Feed the Future Ghana Market Systems and Resilience (MSR) Activity

Overview

The Feed the Future Ghana Market Systems and Resilience (MSR) Activity is a five-year project funded by USAID. It serves as a follow-on to the USAID/Ghana ADVANCE II initiative. The MSR Activity was launched in April 2022 and is scheduled to conclude in March 2027. The project is led by ACDI/VOCA as the prime contractor, with the ACDEP serving as a sub-contractor.

MSR Activity aims to increase inclusive agriculture-led economic growth in northern Ghana through stronger and more resilient markets. Key activity outcomes will include: improved capacity of market actors, market access, quality of business services, and enabling environment to facilitate increased investment and efficient market systems.

Objectives

The primary objectives of the MSR Activity are to:

• Increase commercialization and profitability of agriculture markets.
• Increase institutional capacity of market actors.
• Improve market access and quality of business services.
• Improve the enabling environment for local market actors.

Target Beneficiaries

The Activity specifically targets women from selected communities within the USAID Zones of Influence (ZOIs), aiming to dismantle socio-cultural, legal, institutional, economic, and political barriers that hinder women’s empowerment and participation.

Implementation Strategies

To achieve its goals, the MSR Activity has developed and implemented several key strategies, including:

• Training workshops and stakeholder engagement sessions
• Organizing green field days for Smallholder Farmers (SHFs)
• Training Outgrower Businesses (OBs) networks on the Mergdata ICT platform
• Training small and medium enterprises (SMEs) on good manufacturing practices
• Training youth group leaders on entrepreneurship
• Training Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs) leaders on leadership skills

ACDEP’s Role

ACDEP’s responsibilities in MSR Activity include:

• Developing the out-grower business model and linking smallholders to agricultural research and technology transfer.
• Leading OB management training.
• Supporting the adoption of improved inputs and production technologies under Objectives 1 & 2.
• Implementing all activities (Objectives 1-4) in five target districts in the Upper West Region (UWR): Dafiama-Bussie-Issa, Nawdoli-Kaleo, Sissala East, Sissala West, and Wa East.

The Feed the Future Ghana MSR Activity is a comprehensive initiative aimed at transforming market systems to support agricultural growth and increase resilience in northern Ghana. By focusing on inclusivity, especially for women, and leveraging strategic training and development activities, the project strives to create sustainable economic growth and improved livelihoods for smallholder farmers and their communities.

For more information about ACDEP’s role in the UWR, contact: Fidelis B. Naapaneh, Regional Manager, MSR Activity, UWR – Ghana. Email: (fidelis@acdep.org)