department of foreign affairs, trade &...

GREATER RURAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN (GROW)

Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade & Development

ANNUAL REPORT | April 2014 – March 2015

IMPROVED FOOD SECURITY IN NORTHERN GHANA

Creating business solutions to poverty

Prepared for

Agreement No. 7058473 | Project No. A-034587 | GLAcct/CC No. 52302/4254/0300 | Vendor No. 1000106

Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................................................................. 1

Work Breakdown Structure ................................................................................................. 4

Results and Outcomes .............................................................................................................. 8

Agriculture (including ICT) ..................................................................................................... 8

Market Linkages .................................................................................................................. 16

Provision of Business and Negotiation Skills Trainings ....................................................... 20

Financial Services ............................................................................................................... 22

Nutrition ............................................................................................................................... 28

Gender ................................................................................................................................ 29

Environment ........................................................................................................................ 31

Dry Season Activities .......................................................................................................... 32

KFP Capacity Building ............................................................................................................ 35

Collaboration (Government and Other) ................................................................................... 38

CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED AND RECOMMENDED ADJUSTMENTS ........................... 40

PROJECT MANAGEMENT ....................................................................................................... 41

Administration ......................................................................................................................... 41

Staffing .................................................................................................................................... 43

Financial Management ............................................................................................................ 43

M&E ........................................................................................................................................ 43

ATTACHMENTS 1. Performance Management Framework (PMF) 2. GROW Risk Register 3. Most Significant Change Story, Hawa Adams

Most Significant Change Story, Pia Robert

TABLES Table 1: Year 3 Targets vs. Results ........................................................................................................ 2 Table 2: Total Numbers of Women Enrolled, Communities and Groups Mobilized ................................. 8 Table 3 – Soybean Production per KFPs, 2014 Production Season ...................................................... 11 Table 4: Financial Service Providers and Linkages with KFP’s Women-Groups, 2014 Production

Season ..................................................................................................................................... 24 Table 5: Cost of Production; Self-Financing vs Credit- 2014 Production Season .................................. 24 Table 6: Linkages with Financial Service Providers, 2014 Production Season ...................................... 25 Table 7: Number of women farmers trained and actually producing vegetables .................................... 33

Greater Rural Opportunities for Women (GROW) Annual Report | April 2014–March 2015

CACU

Community Aid Credit Union

CAPECS

Center for the Alleviation of

Poverty, the Environment and

Child Support CARD

Community Aid for Rural Development

DFATD

Department of Foreign Affairs,

Trade and Development

GDO

Gender Desk Officer

GES

Ghana Education Service

GFP

Gender Focal Person

GHS

Ghana Health Service

GROW

Greater Rural Opportunities for

Women

GTZ

Gesellschaft fur Technishe

Zusammenarbeit

ICT

Information & Communications

Technology

IFDC

International Fertilizer Development Center

KFP

Key Facilitating Partner

M&E

Monitoring and Evaluation

MEDA

Mennonite Economic Development Associates

MFI

Microfinance Institution

MOFA

Ministry of Food and Agriculture

MOU

Memorandum of Understanding

MSC

Most Significant Change Story

OFSP

Orange Flesh Sweet Potato

PAC Project Advisory Committee

PBS Population –Based Baseline Survey

PRONET Professional Network Association

PRUDA Partnerships for Rural Development Action

SRB Sissala Rural Bank

RPCU Regional Planning Coordination Unit

TOT Training of Trainers

TUDRIDEP Tumu Deanery Rural Integrated

Development Programme

USAID

ADVANCE

United States Agency for

International Development

Agricultural Development and Value

Chain Enhancement project

USAID ATT United States Agency for

International Development

Agriculture Technology Transfer

project

VAD Vitamin A Deficiency

VSLA Village Saving and Loan Association

WBS Work Break-down Structure

WIAD Women in Agricultural Development

Acronym List 4


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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The goal of the Greater Rural Opportunities for Women (GROW) project is that 20,000 families in Northern Ghana have nutritious food throughout the year as women farmers increase agricultural production, strengthen their links to markets, diversify the food they produce and understand more about nutrition. The third year of project implementation has been very productive. The GROW team has been successful in carrying out the Year 3 Action Plan. Major highlights include:

GROW is now in 8 districts in Upper West Region and in 166 communities. 565 groups were organized with 14,254 women-farmers mobilized. For 2014 production season, 3,937 women-farmers out of 10,034 mobilized or 39% women

into soybean production. A total of 3,987.75 acres of land was cultivated for soybeans during the 2014 production

period. Total production cost was estimated at GHS639,118 with 76% self-finance and 24% came

from loans. 50% of the loans came from Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs), 14% from input suppliers, 13% from service providers, 12% from microfinance institutions and the rest from private lenders.

949.86 metric tons of soybeans were harvested in the 2014 production season. As of reporting period, 87.75 metric tons were sold for GHS125,615 (US$33,056). The rest of the harvest are used for household consumption or stored for future sale. The average costs of soybean is at GHS1,431 per metric ton or GHS143 per maxi-bag (100 kilograms).

During this dry season, 599 women went into vegetable gardening following dry-season gardening training.

Two GROW women were recognized at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture’s Farmer’s Day Awards in Upper West Region as Best Regional Woman Farmer and Best Regional Soybean Farmer. A further seven GROW women received official recognitions during Farmer’s Day events.

More than 90% of women farmers in CARD and CAPECS operational areas used zero/no-tillage in their soybeans production (following conservation agriculture approaches)

In collaboration with Dizzengoff, MEDA established one demonstration farm at Pulima (TUDRIDEP community) using a drip irrigation system to explore dry season soybeans production.

In partnership with Ghana Health Services, 26 KFP staff and 28 district nutrition officers received practical training on community infant and young child feeding (IYCF).

Mr. Baaru successfully launched his Soybean Processing Plant in Wa, Upper West to produce soy milk, tofu and yoghurt. Total sales since it opened in September 2014 is now at GHS6,000 and he realized an income of GHS2,400.


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Table 1: Year 3 Targets vs. Results

GROW team - both MEDA and KFPs, have successfully implemented the activities as outlined in the Year 3 Annual Plan. Necessary training and support on agriculture, financial services, marketing, nutrition, gender and dry season activities were provided during the period. KFPs were able to mobilize more groups and enrolled more women. The number of women planted in 2014 was only 39% and is expect to increase in the 2015 production season. Extra efforts were made during the 3rd and 4th quarter to re-introduce the GROW project in the communities and encourage more women to participate. Early planning was also emphasized with all the groups where crop budgeting exercise were done as early as the 4th quarter so linkages can already be made to input suppliers and service providers at the beginning of next year. The other activities organized during the period also provided assurance for the women that there is a growing market for soybeans and if they take this as a business opportunity, they would be able to earn more income than with other crops. They can also utilize soybeans to have nutritious foods for their families. The GROW Fair in each of the KFP communities was also one of the highlights of the GROW Project during the period. Awards were given to outstanding women and groups, this provided more inspiration for other members to do well and for other non-members to join GROW. We also got the support of local chiefs and district personnel when they heard how the project helped the women in their communities. The awarding of 2 of our women as regional awardees in Upper West Region was a big highlight together with other 7 district awarded among our GROW women. The introduction of VSLAs also strengthened the community mobilization process that our KFPs are doing leading to a stronger and more cohesive groups. All the women-groups were transformed into VSLAs during the period where they started their savings mobilization. Most of the groups are now ready to self-finance their production this coming 2015 production season. The piloting of Talking Book at PRUDA communities is a success. It lessened the workload of the KFP staff and women have more understanding on the messages being given to them during the training because they can also hear them in the Talking Book and they can repeat them whenever they want. Farmerline’s voice messaging service pilot was also a success for existing Lead Farmers. They were able to receive real-time messages that are helpful during production season as well as receive other important and on-time messages. There is a need to expand the service to new Lead Farmers so they can share the information to their members. Both of these ICT-pilot initiatives were successes that we signed another contract with them during the 4th quarter. As they implement their activities next year, they will also pilot ideas on how to make the services sustainable and affordable for the women-farmers.

Indicators Year 3 Targets Year 3 Results Variance

Women Enrolled 10000 14,254 4,254

Groups Organized 490 565 75

No. of Lead Farmers 385 565 180

Women Planted 4000 3,937 (63)

Linked to Extension Services 7300 6,731 (569)

Linked to Inputs 4000 5,849 1,849

Linked to Markets 4000 4,369 369

Linked to Financial Services 2000 5,199 3,199

No. of Women Trained in Nutrition 2500 7,740 5,240


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There is a need to strengthen relationships with input suppliers especially on the supply of seeds. During the 4th quarter, Lead Farmers have already started to get the number of women who will be planting for next season and the quantity of seeds that they need and the services that they would like to avail. They can collate all the requirements of the groups and send to input suppliers to make them ready for them. Linkages to service operators, especially threshing services, is another important thing that was done by the Lead Farmers in the 2nd and 3rd quarter. But since there is not enough threshers in the region, there is a need to identify private individuals interested in threshers and get them connected to suppliers or to financial institutions if financing is needed. Linkage to financial service providers was also an important aspect that the project focused on in the 4th quarter in preparation for the production season for the following year, on Year 4. Some of the farmers who wanted to expand their farm might need financing or Sales Agents identified might also need financing so they can expand their services to other communities nearby. The team is also excited to see different markets interested for our women-farmers’ soybeans. It will be good to see improvement from last year and to take note of some challenges for this year’s marketing activities. GROW’s objective is to ensure gender equality in all aspects of the program. A new Gender Coordinator was hired to make sure that the gender strategy and equality policy are being implemented across the project. KFP’s Gender focal point persons were linked to their district’s Gender Officer for collaboration. Nutrition had been an important activity during the 3rd and 4th quarters as we focused on soybean utilization and the importance of nutrition to the family. Support to Baaru Enterprises was also a priority during the year with the hiring of Business Development Intern who providing with technical support on marketing and in the preparation of business plans. We have ended our 2-year contracts with the KFPs. We had planning session for each of the KFPs after our community and group validations to assess their performance. The team have been busy planning with KFPs to come up with reasonable targets for Year 3. The 3rd quarter was devoted to KFP planning, submission of budgets and approval of new contracts. All 5 KFP signed a 1-year contract starting January 2015 and ending December 2015.

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Work Breakdown Structure

Work Break-down Structure Activities Achievements Variance from Year 2

Plan WBS 100: Increased, Diversified Agricultural Production.

Reach out to additional communities and identify Lead farmers and farmer-groups

The project is now in 166 communities in 8 districts in Upper West Region. A total of 14,254 women-farmers are enrolled with the project. This comprised 565 women-groups represented by 565 Lead Farmers for Year 3.

On track, the target is 10,000 women-enrolled in the project.

Build capacity of KFPs in facilitation roles.

Several trainings were conducted by MEDA to include good agronomic practices on soybean production, conservation agriculture and dry season gardening. KFP staff and selected Lead Farmers have attended these trainings. At the end of each training, KFP staff go back to the communities and conduct the same to other Lead Farmers. The Lead Farmers then train their women-groups with KFP’s support.

On target, the KFPs are trained and have improved their facilitation roles for step down trainings. KFPs will be closely monitored and training needs will be assessed on a regular basis as they expand their outreach.

Build capacity of Lead Farmers (LF)

Capacity of LFs were built through trainings, exposure to industrial tours, market forum, pre-season/pre-harvest fora and through practical demonstration.

On target, Year 1 LFs capacity are stronger while Year 2 LFs will need refresher training and more exposures.

Provide technical support on soybean cultivation.

Conducted technical support and several training to KFPs and the Lead Farmers on soybean production. The women groups were also introduced to MOFA extension agents for follow-up extension services if needed.

On target, women-groups on Year 1 and 2 are now experienced on soybean production while women-groups on Year 3 have started to learn the basic of soybean production.

Promote conservation approaches

The project conducted compost making training during the dry season. A tour on Conservation Agriculture Training Center was also organized for Lead Farmers to see the importance of conservation practices for their farms and environment. It is also a cheap alternative in using tractors and fertilizers.

On target. Many women-farmers are now using zero-tillage in their farms. 1,215 women-farmers in CAPECS and CARD areas have adopted.

