Overall theme of the 2016/2017 Vijverbergsessions is “The African future is for young, well educated, market oriented and organized farmer-entrepreneurs”. On January 18, 2017, the session is organized in cooperation with ECDPM, and focuses on “Strengthening effects of Dutch investment. African agrifood value chains, enabling environment and youth”.  

Topic & target

This Vijverbergsession will focus on Dutch private sector investments in African food value chains and how to assess and strengthen their positive effects on the local enabling environment, specifically employment, entrepreneurship and capacity development of young people in the agrifood sector.

Three different Dutch companies will give a short pitch on one of their investments in Africa in the agri-food sector. In the second part of the discussion, the experience and role of other partners of the Dutch Diamond and African stakeholders will be explored.

The objective of this meeting is to discuss the practical challenges and opportunities of investing in agribusiness in Africa, the role of the enabling environment in strengthening the positive effects of private sector on sustainable short and long term agricultural transformation with people from business, policy makers, researchers, NGOs and other stakeholders.

Programme

Moderator of this Vijverbergsession is Marina Diboma from NABC . 

17.00 Opening and introductions

17.05 Introduction

1st part:  What is the current state of play? Understanding the impact of Dutch PS in partner countries

17.10 Setting the scene: Preliminary insights from Follow the Food research by Guus van Westen (Utrecht University)

17.15 Pitches by Dutch enterprises and NGO’s:

Setting the scene. Pitch by Guus van Westen, Universiteit Utrecht/IDS;
Private sector in practice. Pitch by Maaike Groot, East-West Seed International;
Private sector in practice. Pitch by Ed Moerman, Koppert Biological Systems;
Private sector in practice: Pitch by Eelco Baan, SNV;
Private sector in practice: Pitch by Mark Kauw, Moyee Coffee

17.40 Q&A and discussion

17.44 Discussion

2nd part: How to strengthen positive effects? Converging towards recommendations

18.10 Kick-off by Melle Leenstra, ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Netherlands

18.20 Discussion

Questions to guide the discussion:

» What are the different roles and responsibilities of Dutch Diamond stakeholders?

» What are successful ways of improving the collaboration between these stakeholders?

» What are main (knowledge) gaps in how to improve this?

» What is the role of local policy and politics (national, local, regional)?

18.55 Closing

19h00 Drinks & snacks

Vijverbergsessions

Vijverbergsessions are closed sessions where academics, politicians and experts from the government, civil society and business discuss global food issues; goal is to formulate conclusions relevant for policy makers. The Vijverbergsession are organized by foodFIRST together with various organizations. In 2016/2017 the overall theme is “The African future is for young, well educated, market oriented and organized farmer-entrepreneurs”.