Over 15,000 people attend Europe Day celebrations in Tbilisi organised by Landell Mills and the EU Delegation to Georgia

Landell Mills supported the EU Delegation to Georgia with the organisation of the Europe Day celebrations held in Rike Park in Tibilisi on 5th May.

Over 15,000 people came together to participate in games, including a streetball competition, and informative activities about the European Union such as interactive installations, as well as enjoying food, music and dances from all over Europe on a daytime stage. Twenty Member States of the European Union presented their countries and showcased their cultures to visitors.

The event was officially opened by Salome Zourabichvili, President of Georgia, Mamuka Bakhtadze, Prime Minister of Georgia, Kakha Kaladze, Mayor of Tbilisi and the Ambassador of the European Union, Carl Hartzell.

“Europe Day is an opportunity for us to highlight the close relations between the EU and Georgia, which have never been stronger than they are today. We look forward to continuing and further developing our cooperation in the years to come.”

— Ambassador Hartzell

The theme for the day was ‘Stronger Together’, marking 10 years of the Eastern Partnership and five years since the EU-Georgia Association Agreement was signed.

The celebrations form part of the EU4Georgia Phase 2 project which is funded by the EU and implemented by Landell Mills. Through a series of events, content creation, media collaboration, digital marketing and the production of communication products such as films and infographics, the project will increase awareness, understanding, and support for the EU and its activities in Georgia.

The project started in April 2019 and the total contract value is €1,470,209.

Landell Mills organises second Zarafshon Basin Dialogue under the EU-funded Zarafshon Integrated Basin Project

The second Zarafshon Basin Dialogue took place in April 2019 at the Dilkusho teahouse in Panjakent Town in Tajikistan. Landell Mills organised the Dialogue under the Zarafshon Integrated Basin Project in collaboration with the Technical Assistance team and the Zarafshon Basin Working Group (ZBWG), a group of professionals from the basin who are receiving training to prepare them for their future task as a River Basin Agency. 

The Zarafshon Newspaper features an article about the Zarafshon Basin Dialogue

The Dialogue informed stakeholders about how to put the Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) approach into practice and gave them a platform to share their opinions about the challenges and priorities for the second phase of the project. It also promoted the EU’s Rural Development Programme. The Dialogue was reported in the national media, including a 15-minute feature on regional TV and a regional newspaper.

90 stakeholders attended, including several government and civic dignitaries including the Head of the Water Resources Department, Ministry of Energy and Water Resources, and the Deputy Head of the Agency of Land Reclamation and Improvement (ALRI). Representatives from several organisations were also present, including local municipal governments, NGO projects and community organisations including Water Users Associations and pasture management unions, among others.

Members of Landell Mills Technical Assistance Team: Dr Claude de Patoul (Team Leader) and Anvar Kamolidinov (Deputy Team Leader and Institutional Development Expert)

Roundtable discussion with Mr Afroz of the Zarafshon Working Group and Joachim Boenisch of Welt Hunger Hilfe

Presentations were given on various topics including the National Water Strategy in Tajikistan, water allocation and natural resource management. Other IWRM programmes working in river basins in Tajikistan also gave presentations on the progress they have made in their basins. A lively discussion followed during the working session about major water related issues in the basin.

Landell Mills has been providing Technical Assistance to the Government of Tajikistan since 2016 to build institutional capacity in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and contribute to the sustainable management and protection of water and land resources in Tajikistan. The project is funded by the European Union.

Find out more about the project here:

The first Zarafshon River Basin Dialogue in Tajikistan is a great success

Zarafshon Integrated Sub Basin Project Working Group holds inauguration meeting

Zarafshon Integrated Sub-basin Project attends regional pre-consultations of the Citizens Forum of the 8th World Water Forum

Landell Mills organises Jucar River Basin study visit for the Tajikistan Ministry of Energy and Water Resources

The Zarahshon Integrated Sub-basin Project visits Switzerland and Spain

Landell Mills to present at the 10th International Symposium on Managed Aquifer Recharge in Spain

Landell Mills has been invited to attend and present at the 10th International Symposium on Managed Aquifer Recharge in Madrid which is held from 20th to 24th May 2019. The conference aims to disseminate knowledge about the technique of Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR), providing a forum for discussion, networking, and facilitating appropriate investment in MAR in Spain, Europe and globally.

Members of Ministry of Energy and Water and the Technical Assistance consultancy team are co-authors of our presentation: Managed Aquifer Recharge and Aquifer Storage and Recovery in Kabul, Afghanistan.

