SeedChange

Published purpose

This program contributes to enhanced food security, nutrition and resilience to climate change through agro-ecological practices and seed improvements in nine countries by: (1) significantly increasing the production of food for 15,000 households; (2) stimulating sustainable economic growth by promoting community economic activities for 7,000 households; and (3) increasing household income by an estimated 20%. The nine countries and regions of intervention are Bangladesh (Thakurgaon and Nilphamari), Bolivia (Potosi) , Ethiopia (South Wollo zone), Honduras (Yoro, Intibucá, Francisco Morazán and Comayagua), Mali (Douentza and Mopti), Senegal (Podor), Burkina Faso (Soum), Nepal (Kaski, Banke, Makawanpur, Sarlahi, Humla and Lalitpura) and Timor Lest(Aileu and Manatuto). Key activities include: (1) training partner staff in monitoring and conducting baseline studies and assessments; (2) strengthening the capacity of community seed banks by creating additional seed banks, providing training in plant breeding, and control of post-harvest losses; (3) improving agricultural infrastructure for soil and water conservation, providing training on cropping methodologies and promoting agroforestry; (4) training farmers in post-harvest processing, providing training on micro-enterprises and strengthening the capacity of farmers' and women's associations; (5) undertaking gender analyses and gender audits with all USC partners to provide them with leadership training and to promote women-led agricultural production and income-generating activities for women; and (6) engaging Canadians by hosting several hundred community events across Canada, developing short videos, and producing publications related to food security. Local partners are: 1) Bangladesh - USC Canada-Bangladesh; 2) Bolivia - Programa de Desarrollo Integral Interdisciplinario; 3) Ethiopia - Ethio-Organic Seed Action; 4) Honduras - Foundation for Participatory Research; 5) Nepal - Self Help Initiative Program and Parivartan; 6) Mali - Conseils Accompagnement des initiatives à la Base Demeso; 7) Burkina Faso - Association pour la Protection de la Nature au Sahel; 8) Timor Lest - RAEBIA; and Sénégal - Réseau Africain pour le Développement Intégré.