Access to Financial Services

Promote VSLAs and use of savings to reduce resilience on credit

Provided Trainers Training on VSLA for all KFP staff. The project incorporated VSLA as part of the project not only as financial service and also as community mobilization strategy

On target. 393 out of 566 groups are trained on VSLAs and are already mobilizing savings among their members.


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Plan to strengthen the women groups and to reduce their dependence on credit.

Work with financial service providers (FSP) and value chain actors to ensure range of options for production financing.

The project identified FSPs and other value chain actors who can provide financing to the women-farmers if needed based on their production plan and budget.

Work closely with input suppliers, equipment dealers and land preparation service providers to promote service delivery to women farmers.

Facilitated the linkage and negotiation Lead Farmers to input suppliers was an important activity that was undertaken to enable all their women-farmers access to inputs for this year’s production

On target. The project identified all the input suppliers, equipment dealers and service providers and inform them about the business of providing these services to our women-farmers who are into soybean production.

Monitor crop management. The project through the Agriculture Unit and the KFP field staff monitor the progress of the crops from planting to harvesting. The women were provided technical support when needed.

On target. Technical assistance was provided to women-farmers when needed by field staff. Most of the groups are also linked to MOFA for any additional extension services support.

Promote quality harvesting practices.

Some of the women-farmers were linked to threshing services.

On target. The project conducted Post-Harvest Training and some of the women-groups were linked with thresher operators.

Identify a range of information sources that Lead Farmers can access to learn about agronomic practices, crop management, etc.

Selected Farmerline and Talking Book for Lead Farmers to access information on agronomic practices, crop management, among others.

On target. Farmerline and Talking Book pilots are success and will be rolled-out to all KFPs and Lead Farmers

WBS 200: Increased Marketing of Agricultural Production

Work with buyers of soybean to facilitate transactions with Lead Farmers, this can include farmer-buyer exchange visits.

The project organized a marketing forum and invited Lead Farmers, aggregators and processors to discuss challenges and ways to overcome them. An industrial tour was also organized for Lead Farmers and aggregators meet the processors at their site.

On target. The buyers of soybeans were appreciative about the marketing forum and the industrial tour to facilitate the linkage between them and the GROW women-groups.


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Plan

Provide technical assistance to entrepreneur establishing soymilk production unit in Wa.

The soymilk equipment is installed and the entrepreneur is provided training on the production of soymilk, tofu and yoghurt as well as the maintenance of equipment.

On target. The soymilk equipment was finally launched on September 2014. Total sales to date is GHS6,000.

Develop a range of information sources that Lead Farmers can access to learn market prices, buyer conditions, etc.

The Lead Farmers also attended Pre-Season Forum and Pre-Harvest Forum during the period to meet other value chain actors – input suppliers, service providers and markets. They also met other soybean farmers from other regions for cross-learnings and sharing of experiences. Lead Farmers were linked to Farmerline to get real-time market information.

On target, the Lead Farmers attended the scheduled Pre-Season Forum on April 2014 and the Pre-Harvest Forum on October 2014. After the fora, all the information they got were shared to other Lead Farmers and women-groups. LFs shared the information they received from Farmerline to their group members.

WBS 300: Improved Nutrition

Build capacity of Lead Farmers to train farmer group in utilization of soybean.

During the reporting period, 40 selected active resource Lead Farmers were taken through refresher training on soya utilization, food safety and food handling. The refresher training built the capacity of the women to lead the training of the new lead farmers on soya utilization.

On target. 40 Lead Farmers who were initially trained by WIAD were all given refresher training to build their capacity as they train the new Lead Farmers on soybean utilization.

Link farmer groups to sources of information on nutrition.

Nutrition messages were also in the “Talking Book”. Since the Talking Book was only piloted in PRUDA communities, there is a need to expand the coverage other KFPs so they can hear more information about nutrition

On target. Nutrition Coordinator was able to develop modules on the important nutrition messages. To date, there are now 3 nutrition messages in the Talking Book.

Dry Season Economic Activities

Promote dry season gardening in communities with access to water, providing information on agronomic services, appropriate use of chemicals, etc.

In May 2014, KFP staff and selected Lead Farmers from GROW districts attended Training on Basic Vegetable Production in preparation for the dry season. In February 2015, dry season soybean production was also piloted using drip irrigation system.

On target. 1821 GROW women in communities with water source were trained on dry season vegetable production. 599 of these women went into vegetable production.

Identify market opportunities for vegetables and facilitate

There is demand for vegetables during dry season since most of the farmers do not farm at this

On target. Dry season vegetable gardening was implemented


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Plan links between Lead Farmers and buyers.

time of the year. Vegetables are also expensive during dry season because there is not much supply in the market.

where there is access to water. They sell them in the local markets where they can get an average of GHS50 weekly from the harvests.

WBS 400: Project Management

Monitor sub-awards Monthly submission of KFP’s financial reports and monitoring of Grants Manager.

On target. The KFPs are on time with their financial reports.

Financial report to DFATD Reports are submitted on time before the deadline.

On target, reports are submitted on time.

Program report to DFATD Semi-annual and annual reports are submitted on time.

On target, reports are submitted on time.

Coordinate PAC meeting 4th PAC meeting was held on June 19, 2014. 5Th PAC meeting was held on November 20, 2014

On target, the next PAC Meeting will be on May 28, 2015.

Monitor project performance

Project performance are monitored within the women-groups, KFPs and within the GROW Project itself

On target. KFPs submit monthly consolidated monitoring reports and quarterly narrative reports. They are validated by MEDA staff.

Communicate project achievements and lessons learned.

Project achievements and lessons learned are shared with DFATD, MEDA, among partners and women-groups for sharing and cross-learnings.

On target, project achievements and lessons learned are shared to different stakeholders. Launched GROW on social media sites – Twitter and Facebook in 2014.

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Results and Outcomes

Agriculture (including ICT) Community Mobilization GROW’s Key Facilitating Partners (KFPs) mobilized more groups and women in the communities where they already have their presence to maximize their work and to make aggregation easier for inputs, services and markets. From 6 districts, GROW is now in 8 districts in Upper West Region to include Wa West, Wa East, Nadowli, Sissala West, Sissala East, Lambussie-Karni as well as the additional districts Nandom and DBI. KFPs selected 15 new communities based on the selection criteria making a total of 166 communities for 2015. From the new communities, 51 new groups were mobilized with 4,220 women enrolled. This made a total of 14,254 women-farmers enrolled from 565 groups in 166 communities.

Table 2: Total Numbers of Women Enrolled, Communities and Groups Mobilized

The graph above showed an improvement in caseload per community with an average of 3.4 women-groups per community, both in Year 2 and 3 as compared to Year 1 when caseload was

KFPs Communities Groups Women

CAPECS 27 80 2005

CARD 21 71 2078

PRONET 43 145 3081

PRUDA 42 89 3247

TUDRIDEP 33 180 3843

Total 166 565 14254


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only at 2.9 groups per community. The plan is to make the soybean production an attractive agri-business opportunities for women-farmers in the community so they will also mobilize into groups and join the GROW project. There were also some communities where men went into soybean production when they realized that women are linked to the markets and most of the buyers are coming to the villages to buy their soybeans. This became attractive not only to other women but also the men in the communities. Extension Delivery GROW continued to use the Lead Farmer extension services delivery model in reaching out to women-farmers thru the different groups mobilized. Key Facilitating Partners’ staffs were provided refresher training on soybean production to include the following: good agronomic practices, conservation agriculture, post-harvest management and dry season vegetable gardening. Step-down trainings were then provided to Lead Farmers who then provide the same training to their group members. For this season, the women were able to improve both their soybean production and also their dry season production. MEDA continues to collaborate with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) thru their Agriculture Extension Agents (AEAs) so they can reach out to our women-farmers and provide additional technical services when they are in the communities. AEAs also attended trainings conducted by GROW Team in the communities. During the 2014 Farmers Day celebration in Ghana, 2 of the GROW women became regional winners in Upper West Region – Best Soybean Farmer and Best Women Farmer. Seven (7) district awards were also garnered by GROW women from Wa West, Lambussie Karni, Sissala East and Sissala East.

Picture No. 1 – Best Soybean Farmer and Best Women Farmer – 2014 Farmers Day in Ghana


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Demonstrations Farm During the production season, the project set-up 5 demonstration farms, one per KFP. The demo farms were used as an extension tool to aid adoption of improved technologies and to showcase good agronomic practices. The following practices in soybeans production were demonstrated for comparison and adoption:

Use of improved seeds as against local seeds. Use of no-till as against hand-till. Use of inoculants as against no application of inoculants

The following were the results of the demonstrations:

GROW women had their knowledge improved on row planting and in appropriate harvesting of soybeans.

No-till is cheaper than hand-till or using tractors as per the benefit cost analysis. The women appreciated the adoption of no-till in plowing.

Good plant performance and yields of plots using inoculants. There was also low shattering of plots using certified seeds, Jenguma. GROW women saw the importance of using certified seeds and inoculants to increase productivity. More women farmers have expressed interest and started negotiating with input suppliers for inoculants and certified seeds to increase their productivity and income.

Picture No. 2 – Planting in rows being used in the demonstration farms.


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Soybeans Production KFP staff and Lead Farmers were provided training at the beginning of the production season on Good Agronomic Practices (GAP) on soybeans production. The training involved the following:

Selection of suitable land for production. Use of certified and non-shattering variety, Jenguma. Use of inoculants Row planting Weed control and other cultural practices.

GROW team assisted the women to be linked to input suppliers and service providers and in their farm activities. The team provided technical backstopping through field monitoring and group visits. The Lead Farmers played a critical role as extension service providers to their members. They provided the soybean production training that they received from the GROW team. Some Lead Farmers already have the confidence to identify and link service providers and input suppliers to their groups as well as monitor the performance of their members’ soybean farms. Through regular visits from the GROW team, the women farmers were also provided on-the-job coaching on the adherence to the good agronomic practices to increase their yields.

KFP # of Women Planted

Acres Yield (metric tons)

Average Yield per Acre

CAPECS 733 582 49.3 0.085

CARD 617 617 82.0 0.133

PRONET 632 419 175.8 0.419

PRUDA 1,054 1,054 116.0 0.110

TUDRIDEP 901 1,300 526.8 0.405

Total 3,937 3,988 949.9 0.238 Table 3 – Soybean Production per KFPs, 2014 Production Season

A total of 3,937 or 39% of 10,034 women mobilized went into soybean production during last season. A total of 3,988 acres of land was used during the season and 9,499 of maxi-bags (100 kilos per bag) were harvested, an average of 2.38 maxi-bags per acre. There were GROW farmers who harvested more than 14 bags per acre but there were also new farmers who only joined for the first that got less than 1 bag per acre. The team is committed to increase productivity of these women-farmers by ensuring access to technical support on good agronomic practices on soybean production. Another concern is to minimize post-harvest losses thru the use of thresher.


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In this graph, we can see that women in TUDRIDEP have expanded their production to more than one acre; CARD and PRUDA women have an average of one acre land for production while women from CAPECS and PRONET have an average of less than one acre of soybean production. This proves that women in TUDRIDEP have more confidence to go into the business of soybeans, one of the reasons why they decided to expand their land for cultivation. One reason as well is the availability of land that the women can have that they can use for production.

In the graph, we can see that during the harvest in 2014, 56% of the yields came from TUDRIDEP. There are few reasons for this – the soil in the area is better than the other districts where KFPs


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have presence especially in Wa West, where CARD and CAPECS communities are located. You can see from the graph that CARD had the lowest yield at 5% and CAPECS at only 9%. It is worth to know 90% of CARD and CAPECS women-farmers are adopting composting to address the issue of poor soil condition in their district. Post-Harvest Handling and Management

Picture No. 3: Post –harvest Handling and Management, Veri Community ICT for Extension Delivery Talking Book In 2014, GROW piloted the use of Talking Book with PRUDA, in 8 communities and for 60 Lead Farmers. An assessment was conducted to see the results of the pilot activity. Below are the key findings of the assessment (assessment report available from the GROW team):

All groups in the first communities are using the Talking Book each time they hold their VSLA meetings.

