CASA aims to facilitate global investment in climate-smart agri-food systems that increase incomes for smallholder farmers, especially in Asia and Africa. By the start of 2023 CASA had worked in:
In 20 countries in Africa and Asia.
14 different crop areas
4 different livestock value chains
2 agri-tech companies
CASA in Africa
CASA market systems development activity and investment facilitation in Malawi and Uganda.
CASA Technical Assistance Facility has supported enterprises in Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zambia with post-investment, inclusive technical assistance. It has also supported FCDO teams in Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe with consultancy services.
CASA in Asia
CASA market systems development activity and investment facilitation in Nepal.
CASA Technical Assistance Facility has supported enterprises in India and Indonesia. It has also supported FCDO teams in Cambodia, Indonesia and Vietnam.
CASA focus country: Malawi
In Malawi, CASA uses three different approaches to facilitate investment:
- A consultative approach to deliver a more favourable policy and enabling environment;
- Work with lenders to help make enterprises investment ready; and
- Work with specific enterprises in the poultry and aquaculture value chains.
CASA seeks to share the lessons from this work here on the website in a range of media, where this is not in conflict with the commercial interests of the enterprises being supported.
CASA focus country: Nepal
In Nepal, the CASA Market Systems Development Team uses three different approaches to facilitate investment:
- a consultative approach to deliver a more favourable policy and enabling environment;
- working with lenders to help make enterprises investment ready; and
- working with specific enterprises in the vegetable and dairy value chains.
CASA focus country: Uganda
The CASA Market Systems Development Team worked in two sectors beans and sesame.
Country Directory
Cambodia
CASA TAF provided consultancy support to the FCDO team in Cambodia.
CASA TAF focused on market and investment analysis across key agricultural sub-sectors, to spotlight opportunities for the FCDO to bolster farmer resilience and inclusive investment, and to initiate impactful investment. CASA recommended three key strategies:
- Unlocking more affordable loans to smallholder farmers by enhancing value chain financing models
- Providing specific agribusinesses with inclusive technical assistance
- Increasing the investment readiness of high-growth potential micro-enterprises and SME agribusinesses, through support to existing, or new, accelerator programs, and by fostering ecosystem linkages.
Ethiopia
The CASA Market Systems Development Team completed market assessments of several sectors in 2022/23. CASA TAF supported coffee and edible oil businesses (specific company details are covered by non-disclosure agreements).
Ghana
CASA TAF supported cocoa and agri-tech businesses, (specific company details are covered by non-disclosure agreements)
CASA TAF also provided consultancy support to the FCDO team in Ghana. The first study, completed in March 2022, identified opportunities to enhance value chain inclusiveness, and bolster climate change resilience, for smallholder farmers in Ghana. The second study explored enabling smallholder farmers in Ghana to access carbon finance opportunities. The CASA team, having engaged with over 15 local agribusinesses, is crafting recommendations based on tangible examples of carbon finance solutions accessible to smallholder farmers. The project also involves defining the necessary activities that investments donors, like the FCDO, need to undertake to unlock these opportunities. The CASA team presented their findings at a carbon finance workshop organised by the FCDO in Accra.
India
CASA TAF supported companies in the pork and dairy value chains and several agri-tech companies (specific company details are covered by non-disclosure agreements).
Indonesia
CASA TAF supported companies processing coconut sugar, spices and dairy (specific company details are covered by non-disclosure agreements), and provided consultancy support to the FCDO team in Indonesia.
The study identified opportunities to support smallholder farmers in the palm oil sector. The study focused on four key areas:
- Increasing incomes
- Developing market linkages
- Eliminating deforestation
- Fostering an effective enabling environment.
Kenya
The CASA Technical Assistance Facility supported businesses processing dairy, nuts, coconuts and edible oils [specific company details are covered by non-disclosure agreements], and provided consultancy support to the FCDO team in Kenya.