The presentation will give an overview of the need for MAR in Kabul and how the project, Kabul Managed Aquifer Recharge Project Preparation (KMARP), which is funded by the Asian Development Bank and managed by Landell Mills, is addressing this need through the implementation of MAR and Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) technology at pilot sites.

We believe that this conference offers a fantastic opportunity for key members of the Government of Afghanistan’s Ministry of Energy and Water to learn more about MAR and ASR. Two Government officials will be attending, the Director of Hydrogeology Mr Shokory, and the Deputy Minister for Water, Mr Takal, along with the Team Leader of the project, Stephen Kissane.

Find out more about KMARP:

Kmarp.com

Landell Mills constructs Managed Aquifer Recharge borehole to alleviate severe depletion of groundwater levels in Kabul

Landell Mills and Schlumberger train project and government staff in groundwater management in Afghanistan

Drilling begins for the new monitoring network to analyse groundwater levels in Kabul

Landell Mills shares knowledge of international urban water management at national meeting of Irrigation and Water Forum and British Hydrological Society

World Water Day Conference casts a spotlight on the Kabul Managed Aquifer Recharge Project

Landell Mills wins Government of Afghanistan award for excellent performance in developing and managing the water sector in Afghanistan

Landell Mills is delighted to have been presented an award for excellent performance in developing and managing the water sector in Afghanistan at the Fifth National Water Conference on Water Resources Development and Management in Kabul on 3rd April. The award was presented with 300 participants in attendance from different government and non-governmental organisations including donors.

Stephen Kissane, Team Leader of the Kabul Managed Aquifer Project collects the award from Senior Adviser to the Ministry of Energy and Water Mr. Mohammad Daud Qazizada

The Conference presented recent achievements in the management of surface and sub-surface water resources, and provided a platform for discussion, bringing together major stakeholders, scientists, engineers, civil society, Islamic scholars and social scientists involved with water and its sustainable development and management.

Landell Mills has been operating in Afghanistan on a continuous basis since 2003 and has a local registered office which provides administrative, logistical, security and legal support to our staff and projects. We have implemented approximately 30 contracts in Afghanistan to date, working with clients including the EU, GIZ and the Asian Development Bank. The water sector projects we have implemented include:

• river basin management and planning (at central level with the Ministry of Energy and Water and with the Panj-Amu River Basin Agency);

• irrigation and drainage development, plus flood management;

• water investment planning (for large-scale hydropower projects in the Kabul, Panj-Amu, Northern and Western basins, as well irrigation and flood management projects in the Northern and Panj-Amu basins); and,

• groundwater management and monitoring in Kabul with the Hydrogeology Department.

“I am very honoured to have been working with Landell Mills in the water sector for many years, and very proud of our projects in this country.”

— Ghulam Rasoul Durrani, Vice President of Landell Mills’ subsidiary Landell Mills Afghanistan. Ghulam started working with Landell Mills in 2004 and has held various positions under different projects/programmes. His work includes supporting the Ministry of Energy and Water in translation of legislation and procedure documentation.

“It has been an honour to have worked with the Government of Afghanistan over the last 15 years in helping to develop the water sector We hope that our work with various Ministries will continue for years to come. While Afghanistan is not without its challenges, the opportunities are vast, and improvements in the availability of water in an equitable and economic manner can help unlock potential in the agriculture sector, for hydropower and for industry, while at the same time ensuring that potable water is available for the Afghan people”

— Simon Foxwell, Landell Mills’ Regional Director, Asia / Pacific Division

Find out more about our current projects in Afghanistan:

Kmarp.com

Landell Mills constructs Managed Aquifer Recharge borehole to alleviate severe depletion of groundwater levels in Kabul

Landell Mills delivers Panj-Amu River Basin Agency Data Management Training in Afghanistan

Landell Mills develops methodology for monitoring cropping intensity changes in irrigation schemes using remote sensing satellite technology

Landell Mills to implement new EU-funded contract in Somalia

Landell Mills is pleased to announce our implementation of the EU-funded ‘Final Evaluation of Decision FED/2012/023-898 – Reducing Hunger and Food Insecurity in Puntland Region through Improved and Sustainable Use of Rangeland Resources – MDG Initiative for Somalia’.

This assignment is delivered through the EU-funded Services for the Implementation of Aid (SIEA) Lot 1 framework contract, relating to Sustainable Management of Natural Resources and Resilience. The project will be implemented in collaboration with Linpico.

Our expert team will provide an overall independent assessment of the past performance of the Action, focusing on results (as measured against expected objectives), and reasons behind the findings. The team will provide key lessons and recommendations to improve current and future Actions in the field.

