Consolidating Opportunities for Developing Resilient Agri-food Systems by Supporting MSMEs -CODRA
The Food Heritage Foundation (FHF) in partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft Für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) is implementing the project Consolidating Opportunities for Developing Resilient Agri-food Systems by Supporting MSMEs – CODRA.
This project is financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and is under the GIZ ACE project to support Agriculture, local Communities and micro, small and medium Enterprises.
CODRA is an eighteen-month project (December 2022- May 2024) aiming at promoting the local food system, increasing food security, fostering self-sufficiency, and leveraging the livelihoods of MSMEs, with a special focus on those led by women and youth. The project will mainly provide technical, soft skills, and business development trainings, while adopting a holistic and integrated approach applying the circular economy concept, and capturing all social, economic, and environmental challenges. The project is implemented in West Bekaa and Chouf areas.
Three major outcomes are foreseen through CODRA
- Enhanced and sustained performance of businesses
- Enhanced adoption of innovation and technology
- Ensured scalability of impact
Activities:
- Building capacities of beneficiaries from 20 micro, small and medium-scaled enterprises working in the agri-food sector and located in the targeted areas.
- Conducting five training sessions on Finance & Business Operations, Marketing & Sales, E-commerce & Social Media, Gender Inclusivity and Circular Economy to participating businesses. Each beneficiary shall complete a 20 hours’ worth of trainings.
- Conducting 160 one-to-one coaching sessions to assess needs and challenges, and develop individualized business plan to be implemented by each entity.
- Providing needed support for implementation of developed business plans (advisory services, assets, access to resources, market linkages, etc.)
- Selecting 2 agro-cultural centers in Bekaa and Chouf to operate as “knowledge hubs” and host beneficiaries during training sessions and workshops.
- Upgrading the selected knowledge hubs by providing in-kind support to ensure an upscaled impact on the businesses and the local communities, and promote sustainable innovative production techniques.
- Based on a competitive approach, 10 successful businesses will be selected and promoted through different marketing channels and FHF initiatives.
About the Partners
The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH, often simply shortened to GIZ, is the main German development agency. As a service provider in the field of international cooperation for sustainable development and international education work, GIZ are
dedicated to shaping a future worth living around the world. They have over 50 years of experience in a wide variety of areas, including economic development and employment promotion, energy and the environment, and peace and security.