African Development Foundation

A United States Government Agency

USADF funds Feed the Future grants

Grants Foster Job Growth and Food Security in Senegal

WASHINGTON - October 18, 2011  

WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 18, 2011 - The United States African Development Foundation has committed $700,000 to provide agricultural skills training, increase food production and improve small business opportunities for over 4,000 farmers and cooperative members in rural Senegal.  These six grants represent a slice of USADF’s commitment to Feed the Future, the U.S. Government’s global hunger and food security initiative.

 USADF grants improve farming methods, increase incomes and create local market opportunity for emerging unions, collectives, and farming groups in Senegal. The sectors for training will include: cereal grain banks, rice processing, couscous, fonio and rice production.

 “These grants create jobs, strengthen market linkages, and change local economies in Senegal, where access to reliable sources of food is a problem for poor farmers,” said Jack Leslie, USADF Chairman.  “We see increased incomes as one step toward achieving Feed the Future’s goals to reduce global poverty and hunger.”

Senegal's economy is mainly agriculture based, with more than half of its 13 million people employed in the sector.  70 percent of the population relies on imports for its food– a rate higher than any other country in sub-Saharan Africa.  Although it is one of the region’s more stable countries, Senegal remains a poor, food-deficit nation.

USADF grants empower local groups to take food production and economic growth into their own hands. Agriculture cooperatives, women’s groups and farming associations that receive USADF grants work to increase food production, agricultural competitiveness, and rural wealth as a part of Feed the Future in Senegal.  Trainings and improved materials help farmers and local processors, who have traditionally lacked financial resources and relied on old equipment, to increase and diversify their food production.  Each USADF grant provides new skills and market support over two to three year period to achieve long lasting results.    

 Some sample Feed the Future grants are:

 Tekki Cereal Processing Project (2411-SEN)

GIE Tekki, a 65 member women’s group in northern Senegal processes and sell packaged couscous in local and regional markets. However, little to no funding, defunct supplies and product inconsistencies have hindered group sale. With the help of USADF, GIE Tekki is developing a stronger, more profitable business model to increase couscous production both in quantity and quality.  As couscous is a traditional, locally made product, its modernization and marketing will encourage “local consumption” and reduce dependency on cereal imports. All group members are mothers and see increased incomes as a way to cover expenses relating to food, health care and school fees for their children.

Walaldé Food Security Project (2419-SEN)

In 2002 flooding in the village of Walaldé destroyed sorghum, cowpea and other crops, leaving farmers dependent on expensive intermediary traders and no food stocks. GIE Lao Développement (GLD), a USADF grantee, is now building a local cereal bank and rice mill for farmers who suffer from chronic food shortages between harvests and seasonal flooding. GLD also helps farmers gain new skills and production methods to establish better food sources for generations to come.  GIE Lao Développement buys rice from members after harvest, and then resells the rice at prices lower than market prices during the lean season.  This improves farmers’ income levels and ensures better access to food throughout the year.   

USADF is helping more than 23,000 people in Senegal gain better access to food, trainings, and improved standards of living as a part of the USG Feed the Future program.

To learn more about USADF’s program with marginalized communities and populations, visit http://www.usadf.gov.  Follow us on Twitter @USADF.

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