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EUCORD
The European Cooperative for Rural Development (EUCORD) is a Brussels-based non-profit organisation incorporated under Dutch law. It aims to promote public-private partnerships between civil society organisations, public sectors, and corporations in the field of sustainable development of agriculture in rural Sub-Saharan Africa.

EUCORD’s mission is to increase farmers’ capacity to sustainably grow quality crops matched to the commercial needs of the agribusiness sector and in doing so, increase food security, develop the private sector and improve the livelihoods of rural communities. EUCORD’s vision is to nurture more prosperous and entrepreneurial communities in rural areas of through various project implementations

EUCORD has experience working in several countries in Africa, helping communities reach their full potential and supporting agri-enterprises that rely on locally sourced materials. EUCORD supports end-to-end value chain development by facilitating access to credit, low-cost and high-quality inputs, and arranging agricultural advisory and training to farmers.

2001
In 2001 co-founders Henk Knipscheer and Hans Megens discussed the creation of a new NGO which would collaborate with agribusiness in developing countries and use their untapped potential to pull people out of poverty.

2003
EUCORD was registered in 2003 as Coöperatie U.A.in the Netherlands and opened its office in Brussels. First projects were carried out with Winrock International and the Rabobank Foundation in Mali.

2005
EUCORD’s first Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project was launched in 2005 to support sorghum value chain development in Ghana and Sierra Leone funded by the Common Fund for Commodities (UN), Diageo and Heineken.

2023
In 2023, EUCORD celebrated its 20th Birthday.

Approach
EUCORD’s main priority is to assist with the development of an efficient and competitive agri-sector, one that is competitive and will produce an abundance of crops (a) to benefit consumers, and (b) to benefit industries. In addition, eliminating imports will benefit the whole economy as meagre foreign exchange can be used for more productive (non-human consumption) purposes.

EUCORD plays the role of trainer (in best cultivation practices), facilitator (in helping sustained access to superior seeds, other inputs and credit), and honest broker (helping with the arrangement and honouring of sales contracts and quality control).

Collaboration with the agribusiness sector allows EUCORD to introduce contract farming arrangements. These arrangements provide a secure market for growers which allows them to use high yielding seeds and effective inputs which will fully utilise the genetical potential of such seeds.

West African Sorghum Value Chain Development
The West African Sorghum Value Chain Development (WASCD)[1] project, funded by the Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) ran from 2006 to 2011 and was aimed at supporting smallholder farmers in Ghana and Sierra Leone by creating new income sources and hereby diversifying supply chains.

Community Revenue Enhancement Through Agricultural Technology Extension
The Community Revenue Enhancement Through Agricultural Technology Extension (CREATE) project funded by Heineken International, Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Finance Corporation from 2013-2020 was implemented in Ethiopia, Rwanda and Sierra Leone. All these aimed at rural employment and increase in agricultural capacity and increase food security[2].

Barley Organization of Supply and Training
The Barley Organization of Supply and Training (BOOST) project in Southeast and Central Oromia 2020-2023 funded by the International Finance Corporation, is a barley value chain development project to enhance productivity of farmers along with the quality of their produce.

West Africa Biodiversity and Climate Change
Apart from agriculture, EUCORD also implements projects in the field of reforestation, agroforestry, and climate-friendly development such as West Africa Biodiversity and Climate Change (WABiCC) project[4] funded by United States Agency for International Development supporting forest-buffer communities.

Awards
The World Business Development Award (2010)[1] looks for organisations and companies demonstrating clear connections between their business practices and achieving the MDGs[2]. This was awarded to Heineken in partnership with EUCORD for their project in Sierra Leone. EUCORD’s role in this project was assisting Heineken with the development of sustainable supply chains for breweries in Sierra Leone.