All Lead Farmers have been trained to operate the device and they demonstrated enhanced knowledge on how to start it, to choose the topics for discussion and facilitate discussions on each topic.

At least two other members of each group are able to operate the device and they demonstrated their skills to testify the fact.

All the people interviewed in the groups and individually believe the Talking Book is a useful tool for learning. They have acquired new knowledge in soy agronomy,


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marketing, nutrition, gender, financial services and Ebola disease. They also testified that it is a source of entertainment, and it facilitates group and family cohesion.

Women also send the devices home for family discussions.

Picture No. 4: Updating the Talking Book messages on Financial Services

Aside from the assessment conducted in the communities where Talking Book was piloted, the other KFPs during their annual planning session expressed an interest in accessing the Talking Books for their communities. GROW staff also see the need to have the TBs rolled-out as a support in extension delivery. With the result of good assessment and the demand from other communities, MEDA signed another contract with Literacy Bridge for 2015 to roll-out and expand the introduction of Talking Books to all GROW communities. Existing messages will be updates and additional messages being recommended will be added. MEDA also informed Literacy Bridge to include piloting a sustainability model during the year. VC Team will work with Literacy Bridge to help identify and pilot this. Below are the recommendations from the communities to improve the use of the Talking Book.

Extend the service to other groups in the district because the benefits are to date showing positive.

Include issues on child marriages among the themes because this is a major challenge in the communities.

Include issues on child education among themes. The dropout rate is high especially among the girls. Parents seem not to know their responsibilities towards the education of their children. The children loiter around in the night instead of studying. All the communities have electricity but the children prefer to engage in social activities at night rather stay at home and study. This is contributing to early pregnancies, and delinquency.

Messages on different income earning activities during the dry season.


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Farmerline

GROW Project also piloted Farmerline’s voice messaging platform in 2014 to deliver a convenient and timely messages to the Lead Farmers on best agronomic practices, financial tips, marketing, records keeping, weather forecast and other relevant project information. Farmerline was contracted to send these voice messages in 3 local languages – Daagare, Sissali and Wali. The Lead Farmers were then provided training on how to access these messages on their phones and share to their groups. The contents of these messages are prepared by Farmerline’s technical persons are reviewed by GROW technical team before the messages are sent out to Lead Farmers.

Picture No. 5: Farmerline’s Training for Lead Farmers

An evaluation was conducted for the pilot initiative with Farmerline and the following were the results (evaluation report can be obtained from GROW team):

Farmerline weather forecast helped farmers to plant on time thereby increasing their yields.

Improvement on post-harvest losses because of the messages sent to farmers on harvesting.

Farmer’s knowledge on best agronomic practices was improved. Farmers also acknowledged that the messages serves as a tool to remind them

consistently on what to do on a specific time during the production period. KFP Field Officers admitted that the messages reminded them of the production activities

happening on the field and the need to visit their farmer groups to follow-up if they received the messages and they are being followed.

Based on the good results of the pilot and the demand to expand it to new communities, MEDA signed another contract with Farmerline for the same service to include both the Year 1 and 2 Lead Farmers. This would provide enough time to appreciate the service, subscribe and pay the service at the end of the pilot. Farmerline was also asked to pilot sustainability model during the contract period. VC Team will assist to identify and pilot sustainability model.


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Market Linkages Networking Exposures for Lead Farmers Pre-Harvest Forum on Soybeans On October 2014, GROW team to include 6 MEDA staff, 10 KFP staff, 10 Lead Farmers and 1 aggregator attended the 4th Annual Pre-harvest Forum in Tamale. This is an annual event organized by USAID’s ADVANCE Project to bring together all the value chain actors on rice, maize and soybeans. Since 2012, GROW team and selected Lead Farmers attended the forum to meet all the value chain actors on soybeans, interact with producers, input suppliers, service providers, aggregators. The team saw new production and post-harvest technologies being promoted as well learn new things about inputs, financial services and ICTs that could be helpful for the women-farmers. There is also an opportunity for buyers, aggregators and farmers to discuss about the price and start the negotiation from there. The objectives of the forum is to expose Lead Farmers to more and alternative buyers of soybeans as well as to strengthen the relationships between the buyers and farmers. During the forum, GROW women networked, attended workshops, participated in group market discussions about soybeans and negotiated for soybean prices. The Lead Farmers expressed their satisfaction for the negotiated price of GHS100 per maxi-bag. The forum also sparked interest in these Lead Farmers to become sales agents for their communities. They inquired from the GROW team if they could receive further training for these skills. The Lead Farmers went home excited with their new learnings and would like to educate their group members about their experience and new knowledge. The Lead Farmers who attended the forum share what they have seen and learned from the forum and share them to their members and to other communities if needed.

Picture No. 6: Pre-Harvest Forum in 2014 - Tamale, Ghana


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Picture No. 7: Lead Farmer Saan Sanlo from Wenchau-Bao sharing her experience at the Pre-Harvest Forum Market Exposure to Shea Butter GROW farmers are mostly into shea nuts picking and shea butter extraction during the dry season. However, just like soybeans before, they also think there is no ready market for shea nuts and shea butter products. This is actually one of the income generating activities in the dry season that can aid in the financial needs of farmers. To expose GROW women on shea markets, an exposure visit was organized for 10 Lead Farmers, 10 KFP staff, 6 MEDA staff and 1 aggregator to visit Sekaf Processing Company in Tamale after the Pre-Harvest Forum. The company welcomed the team and provided orientation to the potential of shea especially on the international markets. The visit also provided opportunity for our women to be linked to Sekaf or their aggregators in the Upper West Region.


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Picture No. 8: Sekaf’s CEO providing orientation to the Lead Farmers the business of shea After their exposure visit at Sekaf, the Lead Farmers who are also mobilizing shea nuts are now willing to sell them to the company. The rest of the women also became interested to become sales agents so they can mobilize shea from their groups and neighboring communities. Promoting the Use of Appropriate Technology During the reporting period, the project promoted appropriate production and post-harvest technologies to save time, increase production and minimize post-harvest losses. The team introduced the planter during one of the farmer field days. The women-farmers saw that they can really save on time if they can use it. Other women are interested to invest on it and provide the service to other women for a fee. In collaboration with USAID’s ATT Project, the project was provided planter that can be used for demonstration. It is expected that there will be more women who will be investing on this technology which cost around GHS280. Thresher is another technology introduced to the project. Since the cost is high at more than GHS5000, the team identified private individuals who would like to invest on this technology and informed them that there is a business on it if they provide the service to our GROW women. Last year, there were around more than 20 individuals who bought the threshers and used during the harvesting. However, the threshers available in the Upper West Region are not enough to service all GROW women who planted last year.


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Picture No. 9: Demonstrating the use of planter in soybean production Annual GROW Fair After 2 years in production season, the project organized the 1st GROW Fair in December 2014 to recognize and appreciate the hard work of women farmers in the project. It was an opportunity for other members in the community to know more about the GROW Project and provide incentive to other women in the community who are not yet part of the project to join. The fair was conducted for 5 KFPs in 4 different districts. Aside from the Lead Farmers and women-farmers, the GROW Fair brought together people from the government sector, development partners, value chain actors, traditional and opinion leaders.

Picture No. 10: GROW Fair, Best GROW Group in CARD There were a total of 895 participants in 4 different GROW Fair venues. The following awards were given during the fair:


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Best GROW Farmer Best Lead Farmer Best Conversation Agricultural Practice Farmer Best GROW Group Best KFP Field Officer

Picture No. 11: District Chief Executive in Wa West giving a speech during the GROW Fair Provision of Business and Negotiation Skills Trainings Farmers especially women, not only in Ghana but also in other parts of the world, do not see farming as a business. They do not keep records and sometimes lack negotiation skills in the face of large buyers. With this concern, the project saw the need to provide GROW women business and negotiation skills training to they can accept farming as a business. They could do simple proper record keeping of their farming activities and they will be taken through price negotiation skills so they will have the confidence to negotiate with other value chain actors. To strengthen our relationship with government organization, the training was facilitated by both MEDA and National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), a government institution that is mandated to provide training for farmers, traders and other small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The objectives of the training included the following: to train farmers to appreciate farming as a business; to let farmers appreciate the importance of record keeping in farming; to train farmers on how to use symbols in record keeping and to improve the skills of farmers on price negotiation


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Picture No. 12: NBSSI Business Advisor conducted the Business and Negotiation Skills for GROW team The initial training was provided by MEDA and NBSSI to 27 KFP field staff who then in turn step-down training to their Lead Farmers and farmer-members at the community level. The results of the training included the following:

Farmers practically understood and appreciated farming as a business. Through group work, farmers have demonstrated their understanding in the dynamics of

price negotiations. Farmers could now practically use symbols for records keeping which they say will be

very useful After the training farmers acknowledged that, records are the foundations of a successful

business. Technical Assistance to Baaru Soya Processing Center MEDA collaborated with Malnutrition Matters and the USAID Agricultural Technology Transfer (USAID ATT) project in northern Ghana to establish a soymilk production unit in Wa. USAID ATT purchased the production unit from Malnutrition Matters who then arranged the manufacture and shipment of the units to Ghana. Malnutrition Matters provided the technical assistance to ensure that the units are properly installed and the operators are trained in operation and maintenance. MEDA, through the GROW project, covered the cost of the technical assistance. Through MEDA’s Business Development Intern, technical support in the areas of registration, marketing, production and financial linkage were provided to Baaru Enterprises. Baaru Enterprise is a registered limited liability enterprise founded in August, 2007. The company focuses on agro-inputs supplies including fertilizer to small holder farmers and construction of


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health, educational and social facilities in local communities. Baaru Enterprise is a market and opportunity driven company which takes risk as a core investment opportunity towards propelling growth. The vision of Baaru Enterprise is to offer reliable and efficient business management in a partnership to secure and promote long term profit and sustainability. The company recognizes a potential commercial opportunity in soy milk production and has agreed to collaborate to pilot the activity. During the pilot, both MEDA and Baaru Enterprises would like to demonstrate the commercial viability of a soy milk processing operation in the Upper West Region of Ghana. Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by MEDA and Baaru Enterprise. On September 2014, a crowd of enthusiastic partners and supporters joined the MEDA and Mr. Baaru to officially launch the new soybean processing plant in Upper West Region. Baaru Soya Processing Center is gradually getting the local market of soymilk consumption in the Wa and Wechaiu. Currently, 50 to 100 bottles of soymilk are sold daily. This gives an amount of at least GHS50 daily or about GHS1500 monthly as sales. Sales also increase when there are workshops and seminars being held in the region.

Picture No. 13: Baaru Enterprise maintains clean environment of the soymilk processing plant

Financial Services Promote VSLAs and use of savings to reduce reliance on credit

Financing is one of the major concerns why some women-farmers did not go into planting during the past production seasons. It was difficult to link the women because they don’t have any prior experience in borrowing to these institutions not to mention that the amount they need is only small for these institutions to work on. In order to assist the women to better prepare them for their production needs, the team decided to introduce the concept of Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLAs). The team also realized that VSLA is good community mobilization strategy for KFPs to institutionalize among their groups. Once they have mobilized the women and they formed into groups, they can start introducing the VSLA concept. The group them formalize their VSLA then meet weekly for their meeting and to give their savings. The savings mobilized by the members will be used for their production needs – to pay for input supplies and services that they


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will need. VSLA will not only prepare them for their production needs but also a strategy to strengthen their groups. To roll this out, the GROW’s Financial Services Team conducted Training of Trainers (TOT) to all KFP staff on the VSLA concept and methodology. The initial training was attended by 28 KFP staff. After the training, it was recommended that each of the KFP will pilot VSLA to 20 communities. After 6 months of the pilot initiative, the KFPs saw the effectiveness of the concept and the group’s responsiveness. During the KFP planning in October 2014, all of the KFPs agreed that VSLA will form part of GROW’s community mobilization process flow. KFP staff will be provided with technical support for them to be able to train all their groups on VSLAs and monitor their implementation. At end of this quarter, 63 groups have already undergone training and more groups will be added during the dry season.

