AICS’s commitment in the development of production chains reflects the typically Italian model of development – based on SMEs and local manufacturing districts – and aims to increase both productivity and output, improving quality and enhancing the typical characteristics of products, disseminating good crop growing practices and preserving production areas, technology transfer, agro-industry development and product exports, especially thanks to qualified technical assistance, training and institutional capacity building. To achieve these goals, AICS is also committed to supporting the establishment of stronger links with the private agro-industry sector in partner countries, by promoting partnerships with the Italian private sector.
The actions promoted by the Italian Development Cooperation, aimed at developing value chains and the agro-industry sector, can improve agri-food systems and ensure greater access to food, with a view to food security, while boosting diversified and sustainable economic growth as well as increasing incomes. Intervention strategies are combined with the specific production systems of the project Countries, taking into account the institutional and socio-political context and the structure of the local economies, which are often influenced by multiple factors, including political instability, conflict, inflation and debt, climate shocks and natural disasters, which are intertwined with equally significant social and environmental changes (population growth, urbanization, deforestation and desertification , etc.). The priority interventions are grouped into two macro-areas:
- Development of value chains, consisting mainly of small-scale producers and local supply chain actors (farmers, pastoralists, artisanal fishers), often in marginalised rural areas, with the aim of diversifying production, encouraging innovation, enhancing knowledge and traditional crops, and triggering circular economy and aggregation processes. The inclusiveness and participation of these actors in the benefits generated along value chains is also crucial, especially with regard to indigenous communities, women and youth.
- Agro-industry, with a broader involvement of the private business sector, in partner Countries consisting of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and intervening on production, processing and marketing to stimulate crops with significant added value mainly produced for the market (acting on both the supply and demand side), including export, capable of triggering innovation processes and economies of scale thanks to technical assistance, investments and technical and financial instruments, also to encourage the transfer of know-how, technology, research and innovation.
In both macro areas, the multi-stakeholder approach is viewed as a central and essential element to ensure the sustainability and inclusiveness of interventions. In particular, Development Cooperation promotes partnerships between institutional actors, producer and supply chain organizations, local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), research institutions and universities, and civil society organizations (CSOs), involving important actors of the Italian System.
Moreover, the supply chain approach is favoured, with examples including the supply chains of coffee in Ethiopia, Mozambique and Cuba, olives in Albania and Pakistan, cotton in Egypt, and aquaculture in Vietnam and Mozambique. Some aspects of intervention concern the mechanisation and digitisation of production processes, the efficiency of irrigation systems, the modernisation of rural, road and energy infrastructure, and, particularly in the case of agro-industry, the adoption of traceability, certification of origin and product quality protocols (food safety), also with a view to opening up to international markets (examples are the programmes in the Western Balkans for alignment with EU standards, as well as the promotion of access to the European market for products from the ASEAN – Association of Southeast Asian Nations – countries).
Moreover, there is also an increasing focus on “green” investments in sustainable agriculture and agro-industry, which implies an increased attention to quality and innovation, with a focus on environmental, economic and social sustainability, also through increasing integration with the principles of agroecology, as an approach for the broader transformation of agri-food systems.
Intervention planning is based on:
- United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for the country of reference.
- European Union programmes and strategies (Multiannual Country Programmes, Team Europe Initiatives and Joint Programming, European Green Deal, European Market regulations, Regional programmes, etc.
- Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP)/Malabo Declaration
- High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (CFS/FAO)