Project1 EnGRAIS FY19 Annual Report

Enhancing Growth through
Regional Agricultural Input

Systems (EnGRAIS) Project
for West Africa
FISCAL YEAR 2019 ANNUAL REPORT
(OCTOBER 2018 - SEPTEMBER 2019)
USAID Cooperative Agreement No. 720624181000001
October 2019
EnGRAIS Fiscal Year 2019
Fourth Quarterly Report
October 2018 - September 2019
USAID Cooperative Agreement No. 720624181000001
P.O. Box 2040

Muscle Shoals, Alabama
35662 USA
www.ifdc.org
DISCLAIMER:
This report is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States
Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Feed the Future initiative. The contents are the
responsibility of IFDC and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States
Government.
Table of Contents
1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................. 1
2 SUMMARY ......................................................................................................................................... 2
2.1 HIGHLIGHTS OF FY 2019 PERFORMANCE .................................................................................... 2
2.1.1 IR 1: Competitive, inclusive, private sector-led, regional fertilizer market strengthened ...... 2
2.1.2 IR 2: Comprehensive input packages developed and disseminated in cooperation with
CORAF................................................................................................................................................. 3
2.1.3 IR 3: Fertilizer policy and regulatory systems across West Africa improved and harmonized
in accordance with ECOWAS guidance .............................................................................................. 3
2.1.4 IR 4: Mobilizing commitment and harmonizing engagement from key stakeholders across
West Africa supported by mission buy-ins .......................................................................................... 4
2.2 CHALLENGES AND ISSUES ........................................................................................................... 4
3 MAIN ACTIVITIES AND RESULTS ............................................................................................. 5
3.1 IR 1: COMPETITIVE, INCLUSIVE, PRIVATE SECTOR-LED, REGIONAL FERTILIZER MARKET
STRENGTHENED......................................................................................................................................... 5
3.2 IR 2: COMPREHENSIVE INPUT PACKAGES DEVELOPED AND DISSEMINATED IN COOPERATION
WITH CORAF .......................................................................................................................................... 17
3.3 IR 3: FERTILIZER POLICY AND REGULATORY SYSTEMS ACROSS WEST AFRICA IMPROVED AND
HARMONIZED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ECOWAS GUIDANCE .................................................................. 22
3.4 IR4: MOBILIZING COMMITMENT AND HARMONIZING ENGAGEMENT FROM KEY STAKEHOLDERS
ACROSS WEST AFRICA SUPPORTED BY MISSION BUY-INS ...................................................................... 33
4 CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES ............................................................................................................ 35

4.1 MONITORING, EVALUATION AND LEARNING (MEL) ................................................................ 35
4.2 INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY/MARKET INFORMATION SYSTEM
(ICT/MIS) SUPPORT ............................................................................................................................... 36
4.3 COMMUNICATIONS .................................................................................................................... 38
4.4 ADMINISTRATION/FINANCE....................................................................................................... 38
4.7 LOCAL GRANTS AND SUBCONTRACTS AGREEMENT STATUS ................................................... 39
5 OUTLOOK FOR THE NEXT QUARTER (OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2019) ....................... 40
5.1 IR 1: COMPETITIVE, INCLUSIVE, PRIVATE SECTOR-LED, REGIONAL FERTILIZER MARKET
STRENGTHENED....................................................................................................................................... 40
5.2. IR 2: COMPREHENSIVE INPUT PACKAGES DEVELOPED AND DISSEMINATED IN COOPERATION
WITH CORAF .......................................................................................................................................... 41
5.3. IR 3: FERTILIZER POLICY AND REGULATORY SYSTEMS ACROSS WEST AFRICA IMPROVED AND
HARMONIZED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ECOWAS GUIDANCE .................................................................. 41
5.4. IR 4: MOBILIZING COMMITMENT AND HARMONIZING ENGAGEMENT FROM KEY STAKEHOLDERS
ACROSS WEST AFRICA SUPPORTED BY MISSION BUY-INS ...................................................................... 42
ANNEX 1 SUCCESS STORY .............................................................................................................. 43

ANNEX 2 ECOWAS REGULATORY FERTILIZER FRAMEWORK ......................................... 45
ANNEX 3 TWO-COUNTRY WORKSHOP REPORTS ................................................................... 52
ANNEX 4 PERFORMANCE INDICATOR TABLE ........................................................................ 55
ANNEX 5 EXPLANATION ON PERFORMANCE INDICATORS 1-2 ......................................... 59
ANNEX 6 FY19 STAFF TRAVEL REPORT..................................................................................... 60
EnGRAIS Project FY 2019, Annual Report i

