EUCORD’s mission is to increase farmers’ capacity to sustainably grow quality crops matched to the commercial needs of the agribusiness sector and in doing so, increase food security, develop the private sector, and improve the livelihoods of rural communities. EUCORD’s projects often focus on crops that are important for both household consumption and value-added processing. The development of reliable and sustainable agri-food value chains helps to create sustainable sources of income for farmers, as the demand for raw materials remains stable. At the same time, improved production also contributes to surplus food crop production.
EUCORD identifies a clear and guaranteed market demand and then works backwards to see how farmers can be involved in meeting this demand. We strive for win-win scenarios where agro-processors can source quality raw materials, while farmers improve their livelihoods and increase their income. This is achieved by helping farmers produce what they can sell, rather than sell what they produce. Thanks to the size and available resources from the private sector, the impact is often possible on a much larger scale than other types of development initiatives, thereby creating better value for money as well as sustainability.
EUCORD collaborates closely with the private sector to support the development of agricultural value chains. We mostly work upstream of the value chain, training and supporting farmers and other actors to meet the quantity and quality requirements of agro-processors. EUCORD acts as neutral broker and facilitates the partnership between farmers, intermediary traders, and business, but also agro-dealers, financial institutions, public extension agencies and other stakeholders. Working with the private sector helps 1) to leverage funding and in-kind contributions and services, 2) accelerate implementation, 3) achieve more impact and better value for money, and 4) to ensure that projects continue after the funding has ended.
Private partners include food and beverage companies, flour mills, animal feed producers, edible oil producers, and hotels and restaurants in need of locally sourced produce.
Public partners may include Ministries of Agriculture and their local extension departments, with whom we often partner to provide advisory services to farmers. EUCORD also collaborates with national agricultural research institutes, to introduce agricultural technologies developed by them.
Local sourcing versus importation of agricultural products contributes to local development and environmental sustainability. Indeed, local sourcing contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions required to import products and decreases the national import balance, while promoting local value addition and enhancing rural economic growth benefitting the livelihoods of farmers’ households.
EUCORD often focuses on crops that are important for household consumption and for value-added processing. These include cereals such as barley, maize, millet, sorghum, and rice; roots & tubers such as cassava and potatoes; leguminous crops such as cowpea, groundnuts and soybean; oil crops such as sunflower and canola; and lastly, high-value crops including fruits and vegetables.
EUCORD is also supporting the sustainable land use by buffer communities living in the vicinity of national parks through reforestation and/or agroforestry involving tree planting and natural tree regeneration and the use of non-timber forest products.
As a non-profit organization, EUCORD can apply to bilateral and multilateral donors or private foundations that provide grants or tenders to support agricultural development. These funds are often used to leverage cash and in-kind contributions from private sector partners.
EUCORD does not promote GMOs or genetically modified organisms in its projects. EUCORD promotes both open-pollinated varieties and hybrid varieties developed through conventional plant breeding.
Conventional farming refers to methods that require external (chemical) inputs, advanced agricultural techniques and monocropping. By contrast, regenerative farming refers to practices that rely less on the use of external inputs, that promote crop diversification, and a more sustainable land-use. EUCORD doesn’t exclude the use of external inputs, but we do promote agricultural practices that favor sustainable land use, such as crop rotation, agroforestry, minimum tillage, the use of organic fertilizer, and bio-pesticides.
We ban child labor in our projects and train our staff to pay special attention to prevent the use of child labor among our partners.
EUCORD uses a double-entry accounting system. The bookings are done locally and controlled at the HQ level. They are then outsourced to a specialized accounting firm based in Leuven (Belgium) called “De Kleine Prins” specialized in NGO accounting. EUCORD’s accounts are audited in detail by VRC auditors, member of the Kreston International Group. Accountants and staff in country are selected through a thorough selection process.