In developing these lessons learned and recommendations, and establishing the level of sustainability, this evaluation will serve to maximise the impact of natural resource and rangeland management in Somalia and identify potential for harmonisation and systemisation for future programming.

Landell Mills wins EU communication and visibility contract on EU-ASEAN cooperation

Landell Mills has been contracted by the European Union (EU) to manage a four-year project to promote the visibility of EU regional programmes in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Indonesia. The project will be based in Jakarta, Indonesia, but project activities will reach out to all ten ASEAN Member States: Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar and the Philippines.

The contract will enhance the image and awareness of the EU as a cooperation partner in ASEAN and increase the knowledge of EU programmes and policies, as well as their results and impact. The contract has five expected results:

      i.            Long-term and strategic communication and visibility approach to development cooperation is developed and implemented.

    ii.            High quality communication and visibility events are organised.

   iii.            High quality communication and visibility products are produced and launched.

   iv.            Increased media engagement is established, with improved coverage across all types of media.

     v.            The awareness of how EU development aid and cooperation benefits ASEAN is increased.

The project will be implemented by a team of three communications experts based in Jakarta and supported by Landell Mills’ partner on the contract, Brains Communications, a creative agency based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

The contract began implementation in February 2019 and activities so far have focussed on the development and publication of the EU Delegation’s signature publications, the 2019 Blue Books. Two versions of the Blue Book are produced; one focussing on EU cooperation across all ASEAN Member States, and one focussing specifically on EU cooperation with Indonesia. Both books will be officially launched at events held in Jakarta over the coming months, which Landell Mills will also manage.

Landell Mills produces films to show how smallholder farmers and artisanal fishermen have benefitted from the Sudan Food Security Programme

Landell Mills has produced a series of 20 short films documenting positive changes in the lives of individual farmers and fishermen who received support from the EU-funded Rural Smallholders Component of the Sudan Food Security Programme (SFSP-RSC).

The Programme, which has received management and coordination assistance from Landell Mills, focusses on rain-fed agricultural production using improved technologies of rain water harvesting and conservation agriculture in Blue Nile, Gedaref and Kassala States; in Red Sea State, the programme is improving vegetable and fisheries production.

Copyright European union 2019

Copyright European union 2019

Each film features the personal story of a farmer or fisherman and highlights their achievements, as well as the obstacles and challenges that they face in their work. The films showcase a variety of different experiences, including those who take an active interest in learning new farming practices, enjoyment of increased yields, as well as benefits to family life as a result of increased household income. They also reveal how beneficiaries have benefitted from improved housing conditions and renovations, better access to services, and an enhanced connection with the land.

Copyright European union 2019

Over the past five years, it is estimated that about 6,600 sorghum farmers have been directly exposed to and benefited from new improved practices and techniques introduced under the programme. In Red Sea State, 1,100 horticulture farmers have received training, farming inputs, such as seeds and fertiliser, and irrigation units, including 15 solar energy pumps. Meanwhile, 3,160 fishermen have been supported with equipment, training on how to make and use fish aggregating devices to attract fish, GPS, fish finders and deep-water fishing techniques. 233 Producers Associations across four States were established and registered; these cluster the resources of small-scale farmers and fisheries into groups to achieve the necessary economics of scale to engage with suppliers, sell their products in larger quantities and gain access to better marketing and credit opportunities.

The films were made from August 2018 to February 2019 and produced with funding from the EU. The programme has been running since April 2013 with a total budget of €24,850,000 and will end in November this year.

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Mahgoub, Kassala

Mahgoub is a sorghum farmer in Kassala who shares how his farming has improved and how farmers associations have helped farmers in accessing improved inputs.

“ I applied what I had learnt in my training and at the farmer field school and I had a good harvest from my land. The harvest exceeded my expectations.”

— Mahgoub

Bagrab, Red Sea

Bagrab is a vegetable grower in Red Sea who talks about how the support he received has helped him to grow his business.

“Since we started the project our ambitions have grown and we have increased the area of land we are farming to meet the high demand for vegetables in Port Sudan”

— Bagrab

Farmer Field School, Kassala

Farmer Field Schools are empowering women in east Sudan to take on new roles traditionally carried out by men. This has been made possible with the establishment of EU-funded Farmer Field Schools that teach female farmers about the agricultural process.