EnGRAIS Project FY 2019, Annual Report ii
Acronyms and Abbreviations
AEZ Agro-Ecological Zone
AFAP African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership
AFFM Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism of the African Development Bank
AFO AfricaFertilizer.org
AGRA Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa
APECI National Association of Fertilizer Industry of Côte d’Ivoire
CILSS/INSAH Comité Permanent Inter-Etats de Lutte Contre la Sécheresse dans le Sahel
CONACEN National Committee for Fertilizer Control in Niger
CORAF Conseil Ouest et Centre Africain pour la Recherche et le Développement
Agricoles (West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research
and Development)
COTEN Niger Fertilizer Technical Committee
DGPSA Director General of Crop Production and Food Security, Côte d’Ivoire
ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States
EnGRAIS Enhancing Growth through Regional Agricultural Input Systems
FEPSAN Fertilizer Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria
FeSeRWAM Fertilizer and Seed Recommendations Map for West Africa
FISS Department of Farm Input Support Service, Nigeria
FTF Feed the Future
FTWG Fertilizer Technical Work Groups
FY Fiscal Year
GFEP Ghana Fertilizer Expansion Programme
GFVCOS Ghana Fertilizer Value Chain Optimization Study
GoG Government of Ghana
ICT/MIS Information and Communications Technology/Market Information System
IFA International Fertilizer Association
IFDC International Fertilizer Development Center
INRAB National Agricultural Research Institute of Benin
IR Intermediate Result
LSSEE Soils-Water-Environment Laboratories, Benin
MEL Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning
EnGRAIS Project FY 2019, Annual Report iii

MINADER Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Côte d’Ivoire
MoA Ministry of Agriculture
MoFA Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ghana
MoU Memorandum of Understanding
NaCoFeC National Committee for Fertilizer Control
NaFRA National Fertilizer Regulatory Agency, Sierra Leone
OMEN Niger Fertilizer Market Information Network
PAIRED Partnership for Agricultural Research, Education and Development in
West Africa
PEMEFA Partnership for Enabling Market Environments for Fertilizer in Africa
PPRSD Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate, Ghana
RECs Regional Economic Communities
SRC Sub-Regional Coordinator
SRL Sub-Regional Liaison
TAAT Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation
UEMOA/WAEMU Union Economique et Monétaire Ouest Africain/West African Economic
and Monetary Union
USAID United States Agency for International Development
USAID/WA USAID West Africa Regional Mission
WACoFeC West Africa Committee for Fertilizer Control
WAFA West Africa Fertilizer Association
WAFBIM West Africa Fertilizer Business Information Map
WAFF West Africa Fertilizer Forum
WAFFF West Africa Fertilizer Financing Forum
WAFP West Africa Fertilizer Program
EnGRAIS Project FY 2019, Annual Report iv

FEED THE FUTURE ENHANCING GROWTH THROUGH REGIONAL
AGRICULTURAL INPUT SYSTEMS PROJECT FOR WEST AFRICA
ANNUAL REPORT
October 2018 – September 2019

Name of Project: Feed the Future Enhancing Growth through Regional Agricultural Input
Systems (EnGRAIS) Project for West Africa
Life of Project: February 2018 ‒ February
Project Duration: 5 years
2023
Project Objective: Sustainably increase regional availability and use of appropriate and
affordable fertilizers through: Intermediate Result (IR) 1: Competitive, inclusive, private sector-
led, regional fertilizer market strengthened; IR 2: Comprehensive input packages developed and
disseminated in cooperation with West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research
and Development (CORAF); IR 3: Fertilizer policy and regulatory systems across West Africa
improved and harmonized in accordance with the Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) guidance; and IR 4: Mobilizing commitment and harmonizing engagement from
key stakeholders across West Africa supported by mission buy-ins.
Geographic Focus: West Africa region, including all 15 ECOWAS Member States and, to the
extent possible, two more Comité Permanent Inter-Etats de Lutte Contre la Sécheresse dans le
Sahel (CILSS) Member States ‒ Chad and Mauritania.
1 INTRODUCTION
On February 19, 2018, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/West
Africa signed a Cooperative Agreement with the International Fertilizer Development Center
(IFDC) for the award of $10 million to implement the five-year (2018-2023) Feed the Future
EnGRAIS Project for West Africa. EnGRAIS aims to support African-led regional institutions to
address critical issues that constrain the effective supply and use of agricultural inputs in West
Africa. The program is expected to result in strong, positive, and lasting change toward improving
the availability of and farmers’ access to appropriate, affordable, and quality agricultural inputs.
EnGRAIS Project FY 2019, Annual Report 1

