1. What FO4ACP Is

The Farmers’ Organizations for Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (FO4ACP) programme is a multi-regional agricultural development initiative designed to strengthen farmers’ organizations to improve smallholder incomes, livelihoods, food and nutrition security, and food safety across African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries.

It builds on earlier FO4 programmes and partnerships, and represents a major collaborative effort by development partners to support family farming at scale.

🎯 2. Purpose and Objectives

The programme aims to:

• Increase incomes for organized smallholders and family farmers
• Improve livelihoods and the food and nutrition security of farming communities
• Strengthen farmers’ organizations at regional, national, and local levels so they can deliver better services, influence policy, and support members more effectively

Outcomes include improved service delivery, better access to financial and market opportunities, enhanced policy influence, stronger institutions, and knowledge sharing among organizations.

🤝 3. Key Partners and Implementation

FO4ACP is funded by the European Union (EU) and the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) with technical and administrative management by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

Implementing partners include:

• Six regional farmers’ organizations (e.g., PAFO, EAFF, ROPPA, SACAU)
• AgriCord, a global alliance of agri-agencies
• FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean (Caribbean sub-programme)
• National farmers’ organizations and additional partners across regions

The programme is implemented in about 70 ACP countries, reaching over 52 million smallholder farmers through roughly 100 farmers’ organizations.

📅 4. Timeline and Budget

• Originally planned for 2019–2023 with implementation continuing into early 2025
• Programme operations extend to January or mid-2025 for full closure
• Total funding estimated around €50+ million from EU/OACPS with additional IFAD co-financing

🧩 5. Core Components

• Economic Services Along Value Chains: Strengthening farmers’ organizations to provide better economic and technical services and enable better market participation
• Enabling Business Environment: Supporting policy dialogue, improved regulatory environments for smallholders, and better value-chain governance
• Institutional Development: Building the institutional capacity, accountability, and sustainability of farmers’ organizations
• Communication & Knowledge Sharing: Promoting peer learning, knowledge exchange, and wider dissemination of best practices

📈 6. Regional Elements

• Africa: Implemented through PAFO’s regional federations (EAFF, ROPPA, SACAU)
• Caribbean: Co-implementation with FAO Regional Office, AgriCord, and PROCASUR
• Pacific: Activities led by the Pacific Islands Farmers’ Organization Network (PIFON)

🧠 7. Strategic Importance

The programme reinforces the idea that farmers’ organizations are essential partners in rural development, as they help smallholders access inputs, markets, finance, advocacy platforms, and services beyond food production (e.g., social services, training, and legal rights).