REQUEST FOR FUNDING FOR FARMERS ORGANISATION NETWORK IN GHANA - 2011 PLAN OF ACTIVITIES Date of Registration:            
2003 with Registrar General
2005 with Department of Social Welfare

Project Background  
Ghana is pursuing efforts to modernize the agricultural sector as agriculture is a vital contributor to economic growth, food security and poverty reduction. The role of Farmer Based Organizations such as Farmers Organization Network in Ghana (FONG) to contribute to the realization of the above cannot be over emphasized. It is worth mentioning that, FONG can achieve its mission if the following challenges are addressed through financial support: inadequate logistics, transportation and office supplies, capacity building for members, absence of strategic plan for (2012 onwards) among others. 

Project Rationale
Farmers organization Network has a national secretariat coordinating the activities of the network. However, in order for FONG to be effective at the grassroots, there should be improved communication between the national secretariat and zonal offices. For an effective running of the zonal offices, utilities, equipment need to be procured in addition to the payment of allowances of the zonal Co-ordinators and administrative assistant. 
Capacity building for farmers in relevant areas of their businesses is critical for their business growth of which it is usually achieved through trainings, foras, conferences, seminars and study tours. 
Farmers Organization Network in Ghana developed a three year strategic plan (2009-2011) which expires this year hence, the need for the development of another 5year strategic plan of action. 
For effective implementation and timely achievement of planned activities, monitoring and evaluation of the activities of FONG is very essential as it provides the information base to track the progress during project implementation for timely removal of constraints and delays. Executive council and committee meeting also needs to be organized quarterly to provide opportunity to assess status of planned activities and to discuss pertinent issues regarding the development of the organization.
Within FONG, women constitute about 70% of the total membership. In promoting gender parity within the organization where women have a voice in decisions affecting them, the Women’s College was established to ensure a fair representation on all decision making bodies especially at the highest level. The Women’s College would fulfill its mandate only when it is strengthened and members empowered.
Finally, Ghana has established a platform of which Farmers Organization Network in Ghana is playing a leading role, hence the need for regular platform executive meetings to deliberate on issues to strengthen the infant organization.

Project Objectives	
The specific objectives of the project are to:
1. Support and facilitate the main function of Farmers Organization Network in Ghana;
2. Build the capacity of members through trainings, and the organization of fora and conferences;
3. Strengthen the Womens’ College of the organization;
4. Establish the Youth College within the organization;
5. Strengthen Ghana’s platform through the organization of executive meetings;
6. Monitor and evaluate the activities of Farmer Organization Network in Ghana.

Expected Output
1. Utilities available for running 3 zonal offices 
2. Necessary office equipment available for use in 3 zonal offices
3. Three zonal co-coordinators at post and paid.
4. Three zonal administrative assistant paid and at post. 
5. Farmers trained in record keeping.
6. Three zonal farmers fora organized for farmers
7. A national farmer’s conference organized.
8. A five years strategic document developed.
9. Monitoring and evaluation of FONG national and zonal activities conducted.
10. Women’s College strengthened and members empowered.
11. Ghana platform executive meeting organized. 


2. Social and economic aspect of the project 
The social analysis of the project shows that the project would:
-Promote better interaction among farmers.
-Improved communication between the national secretariat, zonal offices, citizens of Ghana and partners;
-Improved accountability and transparency among members, donors and Ghanaian citizenry.
-Viable farmer organization.



Economically, the planned activities would:
-Improve the effectiveness of staff activities.
-Increase staff job output.
-Increase knowledge on how to manage farming as a business through proper record keeping.
-Increase income.
-Reduce poverty.
  
Main commodities and markets
-	The members of FONG are into the production of the following commodities: rice, maize, soya bean, vegetables, yam, shea butter, oilpalm, banana, plantain. Other members are engaged in the processing of shea butter, cassava and fish. The produce of members are sold to households, open market, schools , processors, hospitals, World Food Programme and Ghana School Feeding Programme. 

