Goal:
Increase regional availability and use of appropriate and affordable fertilizers.

Life of Project:
2012 – 2017

Total USAID Funding:
U.S. $20 million

Geographic Scope:
West Africa Region

Implementing Partner:
International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)

Regional Partners:
Africa Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership, ECOWAS, CORAF, CILSS

Program Description:
Fertilizer use in West Africa is far below the world average, leaving farmers without an important input that can significantly improve yields.  The USAID West Africa Fertilizer Program (WAFP) aims to improve agriculture productivity by giving farmers better access to high quality, affordable fertilizers.  The program strengthens private sector capacity for supply and distribution, and provides regional decision makers with critical fertilizer recommendations and subsidy program and impact information. WAFP also works with public officials to harmonize national fertilizer regulations and implement quality control programs to meet the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) regional standards. 

Program Components:
• Implementing the regional ECOWAS fertilizer regulations, technical assistance for harmonization and national level quality control to decrease adulterated fertilizer sales. 
• Establishing a private-public sector West Africa Fertilizer Stakeholder Forum and forming a private sector-led Trade Association.
• Providing access to critical market information and financing for fertilizer importers, blenders and distributors.
• Providing up to date recommendations to suppliers, blenders and users of fertilizer for crops and conditions across West Africa.
• Conducting fertilizer subsidy studies and facilitating consensus-based recommendations for subsidy efficiency and policy reform.

Accomplishments:
• Facilitated development and conduct of West Africa Fertilizer Stakeholders’ Forum, a first ever innovative platform for public-private sector dialogue and business opportunities for fertilizer stakeholders in West Africa.
• Facilitated implementation of the ECOWAS fertilizer regulatory framework by providing technical assistance for adoption of the main regulation, and by embarking on joint missions with CORAF, CILSS and ECOWAS to advocate for the implementation of seed, pesticides and fertilizer regulations.
• Facilitated publication of the ECOWAS main fertilizer regulation in the national gazettes of eight Member States.
• Established extensive geo-spatial database and directory of fertilizer stakeholders across West Africa.
• Successfully piloted an e-tracking platform in Ghana to monitor and track subsidized fertilizer distribution.
• Completed feasibility study for West Africa Fertilizer Traders’ Association.