ACORD - Agency for Co-operation and Research in Development

Published purpose

To respond to the challenge of food security across Africa, the Pan-African Agriculture Program contributes to the goal set by the African Union (AU) and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) through the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) to achieve a 6-percent growth per year in the agricultural sector Africa-wide by 2015. Through such activities as training and workshops, the project aims to disseminate, at the grassroots level, agricultural policies, information, and sustainable practices in small-scale farming and pastoralism in order to build the capacity of African farmers and pastoralists. The project supports the Agency for Cooperation and Research in Development (ACORD) in facilitating the active engagement of over 200 organizations of small-scale farmers and pastoralists in two processes that have significant impacts on their livelihood: the implementation of the CAADP and the development of the AU's Pastoral Policy Framework (PPF) for Africa. This supports the CAADP and the PPF to adequately address and respond to the realities of African communities. ACORD is an African-led organization with 30 years' experience working with grassroots communities in 18 countries across Africa, through its extensive networks and partners. To sustain its work and resources over the long term, the project also supports the strengthening of ACORD's Pan-African Agriculture Program and the development of ACORD into a more effective and efficient pan-African organization.