER) • In 5 villages of 1 district (Zorzor) • 3,5 tons of seeds were bought • Price : US$ 0,15 (complaints) • Total income to farmers: US$ 525 (approx)

5. CONCLUSIONS TEST • Domestication –plantations are way to go • Price issue: How to make the chain more efficient so that more benefits can be paid to the farmer, in order to improve the livelihood of farmer-families ? • Start with small groups of farmers which need incentive to participate in first phase • Collaborate with others: e.g. Sustainable Tree Crop Programme

6. DECISION ICCO, Oct 2008 • ICCO is committed to start a demonstration project, if we can find two organisations that are willing and able to collaborate in the business development process. • ICCO’s contribution can be Euro 100,000 per year , for a first phase of 3 years. • ICCO has identified a number of conditions that need to be verified :

7. CONDITIONS ICCO FOR FIRST PHASE AB in LIBERIA, Oct 2008 • Involvement of SDI and SAMFU: agree on their role in the project • we can find the right business and other partners • Securing of additional funds • Aware of risks in terms of poor infrastructure , small initial volumes, and hence high initial transaction costs, and long interval to benefits

8. ELEMENTS OF FIRST PHASE(1) Note: needs much more discussion within and outside ICCO • Completion of survey and inventories • Use AB experience and knowledge from other other countries • learning: organise training & exchange programmes to/with other AB countries • Ensure collaboration: NARI, STCP, Business partner, NOVEL, SNV, SEND, etc • Agree on action plan and contributions of each • consider AB as one option in a range (other plant products, crops) • Farmer training schools/farmer business schools  farmers in position to make an informed decisions

9. ELEMENTS OF FIRST PHASE(2) • Domestication • Initiate research in: - selection, propagation, etc, - farming and crop systems (how does AB fit in FS?)- cost / benefit analysis • mixed RRCs with several tree species • Demonstration plots : in farmer’s field and in RRCs • Supply chain: awareness raising, training of collectors and focal persons , etc

10. CHALLENGES • to develop an action plan /proposal that will engage collaborators to agree on contribution and roles • Funding

11. YOUR ADVISE IS GOLDThank you for your attention