African Agribusiness Needs and Opportunities Assessment

Overview

Building bridges between civil-society and the private sector

Focused on critical roles that the private business sector has to play in scaling up sustainable land and water management, in partnership with TerrAfrica.

This document reports on a collaborative, stakeholder-engaged assessment of the resources that are needed to build capacities for meaningful private sector engagement in integrated landscape initiatives that can advance the scaling up of Sustainable Land and Water Management (SLWM).

The private sector is a key driver of development and improvement of the lives of our communities.” – surveyed landscape leader

The needs assessment used a combination of consultations with leaders from civil-society organizations (CSOs) and private sector platforms in Africa, and group input from two major convenings around capacity building for civil-society leaders.

What’s missing to connect Landscape Initiatives with business leaders?

Survey question: Do you have materials for communicating the value of your work with the private sector?

Answer: 68% No, 32% Yes.

Survey Question: Have you received training for implementing tools used in projects involving the private sector?

Answer: 61% No, 39% Yes

Study informed our training materials

The Needs and Opportunities Assessment was designed to inform the production of a set of training materials, primarily a short booklet and poster. The challenges facing landscape leaders in engaging African agribusinesses need far more attention: our materials are a first step. Landscape leaders need training on the quantitative assessment tools necessary to make a convincing business case to agribusinesses, and the convening power of donors (or at least donor finance) to bring them to the table.