EnGRAIS is applying a multi-faceted approach, working throughout the fertilizer supply chain as
a facilitator and enhancing strategic actors’ ability to improve the business environment and
transition to a private sector-led fertilizer market that responds to an effective demand for
productivity-enhancing inputs in West Africa.
In this fiscal year (FY) 2019 Annual Report, we first summarize and provide highlights of
EnGRAIS’s progress and accomplishments, followed by a description of challenges and/or issues
encountered during the period under review. The report then describes the project’s main activities
during the FY by IR and Sub-IR, followed by a description of key activities related to cross-cutting
issues. This is followed by an outlook on expected activities during Quarter (Q) 1 of FY20.
2 SUMMARY
To accomplish its four Irs related to a competitive and efficient supply system, an effective demand
for fertilizer, an enabling environment, and harmonizing and supporting actions at the country
level, EnGRAIS focused on the following six sub-Irs during the past year:
• Sub-IR 1.1: West Africa Fertilizer Association (WAFA) and other relevant regional private
sector organizations’/associations’ management capacity increased and organizations
sustainable;
• Sub-IR 1.2: Industry actors collaborating through multi-stakeholder platforms to improve
supply chain efficiency and improve fertilizer affordability;
• Sub-IR 2.1: Fertilizer and seed recommendations updated and developed for targeted crops
and agro-ecological zones (AEZs) across West Africa;
• Sub-IR 2.2: Comprehensive fertilizer and seed input packages promoted and marketed across
West Africa;
• Sub-IR 3.1: Regional Fertilizer Subsidy Guidance endorsed by ECOWAS and disseminated
to policymakers and industry stakeholders in Member States; and
• Sub-IR 3.2: ECOWAS regulation for fertilizer quality control published by all Member States
and implemented at the regional level.
The project also worked closely with its partners, including CORAF, WAFA, ECOWAS, the
Union Economique et Monétaire Ouest Africaine (UEMOA), the Alliance for a Green Revolution
in Africa (AGRA), and the Ministries of Agriculture of ECOWAS Member States to implement
activities under the Irs and their sub-Irs during the period under review. Results achieved during
the past FY are highlighted below.
2.1 Highlights of FY 2019 Performance

2.1.1 IR 1: Competitive, inclusive, private sector-led, regional fertilizer market
strengthened
During FY19, EnGRAIS carried out the following major activities under IR 1:
• Updated the EnGRAIS and WAFA Joint Action Plan, extending it through September 2020.

• Assisted WAFA as they revised and finalized the new constitution and developed their five-
year strategy. Both documents were endorsed during the Extraordinary General Meeting
(EGM) in April 2019.
• Supported WAFA’s facilitation of its successful Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Bamako,
February 13-14, 2019. EnGRAIS also helped WAFA and Argus organize and host the third
annual West Africa Fertilizer Forum (WAFF) in Lomé, April 24-26, 2019, which was attended
by more than 200 delegates.
• Provided assistance to WAFA board members to complete the recruitment of personnel for the
association’s coordinating unit; three full-time staff were hired and trained.
• Facilitated a five-year partnership agreement between WAFA and AfricaFertilizer.org (AFO)
to collect, analyze, and disseminate fertilizer market information and data in West Africa.
• Initiated and supervised cost build-up studies across four major fertilizer trade corridors
conducted by Nitidæ. The initial results and recommendations from these studies were
presented during the WAFF and the reports were finalized during August 2019 (Q4).
• Supported WAFA through a grant to contract the African Fertilizer and Agribusiness
Partnership (AFAP) to undertake a study on WAFA members’ access to finance that was a key
element in the successful West Africa Fertilizer Financing Forum (WAFFF) co-organized in
late September with the African Development Bank (AfDB)/Africa Fertilizer Financing
Mechanism (AFFM).
2.1.2 IR 2: Comprehensive input packages developed and disseminated in

cooperation with CORAF
During the reporting period, the project carried out the following major activities under IR 2:
• In close collaboration with CORAF/PAIRED, developed and digitized at least 40
comprehensive agri-input packages, including information on improved seeds, appropriate
fertilizer recommendations, and good agricultural practices (GAPs) specific to each crop and
agro-ecological zone (AEZ), and incorporated them into the Fertilizer and Seeds
Recommendations for West Africa Map (FeSeRWAM). To finalize these electronic packages,
EnGRAIS and PAIRED organized and facilitated multiple meetings with key stakeholders to
review and validate the data that supports the packages and worked with stakeholders to
approve the design and dissemination plan.
• Finalized and launched the FeSeRWAM, a web-based interactive platform which provides
farmers information on needed agricultural inputs and GAPs to increase their crop production.
Presented the FeSeRWAM to stakeholders at the validation workshop in August 2019 in
Dakar, Senegal.
2.1.3 IR 3: Fertilizer policy and regulatory systems across West Africa improved
and harmonized in accordance with ECOWAS guidance
During the past FY, EnGRAIS carried out the following major activities under IR 3:
• Transformed the Regional Fertilizer Subsidy Program Guide into a draft directive on fertilizer
subsidy programs for ECOWAS’s endorsement. The directive incorporates all 13 principles
and 36 recommended actions from the guide.
• Facilitated a UEMOA-sponsored regional workshop, with representatives from all eight member
countries, as well as Chad and Mauritania, to share experiences in implementation of the regional