Picture No. 14: KFP Field Officer with support from GROW Team providing step-down training to the group

Work with FSP and value chain actors to ensure a range of options for production financing In order for women to have good understanding of how much will be their cost of production, how much they can self-finance and how much credit they will need to go into soybean production, the women were provided technical support by the team to come out with the production financing plans. The women indicated how many acres they intend to farm and how they intend to finance their production. After the exercise, the team consolidated them to know what inputs and service they will need. Some of the women were linked directly to input suppliers and to tractor operators. The rest of their credit needs were either from their VSLAs or MFIs. During the 2014 production season, you can see from the table below that many input suppliers have agreed to provide input supplies on credit to the women. This is very encouraging so women will have different options to choose from. With the small amount of loan, it is also better for women to get credit directly to input suppliers or service operators if possible. Some of these


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value chain actors require a down payment and the balance of the loan can paid after the harvests.

KFPS Financial Service

Providers Linkages Made

CAPECS Dizzengoff FARM-Aid Wa

Inputs Inputs

CARD CACU (Community Aid Credit Union) Antika Enterprises 18th April Company

Production loan Inputs Inputs

PRONET SADA (Savanna Accelerated Development Authority) Seeds, Tractor Services

MWINTUUR Production Loan (in-kind)

Big Ajar Enterprises Inputs

Antika Enterprise Inputs

PRUDA VSLA Production Loan

TUDRIDEP SRB (Sissala Rural Bank) Production Loan (in-kind)

Table 4: Financial Service Providers and Linkages with KFP’s Women-Groups, 2014 Production Season

The next table below showed the number of women who planted in 2014 season, the total areas sowed and their total cost of production. The table also showed that both CAPECS and CARD groups have lower production cost per acre than the other KFPs. The main reason is that Conservation Agriculture is widely used by most of their women. CAPECS groups even prepared compost during the dry season for their farms. They were also using zero tillage unlike in PRONET and TUDRIDEP areas were most of women used tractors to plough their farms. PRUDA used a combination of zero tillage and tractors in their farms. One of the reasons as well for lower production cost is the use of family labor in land preparation and ploughing. Most of the farmers do not usually put a cost on them as they are family labor and are considered free.

Table 5: Cost of Production; Self-Financing vs Credit- 2014 Production Season

# of Area

Sowed

Cost of

Production

Amount Self‐

Financed

Total Amount

of Credit

Production

Cost Per Acre

(acres) (GHS) (GHS) (GHS) (GHS)

CAPECS 733 582.00 29,295.00 16,713.00 12,582.00 50.34

CARD 617 617.00 39,404.90 15,372.40 24,032.50 63.87

PRONET 632 435.00 164,461.00 143,511.00 20,950.00 378.07

PRUDA 1054 1,054.00 123,125.00 48,630.00 74,495.00 116.82

TUDRIDEP 1300 1,300.00 282,832.00 260,712.00 22,120.00 217.56

Total 4336 3,988.00 639,117.90 484,938.40 154,179.50 160.26

76% 24%

KFPs

No. of

women

planted


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Table 6: Linkages with Financial Service Providers, 2014 Production Season

The chart above would tell us that 50% of the women who took loans for their production needs got them from their group’s VSLA. 2nd source of credit are the input dealers at 14%, 3rd are the service providers (ploughing services), 4th are the MFIs and then 10% resorted to private lenders. This showed that aside from the traditional MFIs that can provide loans for production needs, other sources of credit could be their VSLAs, the input suppliers or the service providers. The Lead Farmers just need to get their trust so that input suppliers and service providers can see the women-farmers as business opportunities. There is also a need for the women to consolidate their input needs and the timing of their ploughing so that the inputs and services can be delivered to them at the same time and this would help lessen the cost for the transportation. For the coming 2015 production season, Sissala Rural Bank and 18th April (input supplier) already had interactions with the women to financial service provider (Sissala Rural Bank) and an input dealer (18th April Company) on the terms and conditions of their credit services.

Cost of

ProductionMFI's Input Dealers

Service

Providers

(Ploughing)

Private

LenderVSLA

Total

Amount of

Credit

(GHS) (GHS) (GHS) (GHS) (GHS) (GHS) (GHS)

CAPECS 29,295.00 0.00 9,292.00 3,290.00 0.00 0.00 12,582.00

CARD 39,404.90 15,623.00 637.00 0.00 0.00 7,772.50 24,032.50

PRONET 164,461.00 0.00 8,385.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 8,385.00

PRUDA 123,125.00 0.00 3,555.00 12,565.00 0.00 70,940.00 87,060.00

TUDRIDEP 282,832.00 2,365.00 0.00 4,560.00 15,195.00 0.00 22,120.00

Total 639,117.90 17,988.00 21,869.00 20,415.00 15,195.00 78,712.50 154,179.50

KFPs


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Picture No. 15: April 18, an input supplier in Upper West, providing information to GROW women

About 400 farmers interacted with five (5) service providers. Almost all of the input dealers -18th April. A2 Farms, Antika, Dizzengoff, agreed on various terms of input credit to the farmers. They all requested for a 50%-70% down payment before they supply them with inputs and provide them with tractor services. The Community Aid Credit Union (CACU) is one of the financial institutions that provided credit to the women farmers. However, due to capital inadequacy, MEDA linked CACU with other bigger financial institutions to source for funds for on-lending to the farmers. Among these institutions are the Nandom Rural Bank, Sinapi Aba Savings and Loan Company and the UT Bank. Sinapi was willing to provide credit to CACU but the interest rate is 37.5% and was not favorable to CACU. Both UT Bank and Nandom Rural Bank are considering providing credit to CACU for the next season in 2016 instead of this year as it is late already. CACU was also supported to develop a customized loan product for GROW farmers and they were able to lend an amount of GHS15,623 to CARD clients for production. Mr. Baaru of the Baaru Soy Processing Plant was also able to borrow GHS7,000 to support his business. There were 5 entrepreneurs interested in purchasing a multiple purpose thresher that were linked with Sinapi Aba to access subsidized loans to enable them purchase the equipment. This process is still on going.


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Training on Household Financial Education Training of Trainers on Household Financial Education to include the cost-benefit analysis of soybean production was carried out to KFP field staff and Lead Farmers. The training was aimed to equip field staff and Lead Farmers with the knowledge and skills so they can train their women groups and members. The training focused on savings, managing inflows and outflows and the cost benefit analysis of soy production. The TOTs conducted were participated by 51 KFP staff, 504 Lead Farmers, 29 members and 50 men in the communities. Both women and men participants saw the need to plan early and adequately for the production season. They also got the chance to review their expenses and decide which one they can cut down so they can meet their financing and production needs. After the TOT, both the KFP staff and Lead Farmers were able to do step-down training to 370 groups (approximately 7400 women-members) and there were 850 men in different communities who also participated. After the training, each of the GROW farmers should be able to develop their crop budget for the 2015 production season.

Picture No. 16: Training on Household Financial Education The need for groups to have group accounts has also become necessary for two main reasons. The groups need a safer place to deposit their excess funds and also to access additional funds for production. KFPs supported their groups to open accounts with formal financial institutions in order for them to benefit from these services financial institutions offer. So far, 37 groups have


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opened their accounts with three financial institutions - Mwintuuru Microfinance Limited (MML), Sisala Rural Bank (SRB) and Community Aid Credit Union (CACU). These groups are being also facilitated to be registered with Ghana Cooperatives. As of reporting time, 10 groups have already completed the process of registration into cooperatives. The groups decided to register as cooperatives so they can open a group account and can apply for loans from the bank which is usually part of the requirement.

Nutrition Build capacity of Lead Farmers to train farmer group in utilization of soybean Women in Agricultural Development (WIAD) continue to be GROW’s lead partner in ensuring GROW clients have adequate knowledge and skills on how to effectively use soya and other locally available foods at the household level. During the reporting period, 40 selected active resource Lead Farmers were taken through refresher training on soya utilization, food safety and food handling. The refresher training was expected to build the capacity of the women to lead the training of the new lead farmers on soya utilization. The Lead Farmers were from different GROW districts. This women have been assessed by both WIAD and MEDA and have been certified as capable of providing the training on soya utilisation for new GROW clients in coming season. It is expected that these Lead Farmers will be the main resource in training other groups on hygienic food handling and food safety. They will also train other women on how to introduce soybeans into their traditional diets to improved nutrition of families in the GROW communities. This intervention is expected to reduce MEDA’S dependence on WIAD in building the capacity of GROW women in soya beans utilization in subsequent years. It is also aimed at making the skills more accessible at the community level.

Picture No. 17: Soybean utilization training with GROW farmer-trainers


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Link farmer groups to sources of information on nutrition

As part of strategy to create awareness on the importance of nutrition and appropriate complementary feeding in GROW communities, MEDA contracted Ghana Health Service (GHS) to provide information on nutrition. GHS provided Training of Trainers to KFP staff and Lead Farmers on Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF). GHS Regional Team in Upper West provided the training to 28 GHS district health service staffs and 26 KFP field staffs on exclusive breastfeeding and appropriate complementary feeding using locally available food in their communities.

Picture No. 18 – IYCF Training with Lead Farmers Both the GHS and KFP staff are expected conduct step-down training to their Lead Farmers and their group-members. To support the IYCF training, MEDA developed the pictorial training materials that they can use in the communities during their training. The materials were mostly visuals so that women in the community can easily understand the messages of the training. The participants were also taken through practical session on how to assess nutritional status of children at the community level and the referral procedure to health facilities. For the step-down training, a total of 387 Lead Farmers were trained on IYCF. They are expected to share the training received to their group members.

Gender During the period, a new Gender Coordinator was hired by the project. Below are the activities he has undertaken during the period:

Orientation – to ensure that the new staff understands the GROW Project in general and the gender strategy in particular. The Country Project Manager and MEDA HQ Gender Manager provided coaching and mentoring.


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Assessed the work of Gender Focal Persons of the project Key Facilitating Partners and

design best ways of supporting them. The objectives of the assessment is to understand what the Gender Focal Persons have being doing since the last Gender Coordinator left MEDA. Despite one training being organized for the GFPs, there were still some capacity gaps to be addressed. The Gender Coordinator summarized key project documents and shared with the staff of the KFPs on the GROW Project. A training was planned to update the capacity of the focal persons.

Training on Gender for MEDA and KFP staff. A three-day training on gender concepts,

the project gender strategy and action plans was organized for 20 participants (10 male and 10 female) from MEDA and KFP Gender Focal Persons and Monitoring and Evaluation Officers. Participants enhanced their knowledge on key gender concepts; built skills on tools for facilitating gender discussions and dialogues, reviewed the GROW gender strategy and M&E framework and designed action plans up to December 2014.

Mentoring and coaching for Gender Focal Persons. The Gender Coordinator reviewed

the monthly reports of the Focal Persons and provided feedback to them. The coordinator made follow up working visits to the Focal persons and discussed best ways of identifying and addressing gender issues with their colleagues on the project in the districts, including the District Assembly Gender Officers.

A Joint Nutrition and Gender Meeting was conducted on April 2014. The objective of the

meeting is to provide orientation about the GROW to all Gender and Nutrition Focal Point Persons from the 6 GROW districts for possible collaboration

Picture No. 19: Joint Nutrition and Gender Training


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Environment Conservation Agriculture (CA) is an important part of the GROW Project in order to help reverse the degrading nature of arable land in most part of the region. For the past two years, a number of interventions have been introduced to the women-farmers so they can be easily adopted. The project organized a visit to Conservation Agriculture Center in Kumasi to see hands-on experience of how CA is being practiced in a farm. Four MEDA staff, nine KFP staff and 25 selected Lead Farmers went on study tour to observe and interact with farmers who are utilizing conservation agriculture.

