Written by Carmelo Troccoli

We are pleased to announce the launch of our involvement in the AREA Africa Programme, a strategic initiative aimed at strengthening agri-food ecosystems and promoting sustainable development in Africa.

“AREA Africa” is an Italian cooperation programme, developed within a balanced public–private partnership framework, under the Mattei Plan for Africa. It specifically falls within the Action for the Strengthening of Agro-Food Ecosystems in Africa (AREA), co-financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI).
CIHEAM Bari serves as the knowledge partner and implementing body for the public component, while BFI acts as the private partner. The ministries of the participating countries serve as partners.

AREA Africa will be implemented over three years (2026–2028) in the Republic of Congo, Senegal, and Ghana, with the overall objective of improving food security and strengthening the resilience to climate changes of local food systems. Within this framework, WorldFMC, in collaboration with Campagna Amica, is responsible for implementing the activity “Support for Multifunctional Agriculture and Pilot Actions” (A3.2).

The activity aims to develop and strengthen local agri-food value chains and agricultural infrastructure through the model of multifunctional agriculture, with a specific focus on farmers markets.

This will be achieved through actions aimed at:

• promoting the sustainability of agricultural practices;
• improving the economic conditions of farmers and rural communities;
• increasing access to farmers markets for local producers;
• developing economic activities linked to agriculture.

First Missions March-April 2026: Laying the Foundations

In March, we will begin the first field mission to the Republic of Congo, followed by Senegal, and Ghana in April.

These initial visits will allow us to better understand local realities, engage with relevant institutions and stakeholders, identify potential partners, and begin mapping existing initiatives. Most importantly, they will lay the groundwork for the next phases of implementation, ensuring that all activities are firmly rooted in local needs, capacities, and development priorities.

We reaffirm our commitment to supporting sustainable and inclusive agri-food systems, strengthening cooperation between Italy and African partner countries, and promoting multifunctional agriculture as a driver of economic resilience, social inclusion, and long-term development.

Key Activities

Over the three-year implementation period the activity will include:

• Identification of Local Partners: collaboration with local partners in each country and selection of a focal point to facilitate relationships, coordination, and effective management of activities.
• Training: capacity-building activities for farmers, local managers, and other stakeholders (identified together with local partners), delivered through different modalities, study missions to Italy to visit relevant projects and best practices, online training sessions and in-person training and workshops in the three countries
• Analysis and Development: preliminary studies to identify local needs and map existing initiatives. This analytical phase will support the selection and design of pilot actions to be implemented such as farmers markets, hospitality facilities, or agri-food transformation laboratories.
• Technical Support: continuous technical assistance for the creation and development of pilot actions, including legal, organisational, and financial support. The process will culminate in the inauguration of the pilot initiatives at the end of the third year.
• Communication: implementation of a communication and promotion strategy to ensure the visibility of the project and foster the engagement of local communities and stakeholders.