Selected Topic

Promoting sustainable production and food sovereignty, Supporting resilient and sustainable supply chains, Reducing food loss and waste, Strengthening vulnerable groups.

Project Description

GOPA AFC has been implementing EU and BMZ-funded GIZ programmes in Ghana since 2009, currently with the project “Sustainable Employment through Agribusiness (AgriBiz)”

We support over 47,000 farmers and more than 700 agro-processing companies, adding value to agricultural raw materials and creating employment opportunities in Ghana.

Also, GOPA AFC supports decentralised Ghanaian Business Development Service (BDS) Providers to offer tailored service packages to farmers and agro-processors.

Making supply chains more resilient is key to our work. We provide technical advice to farms and agro-processing companies to become certified according to sustainability standards. Moreover, we support agro-processors in facilitating inclusive contract farming schemes to strengthen the sustainability of their supply chains. Specific support packages are promoted for women-owned enterprises, who often face peculiar challenges, e.g. regarding accessing finance.

Examples of activities along the supply chains include the:

• promotion of self-help approaches for vulnerable groups such as the Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs).
• support of specialised service providers promoting conservation agriculture,
• commercial introduction of locally produced neem oil as a safe biopesticide,
• introduction of a recycling system for used agrochemical bottles,
• use of farm waste as energy source for shea butter production.

Various videos exist and could be displayed, demonstrating our project’s achievements.

About the Institution

GOPA AFC (former AFC Agriculture & Finance Consultants) is a private German consulting firm focusing on agricultural, agribusiness and financial development projects in developing and transition countries. In 2007, GOPA AFC became member of GOPA Consulting Group, Germany’s largest group of consulting firms in development cooperation.

Our services for public organizations and private companies in Agriculture & Agribusiness cover the whole range from primary production to processing and marketing. Financial Sector Development focuses on developing credit and saving products and establishing regulation and supervision systems.

GOPA AFC is currently implementing approximately 100 projects with more than 1,000 staff in over 50 countries. Most of them cover at least one of the relevant topics of the 2024 GFFA Innovation Forum:

• Strengthen sustainable production and food sovereignty, e.g. by successfully implementing seven Green Innovation Centres (GIZ)
• Promote resilient and sustainable supply chains, e.g. through ten ongoing projects in organic production
• Reduce food loss and waste, e.g with cold storages in Moldova with photovoltaic and waste water treatment (EU)
• Strengthen vulnerable groups: numerous projects addressing minorities, e.g. refugees in Uganda (GIZ)

Since the establishment of the Bilateral Cooperation Programme, GOPA AFC has been active in its project implementation. Presently, we are carrying out ten projects funded by BMEL.

Contact Person: Alexander Lotz