Main stakeholders
Strategic suppliers
-	Input dealers (fertilizer, insecticides, seeds etc.)
-	Banks
-	Media
-	Consultants
-	Tractor and Transport services

    
Strategic competencies
-	Ministry of Food and Agriculture
-	Trainers/Consultants
-	Ghana Export promotion council
-	Universities
-	Council for Scientific and Industrial Research
-	Crops
-	Pan African Competitiveness Forum




Supporting organisations
-	Ministry of Food and Agriculture
-	NGOs
-	Private Sector Organisations examples: Wienco, Dizengoff

    Market
-	Processors
-	Market women
-	Households
-	Schools
-	Hospitals
-	World Food Programme
-	Ghana School Feeding Programme

MAIN ACTIVITY 1: Support and facilitation of main function

EXPECTED OUTPUT : 
•Specified utilities available for running 3 zonal offices
•Appropriate office equipment available at 3 zonal offices
•Necessary office supplies available for use in 3 zonal offices
•3 zonal co-ordinators at post and paid
•3 zonal administrative assistant paid and at post

INDICATORS
• Utilities of 3 zonal offices procured; internet connectivity, electricity,
telephone and water.
•Specific office equipment procured for 3 zonal offices
•Office supplies procured for 3 zonal offices
•Allowance of 3 zonal co-ordinators paid
•Allowance of 3 zonal administrative assistants paid

SOURCE OF DATA
•Receipts of utility bills
•Receipts of equipment procured
•Pictures of equipment procured
  Signed payslips of zonal co-ordinators.
•Signed payslips of zonal administrative assistants


MAIN ACTIVITY 2: Capacity Building

EXPECTED OUTPUT: 
•Farmers trained in record keeping

INDICATORS
•Train 50 farmers in record keeping

SOURCE OF DATA
•End of training report
•Pictures
•Signed list of participants
•Receipts of purchases

MAIN ACTIVITY 3: Zonal Farmers Fora

EXPECTED OUTPUT:
•3 Zonal farmers fora organised for farmers

INDICATORS:
•60 farmers per zone participate in zonal farmers fora.

SOURCE OF DATA:
•Zonal farmers fora Report
•Pictures
•Receipts of purchases, accommodation, water, snacks, etc.


MAIN ACTIVITY 4: FONG National Farmers Conference

EXPECTED OUTPUT:
•FONG National Conference organised for farmers

INDICATORS:
•60 farmers participate in FONG National Farmers Conference to interact with policy makers.

SOURCE OF DATA:
•Conference report
•Pictures
•Receipts of purchases i.e. accommodation, water, snacks, lunch etc


MAIN ACTIVITY 5: Development of a strategic document on issues    concerning youth college

EXPECTED OUTPUT: 
•Strategic document on Youth issues developed.

INDICATORS:
•Meeting with Youth by a Consultant organised 
•Election of member by the Youth college
•Youth strategic document
•Launch of the Youth College

SOURCE OF DATA:
•Youth Strategic document
•Pictures of meeting
•Contract agreement between FONG and Consultant
•Receipts of accommodation payments, snacks, water, etc.

MAIN ACTIVITY 6: Monitoring and Evaluation of Activities

EXPECTED OUTPUT: 
•Monitoring and evaluation of FONG national and zonal activities conducted

INDICATORS:
•3 zonal visits by National Co-ordinator and Monitoring Evaluation Committee
•2 quarterly National Executive Council meetings organised
•2 quarterly Executive Committee meetings organised
•2 zonal meetings organised

SOURCE OF DATA:
•T&T receipts
•Signed per diem sheets
•Pictures
•Reports of meetings
•Receipts of accommodation, snack etc.


MAIN ACTIVITY 7: Women’s College

EXPECTED OUTPUT: •Women’s College strengthened and members empowered

INDICATORS:
•2 National Executive meeting organised
•1 Women’s College forum organised
•Validation workshop on Women’s College bye laws organised
•2 Zonal women’s college meeting organised
•Monitoring and evaluation of women’s college activities conducted

SOURCE OF DATA:
•Monitoring and Evaluation reports
•Minutes of meetings
•Receipts of purchases, accommodation, 
•Pictures
•Validation reports etc

MAIN ACTIVITY 8: Ghana Platform Executive Meeting

EXPECTED OUTPUT:
•Executive meetings organised

INDICATORS:
•2  meetings organised for platform executive members

SOURCE OF DATA:
•Minutes of meetings 
•Pictures
•Receipts of purchases


SUSTAINABILITY AND COST EFFICIENCEY
The project would be sustained through the following means:&#61656;Trainees would be FBO leaders who would further train their members to ensure the trickle down of information to the grassroots.

&#61656;Proposals would be sent to other donors for support to train members in relevant areas.

&#61656;Local experts would be engaged to undertake the necessary consultancy assignments.

&#61656;Quality and durable equipment would be procured.

&#61656;Maintenance of procured office equipment to ensure its longitivity.

Défense des intérêts des pastoralistes en Afrique de l'Ouest à travers une plus grande influence des politiques