Last Quarter Events

The Africa Cashew Alliance

Nearly sixty people attended the organizational meeting of the African Cashew Alliance (ACA) in Baltimore, MD (USA) on June 21.  Attendees represented a cross-section of cashew growers, processors, traders, researchers, marketers, retailers, donors, and other interested parties from both the public and private sectors, from 10 African countries, Europe and the USA.  Several USAID Africa missions were also represented, as were the World Bank and the IFC.  The group developed a list of issues and actions to serve as the preliminary agenda for ACA and an organizational committee was formed to begin the task of developing a Memorandum of Understanding and formalizing the Alliance.

Sustainable Tree Crop Program Alliance expands to Liberia

Work has begun with the USAID/Liberia mission to expand the Sustainable Tree Crop Program Alliance (STCP) to that country as part of the mission's effort to revitalize the small farmer tree crop sector. STCP is currently operating in Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire.  Stephan Weise, Director of STCP, visited Liberia for an initial survey of the opportunity.  Recruitment has begun for an STCP/Liberia country manager.

Developing the market for Solar Energy

Work has begun with Boeing and Spectrolab on the development of an alliance to development the market for solar energy in Africa.  Meetings were held in Washington with USAID and Boeing and a concept paper is in circulation.

Upcoming Events

Sustainable Tree Crop Program Alliance

A technical team will visit Liberia in late August to finalize the planning for the roll-out of STCP in that country.