fertilizer regulations. A similar event was sponsored and facilitated by OCP Côte d’Ivoire to
review the status of the regional regulations in the country and fast-track implementation.
• Collaborated with various regional/international partners to develop policy briefs on the
implementation of ECOWAS fertilizer regulatory framework and quality of fertilizers traded
in West Africa.
• Surveyed ECOWAS, UEMOA, and CILSS or Regional Economic Community (REC) Member
Countries’ on the status of adoption of Regional Fertilizer Regulation C/REG.13/12/12.
Produced a summary report for the REC Members and requested their political support to
expedite implementation.
• Facilitated implementation and enforcement of ECOWAS fertilizer regulations and/or
reforming their subsidy programs using the validated Regional Subsidy Program Guide in
Benin, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Togo.
• Organized training programs on the new regional and national legal frameworks, procedures,
and techniques for fertilizer inspection, sampling, and quality control for 62 fertilizer
inspectors in Niger.
• Finalized the baseline assessments of fertilizer quality in Benin, Burkina Faso, Liberia, and Mali.
• Provided key inputs for and feedback on the draft five-year strategic plan for an improved
subsidy program and improved quality of blended products being promoted nationwide under
the Ghana Fertilizer Expansion Programme (GFEP).
2.1.4 IR 4: Mobilizing commitment and harmonizing engagement from key

stakeholders across West Africa supported by mission buy-ins
During FY19, the project conducted the following activities under IR4:
• Completed the Ghana Fertilizer Value Chain Optimization Study (GFVCOS), with OCP
support. This included a presentation to the Ghana GFEP Task Force and subsequent
presentations to the Minister of Food and Agriculture.
• Developed a fact sheet on the buy-in mechanism which includes updated buy-in and cost-share
menus to make it easier for Missions to consider and identify buy-in opportunities.
• Designed and negotiated a Senegal buy-in for an $8 million, three-year activity, called the
Dundal Suuf Fertilizer Project. This was approved at the end Q4 and project start-up will begin
during FY20.
2.2 Challenges and Issues

Major challenges and issues encountered during the implementation of planned activities during
the period under review are included in the following:
• Several activities planned in the FY19 Work Plan and in the WAFA/EnGRAIS joint plan
were delayed or ineffective due to the delayed constitution of a full-time coordination unit
that focused on the smooth implementation of the agreed work plans and seeking timely
feedback from the WAFA Board on key documents. For example, the AGM was postponed
twice before it was held in Bamako in February, and the five-year strategy and draft
constitution were finally endorsed by the Board in April 2019. The appointment of the
WAFA Coordinator in March 2019, expansion of the WAFA Board to nine members, and
the recruitment of two additional EnGRAIS Sub-Regional Coordinators (SRCs) in Q2
helped to mitigate this challenge during the remaining two FY quarters.

• It was a challenge to collect and integrate information from WAFA members for several
input case studies (for example, the cost build up studies, access to finance study, price
collection, and market analysis) despite efforts from EnGRAIS, the Board, and consultants
to collect contributions. It is expected that the WAFA coordinating unit, that is now fully
identified and on-board, will be able to inform and engage members on a more regular
basis and be able to gather market information from members in the future.
• There were difficulties that came up in the collaboration with PAIRED. These included
scheduling for meetings and joint workshops, coordination of the hiring consultants,
working with different policies and procedures within IFDC and CORAF, as well as
identifying roles, responsibilities, and costs for each partner at the joint workshops. While
working on these challenges took additional time, issues were generally amicably resolved
because both EnGRAIS and PAIRED knew they needed to work together to produce the
best possible agro-input packages and the FeSeRWAM.
• ECOWAS’ approval of the Portuguese translation of Regulation C/REG.13/12/12
(fertilizer quality control) was still not completed by the end of the FY. This approval is
the critical next step to enable publication of the Regulation in the Official Gazettes in Cape
Verde and Guinea-Bissau, and will allow these countries to move forward with
enforcement of fertilizer quality control. EnGRAIS submitted the Portuguese-translated
Regulation to ECOWAS in November 2018, and it has been under review since then. In
addition, ECOWAS is hesitant to establish the West African Committee for Fertilizer
Control (WACoFeC) before Nigeria, the biggest producer and consumer of fertilizer in the
region, publishes the regional regulation in their gazette.
• Despite progress made during the past FY, Member States are delaying adoption of
country-specific supporting regulations and taking appropriate measures to enforce them,
which seriously constrains implementation of the harmonized ECOWAS fertilizer legal
and regulatory framework at national levels. EnGRAIS requested political support from
the RECs through the recent survey report submitted to them on individual country
status/implementation and advocated for initiation of an aggressive policy dialogue with
Ministers of Agriculture. The policy dialogue option was recently accepted by the
ECOWAS Commissioner and, if the promised action is taken, will likely accelerate
implementation in Member States during FY20.
3 MAIN ACTIVITIES AND RESULTS

3.1 IR 1: Competitive, inclusive, private sector-led, regional fertilizer
market strengthened
The objective of this IR is to contribute to the development of a sustainable fertilizer market that
provides appropriate and high-quality fertilizer at affordable prices to West African farmers. To
achieve this objective, the industry must take steps to become more competitive, efficient, and
successful in meeting the growing demand for affordable quality inputs delivered on time.