Picture No. 20: No till demonstration farm in Goripie Community, PRONET Lead Farmers were also trained on agro-chemical usage and handling to promote minimal soil disturbance as one of the principles in conservation agriculture. This included the use of herbicides as an alternative way of land preparation. A number of farmers adopted the practice of no-till during the last production season. Over 90% of women farmers in CARD and CAPECS operational areas used zero or no-tillage in their soybeans production. Some women farmers have also rotated their previous soybeans farms with cereals (mostly maize) and confirmed that plant performance and yields were good. Compost Preparation and Utilization: Lead Farmers were trained on compost preparation and utilization as part of soil fertility management. The compost prepared were used in their demonstration farms. Compost will provide GROW women with alternative and sustainable source of managing and improving their soil fertility. A total of 33 KFP staff, 363 Lead Farmers and 377 women-farmers were given practical training at 16 locations. The compost prepared by the women will be used for their 2015 soybean production. 75 women who were part of the


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training last year became resource persons in this year’s compost training. With the new knowledge and skills gained in compost preparation and utilization, women resolved to immediately secure crop residues after each harvest including their soybeans vines to prepare their compost in the dry season for use in both vegetables and crop production. All the farmers trained appreciated the compost preparation and its utilization and have started arranging with their field staff on dates to prepare their own compost for the coming season.

Picture No. 20 – Training in Compost Preparation

Dry Season Activities Engaging GROW women in vegetable production as a source of livelihood during dry season is a key activity for the team during the reporting period. In May 2014 in preparation for the coming dry season, selected LFs and KFPs staff were trained on basic principles in vegetables production. Participants were also given hand-on practical training on how to grow the following vegetables like cucumber, pepper, tomatoes, onions and orange-fleshed sweet potatoes at MEDA garden site. 18th April Company Limited, an input dealer who participated in the training assured women farmers to supply them with vegetable seed on demand. At the beginning of the dry season, communities with water sources which could support dry season vegetables production were sensitized. A training was organized for 32 KFPs staff, 10 selected LFs and 10 MEDA staff on the horticultural practices in vegetables production. Interested women farmers were linked to input suppliers for various vegetables seed for production. A good number of women are currently into vegetables production as a source of livelihood as shown in the table below.


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KFP # of women trained on dry season vegetable production

# of women who went into dry season vegetable production

CAPECS 217 128

CARD 271 27

PRONET 998 164

PRUDA 147 24

TUDRIDEP 188 256

Total 1,821 599

Table 7: Number of women farmers trained and actually producing vegetables

Vegetables produced during the dry season are okra, tomatoes, garden eggs and green leafy vegetables like pumpkin leaves, beans leaves, bre, aleefo and ayoyo. During monitoring visits, women farmers confirmed that okra and tomatoes have a high market value and are more profitable. The vegetables are sold in the village and urban markets while some of the green leafy vegetables are consumed at home. Many more women expressed interest in vegetables production in the dry season but are constrained with source of water to sustain their production.

Picture No. 21: Dry Season Vegetable Production During the dry season, MEDA also piloted the production of soybeans using drip irrigation. It is at this period when soybean prices are high since there is no more supply in the market. Having


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soybeans during dry season could provide more income opportunities for women. MEDA in collaboration with Dizzengoff, an Israeli business who is into selling input supplies and equipment, will set-up demonstration farms in communities with water source and test the drip irrigation system. During a preliminary survey with Dizzengoff, KFPs staff and Lead Farmers, 5 sites were selected for the demonstrations in the dry season. Discussions were held with community water/dam management committees and other opinion leaders on the proposed demonstrations and permission was granted to use the sites. Training was organized to build the capacity of 13 LFs and 12 KFPs on dry season irrigation. The training improved the knowledge and skills of participants on the operations and maintenance of drip irrigation system and the various irrigation methods and their water use efficiencies. A field visit for the participants was also organized Bontech drip irrigation site to interact with farmers there. The interactions gave the participants knowledge on the operations, routine daily checks and maintenance of the drip irrigation system.

Picture No. 22: Dry season soybean production Only one out of 3 dry season soybeans demonstration farms was established at Pulima, a TUDRIDEP community. The reason is that the other 2 drip irrigations systems did not arrive on time and the team decided that it will already be late if they will be established. The team planned to do establish the 2 sites next dry season. Once the pilot is proven successful in TUDRIDEP community, the team plans to expand this to 4 other KFP sites so that women groups will all have the opportunity to see the system and decide if they want to invest on it individually or thru their groups. The Lead Farmer in Pulima who participated in the sensitization to diversify into soybeans production in the dry season because of the high market demand of soybeans and after attending the trainings said the soybeans are doing well in her garden. She said “we did not know that soybeans can be grown in the dry season”. On her own trials, the soybeans are doing very well in her garden. Once soybeans are harvested and sold, the team will conduct cost-benefit analysis of using irrigation for soy in the dry season and present to the women if this proves positive.


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KFP Capacity Building The following are the capacity building activities provided to Key Facilitating Partners (KFPs) during the period: Community and Group Validations In August 2014, the GROW team conducted a community and group validations. MEDA staff were involved during community entries but women groups were not visited during KFP’s community mobilization. Since there were 10,034 women enrolled in the project in 2014 and only 3937 planted, the team wanted to know the reasons and challenges. The validation helped the team to see possible changes that could be made and support that each of the KFPs needed. It was also an opportunity for MEDA program staff to visit all the communities and meet all the women groups.


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KFP Year 3 Contracts MEDA initially signed a 2-year contract with all the 5 Key Facilitating Partners (KFPs). The contract was from January 2013 to December 2014. After the community assessments, the planning workshop and the good performance during the past 2 years, MEDA decided to sign them for another contract for 2015. New contract for each of the KFPs were signed on January 2015. The contract stated that they need to submit monthly financial report, monthly consolidated group monitoring report and a quarterly narrative report to MEDA to monitor the status of their activities. The following are the combined targets of the 5 KFPs for 2015.

KFP Targets ‐ 2015

Indicators KFP Targets

Districts 9

Communities 164

Groups in VSLAs 612

No. of Lead Farmers 612

Women Enrolled 14,718

Women Planted 11,700

No. of Sales Agents 45

Linked to Inputs 5,850

Linked to Services 11,700

Talking Books 512

Farmerline 308

Advanced Value Chain Training To broaden skills and knowledge of both MEDA and KFP staff on value chain concepts and approached, Advanced Value Chain Training was organized by MEDA and facilitated by Ann Gordon, MEDA’s Senior Project Manager and a value chain expert on January 2015. The training was attended by KFP Program Coordinator and their Marketing Linkages point-person. Monitoring and Evaluation Training for KFP staff MEDA hosted a 2-day training for KFP’s Program Coordinator and M&E Officers on Most Significant Change Story (MSC) methodology. The training took the participants the MSC methodology, best practices for picture taking and role playing exercises to practice interviewing skills. The following day, the participants went to the field to do the practical training exercise. One participant shared on his evaluation: “Participation was good and the field work enabled participants to apply what was learnt at the workshop at venue.” At the end of the workshop, GROW M&E Team informed the KFPs that they need to do step-down training to all their field staff and their target to submit at least MSC stories every quarter.

Picture No. 23: MEDA Trainer Ann Gordon with Advanced Value Chain Training participants

Collaboration (Government and Other) Collaboration with Israel Embassy DFATD representative, the Israel Ambassador delegation and the District Chief Executive visited the PRUDA community in Kpare on August 2014. During the visit, the focus of interaction was mainly on the roles and responsibilities of Lead Farmers in the GROW project, access to market information, economic importance of soybeans, its nutritional value and the agronomic practices involved in soybean production. The private sectors who joined the Israel Ambassador during the visit were also interested on the possible business opportunities that they can present with the women and the community. When asked, the women answered “if you will buy our soybeans in good price, we will farm as much as we can”. We are happy to hear that the women in the GROW communities can offer business to visitors instead of just asking for help or assistance. For us, this is a behavior change brought about by the GROW Project. After the visit, GROW was followed-up by Dizzengoff, an Israeli firm and an input and equipment supplier. They were interested to meet our women for their production needs. Some of our women especially in the CAPECS community are buying their inputs - inoculants and herbicides, from Dizzengoff. They provided the inputs on credit and payment was done after the harvest. It has been a successful partnership that Dizzengoff wanted to explore other KFP groups. During the dry season, there was also a plan to set-up demonstration farms to test their drip irrigation system. Dizzengoff provided for the drip irrigation system, MEDA for other tools needed and the women groups for the inputs and labor. The plan is to have 3 demonstrations farms in 3 different communities but only 1 system arrived. The team decided to have the 2 installed next season since it is already late to do demonstration for dry season.

Picture 24: Visit of Israel Embassy and DFATD representative to GROW community Coordination with District Assemblies MEDA and KFPs work together to have good relationship and coordination with the districts where GROW is being implemented. Orientation about the GROW Project was made to all district assemblies so they have good information about the activities being implemented in their communities. We have also invited district representatives and traditional leaders of the communities during our GROW Fair. This had been a good venue for them to fully understand the project and to provide the necessary support to our women. Coordination with Regional Government Agencies MEDA continues to engage and collaborate with relevant government agencies in the implementation of project activities, among them the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Women in Agricultural Development (WIAD) and Ghana Health Services. MOFA’s extension agents work hand-in-hand with GROW agriculture team, both from MEDA and KFPs, in providing extension services to the women on soybean production to include the following - good agronomic practices, agro-chemical usage and handling, post-harvest handling and management, compost preparation and utilization, dry season vegetables production. The team also collaborated with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on agro-chemical usage and handling and identifying labels on chemical containers. Another collaborative partner Savanah Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) in the conduct soil analysis in the GROW communities. In our nutrition activities, we have also been collaborating with WIAD on the provision of soybean utilization training for our women groups. We have contracted them during the 1st year and we found the relationship mutually beneficial for both parties. During the 1st year, they conducted the training by themselves, on the 2nd year they provided Training of Trainers to GROW women who are interested and can provide the same training to our women. Ghana Health Service (GHS) is another government agency that we have partnership. They played a major role as facilitators during our Infants and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) practice training for both KFP staffs and Lead Farmers.

CHALLENGES ENCOUNTERED AND RECOMMENDED ADJUSTMENTS This 3rd year has been very productive wherein both the MEDA and KFPs incorporated learnings they got during the 1st and 2nd years of project. Continued hard work and cooperation within the team have produced strong results. We have conducted community and group validations. We finished our 2-year contract with KFPs by December 2014 and have signed another year of contract with them for 2015. The team regularly conducts program meeting to discuss challenges and ways to resolve them the soonest. The project team regularly reflects on lessons learned to continually improve project implementation. The following are challenges encountered and the recommended adjustments that the team are doing to answer them.

Challenges Encountered Recommended Adjustments Delay in inputs supplies Early production planning has been carried out in

preparation for the 2015 production season. Development of crop budgets will indicate the quantities of inputs required for this year’s production. This will help to facilitate early linkages with input suppliers and other service providers.

Inadequate threshers in GROW communities

Contacted Agromite, a thresher supplier to link interested private individuals who would like to invest on threshers and provide threshing services to the women for a fee.

Delay of drip irrigation system to set-up demonstration farms on dry season.

In collaboration with Dizzengoff, we planned to establish 3 demonstration farms but due to delay in importing the irrigation kits, only one demonstration farm was established by procuring the kit locally. Steps are taken to take delivery of the other kits so that the rest of the demonstration farms can be established early in the next dry season.

Not all groups have access to Talking Books

Since we have piloted Talking Book only in PRUDA communities, only 30 groups have benefited and other Lead Farmers would like to have the same. We have expanded Talking Book to include all the Lead Farmers.

Delayed payment of Golden Web to 200 women-farmers

Golden Web was affected by the decrease in demand of animal feeds due to electricity problem in Kumasi. The team have been in contact with Golden Web and they promised to pay by June. KFP staff has to go to the communities and explain the situation to the women. The women said that in order to preserve the relationship, they will wait for the payment. However next time, they will no longer sell their produce to Golden Web. The team informed the other KFPs as well of what happened to Golden Web so they are aware of the situation and they can provide information to their women-groups.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Administration Engagement with Canadian/MEDA Tours GROW hosted 12 guests composed of 2 MEDA HQ staff, 2 Board of Directors and 8 supporters from PeopleCare, a Canadian long-term-care facility that is supporting the GROW Project. They arrived September 21 in the country and left on October 1, 2014. The visit had been very interesting and inspiring not only for the GROW Team but also to the women-groups visited. They were very engaged and happy to see the impact of their support to the GROW Project.