“Spraying was a man’s job. Women would only keep an eye on the field. We were limited in the past, but we benefitted a lot through learning about farming practices”

Find out more about the SFSP-RSC:

Conservation Agriculture Conference organised by Landell Mills recognises the achievements of the Sudan Food Security Programme – Rural Smallholders Component

Landell Mills delivers Training of Trainers Workshop to continue the positive impact of Producer Associations in Sudan

Landell Mills trains NGOs on EU financial management procedures under the Sudan Food Security Programme – Rural Smallholders Component

Sowing the seeds for better livelihoods 

Landell Mills constructs Managed Aquifer Recharge borehole to alleviate severe depletion of groundwater levels in Kabul

The first Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) infrastructure has now been successfully constructed in Kabul, Afghanistan, as part of the Kabul Managed Aquifer Recharge Project (KMARP), administered by Asian Development Bank, funded by USAID, and implemented by Landell Mills. Managed Aquifer Recharge is the intentional recharge of water to aquifers under controlled conditions.

Throughout March the Landell Mills team oversaw the construction of a gravity fed MAR injection borehole. This takes water from a surface source and injects it into the ground to increase the water volume and level in the underlying aquifer (underground layers of water-bearing permeable rock).

The site is located at Badam Bagh, an area suffering severe depletion of groundwater levels affecting the availability of drinking water. Kabul is reliant on groundwater, but it is one of the most water-stressed cities in the world and its residents suffer from a lack of accessible drinking water. Water will be sourced via the Qarga Reservoir and it will flow through a canal and siphon system to supply water to the MAR injection borehole.

KMARP is investigating the use of MAR techniques in order to improve groundwater levels and quality, as well as access to drinking water for Kabul. It includes testing pilot infrastructure as well as design of a follow-on loan investment project.

Visit the KMARP website and find out more here:

Landell Mills and Schlumberger train project and government staff in groundwater management in Afghanistan

Drilling begins for the new monitoring network to analyse groundwater levels in Kabul

Landell Mills shares knowledge of international urban water management at national meeting of Irrigation and Water Forum and British Hydrological Society

World Water Day Conference casts a spotlight on the Kabul Managed Aquifer Recharge Project

EU-MAIL Transition Project produces film about an EU-funded tool that analyses food insecurity and malnutrition in Afghanistan

The Integrated Food Security and Nutrition Phase Classification (IPC) was introduced in Afghanistan in August 2011 and has been supported by the EU through the EU-MAIL Transition Project, which is managed by Landell Mills, since 2014. The IPC unit functions under the agricultural statistics directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL).

IPC is an innovative multi-partner initiative that improves food security and nutrition analysis and decision-making. It is a common global system for classifying the severity of food insecurity and malnutrition. It also supports strategic and coordinated responses to the crises according to internationally-recognised scientific standards.

IPC Acute food insecurity 2018

IPC is an important tool for MAIL and the government to identify how many people are food insecure in each province and provide timely interventions to people in need. Since 2012, the country has been conducting IPC Acute Food Insecurity analyses in all 34 provinces on a yearly basis. The latest IPC analysis estimates that 43.6% of the rural population in Afghanistan are suffering from food insecurity.

IPC Acute food insecurity 2019

The IPC in Afghanistan brings together technical and institutional stakeholders, including government, UN agencies and NGOs, who share knowledge and work together to ensure that the IPC system is tailored to the needs of Afghanistan. This is achieved through workshops, technical working groups meetings, steering committee meetings, provision of Technical Assistance and a gap analysis of the IPC system.

You can find out more by watching the short film about the IPC in Afghanistan produced by the EU-MAIL Transition Project.

Find out more about the EU-MAIL Transition project:

Achievements of the EU-MAIL Transition Project showcased in short film

EU-MAIL Transition Project creates Advisory Unit under one-year contract extension

Achievements of EU-MAIL Transition project presented at steering committee meeting in Afghanistan

Landell Mills managed project supports evidence-based policy on food security in Afghanistan

Training programme gives staff skills for accurate data analysis to address food shortages in Afghanistan

Landell Mills managed project showcases grapes in Afghanistan to boost trade and find potential international markets

Fruits produced by Landell Mills-managed horticultural project impress Afghanistan’s Chief Executive, H.E. Dr. Abdullah Abdullah

Study tour in Thailand teaches best practices for sustainable management of water resources

Landell Mills, in partnership with the Department of Water Resources, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Thailand, organised a five-day study tour to Thailand as part of the Technical Assistance project Strengthening Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Mountainous River Basins. The contract is administered by ADB, funded by the Japanese Fund for Poverty Reduction and managed by Landell Mills.

