COLEAD eLearning: new training pathways to strengthen the skills of 36,000 platform users
- 09/09/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
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COLEAD’s eLearning platform continues to grow as part of the FFM+ programme, offering new self-paced training pathways for professionals in the agri-food sector. Since 2024, four additional pathways comprising five courses have been added to the training offer. Business plan (available in English and French since June 2024) Financial planning (available in English since June 2024 and in French by the end of 2025); Fruit and vegetable preservation, Processing and Packaging (already available in French and due to be available… +Derrick Sarfo turns plastic into sustainable opportunities
- 09/09/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
In Ghana, a young entrepreneur is proving that a committed vision can turn environmental challenges into opportunities for inclusive development. Derrick Sarfo, founder and director of DercolBags Packaging Ltd., has made the fight against plastic pollution a driver of social and economic innovation. His entrepreneurial journey stems from a tragedy. In 2015, the devastating floods in Accra, worsened by plastic waste clogging drains, left a deep mark on Derrick and pushed him to act. Three years later, he founded DercolBags,… +María Elsy Abreu turns Dominican cacao into a driver of sustainability and inclusion
- 09/09/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
In the Dominican Republic, a new generation of entrepreneurs is transforming agricultural value chains. María Elsy Abreu, co-founder and director of Cacao Mae, is one of the movement’s leading figures. With a background in marketing and an in-depth understanding of international markets, she is working to showcase the exceptional quality of Dominican cacao and to leverage it for sustainable and inclusive development. From agricultural roots to a global vision Born into a family of farmers who cultivated cacao, tobacco, and… +Rwanda : study on the potential of the organic fruit and vegetable local market
- 09/09/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
As part of the FFM+ programme, COLEAD recently published a groundbreaking study on the potential of the domestic market for organic fruit and vegetables in Rwanda. The report assesses the prospects for developing the organic sector in Rwanda, focusing particularly on the feasibility of a participatory guarantee system that would offer new certification options tailored to small-scale producers. An emerging market. The study analyses consumer and hospitality sector demand, current market conditions, and the challenges to be overcome to promote… +Tanzania: meeting with 2,000 avocado value chain actors, a promising sector for smallholders
- 09/09/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
As part of the FFM+ programme, COLEAD took part in a Southern Highlands Development Alliance (SHDA)-organised workshop dedicated to the avocado sector in Njombe, Tanzania. Over 2,000 value chain stakeholders, including producers, exporters, suppliers of inputs, transporters, and farmers’ associations from the Njombe, Iringa, Ruvuma, and Songwe regions, came together to discuss the future of this thriving sector. A promising sector for smallholders. With over 25,000 small-scale producers organised within SHDA groups, the Southern Highlands are emerging as a promising… +Why MSMEs in Sub-Saharan Africa’s agricultural sector struggle to access finance: key blocking factors
- 09/09/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
Agriculture plays a critical role in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)— the sector employs nearly half of the workforce[1] and drives food security, rural development, and poverty reduction. At the heart of this sector are agricultural micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (agri-MSMEs)—the backbone of SSA’s rural economy. However, despite their importance, agri-MSMEs face a persistent barrier: access to finance. With three out of four agri-MSMEs unable to secure bank loans[2], these enterprises struggle to grow, innovate, and contribute to the region’s sustainable… +Ethiopia: Chives company invests in sustainable waste management
- 09/09/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
Founded in Menagesha in 2004, around 15 km west of Addis Ababa, Jordan River Herbs PLC Ethiopia has become a leading producer and exporter of fresh and processed chives. Located at a high altitude, the farm benefits from optimal growing conditions with minimal disease, virus and pest pressure. Cultivating 13 hectares under controlled conditions, the company employs 595 people, most of whom are women, and holds key certifications including GLOBALG.A.P., BRCGS, SMETA, LEAF, Tesco and M&S. Its products are exported… +Malawi: From training to action to strengthen quality and traceability
- 09/09/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
As part of the Fit For Market Plus programme (FFM+), two Malawian horticultural companies, Thanthwe Enterprises in Lilongwe and Mtengo wa Mizu in Salima, received post-training support in food safety, quality management, and traceability. This followed a collective training session on the principles of quality and traceability management systems for food safety. The training enabled an assessment of existing systems, including field visits and discussions with management teams, and the formulation of practical, tailored recommendations. Both companies now have concrete… +Senegal: OFRUTTI strengthens its quality and traceability system
- 09/09/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
As part of the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme, COLEAD supported the Senegalese company OFRUTTI, specialised in dried mango processing, in setting up concrete tools to structure its quality and traceability management system. This post-training support followed a collective session on the principles of quality and traceability management for food safety. The goal: to turn the knowledge gained into operational practices tailored to the company. Tangible results Thanks to strong commitment from the management team, several key achievements were… +Uganda: United Pearl Exporters strengthens HACCP compliance
- 09/09/2025
- Posted by: Sandra Borma
- Category: News
Within the framework of the Fit For Market Plus (FFM+) programme, COLEAD provided targeted technical assistance to United Pearl Exporters Ltd (UPEL), a Ugandan exporter of fresh fruit and vegetables (chillies, okra, bananas, green beans…) to the European Union and the United Kingdom. After participating in a COLEAD collective training on HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) in 2024, UPEL received post-training support to improve its food safety systems and progress towards certification. Tangible progress The support enabled: A… +