Leveraging the Development of Local Food Crops and Fisheries Value Chains for Improved Nutrition and Sustainable Food Systems in the Pacific Islands

(with a focus on Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu)

Analyse – Act – Advocate – Innovate for Value Chain and Agribusiness Development and Good Nutrition

The challenge

The Pacific is a unique but diverse region comprising several remote islands, many of which share similar challenges. Traditionally, Pacific islanders depended on crop production and fishing to sustain their daily diets and livelihoods. However, food and nutrition security, health and incomes are being threatened by a decline in:

agricultural production,
overfishing and illegal fishing,
changing dietary habits,
increased dependence on imported processed foods,
youth unemployment and increasing urbanisation,
the effects of climate change,
volatility in international markets and
limitations in the policy, financial and institutional environment.

The population of the Pacific islands is expected to double by 2050, which will put further strain on the agri-food and health systems.

The aim

The aim of this project is to strengthen the capacity of the Pacific island governments, farmer and private-sector organisations and sub-regional institutions to develop innovative strategies and programmes that can increase poor rural people’s access to nutritious and healthy food and mobilise the funds needed to deliver these.

The approach

The project aims at improving local food supply, income, and nutrition outcomes by building value-chain-specific public-private partnerships (value-chain coordination/agricultural innovation platforms) and effective linkages between knowledge institutes, government, and industry to drive innovation and attract investments. To achieve this, the project employs a three-pronged approach:

Analyse – Build the evidence base
Act – Build capacity for change
Advocate – Share practices and lobby for policy change and development impact at scale.

Local communities and public and private actors will participate in setting the agenda for an innovative agricultural sector that will contribute to better nutrition, higher incomes, and a sustainable agri-food system.

The beneficiaries

Direct

Governments and public national and sub-regional agencies
Private agro-enterprises (including those owned by women and young people)
Decision-makers in international organisations and NGOs
Producers and community based organisations (including farmers’ organisations)
Financiers

Indirect

Farmer and fisher folk households
Rural communities
Women

The impact

The project will contribute to improving the nutritional status and long-term financial and physical health of poor rural communities, especially women and young children. It will achieve this by strengthening the capacity of the Pacific Island governments targeted as well as farmer and private sector organizations, and sub-regional institutions by developing strategies and programmes, and mobilise financing for the development and upgrading of local food crop value chains and fisheries.

The long view

The project will develop innovative, profitable and sustainable value chains that will drive increased production of nutritious foods for local consumption and export. Some 40,000 farmers and fisher folk will benefit from these value chains. It will establish strategic partnerships with governments, the private sector, universities, international organisations and farming communities tensure that good practices and successful initiatives are scaled up and taken up across the region.

Activities

Mainstreaming nutritionally, culturally and environmentally sensitive value chains by:
- identifying local food-crop and fisheries value chains, and the policy, regulatory and institutional constraints they face
- designing private- and public-sector strategies and interventions tenhance development of value chains and mainstream them intnational development frameworks and sectoral development plans.
Promoting national and sub-regional policy dialogue and partnership development by:
- developing action plans for the selected value chains through sub regional and national forums, roundtable workshops, and consultations
- providing technical assistance for local business plan development
- drafting supporting regulations and policies, participatory integrated business development plans and landscape and fisheries management plans.
Monitoring and evaluating project progress and impacts by:
- developing baselines
- tracking and reporting on progress
- conducting a final evaluation.
Using innovative information and communication technologies to ensure effective knowledge management and communication.
Mainstreaming a gender-sensitive approach in all activities.