Picture 25: MEDA Tours with PeopleCare, September 2014 Presentation of GROW Project with MEDA Supporters GROW Project was presented during MEDA’s Annual Convention on November 2014 in Winnipeg. The Country Project Manager spoke in 2 workshops as well as present GROW during the Annual General Membership (AGM) meeting with the MEDA President. This gave MEDA members more interest on the project and for them to support it. The convention was attended by more than 500 MEDA supporters and members. On March 2015, GROW was again presented during the MEDA Waterloo Annual Spring Banquet. Catherine was the main speaker where she spoke about the project together with 2 other colleagues from MEDA Ghana.

Picture No. 26: MEDA Waterloo Chapter Annual Spring Banquet GROW Visibility and Recognition GROW Ghana launched their Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/GROWMEDA) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/GROW_Ghana) pages in October 2014 to improve GROW’s visibility and recognition. This is to provide relevant, engaging and timely information about GROW activities to supporters from around the world. The following are the highlights:

o Facebook now has over 490 Likes with an average reach of 304 people for status updates which also include 30 clicks and 20 likes per status. Videos have a slightly higher reach of 374 with about 45 clicks and 10 likes on average. The status update with the highest engagement was about world food day and included a picture of the MEDA and KFP team which reached 1,200 people, received 158 clicks and 70 likes.

o Twitter has also been growing steadily with 106 tweets, 53 followers, following 76 organizations/individuals and 6 favorites.

o Sharing of GROW successes and milestones to MEDA HQ Marketing, DFATD newsletter and in Ghana local news for publicity.

Staffing Gender Coordinator During the period, GROW hired a new Gender Coordinator who also resigned after 6 months. The gender activities were being followed-up by the Nutrition Coordinator while hiring and selection were being undertaken. Support was being given by the Gender HQ Manager to the field team on areas of concerns. GROW Interns

MEDA hired 2 interns for GROW Project to provide technical support to the team. The following interns were hired – Communications Intern and Business Development Intern. They will provide significant contributions to the project in the areas of communications and business development support to the soymilk enterprise.

MEDA HQ Technical Support

The project also benefited from the visits this reporting period of MEDA HQ Technical Support in the areas of project management, gender, financial services and member engagement. Visits are scheduled in such a way that they will have enough time to support GROW program staff as well as visit KFPs for any technical support.

Financial Management Financial Reports KFP submits their monthly financial reports that are being incorporated in our monthly reports. Monthly reports by MEDA Ghana are submitted to MEDA HQ Finance Manager for review. Financial reports to DFATD are prepared from HQ and submitted quarterly. Financial Audits During the period, GROW had 2 audits – one external audit from JB Mensah Auditing Firm and other one is the internal audit from MEDA HQ. The external audit is a government of Ghana requirement to ensure MEDA Ghana in-country registration. The audits provided the field team the necessary capacity building to improve our internal control system and to become more donor-compliant.

M&E The Monitoring and Evaluation unit organized refresher training on the Most Significant Change (MSC) story system which was attended by selected staff from MEDA-Ghana and Key Facilitating Partners (KFP). This resulted to ongoing efforts to institutionalize the MSC system within GROW. Similarly, as part of efforts to strengthen the GROW M&E system, a workshop was organized to build the capacity of GROW staff on the GROW Logic Model and Performance Measurement Framework (PMF). This workshop enabled programme staff to align their day-to-day activities to the logic model and PMF. The unit also liaised with program staff to integrate monitoring plan to all training programs and activities and proposals. This is aimed at demonstrating the effectiveness of training programs. The team also

held series of meetings with stakeholders as part of ongoing efforts to standardise and harmonize GROW data management processes. 2014 Annual Survey GROW conducts annual survey at the end of the year to check on the impact of the project at the client level. Both quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques were adopted for the 2014 annual survey. The quantitative data was collected through a structured household level questionnaire while the qualitative data was collected through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). The key areas of measurement in the questionnaire included performance indicators relating to access to agricultural inputs, production, and yield, access to agricultural financial services, marketing, nutrition, and gender contributions. The qualitative data from the FGDs were along three thematic areas namely GROW programing issues, nutrition, and gender. 2 sets of respondents were drawn for the 2014 Annual Survey comprising 359 clients who planted and 40 clients who did not plant. The first set of respondents comprised clients who planted soy as part of the GROW project while the second set represents clients who did not plant soy, despite enrolling into the GROW project. This was aimed at gauging the reactions of both set of clients to the various services delivered under the GROW project. The data collection was led by the M&E teams, both from MEDA and KFPs. A team of 13 survey enumerators were recruited and trained to get better understanding of the questionnaire and how to administer them in the tablets prior to the field work. The GROW M&E team also carried out a total of 15 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) comprising five each on three topics: Program Issues, Nutrition, and Gender (Control of Household Income). Each KFP was allocated three FGDs - one each on the three thematic areas of discussions. The three discussions were hosted in 15 different communities across the operational districts. Findings from the FGDs have been imbedded into the appropriate sections of the report to support the survey results.

ANNEX 1: list of trainings and total participants.

1. List of Training

Program Areas Title of Training Participants Numbers Sustainable Agriculture

Soybean Production, TOT

MEDA and KFP staff

33

Soybean Production, step-down

Lead Farmers and member

3937

Compost Preparation and Utilization, TOT

MEDA and KFP staff

33

Compost Preparation and Utilization, step down training

Lead Farmers and members

740

Post-harvest Handling and Management, TOT

MEDA and KFP staff

46

Post-harvest Handling and Management, step-down training

Lead Farmers 347

ICT Refresher Training on

Talking Book Lead Farmers 60

Farmerline, KFP Officers Training

MEDA and KFP staff

46

Farmerline, Lead Farmers Training

Lead Farmers 200

Marketing Linkages/ Value Chain

Business and Negotiation Skills

MEDA and KFP staff

27

On-the-job coaching on marketing and business

Baaru Enterprises

2

Financial Services Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA) concept, TOT

KFP staff 28

VSLA concept, step-down training

Groups 69

Training on Household Financial Education, TOT

KFP staff (51) Lead Farmers

(504) Members (29)

Men (30)

614

Training on Household Financial Education, step-down training

Groups (370) Men (850)

8250

Nutrition Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF), TOT

MEDA staff (7) GHS staff (28) KFP staff (26)

61

Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF), step-down training

Lead Farmers 387

Gender/Nutrition Joint Nutrition and

Gender Review Workshop

District Gender and Nutrition

Officers

12

Gender Gender Orientation KFP staff District Gender

Staff

17

Training on Gender, decision making and cultural values

Lead Farmers 216

Training on Gender analysis, TOT

MEDA staff KFP staff

15

Dry Season Activities

Dry Season Vegetable Production, TOT

MEDA (10) KFP (32)

Lead Farmers (10)

52

Dry Season Vegetable Production, step-down

Farmers 1821

Training on Drip Irrigation System

KFP staff (12) Lead Farmers

(13)

25

M&E/ Communications

Training on Most Significant Change Stories (MSC), TOT

GROW Logic Model and Performance Measurement Framework (PMF)

ANNEX 2: List of events organized by GROW and total participants

2. List of Activities

Program Areas Title of Training Participants Numbers OrganizerSustainable Agriculture

Study Tour in CA site in Kumasi

MEDA (4) KFP (9)

Lead Farmers (25)

38 MEDA

Marketing Linkages/Value Chain

Pre-Harvest Forum MEDA (6) KFP (10)

Lead Farmers (10) Aggregator (1)

27 USAID/ ADVANCE

Soybean Demonstration Farms

Lead Farmers and Members

Interested Men

239 women 50 men

MEDA, Weinco

GROW Fair MEDA staff (15) KFP staff (50) Farmers (780)

Aggregators (3) Input Dealer (2)

MOFA (10) District Assembly (10)

Traditional Leaders (20) NGO Partners (5)

895 MEDA

Financial Services

Orientation with Financial Service Providers (FSP)

FSP (5) Farmers (400)

405 MEDA

Planning Workshop

CAPECS Planning Workshop

MEDA (14) CAPECS (10)

24 MEDA

CARD Planning Workshop

MEDA (14) CARD (10)

24 MEDA

PRONET Planning Workshop

MEDA (14) PRONET (10)

24 MEDA

PRUDA Planning Workshop

MEDA (14) PRUDA (10)

24 MEDA

PRONET Planning Workshop

MEDA (14) TUDRIDEP (10)

24 MEDA

Community Mobilization

Community and Group Assessment

MEDA (14) KFP Staff (60)

64 MEDA

Attachment 1 - Performance Measurement Framework (PMF)

Title Improved Food Security in Northern Ghana No. A-034587 Team Leader

Vincent Marimbu

Country/Region Ghana / West and Central Africa Budget $18,000,000 Duration 2012 – 2018

Expected Results1

Indicators2 Baseline Data (included where

applicable) Year 3 Achievements End of Program Targets

(unless otherwise specified) Ultimate Outcome 1000 Improved sustainable food security for small holder farming families, particularly for female, in the Upper West and Northern Regions of Ghana

1000 Indicator 1: Change in food security for female farmer clients in the targeted population assessed as a triangulated measure of : Food Access Score: % of female farmer clients transitioning in food security as defined as three levels: mildly food insecure; moderately food insecure; and severely food insecure.

Dietary Diversity Score: % of surveyed female farmer clients reporting increased frequency of food diversity

Seasonal Food Security Score: % of surveyed female farmer clients reporting a decrease in frequency of seasonal food insecurity

Food Access Score:

49% of clients expressed that they never worried about access to food in the past 4 weeks. 16% report that they were rarely/mildly worried, while 32% were moderately worried; only 3% were often worried about food access.

Dietary Diversity Score:

20% of clients indicate they eat 7 food groups in the past 2 days; 15% indicate 8; 11% indicate 9; 9% indicate 10 and 5% indicate they eat 11 food groups.

Seasonal Food Security Score:

15% of clients had enough to meet their needs for all 12 months of the year; 9% had enough for 11 months; 22% had enough for 10 months; whereas about 9% of them could barely meet their needs for a period of 1-6 months. Less than 1% indicated that they never had enough food to meet their needs.

Not applicable based on frequency Impact Evaluations

Baseline: n/a

Mid-Point: Female farmer clients demonstrate improved food security from baseline state as measured as :

Food Access: 50% of surveyed female farmer clients report a positive transition

Dietary Diversity: 50% of surveyed female farmer clients report increased frequency of food diversity

Seasonal Food Security:50 % of surveyed female farmer clients report a decrease in frequency of seasonal food insecurity

EOP: Female farmer clients demonstrate improved food security from baseline state as measured as :

Food Access: 80% of surveyed female farmer clients report a positive transition

Dietary Diversity: 80% of surveyed female farmer clients report increased frequency of food diversity

Seasonal Food Security: 80% of surveyed female farmer clients report a decrease in

Expected Results1



(unless otherwise specified) frequency of seasonal food

insecurity

Case Studies

Selected households demonstrate improved food security over life of project.

Most Significant Change & Case Study Methodology

Impact stories and case studies reveal improved food security

1000 Indicator 2 Proxy/Standard of Living Improvements Qualitative data systems to determine various standard of living improvements, such as: Vulnerability: Exposure to and the capacity to manage risk. Contribution to decision-making in the household – general, and with focus on production activities and incomes Women’s control of income – how much income women hold back, spending and savings decision making

72% of women strongly agreed or agreed that they contribute to decision making in all areas relating to family farm, personal farm, and animal rearing. 73% of women can hold back or save part of their own personal farm income without their husbands’/head of households’ / other male relatives’ permission. However, out of this, about 17% of the respondents said that they must hide it from them. The FGD

N/A Most Significant Change & Case Study Methodology

Impact stories and case studies reveal assorted standard of life improvements

Expected Results1



(unless otherwise specified) % of school-age children and number attending school

sessions further revealed that men have an outright control over the proceeds from the household farms because it is believed that the farm is owned by the men and the women only give a helping hand. . In households that are headed by men, the returns from the family farm are kept at secured locations in the house by the head of the household. Women in such households do not know how much income is generated from the farm let alone how the money is kept. 95% of school aged children were reported to be currently enrolled in school. The results also indicate that majority of the school-age children are boys (55%), with the girls constituting 45%.

Intermediate Outcomes (Medium term) 1100 Increased diverse agricultural productivity of food crops for small holder farming families, particularly for women, in the Upper West and Northern Regions.