The tour improved the participants’ knowledge and capacity in sustainable management of water resources in River Basins through visits to various government water-related departments such as the Department of Water Resources, Office of National Water Resources, and Royal Irrigation Department, as well as technical visits to the Kra Siao Operation and Maintenance Project and a floodgate project to learn about controlling the flow of water during both drought and flooding periods.

The participants included Landell Mills’ staff, along with 20 key stakeholders from the project’s three target countries; Afghanistan, Bhutan and Nepal. They included members of the Panj Amu River Basin Agency (PARBA) and the Ministry of Energy and Water (MEW) in Afghanistan, Environment Officers of the Wangchhu Basin Committee (WBC) and Chair Persons of the District Councils in the basin in Bhutan, and members from the High Powered Committee for Integrated Development of the Bagmati Civilization (HPCIDBC), the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat (WECS), and the Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation (MEWRI) in Nepal. 

The participants learnt about functioning river basins and the governance and institutional setup of River Basin Organisations. The study particularly focused on understanding the linkages between river basin management and local government, and the key government strategies and mechanisms used in Thailand. They can now apply this knowledge to help implement IWRM in the project’s target river basins; the Panj Amu in Afghanistan, Wangchhu in Bhutan and the Bagmati River Basin in Nepal.

Particularly useful lessons from the study tour included institutional arrangements and stakeholder coordination mechanisms, showing the roles and interactions between various organisations involved with water management in Thailand. There was also a focus on technology in river basin management, and discussions around the formation of water user groups and decision support systems in terms of data sharing and management.

The project ‘Strengthening Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Mountainous River Basins’  is providing technical assistance to strengthen water resources management. It will help each of the three target countries to cope with expected changes in water availability due to climate change and increases in water demand to support economic and population growth.

Find out more about the project:

Study Tour to Japan enhances knowledge in effective river basin management for Bhutan and Nepal

Mid-project workshop in Kathmandu discusses way forward for Strengthening Integrated Water Resource Management in Mountainous River Basins project  

Achievements of the EU-MAIL Transition Project showcased in short film

Landell Mills and the EU have produced a short film about the impact of the EU-MAIL Transition Project (EU Support to Capacitate MAIL in Transition for Sustainable Public Services Delivery) which is managed by Landell Mills.

The film showcases the EU-funded project’s key achievements and features interviews with directors from MAIL’s directorates, as well as people who have benefitted from the programme, such as farmers and ranchmen.

The project is the EU’s initiative for supporting, improving, modernising and standardising the agriculture and livestock sectors in Afghanistan. It started in 2014 in order to support the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) to embed the results achieved by previous EU-funded projects in the agricultural sector.

The project will be completed in December 2019 and has strengthened the institutional environment of MAIL, so it is ready to tackle the future challenges of private sector development in agriculture.

Watch the film:

Find out more about the EU-MAIL Transition Project here:

EU-MAIL Transition Project creates Advisory Unit under one-year contract extension

Achievements of EU-MAIL Transition project presented at steering committee meeting in Afghanistan

Landell Mills managed project supports evidence-based policy on food security in Afghanistan

Training programme gives staff skills for accurate data analysis to address food shortages in Afghanistan

Landell Mills managed project showcases grapes in Afghanistan to boost trade and find potential international markets

Fruits produced by Landell Mills-managed horticultural project impress Afghanistan’s Chief Executive, H.E. Dr. Abdullah Abdullah

Landell Mills wins Asian Development Bank contract to strengthen Integrated Flood Risk Management across eight Asian countries

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has contracted Landell Mills to implement a Knowledge Support Technical Assistance project to strengthen Integrated Flood Risk Management (IFRM) across Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines and Vietnam. IFRM is a basin or catchment perspective to flood risk management which incorporates social, economic, financial, environmental, and institutional aspects, as well as engineering, disaster preparedness, insurance, and emergency response requirements.

The technical assistance will strengthen the design and implementation of IFRM solutions, enhancing knowledge and the application of IFRM strategies across the eight countries. The project will provide targeted technical support for program and project preparation and promote more holistic IFRM solutions, including basin-scale and nature-based solutions which are inspired and supported by nature.

The project will focus on the following results:

1. enhancing ADB and target governments’ knowledge to implement IFRM projects

2. evaluating target country flood risk management and investment strategies

3. integrating IFRM concepts into future ADB investments

Landell Mills has partnered with Jeremy Benn Associates for this contract, a UK based environment, water and flood risk management consultancy. The project will run for 24 months and started on 4th February 2019.

