Connect to amplify impact.

Networks and Alliances

Working through Networks & Alliances (N&A) enables COLEAD to weave operational partnerships and strategic alliances that multiply the impact of its action and contribute to accelerating the transformation of food systems.

3 levels Macro · Meso · Micro — Regulatory frameworks · Sector ecosystems · Businesses on the ground
240+ technical partners
500+ association members
420+ agrinnovators.org members
1,200+ local experts in 50+ countries
D3 · Leveraging impact

COLEAD's Networks & Alliances (N&A) department structures, runs and develops operational partnerships and strategic alliances, as well as COLEAD's community made up of online and on-the-ground networks. N&A aims to help COLEAD evolve from an organisation into a "glocal" movement — rooted in field realities, reaching global scale.

The department operates at three complementary levels:

  • Influence decision-makers and standard-setters — policy dialogue with international institutions, regulatory harmonisation, positioning COLEAD in governance spaces (EU, AU, WTO, UN).
  • Strengthen the ecosystem — partnerships with professional organisations, research and training institutes, regional and continental farmers' organisations, financial actors.
  • Act on the ground — mobilising economic operators, MSMEs and service providers in partner countries.

N&A also coordinates the cross-cutting working group on Inclusiveness (gender & youth), ensuring the consistency of the women's and youth entrepreneurship agenda across all of COLEAD's programmes, partnerships and advocacy activities.

Our 3-level institutional partnerships map

Influence decision-makers

Governance & strategic alignment

Examples:

  • EU / DG INTPA · EU Delegations — Strategic financing and steering of programmes
  • AU · RECs · ARSO — SPS harmonisation and regional regulatory frameworks
  • IPPC · Codex · WTO — International SPS standards and market access advocacy
  • OECD · IICA · UN Women — Agricultural policies, regional cooperation, gender and inclusion
  • GLOBALG.A.P. — Private standards
  • Donors and finance facilities — ENABEL, AFD, STDF, UEMOA, COMESA…

Strengthen the ecosystem

Enabling ecosystem & scaling-up

Examples:

  • PAFO and regional farmers' organisations — Producer ownership and representation
  • RUFORUM · FARA · CABI · CIRAD — Research and training: bridges with the academic world
  • Training centres in partner countries — Local capacity building · certification & accreditation
  • Finance facilities — EDFI MC Agri-FI · Kampani · CSAF — Inclusive finance and blended finance

Act on the ground

Operators & on-the-ground delivery

Examples:

  • Producers & cooperatives — Compliance and good agricultural practices
  • MSMEs & value chain operators — Upgrading and competitiveness, including via finance facilities (EDFI MC Agri-FI · Kampani · CSAF…)
  • Local providers and consultants — 1,200 experts mobilised in 50+ countries

Illustrative alliances by area of action

A selection of structuring partnerships to show the diversity of our engagements. Non-exhaustive list — over 240 technical partners are mobilised.

Research & innovation

DeSIRA LIFT — support to the agroecological transition of agri-food systems (co-led programme). CEA First — innovative multi-stakeholder platform connecting Africa and Europe on food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture.

CIRAD · Wageningen · Agrinatura · NRI · CEA First · FARA · CIRAD · Agricord

Plant health

Co-development of e-learning and support to plant health in vulnerable countries.

FAO / IPPC

Climate advocacy

Fairmiles — international coalition to decarbonise air freight of fresh produce without penalising producers from vulnerable countries.

Beanstalk.Global · Blue Skies · Univ. Exeter · Univ. Northampton · ODI

Economic advocacy

Global Coalition for Fresh Produce — global coalition defending the interests of economic operators in the production and trade of fruit and vegetables.

CPMA · Freshfel · International Fresh Produce Association · SHAFFE · Afruibana · AEBE · AUSVEG

Environmental footprint

PEFCR Fruit & Vegetables — co-development of an environmental footprint methodology for imports into the EU.

Freshfel Europe · COLEAD ACP committee

Access to finance

Dialogue with financial institutions to position COLEAD as a technical partner of MSMEs.

ABSA Bank · Kampani · Shared Interest · CSAF · I&P · Samawati · ABC Fund

Networks & inspiration on transformational priorities

Agrifood Partnership Series and agrinnovators.org — thematic webinar series and collaborative platform showcasing agri-food entrepreneurs.

PAFO · IICA · OECD · UN Women · PFO

EU private sector engagement

EU private sector engagement

COLEAD is in permanent contact with European companies active in EU partner countries (including its members). COLEAD is a member and board member of ALFA, the association bringing together the French private sector engaged in food sector development in Africa.

  • European COLEAD members
  • ALFA
  • AMFORI

Resources and entry points

  • agrinnovators.org — forum for agri-entrepreneurs

    Join the collaborative forum (420+ members)

  • Agrifood Partnership Series — entrepreneur webinars

    Follow the sessions co-led with PAFO, IICA, UN Women, OECD

  • DeSIRA LIFT — sustainable agri-food transition

    Discover the agri-food systems transformation project

  • Map of COLEAD's partnerships and alliances

    (PDF)

  • Propose a partnership

    For institutions, development practitioners and donors
See also
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