Agricultural Finance Africa – Coaching Programme Guidance Notes

The coaching program was launched in 2017 by Appui au Développement Autonome (ADA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) under Improving Capacity Building in Rural Finance. Two initial pilot programs – a national pilot in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and a regional pilot in West Africa – included the participation of eight financial service providers (FSPs). The methodology used stemmed from the recognition that traditional forms of consultant-based, time-bound technical assistance delivery to FSPs in the areas of rural and agricultural finance have tended to produce suboptimal results and are generally characterized by a partial and/or lack of long-term internalization of the intended knowledge transfer.

This guide aims to share the experience accumulated by FAO and ADA from 2017 to 2021 during the program implementation. It is intended for donors, development organizations, financial service providers and other private or public stakeholders wishing to bring about a lasting improvement in smallholder farmers’ access to funding in agricultural value chains.