Description: 

This is the 3rd iteration of a series of projects Funded by CHF and Lundin for Africa . SPRING currently works with 4 partners/stations:

EPDRA (Evangelical Presbyterian Development Relief Agency) at 3 stations (Yendi, Saboba and Chereponi- all NR))

LAP (Lassia Tuolo Agricultural Project) in Upper West nr Wa.

Although each of these partners normally acts with around 15 communities, but within SPRING they are working with a maximum of 6 each. This is a key differentiator against previous iterations (the previous one SLING had around 11 stations) with a decision being made by the funder that the focus of assistance should be magnified in a “deep rather than broad” type approach. This iteration also includes work around climate change adaptation and gender mainstreaming.

ACDEP as managing partner is responsible to CHF for the delivery of SPRING and the stations are the primary implementation partners. ACDEP also do some of the implementation work by building the capacity of field staff working in various stations. The Project Officer also goes into the communities to identify new opportunities for improvement.

Project Goal: 
SPRING is aimed at maximising existing opportunities around food production, food security and incomes as well as looking new opportunities in these areas. They may vary from introducing new crops like Soya as a cash crop to introducing newly developed varieties of existing crops. It also covers work around introducing improved livestock and community livestock workers to improve the existing gene pool or to deliver greater capacity along with best practise to improve yields and intensify the food production process.. A smaller, yet key component of this work is around what is termed “non-Farm” activities. These are targeted at improving incomes by bringing in non-traditional activities such as shea nut processing, general trading and bee-keeping. This work often targets women in particular using loosely bound cooperative groups. When this is successful the downstream benefits include improved standing for the women in the community as key contributors and a consequent improvement in their self-esteem. This in turn contributes to a reduction in Gender Exclusion. Such generated income also remains largely under the control of the women which means that any surplus is “invested” in areas such as education and healthcare.