Sub-IR 1.1 WAFA’s and other relevant regional private sector
organizations/associations capacity strengthened and made
sustainable
1.1.1 Facilitate and support WAFA capacity building activities according to the two-year work
plan
WAFA has seen significant
momentum and capacity EnGRAIS Strengthening WAFA Capacity and Leadership Role
changes since July 2018 when WAFA has taken great strides toward building its capacity and
the first version of the providing better services to its members. Since the development of the
WAFA/EnGRAIS joint work initial work plan in 2018, the Board has developed strategies to
plan was developed (see Annex improve revenue and finances, strengthen the organization’s structure,
1. Success Story). Given this, and expand partnerships with regional and international associations.
Additionally, EnGRAIS has taken a market systems approach by
during the past FY, EnGRAIS aligning its activities with WAFA’s objectives and giving higher
staff met WAFA Board visibility to WAFA’s efforts to engage with USAID and ECOWAS.
Members, first in Ouagadougou,
Burkina Faso, in November During the reporting period, WAFA also worked on expanding
2018, and then in Abidjan, Côte opportunities for its members by organizing the West Africa Fertilizer
Forum (WAFF) with Argus in April 2019 and the West Africa
d’Ivoire, in June 2019. During Fertilizer Financing Forum (WAFFF) with the African Development
these sessions the organizations Bank in September 2019. The WAFA Board has also taken it upon
revised the joint work plan itself to draft strategies on gender and youth integration, conduct
(Click on WAFA-EnGRAIS training and capacity building programs for members, and leverage
Joint Workplan, June 2019 – bulk purchasing contracts among members.
September 2020 to read document)
with regard to the final grant planned from EnGRAIS (July 2019 – September 2020), aligned the
work plan with WAFA’s five-year strategy (Click on WAFA Strategic Plan 2019 – 2023 to read
document), and ensured that EnGRAIS will continue to provide adequate and necessary support
to WAFA to develop the association’s capacity to perform its major tasks of advocacy and
development.
In order to best understand WAFA’s current capacity and identify further support needed, the
Executive Board confirmed (at the June Abidjan meeting) that WAFA will facilitate an
organizational capacity review (OCR)1 with its members and leadership. The OCR will help
WAFA in assessing the critical elements for effective organizational management and identifying
those areas that need strengthening or further development. While the OCR was originally planned
to be completed during the reporting period, scheduling conflicts forced its delay until immediately
after the West Africa Fertilizer Financing Forum (WAFFF) in early October 2019, but it now will
be completed during Q1 of FY20. The results will be used to develop the WAFA five-year capacity
building strategy and corresponding work plan during Q1 of FY20.
1
Per a discussion in Abidjan on October 3, 2019, between the project Agreements Officer’s Representative (AOR)
and the Chief of Party (COP), EnGRAIS agreed to change the name of this assessment from an Organizational
Capacity Assessment (OCA) to an OCR because the OCR would be more limited and the facilitator contracted to
perform the OCR, though familiar with OCA, was not certified as an OCA facilitator.

1.1.2 Facilitate the design of a five-year strategic plan, work plan, and corresponding budget
for WAFA
With grant funding from EnGRAIS, WAFA hired Knowledge & Skills (K&S), a Ghana-based
consulting firm, in October 2018 to assist in developing its five-year strategic plan (2019-2023).
WAFA and K&S used a phased approach to develop a plan supporting seven objectives (finance,
quality, stewardship, availability, trade information, and dialogue) and this five-year strategic plan
and corresponding budget was formally adopted by the WAFA Board at the EGM in April 2019.
The WAFA board and its members can now rely on a well-structured plan as the foundation that
will guide and drive the association, as they did during the preparation and organization of key
activities such as WAFF and WAFFF.
1.1.3 Assist WAFA to revise its by-laws, constitution, and revenue structure
WAFA held its first AGM (click on WAFA AGM Report, Bamako, 2019 for detailed report),
February 13-14, 2019, in Bamako, Mali. This successful event gathered 93 participants from 10
ECOWAS countries. Participants included current and prospective WAFA members and
EnGRAIS staff. During the AGM, the 2017-2018 activities and financial reports, the 2019-2023
strategic plan, and the 2019 action plan were presented and reviewed by the members. The
members also decided to call an EGM in April to, among other things, adopt the new WAFA
constitution drafted by a legal advisor hired by WAFA that combined the three previous legal
documents: the WAFA bylaws, rules of procedure, and code of conduct. A new nine-member
Board was elected for a three-year term (February 2019 – January 2022).
Figure 1: WAFA-Elected Board
WAFA held the EGM in Lomé, Togo, on April 24th just before the WAFF. The EGM was an
occasion for WAFA members to formally approve of the final version of the five-year strategic
plan and the new constitution. The final step will be to provide the final documents in English and
French and share them among the membership.
1.1.4 Facilitate WAFA’s set up of a coordination unit