EU-MAIL Transition Project creates Advisory Unit under one-year contract extension

The EU-MAIL Transition Project, which is managed by Landell Mills, has created an Advisory Unit (AU) to transfer the knowledge and results of the institutional work established under the Project into the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) of Afghanistan. The €14 million Project has been extended for another year in order to support the new Advisory Unit until the end of 2019.

The AU will focus on the provision of tailored national and international technical assistance and will be responsible for facilitating the transfer of functions from the Project to MAIL, which until now has been carried out by the Project’s technical and financial support. The functions that MAIL will be taking over include institutional structures and mechanisms. 

As a result of the past two years of implementation, the Project established and consolidated a series of mechanisms and good practices in the following areas which the AU will work to consolidate:

• Technical and institutional capacity building

• Coordination with other projects and donors

• Institutional service delivery

• Sustainability

• Policy development and revisions

• Reform

• Public private sectors linkage

• Resources allocation

• Food and feed safety

• Horticulture research

• Certification of seeds and planting material

• Planning and programs

The General Director of Policy and Planning officially launched the AU on the 2nd December at the most recent EU-MAIL Transition Project Steering Committee, which is held every six months. The AU will report to the General Directorate of Policy and Planning, which recently agreed the implementation plan based on the following key deliverables:

• Development and endorsement of Tashkeel (Afghan civil service) guidelines

• Integration of the ‘Research to Extension’ reform

• Gap analysis of the MAIL legal department

• Gap analysis and a future strategy of the Perennial Horticulture Development Centers

• Development of an Institutionalisation Plan for the Horticulture Cluster Steering Committee

• Development of an Institutionalisation Plan for the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Secretariat   

The EU-funded project has been running since 2014 and will now be finalised at the end of the year when the AU will be fully institutionalised into the government structure of the MAIL.

Find out more about the EU-MAIL Transition Project here:

Achievements of EU-MAIL Transition project presented at steering committee meeting in Afghanistan

Landell Mills managed project supports evidence-based policy on food security in Afghanistan

Training programme gives staff skills for accurate data analysis to address food shortages in Afghanistan

Landell Mills managed project showcases grapes in Afghanistan to boost trade and find potential international markets

Fruits produced by Landell Mills-managed horticultural project impress Afghanistan’s Chief Executive, H.E. Dr. Abdullah Abdullah

Conservation Agriculture Conference organised by Landell Mills recognises the achievements of the Sudan Food Security Programme – Rural Smallholders Component

Landell Mills organised a three-day Conservation Agriculture Conference in Khartoum to share lessons learnt from the EU-funded Sudan Food Security Programme–Rural Smallholders Component (SFSP–RSC), and map out the next steps to take conservation agriculture forward in Sudan.

The event attracted over 90 participants, many of whom were directly involved in the Programme including NGOs, smallholder farmers, state and federal government staff, private companies, financial institutions and insurance companies. The presence of a wide variety of organisations reflected the successful partnerships established under the programme, which contributed to achieving its objectives.

The first day of the conference focussed on sharing the achievements of the programme and opened with a speech from His Excellency Ambassador Jean Michel Dumond, Head of Delegation of the European Union to Sudan. The following two days were made up of technical workshops and focussed on four themes: research and technology development; extension, technology transfer and farmers’ associations; private sector engagement; and the role of financial institutions. For each theme, the participants agreed on a set of key recommendations in order to continue the practice and development of conservation agriculture among smallholder farmers in Sudan. Landell Mills will produce conference proceedings that will share the recommendations.

Landell Mills’ Chief Technical Advisor, Abdul Hamid Rhametalla giving a presentation

A number of presentations were given by participants, including Landell Mills’ Chief Technical Advisor, Abdul Hamid Rhametalla, as well as the four lead NGO implementing partners, World Vision, SOS Sahel, ZOA and Welthungerhilfe. Other presenters included Professor Lotfie Abdel Rahman from Agricultural Research Corporation; Abdalla Abdalla, Director of Technology Transfer and Extension Department, Blue Nile; Professor Mamoon Daw Elbait from CTC Group, and Ahmed Yousif from the Agricultural Bank of Sudan.

SFSP–RSC has improved food security and livelihoods for rural smallholders in Kassala, Gedaref and Blue Nile states by focussing on rain-fed agricultural production using improved technologies of rain water harvesting and conservation agriculture. In Red Sea State, the programme supported the development of the horticulture and fisheries sectors. The programme, which has a total budget of €24,850,000, has been supported by Landell Mills through a technical assistance contract since April 2013 and will come to an end in November 2019.

