In November 2005, ECART was approached by IFAP for developing a research support programme for IFAP, mobilising their experts within the affiliated research institutes. In a meeting in February 2006, IFAP and ECART agreed on the outlines of such a partnership. From 24th to 26th of October 2007 the IFAP-ECART Workshop on “Empowering Smallholders Farmers in the Market” held in Tunis to elaborate on the research proposal. The economic and political context of agricultural markets in developing countries has undergone profound changes over the last few years. Government policies are moving away from the direct management of agricultural markets, and focus more on indirect regulation for markets to work for the poor (WDR 2001). These policy initiatives define the context within which farming business can be done, as well as the framework within which smallholder farmers’ economic organisations and institutions can be developed. The potential and room for manoeuvre of farmers’ organisations to provide economic benefit to their members is to a large extent determined by the institutional environment of the organisations. Policies, rules and regulations that together make up this institutional environment have differential outcomes for farmers vis-à-vis other groups in society. Therefore, pro-active advocacy activities are needed to adjust the institutional environment to the farmers’ needs. Therefore, there is, on the one hand, a need to ensure that government policies facilitate the development of farmers’ organisations and, on the other hand, that farmers’ organisations find more viable institutional arrangements that are effective for the current market access challenges: marketing arrangements, partnerships, effective internal organisations, marketing tools, etc. To facilitate a more fruitful relationship between research and farmers’ organisations, and stimulate a process that optimizes the learning of the involved farmer leaders, this ESFIM programme will seek a methodological set-up in which the farmers’ organisations will be protagonist in the identification of research themes that they need for developing better policy proposals or to be more effective in facilitating market access for their members. The aim of the partnership is to undertake action research supportive of the producer organisations within the growing IFAP network. This will help to propose changes in the institutional and legislative context in order to strengthen their economic organisation and institutions, and thereby their power in markets. The research will particularly focus on smallholder farmers as they have most to gain from strengthening their economic organisation.

Agriculture is back on the international agenda. This is true from a development perspective, as we approach the mid-term review of the Millennium Development Goals, from a market and trade perspective with the WTO negotiations at a critical point, from an environment perspective with climate change and bio-energy as hot topics in the light of record oil prices, and from a health perspective with active discussions on food safety, traceability, diet, and labelling. IFAP must be organised to influence all these key agendas, and others, in its work program for 2007. The World Farmers’ Congress in Seoul identified nine main policy issues for IFAP’s attention for the period 2006-2008. These are: 1. Trade negotiations and agricultural policy reform 2. Strengthening the place of the farmer in the food chain 3. Environment and natural resources 4. Human health, animal health 5. Research 6. Rural poverty, hunger and development issues 7. The 10 principles of the World Farmers’ Charter 8. Recognition of women’s contribution in agriculture 9. Facilitating the entry of young people into agriculture The budget so far only refers to 2007, but does include all contributions including those to be found. The original application (€ 5 million) referred to the complete period 2007-2010, but only referred to funding from DGIS (netherlands). In 2007 an initial contribution of € 750,000 (IFAP) + € 125,000 (missions + admin costs) = € 875,000 from DGIS funds as back donor is foreseen (see budget details row Agriterra). The project will cover the whole period and will require additional pledges from the DGIS through Agriterra.

As one outcome of the events to mark the 60th anniversary of IFAP in 2006 (1946-2006), a process to develop a new strategic plan for IFAP will be launched at the World Farmers' Congress in Seoul. Each of IFAP's 14 standing committees will build strategic work programs for their sector of activities to address the increased demands and needs of the new developing country membership. This is a clear positive response to Recommendation 2 of the Mid-term evaluation by Denniger and Tengnäs (# 3630)which states that "The AgriCord management initiates a discussion with IFAP concerning the introduction of some thematic foci for the coming programme period as a complement to the current "wide-range" support. The ambition should be to work out a division of activities that would replace the current four action areas". The functioning of IFAP's Development Cooperation Committee (DCC), which is the central structure for guiding IFAP's development cooperation activities, will also be reviewed at the Seoul Congress. Discussions on news terms of reference for the Committee will be undertaken when it meets in Seoul. This is another clear positive response to one of the conclusions of the Mid-term evaluation by Denniger and Tengnäs which states that "IFAP DCC needs a clearer role and broader base for representation". The World Farmers' Congress is the supreme decision-making body of IFAP. It is at the Congress that the whole of the IFAP membership is assembled every two years to adopt policy positions and give direction for the work plan for the next biennium. In 2006, the Congress will also discuss the elaboration of a new strategic plan for IFAP, which will set the direction of the federation for the next decade. This plan will be one of the most significant strategic plans developed by IFAP, involving substantive changes in the way IFAP functions. Gevraagde bijdrage van Agriterra is ? 287.100.