EnGRAIS assisted WAFA in the recruitment of a full-time coordinating team of three staff, which
was completed at the end of Q4. This process took place during Q2-Q4 and included EnGRAIS’
feedback on the recruitment, interviews, and selection of the candidates. Mr. Kossi Koudjega was
appointed on March 1, 2019 as the WAFA Coordinator based in Lomé. During the last days of

September, WAFA hired the Administration and Finance Officer, Mr. Ibrahim Touré (based in
Bamako), and the Communications Specialist, Ms. Ada Nimazulem (based in Abuja). Both the
Administration and Finance Officer and Communication Specialist are hosted by WAFA
members. The personnel costs of the coordination unit were initially covered by an EnGRAIS
grant, but this financing will progressively phase out until June 2020 when WAFA will take on
full financial responsibility for the unit.
1.1.5 Assist in WAFA’s design of a communication strategy

During the FY, the WAFA Coordinator, AFO, and EnGRAIS updated their respective websites
and social media with current information on WAFA and produced a series of joint publications,
such as FertiNews, reports by the Fertilizer Technical Work Groups (FTWGs, supported by IFA
and EnGRAIS), technical reports, and meeting reports. The first task assigned to the new WAFA
Communication Specialist was to design a WAFA communication strategy that aligns with the
five-year strategy.
WAFA internal communication has also greatly improved with the creation of a dedicated
WhatsApp group and email address ([email protected]). During the reporting period, the
Board held monthly calls and met in person, when applicable, to regularly discuss WAFA business.
1.1.6 Assist WAFA to build sustainable partnerships and alliances

Throughout the reporting period, EnGRAIS continuously worked to facilitate the building of
sustainable partnerships and alliances between WAFA and her sister associations, regional bodies,
and regional institutions supporting agricultural development. This process included introducing
WAFA to key organizations and institutions including, but not limited to the Alliance for Seed
Industry for West Africa (ASIWA), the AfDB’s program staff under AFFM, and the Technologies
for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) project. These meetings were an opportunity to
align all the organizations’ strategies and discuss potential activities.
Notable outcomes of these meetings/partnerships include the following:

• African Development Bank: Through EnGRAIS facilitation, WAFA engaged AfDB’s
AFFM, and together WAFA and AfDB organized and facilitated the WAFFF in Abidjan,
on September 30-October 1, 2019. Additionally, WAFA met with the project leader of
TAAT in November 2018. During the meetings, WAFA and TAAT identified activities at
the country level that involved and leveraged local WAFA members in Burkina Faso and
Nigeria.

• ECOWAS: Following continuous facilitation/coordination by EnGRAIS between
WAFA and ECOWAS, the teams prepared a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that
will be signed by the ECOWAS Commissioner of Agriculture and the President of
WAFA on October 1, 2019. This MoU will leverage WAFA as a strategic partner to
ECOWAS on regional fertilizer and input policy and implementation, particularly in
areas of joint interest (i.e., financing, agriculture, environment, and quality).
Figure 2 VP WAFA, Minister Agric Sierra Leone, ECOWAS commissioner,

President WAFA, Minister of Agric Mali, Vice Minister of Agric
Liberia – Abidjan 01 Oct 2019
• National Private Sector Associations: Following a request from fertilizer actors in Côte
d’Ivoire, WAFA organized a one-day meeting in Abidjan in October 2018 with 44
participants (including private sector actors, public sector representatives, and technical
and financial partners). The meeting, sponsored by OCP Côte d’Ivoire triggered the
creation of the National Association of Fertilizer Industry of Côte d’Ivoire (APECI) in
December 2018. WAFA and EnGRAIS supported development of the new association,
including helping with the constitution, bylaws, and legal registration with local
authorities. APECI’s first objective was to assist and partner with the government and
specifically the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER) to finalize,
pass, and implement ECOWAS-compliant fertilizer laws and regulations in Côte d’Ivoire
that include a specification that a representative of APECI will sit on the National
Committee for Fertilizer Control (NaCoFeC).
Following meetings between WAFA Board Members, the Fertilizer Producers and
Suppliers Association of Nigeria’s (FEPSAN’s) Chairman, and the Executive Secretary at
the Argus Africa Fertilizer Conference (February 2019), WAFA and EnGRAIS