1100 Indicator 1: MT/ha of soybean produced by participating female farmers

The average yield of total production of soybean was 0.73Mt/ha (for those who grew soybean before the project started).

The average yield of total production of soybean was 0.47MT/ha (for those who grew soyabean in 2014).

Impact Evaluations

Baseline: n/a

Year 1: # MT/ha of soybean produced by participating female farmers





Expected Results1



(unless otherwise specified)

1100 Indicator 2: % change in production of soybean compared to previous year

n/a In 2014, farmers harvested 0.47MT/ha, an increase of 74% since 2013. However, compared to the baseline (0.73MT/ha), this yield represents a 36% decrease in percent change in production since the baseline.

Impact Evaluations

Baseline: n/a

Year 1: % change in production of soybean compared to previous year





Expected Results1



(unless otherwise specified) 1100 Indicator 3: % participating female farmer clients report a change in diversity of food crops and dry season activities

12% of female cultivated just one crop or engaged in a dry season activity; 28% engaged in 2; 24% in 3; 15% in 4; 9% in 5; 6% in 6; and 5% of clients engaged in 7-9 crops or dry season activities.

N/A Impact Evaluations

Baseline: n/a

Mid-Point: 50% of surveyed female farmer clients reporting an increase from baseline in diversity of food crops and dry season activities

EOP: 80% of surveyed female farmer clients reporting an increase from baseline in diversity and dry season activities


Impact stories and case studies reveal an increase in food crop production and diversity of food crops

1200 Increased marketing of agricultural products by smallholder farmers, particularly women, in the Upper and West and Northern Regions of Ghana.

1200 Indicator 1: % of participating female farmers report a change in marketing of agricultural products

11% of participating female farmers indicated that they sold soybean in the past year; 89% did not. Of those who did sell, 68% sold 200kg or less; 24% sold between 201-400kg; and 9% sold more than 400kg.


Baseline: n/a

Mid-Point: 50% of surveyed female farmer clients reporting an increase from baseline in marketing of agricultural products

EOP: 80% of surveyed female farmer clients reporting an increase from baseline in marketing of agricultural products


Impact stories and case studies reveal an increase in marketing of agricultural products among female farmer clients

Expected Results1



(unless otherwise specified) 1200 Indicator 2: Change in household income and any increase attributed to increased marketing of products

Income Average income per household is GH¢646.3.This figure includes farm income, dry season activities, remittances, and income from stored and sold produce. Consumption Average expenditure per household is GH¢295.5, which includes farm costs, food, consumed crops, clothing, school fees and other spending like airtime, medicines, etc. Asset score Fan 9% Bike 85% Motorbike 38% Thresher 2% Grinding machine 10%


Baseline: n/a

Mid-Point: Surveyed female farmer clients report a 30% increase, on average, in household income from baseline and attribute this to increased marketing of products

EOP: Surveyed female farmer clients report a 50% increase, on average, in household income from baseline and attribute this to increased marketing of products


Impact stories and case studies reveal an increase in household income and this attributed to increased marketing of products

1200 Indicator 3: % of female farmer clients report an change in income stability throughout the year, including dry season, and attribute this more stable income to increased marketing of products

Of those female farmer clients who grew soybean last year, 3% of indicate soybean sales contributed to income for 6 months; 6% indicated the for 5 months; and 3% indicated 4 months. 27% of female indicated they used soybean sales for 3 months of income, and 24% said it lasted 2 months.


Baseline: n/a

Mid-Point: 20% of surveyed female farmer clients report an improvement in income stability throughout the year, including dry season, from baseline and attribute the more stable income to increased marketing of products

EOP: 40% of surveyed female farmer clients report an improvement in income stability throughout the year, including dry season, from baseline and attribute the more stable income to increased marketing of products

Expected Results1



(unless otherwise specified) Most Significant Change & Case Study Methodology

Impact stories and case studies reveal an increase among assessed female farmer clients in income stability throughout the year, including dry season, and attribute a more stable income to increased marketing of products

1300 Improved nutrition practices for smallholder farming families (women, men, girls and boys) in the Upper West and Northern Regions of Ghana.

1300 Indicator 1: Awareness of nutrition practices by participating households

The survey results show that there are a number of nutrition practices that the female are aware of. Predominant amongst them is improved hygienic practices including hand washing with soap (82.6%). About half of them (49%) are aware of complementary feeding for infants after the age of six months (meaning they do not stop nursing upon the introduction of food at six months), and 41% use Iodated salt. The rest are vitamin A supplementation, deworming and consumption of nutritious food

However, the female’s familiarity with these nutritional practices is quite limited since almost 80% of them are aware of only one or two practices.


Baseline: n/a

Mid-Point: 50% of surveyed female farmer clients report an improvement in level of awareness of nutrition practices from baseline

EOP: 80% of surveyed female farmer clients report an improvement in level of awareness of nutrition practices from baseline


Impact stories and case studies reveal an increase among surveyed female farmer clients of awareness of nutrition practices

1300 Indicator 2: Change in dietary diversity score as defined in a household nutrition survey

20% of clients indicate they eat 7 food groups in the past 2 days; 15% indicate 8; 11% indicate 9; 9% indicate 10 and 5% indicate they eat 11 food groups.


Baseline: n/a

Mid-Point: 40% of surveyed female farmer clients report an improvement in their dietary diversity score from baseline

Expected Results1



(unless otherwise specified) EOP: 80% of surveyed female farmer clients report an improvement in their dietary diversity score from baseline


Impact stories and case studies reveal an improvement in their dietary diversity score

frequency

Immediate Outcomes (Short term) 1101 Female farmers have improved access to agriculture extension services

1101 Indicator #1:% of female farmers report access to agriculture extension services

26% of female farmers indicated that they have received training on farming from some people or organizations in the last two years.

90.5% of farmers reported access to agriculture extension services, up from 26.0% of women in 2012 who indicated that they had received training on farming within the past two years. This represents a 64% increase since the baseline—surpassing the sixth year target.

Annual Evaluative Survey

Baseline: n/a

Female farmer clients self-report increased access to agriculture extension services @ 20% second year; 30% third year; 40% fourth year; 50% fifth year and 60% sixth year


Impact stories and case studies reveal female farmer clients have improved access to agriculture extension services

1101 Indicator #2: Change in agricultural extension services provided (number and type of

n/a N/A Baseline: n/a

Mid Point: 50% of surveyed agricultural extension service providers report an increase in the number of extension services to female farmer clients

EOP: 80% of surveyed agricultural extension service providers report an

Expected Results1



(unless otherwise specified) extension services provided)

increase in the number of extension services to female farmer clients.

1102 Female farmers have improved access to inputs

1102 Indicator #1:Female farmers report a change in access to inputs

9% of clients reported they had access to inputs in the past year.

N/A Annual Evaluative Survey

Baseline: n/a

Female farmer clients self-report increased access to inputs @ 20% second year; 30% third year; 40% fourth year; 50% fifth year and 60% sixth year


Impact stories and case studies reveal female farmer clients have improved access to inputs

1102 Indicator #2: Profiled input suppliers report sales to female farmer clients


Mid Point: Identified input suppliers report an increase in sales to female farmer clients by 20%

EOP: Identified input suppliers report an increase in sales to female farmer clients by 40%

1103 Female farmers have improved access to appropriate equipment and

1103 Indicator #1:% of female farmers report access to appropriate equipment and

Appropriate equipment and technology

23% of women reported access to improved seed1

N/A Baseline: n/a

Mid-Point: 30% of female farmer clients self-report increased access to appropriate equipment and technology

1 Other appropriate equipment and technology as defined by the project was not measured during the baseline. These include knapsack sprayer, tractor service, use of locally suitable planting equipment, harvesting equipment, storage equipment, while the technology includes use of improved seed variety, drilling to plant, use of recommended planting distances, use of recommended seed rating, use of inoculants, and recommended fertilizers

Expected Results1



(unless otherwise specified) technology, including environmentally sustainable techniques

technology, including environmentally sustainable techniques

Environmentally sustainable techniques

13% of women reported employing conservation agriculture techniques

12% of women reported employing moisture conservation techniques

15% of women reported composting

1% of women reported applying manure to their fields

including environmentally sustainable techniques

EOP: 60% of female farmer clients self-report increased access to appropriate equipment and technology including environmentally sustainable techniques


Impact stories and case studies reveal female farmer clients have improved access to appropriate equipment and technology

1103 Indicator #2: Profiled equipment and technology suppliers report a change in sales to female farmer clients


Mid Point: Profiled equipment and technology suppliers report increased sales to female farmer clients by 20%

EOP: Profiled equipment and technology suppliers report increased sales to female farmer clients by 40%

1104 Female farmers have the information and skills to diversify dry-season production

1104 Indicator 1 : % of Female farmer clients reporting a change in information and skills to diversify dry-season production

n/a 79.3% of GROW farmers reported that they were active in at least one type of dry season production, compared to 66% in the baseline. The top three dry season activities are drinking bar operation, shea butter processing, and charcoal and fire wood sales.

Baseline: n/a

Female farmer clients self-report improved information and skills @ 20% second year; 30% third year; 40% fourth year; 50% fifth year and 60% sixth year

Expected Results1



(unless otherwise specified) 1104 Indicator #2: %

of female farmers report a diversification of dry season production

2% of female farmers report they are active in 4 or more dry season production activities, 13% report they engage in 3, 39% report they engage in 2 practices, and 44% report they engage in one dry season production activity. 1% indicated they had no dry season activities.

N/A Evaluative Surveys

Baseline: n/a

Mid-Point: 50% of surveyed clients reporting an increase from baseline in the diversification of dry season production

EOP: 80% of surveyed clients reporting an increase from baseline in the diversification of dry season production


Impact stories and case studies reveal an increase in diversification of dry season production

1105 Female farmers have improved access to financing

1105 Indicator #1:Female farmers report access to appropriate financial services

33% of female indicated they had accessed a loan in the past year.

88.2% of farmers accessed appropriate financial services, which indicates an increase of 55.2% from the baseline. Of these, 44.8% accessed credit, and 86.6% saved. Of those farmers who took a loan, sources of financial services included informal savings groups such as VSLAs, loans from KFPs, and family and friends.

Baseline: n/a

Female farmer clients self-report increased access to financial services @ 20% second year; 30% third year; 40% fourth year; 50% fifth year and 60% sixth year


Impact stories and case studies reveal female farmer clients have improved access to financial services

1105 Indicator #2: # of appropriate financial services offered to female farmers


Mid Point: Profiled financial services providers report increased services to female farmer clients by 20%

Expected Results1



(unless otherwise specified) EOP: Profiled financial services providers report increased services to female farmer clients by 40%

1120 Community leaders, private sector, men and the women themselves recognize the value of women’s economic contribution

1120 Indicator 1: Female farmer clients report a change in recognition of their economic contribution within their households, private sector, and communities

67% of female farmers indicated they felt recognized for their economic contribution within the household (scoring a 4 or higher on a Lickert scale)

61% of female farmers indicated they felt recognized for their economic contribution within the community (scoring a 4 or higher on a Lickert scale)


Baseline: n/a

Mid-Point: 50% of surveyed female farmer clients reporting an increase in recognition of their economic contribution within their households, the private sector, and communities

EOP: 80% of surveyed female farmer clients reporting an increase in recognition of their economic contribution within their households, the private sector, and communities


Impact stories and case studies reveal an increase an increase in recognition of female’s economic contribution within their households, the private sector, and communities

1210 Woman farmers have improved access to markets

1210 Indicator 1:# of market channels available to female farmers

0 The 2014 results show a wide range of marketing channels through which clients sell their farm produce--in total there were 11 different market channels that farmers sold to.

Baseline: 0

At least two market channels available for female farmers

1211. Female farmers have access to timely market information including prices offered by a range of buyers

1211 Indicator 1:% of female farmer clients reporting access to timely market information including prices offered by a range of buyers and

71% of women reported having access to timely market information, including on such topics as pricing (70%), potential buyers (20%), forecasted demand (1%), and quality specification (0%).

70.3% of farmers confirmed to have received marketing information especially on pricing and potential buyers prior to the sale of their produce, if they had sold already.

