CATALIST-2 : Towards Viable Clusters in Agribusiness for Improved Farmers' Income and Food Security in the Great Lakes Region

During 2006-2011, IFDC implemented the CATALIST (Catalyze Accelerated Agricultural Intensification for Social and Environmental Stability) project. During the first years, CATALIST strongly focused on the introduction of ISFM, which led to very conclusive results. As from 2009, after its mid-term evaluation, CATALIST intensified its efforts in value chain development and accelerated organizing "CASE-clusters".

CATALIST was scheduled to end in September 2011, but the Royal Netherlands Embassy provided for an extension until 31 March 2012, allowing the project staff to evaluate and publicize CATALIST achievements and to develop a solid strategy Towards Viable Clusters in Agribusiness for Improved Farmers' Income and Food security in the Great Lakes Region (CATALIST-2).

CATALIST-2 will be a continuation and expansion of CATALIST, taking into account the lessons learned during the CATALIST project and the recommendations of the external mid-term evaluation.

CATALIST-2 will further apply and adapt the CASE approach in the Great Lakes Region of Africa and will emphasize "roll-out and scale up" - increasing the number of agribusiness clusters and the relations among them. The impact on regional food security will be enlarged by more than tripling the current number of smallholder farmers involved.

Using 'the market' as the key driver for agricultural intensification, CATALIST-2 will use a public-private partnership (PPP) model, and will partner - whenever possible - with national and international agro-enterprises. (in areas such as agro-input supply, professional service provision and output marketing).

IFDC will partner with the Centre for Development Innovation of Wageningen University and Research Centre (WUR-CDI). CDI will pilot the mainstreaming of a seed component, which is vital for improving yields and product quality. In addition, WUR-CDI will contribute to the continuous adaptation and innovation of CATALIST-2.

An inception phase of CATALIST-2 started on April 1, 2012 for a period of 3 months until June 30, 2012.