In a colourful event held on the 12th of May 2023 in Antananarivo Madagascar, the KCOA-KHEA Project was officially launched, and Madagascar formally welcomed on board. 

The KCOA-KHEA Project in Eastern Africa is in its second phase of implementation, June 1, 2022 to May 31, 2023. The initial phase was implemented from August 2019 to June 2022. The initial phase had four countries participating including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania. In the second phase, Madagascar joined the KHEA Hub officially at the colourful launch ceremony in Antananarivo, Madagascar. 

The event was officiated by Mrs. Josephine Akia Luyimbazi, Country Coordinator & the KHEA Co-Host Coordinator-PELUM Uganda flanked by the hub’s regional management team – Francis Nsanga (Project Manager), Obed Ateka (Project Accountant), Joseph Nyamesegere (Monitoring and Evaluation Officer).

Locally, the event was attended by the Boards and staff from GSDM and SYMABIO the Country Implementing Partners of the Project in Madagascar and representatives from GIZ Madagascar Office and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MINAE). 

Virtually, this was also followed by other Country Implementing Partners (CIPs) including PELUM Uganda, Tanzania Organic Agriculture Movement (TOAM), Rwanda Organic Agriculture Movement (ROAM) and PELUM Kenya, as well as KHEA international partners including IFOAM Organics International, Access Agriculture, FiBL and ICIPE. 

With this launching and integration of Madagascar as one of the countries under the KHEA Hub, GSDM and SYMABIO will take lead in the implementation of project activities in Madagascar. The country now joins the bigger team under the knowledge centre for organic agriculture in Africa ensuring integration of organic and ecological agriculture into their agricultural system across Africa.

The project will initially focus on the Eastern region, and a possibility extend to the Vakinankaratra and Itasy regions. This is going to ensure that farmers in the regions have access to relevant information and trainings in areas of production of both crops and animals as well as markets within the context of organic farming. 

Prepared by Pamella Magino