Baseline: n/a

Female farmer clients self-report improved access @ 20% second year; 30% third year; 40% fourth year; 50% fifth year and 60% sixth year

Expected Results1



(unless otherwise specified) and forecasts of market demand.

forecasts of market demand.

1212. Female farmers, particularly Lead Farmers, have improved marketing and negotiating skills

1212 Indicator 1 :Female farmer clients, particularly Lead Farmers, self assess a change in their marketing and negotiating skills

Of those female farmers who had received some market information, 50% of them indicated they were able to negotiate with different buyers to agree on terms of sales such as transportation, pricing, storage and payments.

46.2% of farmers who sold soya confirmed that they were able to negotiate with potential buyers prior to the sale of their produce, especially on topics like pricing and transport.

Baseline: n/a

Female farmer clients self-report improved skills @ 20% second year; 30% third year; 40% fourth year; 50% fifth year and 60% sixth year

1310 Increased understanding of adult and child nutritional needs at different life stages and corresponding foods, among smallholder female farmers

1310 Indicator 1: Female farmer clients self assess a change in understanding of adult and child nutritional needs at different life stages and corresponding foods, among smallholder female farmers

58% of female reported being confident their understanding of adult and child nutritional needs (scoring a 4 or higher in the Lickert scale).

69.2% of women are confident or very confident in their understanding of adult and child nutritional needs. A large part of this is how to incorporate soya, high in protein, into their households’ diets.

Baseline: n/a

Female farmer clients self-report improved understanding @ 20% second year; 30% third year; 40% fourth year; 50% fifth year and 60% sixth year

1. from Logic Model 2. Gender and Environment where possible 3. Unless otherwise specified

Attachment 2 – GROW Risk Register

Title Investing in Food Security in Northern Ghana

No. A-034587

Team Leader Vincent Marimbu

Country/Region/Institution Ghana / West and Central Africa

Budget $18,000,000 (CAD) Duration 6.5 years (2012 – 2018)

Risk Definition Risk Response

Residual Risk Level Very Low/Low/High/Very High (Add

columns as needed)

Logic Model Result

Statement Risk Owner

Year 1

Year 22

Year 3 Date 3

Operational Risks

Op1 High time/work burden for women; the harvest season is already a busy time for women (versus the dry season)

Gender sensitization to both men and women in all communities.

Further analysis will need to be done to understand women’s time constraints and ensure proposed activities are not overly burdensome.

Sensitization will assist in increased recognition by men and community of women’s important role in economic development, potentially resulting in more shared activities or shifts in responsibilities.

Introduction of time-saving technology in addition to gender sensitization

2 2 L=2 I=2

L= I=

Final Outcome/Impact

(4)

Project Manager

Gender Program Manager

Op2 Men taking over women’s assets, land, resources and work (particularly as they see the value in soya)

Sensitization at the household and community levels

Inclusion of men in some programming.

Gender sensitization to both men and women in all communities

3 1 L=1 I=1

L= I=

Intermediate Outcome

(1)

Project Manager

Gender Program Manager

2 Risk levels in former risk level matrix

Op3 Soil / crop compatibility Ensure KFP staff know and are following criteria for selection of new communities

Planting alternative crops; using agroforestry, and fertilizer application

1 1 L=0 I=0

L= I=


(1)

Project Manager

Environmental Program Manager

Op4 Drought or other natural disasters

Pilot crop insurance Provide training and information on

Conservation Agriculture so effects of drought or natural disasters will be lessen.

Pilot linkages to weather information can also assist the women to be prepared for any weather disturbance.

Ensure low cost irrigation technologies provided by commercial suppliers. In partnership with IIPACC, MEDA will explore and test micro insurance packages offered by rural banks that can provide safety nets against climate uncertainties.

2 3 L=3 I=3

L= I=


(9)

Project Manager

Environmental Program Manager

Financial Risks

Fin1 Insufficient and late financing. Rural banks’ application review and decision making processes tend to be slow and loan disbursements late for planting season; rural banks’ lack of lending capital results in insufficient financing to agricultural producers.

Encourage women to go into self-financing thru their VSLAs

Preparation of farmer’s crop budget to be submitted to the FSPs.

Identification and diversification of financing options for farmers and VCAs.

Remind MFIs, banks and other financial service providers of their timely and efficient service to our women-farmers

Through the capacity building process, MEDA will ensure the partner rural banks have improved procedural policies in place and access to additional loan capital in order to finance timely and sufficiently.

2 2 L=1 I=3

L= I=

Immediate Outcome

(4)

Project Manager

Development Risks

Dev1 Monopolistic behavior by aggregators/buyers/traders

Identification of new markets options for women.

MEDA will sensitize value chain players on negotiation skills and bargaining power.

MEDA will also encourage multiple traders/aggregators in each area, empower farmers with price information through service providers (ex. Esoko), and link farmers with multiple traders/ aggregators (identification of new markets)

2 1 L=1 I=1

L= I=


(1)

Project Manager

Dev2 NGO dependency; communities’ expectation of handouts. Many of the stakeholders within the Upper West (gov't, NGOs) expect MEDA to continue service delivery and handouts.

MEDA to remain as market-based development NGO

This will require sensitization and staying true to the model as we bring KFPs on board and the word spreads (MEDA to remain as market-based development NGO)

3 3 L=2 I=1

L= I=

Immediate Outcome

(3)

Project Manager

Dev3 Dispersed communities lack sufficient availability of sustainable support services, such as input suppliers, extension services and processing facilities, to facilitate producer upgrading

Identify and encourage community Sales Agents and service providers.

KFPs to be reminded in community selection so areas are suitable for production and accessible to input suppliers, extension services and markets

The project will support providers in the identification and development of innovative delivery models and payment mechanisms to reduce transaction costs for services. Information regarding the market potential will be disseminated to service providers.

2 2 L=1 I=2

L= I=

Output (4)

Project Manager

Dev4 Potential of mining activities in GROW districts

Mitigate – GROW and KFPs to provide information on the harmful effects of mining to their lands. Providing information on the amount they can earn from soybean

- 3 L=3 I=4

L= I=


(12)

Project Manager

production or vegetable gardening versus mining

Reputational Risks

Rep1 Failure to build a strong relationship with government, thus limiting level of agricultural and extension support and cooperation

Transfer – Reminder to KFPs to provide regular interactions with local district assembly and community leaders to gain support for the project.

The project, with assistance from DFATD, will ensure that government support is obtained at the federal, regional, and district level. Efforts will be made to include government staff, where interested, in capacity building exercises. Government is included in the project advisory committee.

The project will operate on a federal level which should address budget off-setting and regional procurement issues. The project will link with the AGP, synchronise with AGP action learning, M&E and policy dialogue.

1 2 L=1 I=3

L= I=

Output (6)

Project Manager

Rep2 Project activities will harm the local environment and ecosystems.

Sensitize farmers to use and dispose agro chemicals properly

MEDA’s Environmental Strategy outlines measures to ensure environmentally sound techniques and technologies are applied and any negative impact mitigated. The Strategy is integrated in project design and the M&E Plan to ensure meaningful environmental engagement.

2 1 L=0 I=0

L= I=

Output (1)

Environment Program Manager

Overall Risk Level

1.6 (18/11)

Attachment 3 – Most Significant Change Stories Soybeans for Improved Health

Hawa Adams is a soybean farmers, a mother of eight children, and a wife living in Sibelle in Sissalla West District. Before she joined the GROW project, Hawa had difficulties meeting the nutritional needs of her family. She explained that this was a major source of worry to her because her children’s appeared thin and physically unhealthy. Hawa always felt bad when she saw her children playing with other children in the village, because her kids were often pushed around simply because they are not strong enough mentally, psychologically and physically to withstand their peers. For this reason, Hawa sometimes cried for her children and as result of her children being bullied, she did not want them to play outside with others. In 2013, motivated by all the benefits soybean production would offer her family, including meeting the nutritional needs, Hawa started farming soybeans with the GROW project. She planted one acre of soybeans last year and harvested seven (50kg) bags of which she sold three bags and kept four for her family consumption. According to her, growing soybeans have improved the lives of her family: “It was difficult to feed my children enough to keep them healthy. I grow enough soy beans to feed the family. Soybeans have changed the anthem in the house, “kolon”- a staple food in my community. I prepare a variety of dishes with soybeans which the family enjoys. Soya is the meat in my soup. I also mix it with dawadawa to prepare soup and stew”. Hawa also participated in GROW’s nutritional training and now her family eats a balanced diet, which has improved their health. Her son Majeed explained: “anytime my mother prepares ‘akusi’ with soybeans, I eat and don’t get hungry at school. I drink plenty water when I eat them. Sometimes, she prepares soybean ‘koko’ and puts it in a rubber and I take it to school. As you can see I am fat and my muscles are developed,” he adds with a smile. But the impact of soybeans is not limited to family’s physical appearance, it is also felt in their pockets. Hawa now spends much less money on medical bills for her family. Additionally, she has attended MEDA’s household financial management training and explained, “Besides the nutritional value soya brings to my family, it has also improved my income level and saving culture. I am a member of Zilekanchie group in this community that actively and effectively practices the VSLA (Village Loans and Savings Association) concept. Just quite recently as a group we agreed to increase our savings to 2 GHS weekly.” Through the VSLA group Hawa has access to savings and loans in case of an emergency or if she require funds to expand her soybean production. Hawa is thankful to MEDA and TUDRIDEP for introducing GROW into her community. She said, “If God bless us with rain this year, with the support of my family, I will increase the soybean acreage and get more bags to feed the family.” This year, Hawa plans to increase her soybean farm from one acre to three.

Title: Soybeans for Improved Health Client name: Hawa Adams Date: 23-3-2015 Domain of Change: 6. Food Security. Change in malnutrition in the HH KFP: TUDRIDEP

Figure 1 Mumuni Sakina (Hawa’s daughter-in-law) preparing to fry soybeans.

Figure 2 Hawa and three of her children Safura (14), Majeed (16), Zina (11), and grandson Falaha (2) enjoying a meal together.

Embracing Her Entrepreneurial Spirit

Pia Robert is a mother of six children, four boys and two girls, living in Poyentanga, Wa West District. She first learned about GROW when the staff came to the community to introduce the project and she explained: “I felt that joining the project would help me and my children and true to my word we’re getting some help through the project nutrition component”. In 2013 Pia started growing soybeans and harvested 100 kg from her one acre farm. And last year, she grew the same acreage of soybeans, but harvested an additional 50 kg. Pia was also struck by the entrepreneurial spirit. Through GROW’s soya utilization training, she learned how to make soya kebabs from her soybeans. Now, she produces soya kebabs and sells them at the church in Poyentanga during prayers days and also at the primary school during the week. Pia shared that she has significantly increased her income through her kebab sales: “when am able to sell all my kebabs any day I generate as much as GHC 20.00, which can currently buy two bowls of soya in our local market here in Poyentanga.”

Pia’s family is also seeing the benefits from her soybean production as she keeps some for family consumption. She shared that they like soya very much especially when she uses it to make local dishes like pupully, tubani and kebabs. Before GROW Pia had difficulties paying her weekly contribution to her Village Saving and Loans Association (VSLA), sometimes she couldn’t afford to save anything. Now with her kebab sales, Pia is saving regularly during meetings and she has also been able to support her husband in paying her children’s school fees. Moving forward, Pia plans to expand her soybean production and business. Next season Pia will plant two acres and she also shared that the GROW project has given her a lot of hope, “I have been thinking that I will develop financially through GROW and help finance my children education”. Now that Pia has seen the benefits of using soybeans, she is urging other women to join the project. She explained, “I encourage those who have not join the project yet to also join, because there is a lot to learn, even I am teaching a certain woman how to make the soya kebabs.” Pia’s

financial security has increased and she is now hopeful for her children’s future, now that she is able to save for future financial challenges her family might face.

Title: Embracing Her Entrepreneurial Spirit Client name: Pia Robert Date: 3-3-2015 Domain of Change: 4. Business acumen (1200 Indicator 1; 1200 Indicator 1) c. Farming as a business KFP: CAPECS

Figure 3 Pia selling soybean kebabs at Poyentanga Primary

Creating business solutions to poverty

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