Role and involvement in preparing the proposed action

ICRAF has been fully involved in the development of the proposal through our liaison with CIRAD. Our research and experience in Cameroon and Kenya has been used for the development of the proposed action.

Role and involvement in implementing the proposed action

ICRAF will provide key expertise and data on agroforestry options in Kenya and Cameroon through our offices in East Africa and West and Central African, respectively. ICRAF will contribute to the TULSEA rapid appraisal toolset, and will use its experience in modifying and using the tools in African contexts as well as the database in Agroforestry and associated spatially explicit vegetation mapping tools to facilitate species choices, comparisons and climate change adaptability. The project will further strengthen our work with national partners in Africa and our collaboration with CIRAD. We have a position for a CIRAD scientist to be hosted within ICRAF starting in 2011 to develop jointly the work on multistrata agroforestry systems with perennial tree crops.

Experience of similar actions, in relation to the role in the implementation of the proposed action

Two current examples of similar ICRAF projects in recent years include: 1) Adoption of tree shade in farming systems for enhancing coffee quality, as well as the diversification and environmental sustainability of smallholder farming systems of the Gisenyi area in the Lake Kivu region funded by ACDI/VOCA in Rwanda to 2009; and 2). Increasing small-scale farmer benefits from agroforestry tree products in West and Central Africa (Cameroon and DRC) funded by the Belgian government from 2009-12 which aims to increase, diversify and stabilize incomes of poor small-scale farmers in West and Central Africa through increasing their participation in and benefits from agroforestry tree products.

History of cooperation with the applicant

ICRAF and CIRAD have been partners for more than 17 years in various types of projects in East Africa, Latin America, Southeast Asia and South Asia relating to agroforestry outcomes including improved conservation and enrichment of biodiversity; watershed management strategies; and research at national institutions.

Most recently, ICRAF and CIRAD have been partners on the CAFNET Project (Connecting, enhancing and sustaining environmental services and market values of coffee agroforestry in Central America, East Africa and India), funded by EuropeAid with implementation from 2007 to late 2011. This project aims to link sustainable management and environmental benefits of coffee agroforests with appropriate remuneration for producers through better access to markets and payment for environmental services; and to improve livelihoods for coffee farming communities while conserving natural resources in three major coffee agroforest regions located in world hotspots for biodiversity.