Synthesis and recommendations XLIII
In many countries of the ECOWAS region, the NAIPs’ implementation has begun. There is an urgent
need for supporting the implementation process and providing guidance in how best to translate the
strategy framework into an effective plan of action. Moreover, as the process of finalizing NAIPs/RAIP
in the region is continuing through 2015, there may also be a need to assess the impacts the NAIPs
and RAIP would have had in accelerating the growth and development of the priority value chains in
the region.
On this basis, what lessons and recommendations can we derive from the present study that can guide
the CAADP process and accelerate the implementation of the NAIPS/RAIP in West Africa? In response,
three sets of recommendations can be put forth:
(i) The strategic need to diversify agriculture requires balancing out staple food with export-oriented
value chains and the correct articulation of the criteria that can ensure its successful implementation;
(ii) How to design a workable implementation plan for a coherent investment program under the NAIP
based on the triple criteria of Need, Capacity, and Impact assessment
(iii) Execution, implementation and coordination, taking into account the requirements of inclusive-
governance, decentralization, and subsidiarity.
4.1 Towards a diversification strategy for value chain development
West Africa has traditionally relied on relatively few export-oriented commodities for its agricultural
development (peanuts, cocoa, coffee, and cotton) while staple crops and animal products that form
the bulk of population consumption needs received much less policy support. As an illustration, a
close examination of the Mali government expenditure patterns in agriculture show a disproportion-
ate share of expenditures going to few urban based food products (rice) or crops generating export
earnings (cotton). Throughout the region, private investments in agri-business tend to favor few export
commodities with high commercial potential (oil palm, tropical fruits). The same preferences appear
evident among the privately-led initiatives for agricultural investments in Africa, such as The African
(Accelerated) Agribusiness and Agro-industries Development Initiative (3ADI), Grow Africa, African
Agriculture Fund, etc. Likewise, national farmer groups (federations, platforms, etc.) tend to focus
largely on staple food commodities that are most grown and consumed by farmers, as they represent
a large share of their source of food security, income and livelihood.
Under the ECOWAP regional agricultural policy, the ECOWAS Commission applies the “food sover-
eignty” criteria for selecting its strategic commodities (rice, maize, cassava, meat products, and fish) for
priority investments in the region. At the country level, national governments have also defined their
own set of priority value chains for priority investments under their NAIPs. Still, a diversified agricultural
development requires a long term growth strategy and hence broadening the selection criteria for
priority value chains for early and concentrated interventions with the high spillover potential for the
rest of agriculture. Examples of key criteria to consider are:
(i) Contribution to food and nutrition security, as measured by volumes of production, share of
consumption in domestic diets, and potential for import substitution;
(ii) Overall contribution to rural household incomes and livelihoods, as measured by the number of
employed men and women in the production, processing and marketing;
(iii) Contribution to the national economy and general budget, as measured by market value added,
value of export revenues, etc.
Clearly taking these criteria into account should yield a core set of priority value chains that would
necessarily differ by country. An accelerated and integrated program for developing these priority