participated in national stakeholders’ meetings organized by FEPSAN in April 2019 in
Kaduna, Nigeria. This provided a good opportunity for WAFA to publicize and bolster
attendance at the WAFF in Lomé, and to recruit 14 new members among Nigerian fertilizer
companies, particularly local blenders and distributors.
1.1.7 Liaise with international fertilizer sector actors to provide key information
During the reporting period, EnGRAIS worked with WAFA to consolidate and strengthen its
alliances, partnerships, and contracts to access, use, and provide key business and strategic
information to its members.
In particular, WAFA and AFO signed a five-year partnership agreement (2018-2023) in December
2018. This agreement included a joint action plan for 2019 with eight key areas of intervention:
1. Monitoring monthly retail fertilizer price and market information;
2. Annual validation of national fertilizer statistics with FTWGs;
3. Studies on fertilizer use by crop and by product;
4. Studies on fertilizer cost buildup and import process maps along trade corridors in West Africa;
5. Annual updates and publications of information on fertilizer production and blending plants in
West Africa;
6. Monthly contributions to FertiNews, an electronic bulletin published by AFO;
7. Ad hoc joint contributions/participation in selected events and conferences; and
8. Data and information dissemination and sharing.
This Partnership Agreement represents a major step towards the implementation of WAFA’s plan
to promote information sharing and dissemination on fertilizers.
WAFA and AFO validate 2018 West Africa Fertilizer Statistics

In March 2019, the FTWGs met through two workshops to validate fertilizer statistics for the
anglophone (Ghana and Nigeria) and francophone (Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, and
Senegal) countries that consume the bulk of fertilizer in West Africa. The two workshops were co-
organized by WAFA and AFO with technical and financial support from EnGRAIS and IFA. A
total of 87 stakeholders (24% female) contributed to the 2019 statistical review; 40% of
participating stakeholders represented private fertilizer companies.

Figure 3. FTWG Delegates in Burkina Faso
Results showed that total apparent fertilizer consumption for the six largest consuming countries
in West Africa decreased overall from 3,470,701 mt in 2017 to 3,276,409 mt in 2018 (5.6%
reduction). While there were increases in fertilizer consumption in Mali (+1%), Burkina Faso
(+8%), and Senegal (+8%), there were decreases in Nigeria (-6%), Ghana (-29%) and Côte d’Ivoire
(-14%). See Figure 4 for details.
The final reports, corresponding presentations, and online publications were shared during the
WAFF in Lomé. The data was also used to update a series of country fact sheets.
Figure 4. 2016-2018 Apparent Consumption of Fertilizer

Additional publications produced by AFO and WAFA with EnGRAIS’s facilitation during the
reporting period included:
• Twelve monthly issues of FertiNews, an e-bulletin in both English and French, sent to
partners and over 3,500 subscribers, which consists of fertilizer prices and fertilizer market
information.
• The third, updated edition of the West Africa Fertilizer Business Information Map
(WAFBIM), which was completed before the WAFF, was printed in 500 hard copies in
both French and English, and distributed during WAFA and EnGRAIS events throughout
the year.
• During Q4, two studies on fertilizer use by crop were conducted in Senegal and Ghana,
which complement the previous series of studies conducted in 2017 and 2018 in Nigeria,
Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
1.1.8 Design and implement capacity building programs for WAFA members
Providing capacity trainings to members is an integral part of WAFA’s overall membership
services development strategy. During the past FY, in addition to the OCR (see activity 1.1.1),
WAFA’s Board determined its needs through an assessment of members’ training needs and will
coordinate with EnGRAIS on the development of training programs in FY20. The Board
prioritized training activities for members on laboratory testing, implementation of the ECOWAS
regulations and subsidy guideline (in coordination with IR 3 activities), product stewardship (with
IR2), access to finance, and improving distribution efficiency based on the cost build-up study
(with IR1). During the reporting period, a working group also was created to develop a gender and
youth strategy for WAFA, led by Board Member Sinkarie Ceesay, of Sierra Leone.
1.1.9 Promote WAFA through organization of and/or participation in industry events

Argus Africa Fertilizer Annual Meeting (February 2019)
EnGRAIS provided a grant to WAFA to send four Board members to the Argus Africa Fertilizer
Meeting held in Marrakech, February 27-March 1, 2019, and host an exhibition booth at the
conference. Through EnGRAIS facilitation, WAFA prepared and disseminated updated
promotional materials and publications to the more than 350 participants at the 10th annual
meeting. (See interview at https://vimeo.com/324158253.)

