African Fertiliser Agribusiness Partnership

In May 2012 "Professor Richard Mkandawire, has been appointed as the Vice President of the newly-established African Fertiliser Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP).

"Prior to his appointment Prof. Mkandawire, was the Head of Resource Mobilisation, Partnerships and Communications at the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NEPAD Agency). Before taking on this position, he was the Head of the NEPAD Agriculture Programme and the principal architect of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) which is an African conceived, owned and driven agriculture development initiative endorsed by the African Heads of State and Government in 2003...

"AFAP is a collaborative programme among Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), the African Development Bank (ADB), International Fertiliser Development Center (IFDC), Agricultural Market Development Trust- Africa (Agmark), NEPAD and other specialised agencies, with the support of the African Union Commission. AFAP was formed last year and it is registered in South Africa...

"The principal operating mechanism of AFAP will be Agribusiness Partnership Contracts (APCs) under which eligible international, regional or local agribusinesses will apply for assistance and, in exchange, they will be expected to implement significant market development activities with local farmers and/or agribusiness.

"AFAP's partners believe that the private sector must be fully engaged to bring greater investment and know-how into this emerging market. An interim board of Trustees, chaired by Dr. Namanga Ngongi, is currently operating."

Contact
Web: http://afap-partnership.org/