GEF CONCEPT NOTE
Description of the proposed project location
Akwa-Ibom state is located in the coastal southern part of Nigeria called the Niger-Delta
lying between latitudes 4o 32N and 5o 33N with longitudes 7o 25E and 8o 25E. The State
has a population of over 5 million people living in 31 LGA areas of the state. The main
economic activities include fishing, farming, trading and artisanship.
Some of the main issues faced by Akwa Ibom communities are poor access to housing,
education, health care and non-availability of food. These issues are aggravated by
reliability of small holder’s famers on rainfall patterns for their farming activities.
Some of the environmental issues faced by Akwa Ibom communities are soil
degradation, agro-biodiversity loss, erosion and flood hazards.
Akwa Ibom State has 6 ADP Zones namely; Abak, Ikot Ekpene, Etinan, Oron, Uyo and
Eket LGAs. These sones has very high potential for Agriculture suitable for food crops,
tree crops fish and livestock farming. Crops widely grown are vegetables, yam swam
rice, cassava, oil palm and plantain etc. Following the impact of climate change on small
holders farmers in these ADP zones, there is critical need to develop appropriate
innovative strategies targeting small holders farmers to boost their productivity.
The project will be implemented in 2 communities in each of the LGAs of the 6 Agro
Agro-ecological Zones in Akwa Ibom State. These communities shares common
ancestral and ethnic origin.
Small Holders Farmers in these communities make up 72% of the population in Akwa
Ibom with average age of 45 – 55 years. The crop subsector is the largest and the most
productive with most farmers growing leafy vegetables, root crops, and tree crops.
Description of Approach:
The project will begin with i), training of small holders farmers, ii)training of critical
stakeholders on Agroecology, iii).setting up Agroecology Model Farms (small plot
adaptation technique) plots. Farmers will be supported to seek and obtain relevant
seeds for appropriate crop combination from the environment, Farmers will be coached
and mentored on appropriate agronomic practices from planting to harvesting, at
harvest, farmers will be able to compare yield with the non-agroecology plots and;
farmers will be supported to develop post-harvest technologies to control post-harvest
loss and production of organic fertilizer as well.
Other activities to be carried include;
Training of small holders women farmers on Agroecology
Training of Stakeholders on Agroecology
Set up Agroecology Demonstration Farms
Provision of Farm Inputs to small holders women farmers
Monitoring and Evaluation
The Project will collaborate with various government agencies, institutions, research
centres and the academia. Some of the stakeholders include;
Small Holders Women Farmers Association of Nigeria (SWOFON)
Agricultural Development Programme (AKADEP)
Ministry of Agriculture
Agric Officers
University of Uyo Faculty of Agric
Etc
Capacity building for farmers is largely the function of the Agric Extension Officers of the
ADP providing extension and Advisory Services. The Agric Extension Officers will
continue to provide these extension services and training throughout the project.
Specific end result that the project is trying to achieve
This project will enable farmers to embrace new and innovative techniques of farming
that will increase harvest and crop yield at all times. Farmers who will adopt the
agroecology model will favorably adapt to climate change and increase food availability.
This approach will reduce the dependence on input-intensive approach currently
adopted by farmers which relies on ever-increasing fertilizer and pesticide to boost crop
yield, but the evidence is clear that this approach is not workable as farmers loose
harvest and farmland. The agroecology approach will rather reinforce advance method
of multi-level farming and as well retain the soil compost and nutrients and produce
organic food.
The project will spread to all the Local Government Areas of the State through its
network of farmers that will replicate agroecology farming model. The project is
designed to involve extension arm of the Ministry of Agriculture (Agricultural
Development Project, ADP. Agric-related NGO’s involvement and pilot testing in the
different Agroecological zones.
Mention specific measurable outcome indicators in terms of numbers and
percentages
Some of the outcome indicators include;
Number of small holders farmers trained on Agroecology
% of farmers adopting Agroecology farming practices
Number of mixed crops cultivated by each farmer
% of crop yield per hecter
% increase in soil organic matter content
Number of pest and disease controlled with Agrostology
% increase in farmer’s income.
Expected Impact of the project on the environment and target communities,
socially, environmentally, economically etc
The agroecology approach will enhance adaptation to climate change conditions by
small holder women farmers. Agroecology practices will improve farmers livelihood,
diversification and food availability. Agroecology echoes the goals of the 2030 agenda,
by tackling hunger, safeguarding biodiversity and increasing nutritional choice of small
holder women farmers by the availability of organic food which will increase the health
and wellbeing of the citizens.
How would you ensure community participation in the project
Steps to be taken to ensure project sustainability
What qualifies your organization to implement this project and be awarded funds
from GEF
African Human Development Centre (AHDC) is a non-profit, research and development
organization dedicated to the development of African human resources. It was founded
in 2004 as Global Wealth to help the excluded, marginalized and vulnerable groups in
the society rise above poverty. The name Global Wealth had to give way to the new
name African Human Development Centre (AHDC) in the course of registration with
Corporate Affairs Commission. The organization was registered with Corporate Affairs
Commission in 2007 (CAC/IT/No.23790). It is also registered with Akwa Ibom State
Government through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and Akwa
Ibom State Ministry of Economic Development.
The vision of AHDC is to see a society free of poverty, marginalization and exclusion.
The Mission of AHDC is to promote political and socio-economic development of
women, children and people living with disabilities through advocacy, capacity building
and model service delivery.
AHDC has core values of transparency, integrity, equity and hard work.
AHDC is governed by a well constituted and registered Board of Trustees (BOT) who
are drawn from various professional background to provide strategic direction for the
management of the organization. The day-to-day operations of the organization is
overseen by the Chief Executive Officer/Director of Programmes.
AHDC in all her program implementation places the targeted population at the heart of
the project. These are achievable by involving the people during programme planning
and design, implementation, (monitoring), and evaluation as well as reporting. AHDC
activities revolve around key thematic areas which include Women’s Right, Health,
Education, Governance, and Environment.
AHDC had a long term partnership with ActionAid Nigeria which lasted for over 12
years. AHDC has also partners with other international and local Donor Agencies such
as Palladium, LLC, EU-MPP6, WEWE, etc.
AHDC has demonstrated its capabilities in providing quality services for building the
capability of rural communities and small holders women farmers. AHDC also has skills
embedded in its capacity for advocacy, partnership and collaboration for effective
referral network, monitoring and evaluation. AHDC’s unique strength also includes good
understanding of the local communities their culture, values sensibilities and language.
We are deeply rooted in the communities and have strong connections with people
living within the communities of Akwa Ibom State.
Budget in USD
