SCAN Related Projects: SAMCERT

SAMCERT – Strengthening Smallholders’ Access to Markets for Certified Sustainable Products

The SAMCERT programme is a 3-year grant from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) the goal of which is to assist rural producers in utilizing sustainable certification programmes (Fairtrade, Organic, Rainforest Alliance, Utz Certified etc.) to improve their economic, environmental and social situation.

The Programme is implemented by the Sustainable Commodity Initiative (SCI) /Agrofuturo Global and the Institute for Ethical and Environmental Certification (ICEA).

SAMCERT has two main components:

Rural smallholder knowledge and institution building:

Increasing the knowledge that targeted smallholder producers, related institutions and IFAD staff have of sustainability certifications, in order to identify, promote and develop supply chain partnerships, in support of smallholder farmers.

Developing partnerships with key market actors:

An interactive process, working with IFAD staff to identify key relationships – based on the needs of relevant IFAD projects -with the aim of developing certification-based supply chain partnerships to increase market access for smallholder rural producers and build supply chains where necessary.

Fieldwork is being undertaken to facilitate the development of such partnerships.

The project is being implemented in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Sao Tomé e Principe, Guinea, Sénégal, Ghana, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Indonesia. The project work is focusing on cocoa, coffee, white pepper, oil palm, shea butter and hibiscus value chains.

SAMCERT benefits smallholder value chains:

By providing cutting edge information on how sustainable certification programmes work, including the potential benefits for smallholders and the obstacles/problems (and how best to avoid them).
By providing information on how smallholders can benefit from certification, including an assessment of the socio-economic potential of certification.
By providing training on sustainable certification programmes.
Assisting IFAD projects by facilitating contact with potential market partners for the implementation of Public-Private Partnerships and product purchase.