Winrock International started working in Nigeria with the Farmer to Famer Program in 2001 and over the past 13 years conducted over 311 volunteer assignments ranging in subject matter of swine management, apiculture, aquaculture, cooperative development and microcredit financing. Winrock made a commitment to improve the lives and livelihood of the people in West Africa and works every day to fulfill that commitment in Nigeria, Guinea and Senegal.

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In March, Ed Doherty, marked the first Farmer-to-Farmer (F2F) volunteer to Nigeria under the new phase of the program focused on agriculture education and training (AET). This new phase of F2F in Nigeria will focus on formal AET institutions (e.g., universities and training centers) as well as producer groups and service providers (including microfinance institutions) providing training and services directly to smallholder farmers.

The Rural Finance Institution Building (RUFIN) Program requested support from F2F to conduct strategic institutional assessments for two apex microfinance institutions, the National Association of Microfinance Banks (NAMB) and Association of Non-Bank Microfinance Institutions of Nigeria (ANMFIN). RUFIN, established through a loan agreement between the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) and the Federal Government of Nigeria, was designed to improve performance and ensure sustainability of rural microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Nigeria, ultimately improving income and food security of poor rural households. Doherty’s assignment was an essential step to strengthening these apex institutions to effectively monitor and supervise MFIs so that they can provide better services and training to farmers in the future. Rural poor families will directly benefit from the improved financial services, in terms of quality, quantity, and access to credit.

Doherty, a management consultant, trainer, and coach specializing in improving the performance of individuals and work groups, reviewed documents, conducted site visits and stakeholder meetings, and led both apex organizations through organizational self-assessments. During fact finding, it became clear that an absence of teamwork was affecting performance, so following the assessments, Doherty also designed and delivered a one-day workshop to build skills on “Listening, Conflict Resolution, and Team Development,” which was attended and well-received by members of both apex organizations, RUFIN staff, and staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria, among others.

Following the assessment, Mr. Kabir Mustapha Yar’adua, NAMB Executive Security wrote:

“Mr. Doherty has succeeded immensely in pointing to us the way forward to refocusing the Association to serve the members in its core mandate of Advocacy, Capacity Building, Networking and Self-regulation. Personally, I am convinced that if we executed his recommendations, the Association will give value to its more than 800 MFBs in a sustainable way, professionalize microfinance banking, help the regulatory authorities in their supervisory roles, and generally increase the impact of the sub-sector’s contribution to the country’s GDP.”

Sounds like the program in Nigeria is off to a good start!

Today we celebrate the thousands of Winrock volunteers who have dedicated their expertise, time, and hearts to helping people in need around the world.

Volunteers Leanne Wiley and Allyn Lamb, both of whom volunteered with the USAID-funded Farmer-to-Farmer program in Nigeria, share what international volunteering has meant to them: (more…)

July 28, 2013

I was in Nigeria for two weeks in July as a Winrock International volunteer with the USAID John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter Farmer-to-Farmer program. The “host” was the Community Based Natural Resource Management Program – Niger Delta (CBNRMP-ND).

My assignment was to train farmers and cooperative leaders in group dynamics, association & cooperative development, record keeping, and business planning. The training took place in two locations in Cross River State in the southeastern corner of the country: Ogoja and Calabar. In Ogoja, 35 men and 23 women participated. In Calabar there were 32 men and 27 women. There were approximately 50 cooperatives or associations represented, as well as government officials taking part in both locations. The training participants are expected to go back to their organizations and “step-down” the training to their members.

What I found most impressive was the desire to learn and the active participation and note-taking. The Winrock-Nigeria Chief of Party, Mike Bassey, and the head of CBNRMP-ND, Innocent Ogbin, and his staff, provided great logistical support.

Nigerian State Television took video of the Calabar training and I was told it was recently broadcast.

Nigeria has many challenges as is evident from the daily news reports. It has the largest population in Africa and has very high unemployment, especially among youth. Programs like this one serve as a lifeline for those willing to participate. Time will tell how it will all play out and whether my efforts will make any difference, but I do know that it meant a lot to those participating. Many people came up to me after the training to thank me and say that they had learned much that will be useful to them. In Calabar, one woman came up to me and said, “I thank God that you came here and taught us these things. This is information we have badly needed.”

Training Location in Ogoja

Participants in Ogola training, (Allyn in red in upper right).

With the school headmaster and two of the children, at a local school where Allyn donated books and crayons

[Thanks Allyn!]

“The volunteer assignment renewed my batteries and reignited my passion to do this kind of volunteer work. I’m ready to come back [again]!”

-John Moulton, Farmer-to-Farmer volunteer in Nigeria

[This kind of feedback reignites our passion too!]