Find out more about SFSP–RSC:

https://www.landell-mills.com/news/2018/8/13/landell-mills-delivers-training-of-trainers-workshop-to-continue-the-positive-impact-of-producer-associations-in-sudan

https://www.landell-mills.com/news/2018/5/18/landell-mills-trains-ngos-on-eu-financial-management-procedures-under-the-sudan-food-security-programme-rural-smallholders-component

https://www.landell-mills.com/news/2018/4/11/sowing-the-seeds-for-better-livelihoods?rq=Sudan

Landell Mills’ team of experts attend international anti-poaching conference in Chad

Our team of experts based in Gabon attended an international conference which discussed operational strategies and actions for anti-poaching measures in the Congo Basin Region, specifically Cameroon, Chad, DRC, Central African Republic, Niger, South-Sudan and Sudan. The International Conference of Ministers of Defence, Security and Protected Areas engaged in efforts to address poaching and other cross-border criminal activities was held in N’Djaména, Chad, at the end of January 2019.

Photo: https://pfbc-cbfp.org/news_en/items/NDjamena-Declaration.html

The event attracted around 150 technical experts, high-level policy makers and the region’s main donors, such as the European Union, GIZ and UN agencies. It was organised by the Belgian Facilitation of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership, the Central African Forest Commission (COMIFAC) and the Government of the Republic of Chad, under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Chad.

Landell Mills’ team are currently implementing the four-year contract: Technical Assistance for the monitoring, knowledge sharing and visibility of the regional program ECOFAC 6 (Program for the preservation of biodiversity and fragile ecosystems in Central Africa). One of our short-term consultants gave a short presentation at the event about a study he is conducting under the contract about anti-poaching measures and strategy for Chad, and will include the conference’s results in his work.

Photo: https://pfbc-cbfp.org/news_en/items/NDjamena-Declaration.html

ECOFAC 6, which is funded by the EU, supports 12 protected areas across seven different states of the central African region, including eight priority conservation landscapes. Through tackling activities such as wildlife crime, the programme is protecting the region’s ecosystems, biodiversity and forests by promoting a green economy characterised by sustainable, inclusive and locally established economic development. Landell Mills’ team are working to promote the programme’s activities and develop environmental diplomacy at a regional level through technical support and knowledge sharing.

Establishment of EU-funded National Collection of Fruit Trees celebrated in Afghanistan

The EU-MAIL Transition Project recently organised a ceremony to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the establishment of the National Collection of Fruit Trees Species and Varieties. The event was organised in collaboration with the Afghanistan National Horticulture Development Organisation (ANDHO) and held at the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock (MAIL) in Kabul.

Introductory speeches were given by the Minister of Agriculture, the Chief Advisor to the President on agriculture and development, and the Head of the EU Delegation. The ceremony prompted a multi-stakeholder discussion on the EU Delegation’s long-term strategic approach to development of the Afghan agricultural sector, the status of the National Collection and its key role in the development of the horticultural related value chain. It was covered widely on national TV including Shamshad TV[1].

The National Collection is one of the biggest successes of the EU-MAIL collaboration. It is a living repository of local fruit species and varieties collected from all over Afghanistan with the collaboration and approval of the elders of the villages. The varieties are kept in MAIL farms called Perennial Horticulture Development Centres (PHDCs) under the responsibility of Agriculture Research Institute of Afghanistan (ARIA) which ensures the protection of Afghan fruit biodiversity and improves the quality and quantity of Afghan exports to enhance the livelihood of the Afghan people.

The EU-MAIL Transition Project is strengthening agriculture as a pillar of development within Afghanistan and is funded by the EU and implemented by Landell Mills.

[1] Coverage starts from 26 minutes

Find out more here:

Achievements of EU-MAIL Transition project presented at steering committee meeting in Afghanistan

Landell Mills managed project supports evidence-based policy on food security in Afghanistan

Training programme gives staff skills for accurate data analysis to address food shortages in Afghanistan

Landell Mills managed project showcases grapes in Afghanistan to boost trade and find potential international markets

Fruits produced by Landell Mills-managed horticultural project impress Afghanistan’s Chief Executive, H.E. Dr. Abdullah Abdullah

Zarafshon Integrated Basin Project team organise river basin learning visit

A variety of stakeholders from the Zarafshon Integrated Basin Project recently took part in a learning visit to improve their knowledge of river basins and integrated water resources management. The participants travelled from Zarafshon River Basin to the city of Khujand in the Syr Draya Basin and attended a knowledge sharing workshop from 14th to 16th November.

