Description
The CATALIST project focuses on agricultural intensification in the Great Lakes Region of Africa. The project is particularly important for the Albertine Rift and the Kagera Basin, where social and environmental stability are most lacking.
CATALIST will contribute to peace, and will help create conditions to halt environmental degradation and the decrease in biodiversity. The 5-year project has two integrated components: 1. to accelerate agricultural intensification (implemented by IFDC); and 2. to improve the resource base for agriculture through labor-intensive works such as rural road improvement, agroforestry, terracing, and erosion control (implemented by HELPAGE).
The integrated implementation of the two components will create synergy. CATALIST will reinforce current efforts that focus on high-value export commodities by intensifying production of staple foods and livestock products for domestic and regional markets. The project will catalyze the intensification process through the creation or facilitation of stakeholder platforms from the village to the national and regional levels.
CATALIST will particularly strive to:
- Promote and support labor-intensive work projects and the development of agricultural product 'chains';
- Support farmers in the integrated and optimal use of external inputs, considering environmental and economic sustainability of land use and competitive agricultural production;
- Improve the efficiency and effectiveness of agricultural input markets;
- Increase and improve market opportunities for agricultural products; and
- Contribute to the creation of an appropriate policy environment.
Key stakeholders and project partners for the intensification process include farmers organizations, policymakers, and private sector associations that focus on input and output trade and product transformation, national agricultural research and extension systems, and NGOs.
The Netherlands Government is funding the regional program through the Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands in Rwanda. The CATALIST regional office will be in Kigali, Rwanda's capital, staffed by two international, two regional, and two local agricultural specialists, plus support staff. CATALIST will establish national offices staffed by local specialists in the neighboring countries.
