Future search event – ensured a shared vision of the Fonio sector in Guinea
Commissioned by the Centre for the Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries (CBI), this multi-phase project seeks to advance Guinea’s fonio sector by improving value chain competitiveness and sustainability. Globally Cool and MDF led one of the first phases in 2024, organizing a Future Search event in Conakry to unite stakeholders around a shared vision. The local partner for this event was the business support organisation of Guinea, Aguipex.
The event generated strategic pathways to bolster the sector's structure, quality, production efficiency, service delivery, and export potential.
Globally Cool together with MDF continued assisting the Fonio Sector after the Future Search Event, leading several strategic interventions. A steering committee was established to implement the pathways collaboratively with stakeholders and guide action across the fonio sector. Meetings with international donors were conducted by the consultants to align on the pathways and interventions to increase the competitiveness of the fonio sector. Concept notes drafts were also designed.
Year
Country
GuineaType of activity
- Strategy Development
Activities
- Organizing and facilitating the Future Search event to define a unified vision and prioritize five strategic pathways in fonio sector development.
- Designing and preparing the programme of the Future Search in consultation with CBI.
- A detailed agenda and script for the two days were designed and delivered
- Prepared detailed script, handouts and tailored worksheets with session tasks
- Trends/challenges were identified by reading previous documentation, conversations and meetings with Aguipex, business coaches and gender/inclusive consultants.
- Created final versions of stakeholder groupings and mixed groups
- The main trends that were covered during the Future Search event were:
- food and nutrition security
- food safety and quality
- sustainability
- inclusion and equality in value chains
- globalization (market access, global value chain systems, business performance)
- For each trend a sailboat with positive aspects (strengths/opportunities) for the boat to sail and anchors (challenges) that are blocking the fonio sector to navigate were distributed to the previously formed groups.
- A final report was submitted to CBI with follow-up actions
- Establishing a steering committee with representatives from the public, private, and international sectors to coordinate project initiatives and maintain momentum among stakeholders.
- Coordinating online meetings and collaborative sessions with major donors and financial institutions, including the World Bank,UNDP, AFD, FAO to gain alignment on funding and project actions for the sector.
- Drafting and reviewing concept notes focusing on sector governance, quality standards, production efficiency, service delivery, and market expansion.
Results
- Future Search methodology ensured a collaborative, inclusive, and systematic approach to addressing the sector's challenges and opportunities.
- The Future Search event successfully united diverse stakeholders to create a shared vision and actionable pathways.
- Secured commitment from key stakeholders and established the steering committee, the “groupe de travail,” which includes representatives from Aguipex, UNDP, the Ministry of Agriculture, and private sector leaders, to oversee the implementation of sector improvements.
- Enhanced international interest and funding potential for the fonio sector, particularly for projects targeting mechanization, quality enhancement, and export readiness.
- Improved coordination among value chain actors through regular meetings and communication channels, including a WhatsApp group for real-time collaboration.
- Outlined actionable strategies for each pathway, with targeted interventions to improve production, quality, and commercialization.