Announcement of Expert Talks - 2024

The Business Support Facility for Resilient Agricultural Value Chains, implemented by the GIZ projects ABF and MOVE/ComCashew, improves agriculture and rural development, strengthens the broad impact of face-to-face and online agricultural trainings as well as investments in climate-resilient value chains in member states of the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS). The project aims to develop and enhance the capacities of actors along agricultural value chains, namely cashew, cocoa, livestock (cattle, sheep, goat) and maize, to attract finance and investment, in particular towards low-emission and climate resilient practices.

Why Expert Talks on Agribusiness?

We support others to develop agribusiness capacity in OACPS member states. Jointly with you, we would like to bring this expertise together for further scaling of successful approaches to push the borders of growth for Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSME) in African, Caribbean and Pacific states operating in agricultural production, processing and services. These Expert Talks will also allow to disseminate information on regulatory frameworks and market access conditions to the European Market.

What do the Expert Talks have in common?

We look at innovative interventions to support agribusiness growth and employment in African, Caribbean and Pacific states, be it from enterprises, national policy, donors, technical and financial service providers. Scaling of agribusiness approaches is needed. The need is huge and urgent. Re-inventing the wheel is not an option. At the same time digital channels of knowledge dissemination provide new opportunities. The Expert Talks will explore which approaches have worked and where additional support or leverage is needed to push next generations of young agribusiness professionals.

These are the “hot topics” of the series of Expert Talks that we organize:

Expert talk no. 1: The EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) _ 4th July 2024 4 - 5 pm. CET
Milestone to stop human rights and environmental violations or obstacle for producers and traders?
Please find here the link to participate.    

Expert talk no. 2: Global GAP _ 28th August 2024
B2B certification of agriculture - fostering the global adoption of safer and more sustainable farming practices in more than 130 countries worldwide.

Expert talk no. 3: The Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) _ End of September 2024
A global partnership to facilitate safe trade and contribute to food safety, animal and plant health capacity in our partner countries.

Expert talk no. 4: Inclusive Climate Action _ Beginning of October 2024
Why empowering women and youth as well as climate smart agribusiness go hand in hand.

Expert talk no. 5: The EU Regulation on Deforestation (EUDR) _ End of October 2024
Does it bring only challenges for producers and traders, or does it offer opportunities by strengthening the producers’ rights and increasing transparency?

Expert talk no.6: Access to Finance _ End of Nov 2024
It is critical to understand the concept of “bankability” of enterprises in the context of agribusiness and microenterprises in particular. The innovative mechanisms to support agri-MSMEs financial needs and capacities is crucial. Evidence shows that policies play an integral role in access to Finance.  

Expert talk no. 7: “The future is Agribusiness”:  Policy tools for economic growth in African Agribusiness _ Early Dec 2024
The rural economy has considerable potential for generating sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment if the right policies are in place.

The first session will be conducted online exclusively in English, while subsequent sessions will offer simultaneous translation in French. You will receive save-the-date invitations for the individual events.

We look forward to a large number of participants.

For further information, please contact Arshfod Ngugi (arshfod.ngugi@giz.de ), Stefan Pletziger (stefan.pletziger@giz.de ) or Bastian Domke (bastian.domke@giz.de ).

Please also take note of the upcoming launch of the third call of the Competitive Matching Grant Fund (MGF) for Agribusinesses in the OACPS member states in the value chains cashew, cocoa, livestock and maize, which is implemented by the Business Support Facility. More information will be made available at the launch on the 08th of July 2024!