The general objective of the program is to strengthen the capacity of farmers´ organisations from developing countries for policy development and advocacy work. The IFAP standing committee DCC is the primary structure within the Federation for ensuring that member agencies concerns and interests are reflected in the cooperation work the IFAP undertakes on behalf of its Southern members. The DCC, which includes Southern and Northern representation: sets priorities for PAO (professional agricultural organisations) capacity building initiatives; serves as a place of exchange with agri-agencies that are DCC partners; serves as a place of training and discussion about cooperation approaches and strategies;

Finance Pending on the deliverables an exact budget will be calculated. In a preliminary way the following co-financing arrangement is suggested. IFAP will finance the PO's staff (estimated 100,000 euro/year). KIT will finance half of KIT's supervision, editing and operational man-days (for a total of 60,000 euro/year). For the remainder financing by Agriterra / AgriProFocus is suggested (for the amount of 60,000 euro/year). The International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP) has defined industrial concentration in the agri-food chain as a key issue affecting the livelihoods of its farmer-members. It is a top priority for IFAP to enhance its policy agenda around this issue in the coming four to six years. IFAP has approached the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) with the request to support this process of policymaking with relevant insights and information. KIT is a knowledge centre for sustainable development, poverty alleviation, and cultural preservation and exchange. Besides conducting (policy) research KIT is also involved in the real-life practice of strengthening farmer organisations and fostering pro-poor business ventures. Furthermore KIT is one of the leading organizations in Regoverning Markets, a global research program that IFAP considers a key source of information relevant to the task of policymaking by producer organizations. KIT will act as a knowledge broker between producer organizations (PO's) and research networks, such as Regoverning Markets (RM). KIT will disseminate research findings and other relevant insights to PO's and encourage that these will be put into practice. In addition KIT will promote that the interests of PO's be reflected within research activities such as RM.

The IFAP "Trade and development letter" for farmers' organisations in developing countries is part of the AgriCord project on trade capacity building. The objectives of this letter are the following to provide information to developing country farmers' organisations members of IFAP on on-going negotiations on agriculture at international and regional levels; to sensitise national farmers' organisations on key issues that are discussed and the potential impact on farmers' livelihoods; this information should strengthen the capacity of farmers' organisations in developing countries to engage with their national government and international institutions on trade issues behalf of the farmers they represent. The different sections of this letter would be on: Issues for developing country farm leaders in the WTO DDA and in UNCTAD; progress on the EU-ACP Partnership Agreement negotiations; regional trade issues e.g. trade-related developments in NEPAD, CAFTA, Euro-Med, etc.; trade capacity-building programs offered to developing country leaders by FAO, World Bank, UNCTAD, WTO. This is not an exhaustive list and other relevant negotiations process could be added at the request of developing country farmers organisations. The content of each IFAP trade and development letter is discussed within IFAP secretariat and collaborators organisations based on issues at stake and identified needs of IFAP's members.

The general objective of the program is to strengthen the capacity of farmers´ organisations from developing countries for policy development and advocacy work. The 2004 development programme of IFAP includes participation of farmers in the following activities: - the World Farmers´ Congress - Regional committees; Women´s committee; Young Farmers´ committee - IFAP policy session of the WFC Other activities for 2004 are: Seminar linked on the Autumn Executive Committee of IFAP on \"How farmers can deal with supermarkets in developing countries\" Policy Conference (theme to be determined during WFC) Agriterra´s contribution focusses on Latin American participation in the WFC and the seminar for the EC meeting in autumn 2004 (total: Euro 75,000)

The main events for which financial support is sought: DCC meeting and IFAP African Regional Committee, 4-8 March, Bamako, Mali 3rd World Water Forum, Kyoto, 16-23 March, Japan 3rd Dairy Producers´ Round Table , Commodities Conference, Pretoria, south Africa, 5-13 May 2nd GFAR World Conference, 21-23 May, Dakar, Senegal DCC meeting adn IFAP Regional Committee from Latin america and the Carribean, 2-5 july, Lima, Peru IFAP Regional Committee for Asia, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 7-12 July 5th WTO Ministerial Conference and IFAP Family Farmers Conference, Cancun, Mexico, 10-14 September IFAP executive Committee meeting, Spain, 23-25 October Concultation between IFAP´s DCC and the OECD Development Assistance Committee (Nov. in Paris) ACWW World Congress, Australia, 23-29 March 2nd International Conferenct on Women in Agriculture to celebrate \"World Rural Women´s Day\", 12-15 October, Philippines.

