Overview

The JP was designed as an innovative and replicable approach to promote organic farming through strengthening institutional capacities, technological innovation and improvement of  financing mechanisms.

Under outcome 1 the JP sought to strengthen institutional capacities for the design and implementation of public policies in organic production through support to the UC-CNAPE (Coordination Unit of the National Organic Production Committee), as a result 13 Ecological Production Municipal Committees and were recognized and 18 municipalities were implementing SPGs (Participatory Guarantee Systems) and registered with the National Organic Production Control. The creation of the Participatory Guarantee Systems was a programme landmark which is increasingly being considered to be introduced by producers in other municipalities of the country.

The programme exceeded its goals for outcome 2, as 310 communities (100 communities targeted) involved in organic production and as nearly four thousand producers and production companies have attained permission to use the seal of organic production. Producers in 18 target municipalities established Participatory Guarantee Systems and were authorized to use the seal of ecological transition.

Due to legal restrictions, some of the proposed alternatives to generate financial access under outcome 3, such as the bag of organic products, could not be implemented. This said, access to financing was achieved for 32 initiatives in areas such as micro irrigation works, processing, production, agribusiness development plans, storage and marketing. 

As a result of the JP the UC-CNAPE has secured additional resources and achieved legal status. This marks an important milestone where the initiatives moved from being a pilot to becoming a state backed and financed initiative. More importantly, the JP favored the emergence of a consolidated environmental movement through the introduction of Ecological Committees on local as well as regional levels.

Outcome 1:

Institutional capacities of the country strengthened for design and implementation of public policies in organic production.

Outcome Achievements:

• UC-CNAPE institutionalized and strengthened which provides continuity to the actions taken by the JP.
• Agreement of a National Technical Standard for domestic and/or local trade, which defines and regulates ecological handling.
• 13 Ecological Production Municipal Committees recognized.
• 18 municipalities have implemented SPGs (Participatory Guarantee Systems) and are registered with the National Organic Production Control.

Outcome 2:

One hundred rural communities are in the process of organic certification, raising their production and improving incomes.

Outcome Achievements:

• 310 communities involved in organic production with nearly 4,000 producers and production companies attained permission to use the organic seal.
• Within the 18 municipalities there are 8,500 hectares of  organic production
• 1,500 producers have marketed their products in 10 organic fairs.
• 21 initiatives to equip processing centers that generate added value to organic products were financed.
• Logistics chain designed.

Outcome 3:

At least 30% of the direct beneficiaries of the Joint Programme have access to financial services for the production, processing and access to national and international market.

Outcome Achievements:

• 32 initiatives had access to financing. These included micro irrigation works, processing, production, agribusiness development plans, storage and marketing.
• 431 people from three different municipalities had access to finance through the establishment of village banks.

Best practices:

• The SPG model is a concrete solution for sustainable agricultural development and local economic development adapted to the specific context
• Active participation of producers and their families at all levels was key to ensure sustainability of the programme achievements.
• The joint programme promoted food security through a development model based on the principles of solidarity, commitment, trust and participation.

Lessons learned:

• Six agencies were too many for a programme of this nature; energy is wasted when the capabilities vary.
• Active participation of farmers, producers and their families throughout the implementation processes is critical for sustainability.
• Development projects should be designed in a participatory manner and ensure key stakeholders take ownership. To achieve greater impact, the JP should strengthen synergies with farmers' organizations and families of farmers.  For example, the definition of the problem must be made by the producers in each community and adapted to their reality, rather than from the central level. Producers must also provide some form of co-financing and make their contribution to the work visible.
• Organic production promotes diversified consumption and household food security to farmers. It can be developed in small spaces, so the key actor and beneficiary is the small family farmer.
• It was wise to delegate responsibility for coordination of the JP to a national counterpart, this helped coordination and consensus building.
• The JP helped to show that direct marketing is a cheap and simple alternative which can be replicated to avoid exploitation of peasant families that may happen in other marketing systems.
• The JP addressed long-term challenges which require changes in attitudes and practices. Due to the short length of the programme there is a risk that these achievements will not be fully sustainable.
• Administrative systems of the agencies are very complex and were designed with insufficient regard for the reality of the country or of the rural areas.
• Delay in signing letters of agreement created gaps in execution and negatively affected the credibility of the programme.

More details can be found in the documents below.