Landell Mills’ team of experts organised the learning visit in collaboration with the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED) and Helvetas, who are implementing a river basin project in partnership with GIZ, funded by The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. They provide support to the Syr Draya Basin and agreed to share their knowledge, experience and lessons learned as they have been working in the basin for longer than the Zarafshon Integrated Basin Project. 44 people attended, including staff from NGOs, community representatives, personnel from the district government, the Zarafshon Basin Working Group and senior staff from the Zarafshon Irrigation Rehabilitation and River Basin Management Project (an EU-funded project implemented by the World Bank).

During the workshop, presentations were given by the National Water Resources Management Project with Q&A sessions. In addition to the ACTED and Helvetas staff team, eight local community representatives from the Ak-Suu Watershed Dialogue Working Group attended and contributed their experience and knowledge to the discussions. A practical site visit to Ak-Suu will take place in the spring of 2019 for the same participants to complement the workshop.

In addition to strategic and capacity-building support to the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan, the Zarafshon Integrated Basin Project, which is implemented by Landell Mills and funded by the EU, also trains the personnel of the Zarafshon Basin Working Group, the precursor to the River Basin Agency. The project has been running for 2 years.

 Read more articles about the project:

The first Zarafshon River Basin Dialogue in Tajikistan is a great success

Zarafshon Integrated Sub Basin Project Working Group holds inauguration meeting

Zarafshon Integrated Sub-basin Project attends regional pre-consultations of the Citizens Forum of the 8th World Water Forum

Landell Mills organises Jucar River Basin study visit for the Tajikistan Ministry of Energy and Water Resources

The Zarahshon Integrated Sub-basin Project visits Switzerland and Spain

Landell Mills supports the preparation of the third EU implementation report on food and nutrition security

The Implementing EU food and nutrition security policy commitments: third biennial report was adopted by the Commission in October 2018 and was presented to the Council and the Parliament in November.

Following the adoption by the European Commission in 2010 of the EU policy framework on food security which establishes food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture among the EU’s key priorities for development cooperation, progress reports have been produced regularly. The reports track progress on commitments and enhance coherence, complementarity and coordination within and between the external assistance programmes of the EU and those of its Member States in implementing their common policy on food security. The report shows that the annual financial assistance from the EU and its Member States to food and nutrition security reached €4.2 million, an increase of 14.7% since 2014 .

The third report focuses particularly on climate-resilient approaches and nutrition-sensitive agricultural practices and is available for download here.

Through the Integrated Support Service for Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (ISS-FANSSA) project, Landell Mills has supported DEVCO-C1, the unit dealing with rural development, food security and nutrition, in drafting and coordinating with Member States in the preparation of this report.

ISS-FANSSA is a technical advisory service providing support to DEVCO-C1, both to EU Delegations, as well as to C1 Policy Officers, and focuses on monitoring and evaluation, knowledge sharing and communication, gender inclusion, and land governance in the field of sustainable agriculture, food security and nutrition.

The service started in January 2014 and so far it has mobilised 5,400 expert days for 150 specific assignments in support of DEVCO-C1 and 25 EU Delegations around the world.

Find out more about the project.

Landell Mills wins EU-funded contract to build capacities of State authorities in eastern Sudan

The EU has contracted Landell Mills to implement the Capacity Building Project for State Authorities in the East which is one component of the predominantly EU-funded Regional Development and Protection Programme (RDPP) for the Horn of Africa. Landell Mills will work closely with the State Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning in Kassala to strengthen the local development process, including enhancing the capacity of the Ministry’s Department of Economic Development and Planning in its role as the coordinating body for international aid agencies and their development and humanitarian activities.

Given that Sudan, and the Eastern states in particular, are home to many refugees and migrants, mainly from South Sudan and the Horn of Africa, one of the key activities will be to establish a reliable data information system, which will function as a tool for the Ministry to facilitate the prioritisation of needs in relation to basic service provision in areas such as Health, Education and WASH.

Overall, it is expected that the project will contribute towards improving the livelihoods, human development, and overall wellbeing of both refugees and host-communities in the region.

The project will run for 24 months and is expected to start in January 2019.

Training sessions enhance staff knowledge

Our head office staff recently took part in two training sessions to enhance their knowledge of the development sector. Landell Mills Regional Director, Simon Foxwell, gave an informative overview of the disbursement and distribution channels of development funding and of the project planning cycle.

This was followed by a session on value chains and their role in project planning, by Senior Project Manager, Patrick Lee. Patrick gave the example of a value chains contract that Asian Development Bank recently awarded Landell Mills that is helping to develop Timor-Leste’s coffee sector. This session will be followed shortly by a training on value chains mapping.