THE ADVISOR covers the field of agricultural policies within developing countries, with special attention to (a) international trade relations and (b) their impact on the situation of farmers within these countries. Specifically, THE ADVISOR will identify relevant contacts within farmers' organisations from developing countries; will monitor the international agenda of trade related meetings and conferences, and support the participation of IFAP members from developing countries, as planned by the Secretary General; this includes meetings organised by IFAP itself, as well as meetings and conferences organised by other parties. 2. Within this field of trade issues, THE ADVISOR supports farmer's organisations in developing countries for activities such as: (a) the analysis of the national agricultural and trade situation and policies (b) the regional and global networking among farmers' organisations from developing countries (c) the preparation and publication of the positions of farmers' organisations (d) the selection and distribution of trade-related information, relevant for farmer's organisations. 3. Specifically, THE ADVISOR will integrate these activities within IFAP's overall policy of supporting its members from developing countries; will promote contacts between farmers' organisations and contribute to the integration of these contacts into the regular committee meetings of IFAP; will suggest and formulate new activities for strengthening the capacities of IFAP's members from developing countries, as part of the development programmes implemented by AgriCord.

A Pakisama women´s delegation joined the 2nd International Conference of Women Farmers in Manilla, November 2003. This delegation was allowed to take the opportunity to formulate and present their specific situation and position with regards to trade issues relevant to them. Conference’s objectives and content: • to give a better understanding of the situation and concerns of women farmers, with the objective of improving women’s involvement in sustainable development • to share and transfer knowledge on women’s access to land and water resources and to strengthen their capacity in terms of international trade negotiations and their impacts on the livelihoods of women farmers The themes have been chosen taking into account their world-wide relevance. Women’s access to land and water resources can be interpreted according to the specific local concerns (obtain legal rights for women farmers, better access to land and water resources in terms of quality, provision of irrigation systems, etc.). Following the WTO Ministerial Conference in Cancun, Mexico in September 2003, women farmers everywhere wish to meet to explore together the potential impact of these negotiations on their day-to-day situation.

The theme of the Round Table is \"Needs of the developing countries in the context of the DOHA Devlopment Agenda\". This project is part of the IFAP 2003 work plan.

The initiative of executing this program was taken in the DCC-autumn assemble (Paris 2000.) At this occasion the agri-agencies that will execute this project were present for the first time. They will, under AgriCord guidance, carry out activities/ projects with individual member organisations of IFAP in development countries. Fund-raising to carry out this program is done by AgriCord. The program has the following objectives; Enhancement of services offered by Farmers Organisations (FO's) to their members. Role in improving society by relevant advocacy Stimulating economic initiatives undertaken by FO's I.F.A.P.(International Federation of Agricultural Producers) D.C.C. (Development Co-operative Committee)

Policy preparation is the IFAP core competence: based on members contributions, synthesising and spreading positions of members. Agriterra and AgriCord are concerned with taking care that positions of development related FO's are reflected in policy determination. Objectives: Developing policy visions on subjects that are from international and/ or farmers point of view concerned to be brought forward Qualitative improvement of policy determination cycle Means Analysis of contributions in panels and incorporate contributions in policy visions. Active support of panels with polls, mailings and invitations to give reaction; co-ordination of debates. Designing PWW AgriFora for policy dialogues on desired subject and in desired language. Technical designing and processing of polls, mailings and invitations to give reaction.

Via this project the development related FO´s are able to participate in IFAP events. Objectives are; Regular meetings of members, seize the opportunity to increase the role and meaning of the DCC, improve the logistics of the meetings and make them more efficient and increase coherence between the events and that between events and policy making in an individual organisation. Development related FO´s are able to participate in IFAP events; the World Farmers´ Congress in international conferences Representatives of developing countries participate in the WFC and in Johannesburg. Representatives from development countries participate in the meeting executive committee.