They explored investment opportunities in Kenya’s high-growth sectors of fertilizer alternatives and soil nutrition supplements. CASA framed the opportunity for complementary solutions to inorganic fertilizer in Kenya for FCDO. Three recommendations were provided to scale organic fertilizers and bio-stimulants:
- Develop a strong evidence base on product efficacy by facilitating platforms that bring together research institutes, manufacturers, and farmer associations, thereby reinforcing standards;
- Develop scalable business models by enabling manufacturers to adopt best practices, scale, and improve the business case for organic fertilizer;
- Drive farmer adoption by evolving routes to farmers to increase reach, and by focusing on behavior change towards integrated soil fertility management practices, to enhance penetration.
Malawi
CASA TAF supported businesses processing dairy, poultry and nuts (specific company details are covered by non-disclosure agreements).
The CASA Market Systems Development Team is developing enterprises in the poultry and aquaculture sectors for further trade and investment. In 2023 they will be working with the CASA Research, Learning & Communication Team to encourage more investment in agriculture in Malawi.
Morocco
CASA TAF provided consultancy support to the FCDO team in Morocco.
Mozambique
CASA TAF supported businesses in the horticulture and rice value chains (specific company details are covered by non-disclosure agreements), and provided consultancy support to the FCDO team in Mozambique.
Nepal
The CASA Market Systems Development Team is developing enterprises in the dairy and vegetable sectors for further trade and investment. With support from the Research, Learning & Communication Team an Agribusiness Investment Meeting and investor tour was delivered.
Nigeria
CASA TAF supported a rice business (specific company details are covered by non-disclosure agreements), and provided consultancy support to the FCDO team in Nigeria
Rwanda
The CASA Market Systems Development Team is working on market assessments of several value chains. The CASA TAF supported a maize trading enterprise [specific company details are covered by non-disclosure agreements], and provided consultancy support to the FCDO team in Rwanda. The CASA Research Communication team coordinated several sessions on climate adaptation, and opportunities for agri-businesses to pitch for investment, at the Africa Green Revolution Forum in 2022.
Senegal
CASA TAF provided consultancy support to the FCDO team in Senegal. CASA produced a comprehensive review of the circular agri-economy sector in Senegal and suggested both macro- and micro-level recommendations to FCDO to foster growth. Recommendations included:
- Enhancing awareness and coordination across all relevant stakeholders by supporting the Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development to update their circular economy strategy in collaboration with other government agencies; animating an Agro-Circular Economy Sub-Committee; and developing and provisioning modular capacity-building;
- Supporting individual companies in their circular agri-economy journey by providing targeted support and technical assistance to some of the 13 identified investment opportunities, and catalysing partnerships between waste producers and waste promoters within existing, or new, business ecosystems.
Sudan
CASA TAF provided consultancy support to the FCDO team in Sudan.
Tunisia
CASA TAF provided consultancy support to the FCDO team in Tunisia.
Uganda
CASA Market Systems Development Team worked with enterprises in the bean and sesame (simsim) sectors to support further trade and investment. In 2021, the CASA Research Learning & Communication team worked with the Uganda Investment Authority on a consultation process that led to five proposals to improve the enabling environment for investment in agribusinesses, and their supply chains, in Uganda. CASA TAF supported FCDO Uganda by developing a strategy to stimulate inclusive and green horticulture sector growth in Uganda. Through a process of engagement with the top 10 horticulture exporters in the Uganda, CASA developed recommendations to enhance both commercial exports to the UK and inward investment opportunities.
Vietnam
CASA TAF provided consultancy support to the FCDO team in Vietnam. The CASA TAF study traced pathways for smallholder producers to transition towards sustainable agriculture within the coffee sector in Vietnam. Follow-up work will see the dissemination of the findings, driving the sustainable transformation of the coffee sector.
Zambia
CASA TAF is supported enterprises in the aquaculture and cotton value chains and with agri-tech companies (specific company details are covered by non-disclosure agreements).
Zimbabwe
CASA TAF provided consultancy support to the FCDO team in Zimbabwe.