International Fertilizer Association (June 2019)
During the IFA General Meeting at their Annual Fertilizer Conference, WAFA and the Fertilizer
Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN) were elected as affiliate members by
IFA’s Board. EnGRAIS facilitated the membership process, connecting the WAFA President and
FEPSAN Executive Secretary with IFA’s Secretariat and helped prepared their formal registration
applications. As a result of their IFA membership, WAFA and FEPSAN will benefit from
unlimited participation in all IFA events and committee activities and will have access to the
members-only section of their website.
IFDC/Argus MOU Signed: Better Access to Market Information and Industry Events
In June 2019, IFDC and Argus Media signed an MoU establishing a five-year partnership covering
key areas of common interest in Africa, such as fertilizer conferences and events, market
information and research, and trainings. Thanks to this MoU, EnGRAIS can offer opportunities
for its partners, particularly WAFA members, to participate in key Argus events at preferential
rates. These events include the next Argus Africa Annual Fertilizer Meeting in Cape Town
(February 19-21, 2020). The MoU also secured free access to relevant fertilizer market information
and weekly bulletins on AFO’s website for WAFA members.
West Africa Fertilizer Forum (April 2019)

EnGRAIS worked closely with WAFA and Argus to prepare for the 3rd Annual WAFF held in
Lomé, April 24-26, 2019, which represents about a third of WAFA’s current annual revenue
stream. The 2019 WAFF (Click on WAFF 2019 Trip Report for details) brought together
approximately 200 participants from more than 30 countries. Fifty-nine percent of the registered
participants represented private companies operating across the fertilizer supply chain in West
Africa. Additional participants included representatives from ECOWAS (including the
Commissioner of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Water Resources) and UEMOA, national
governments (including the Togolese Minister of Agriculture and technical staff from 14
countries), and development partners (including CORAF, AGRA, AFAP, and USAID). Topics
during the plenary and breakout sessions included market updates, improving the enabling
environment, fostering a competitive fertilizer sector, as well as logistical and financial challenges
of the sector.

Sub IR 1.2 Industry actors collaborate through multi-stakeholder platforms to
improve supply chain efficiency and improve fertilizer affordability
1.2.1 Collaborate on cost build-up and fertilizer corridor studies with WAFA
Nitidæ (www.nitidae.org) was contracted by EnGRAIS
at the beginning of Q2 to undertake a series of cost build-
up studies and fertilizer process maps along four main
corridors (Abidjan, Dakar, Lomé, and Tema) and for two
Sahelian/landlocked countries (Burkina Faso and Mali).
These represent some of the major fertilizer-consuming
hubs/destinations in West Africa.
The main objectives of the study (click on Nitidae Cost

Build Up Study final reports for full reports) were to
i) determine the cost build-up of fertilizer from port to
the farmgate level; ii) compare costs and processes for
different ports; and iii) create a tool to support corridor
selection and opportunities for advocacy on
infrastructure/logistics improvement with the private
sector, national governments and the RECs, and donors.
During Q2-Q3, Nitidæ finalized the data collection for
the study, including surveying ports and customs
authorities to identify official costs and procedures.
Another series of interviews were held with importers
and other stakeholders to gather data on current prices and constraints faced by the sector. Finally,
Nitidæ conducted six validation workshops at the country level with key stakeholders.
Nitidæ presented a summary of initial outcomes from the study during the WAFF in April 2019,
including the status of the fertilizer importation process and a comparison of different expenses
throughout the supply chain. The study found that although the port of Tema, Ghana offers the
lowest costs, logistic efficiency, and a significant comparative advantage to supply Ghana and
Burkina Faso, the current cost differences among the four ports are quite insignificant. This allows
each importer to be competitive in several of the six markets studied. Overall, the study showed
that 62% of fertilizer cost is spent leading up to entry at the ports. Other key
findings/recommendations from the study are the following:
• In order for importers to optimize their import strategies, prevent any major risk of cost
increases, and avoid losses when importing and distributing fertilizers, WAFA and its partners
should publish a monthly report on the logistics situation in West African ports. The report,
which can complement the existing FertiNews bulletin, should monitor waiting times, traffic,
administrative changes, sea freight rates, storage capacities, land transport costs, among other
parameters that cause congestion and increase logistics costs.
• Invest in better port logistics for bulk cargo, by (i) negotiating with the port authorities two
priority seasons of one month each, during which fertilizer importers would have priority of

berthing, in line with the recommendations of the 2006 Africa Fertilizer Summit; (ii)
negotiating priorities and dedicated quays with secondary ports, such as San Pedro in Côte
d’Ivoire and Takoradi in Ghana; (iii) encourage group purchase and shipment among WAFA
members; and (iv) promoting the implementation of a barge system to unload 30,000-ton
vessels into several 5,000 ton-sub barges, which can be used as short-term buffer storage and
unloaded as quickly as possible.
• Advocate for policies that promote more efficient fertilizer import logistics and supplies. In
particular, fertilizer subsidy programs should promote mechanisms for better logistical
planning, such as pre-ordering mechanisms and vouchers. A complementary role for WAFA
is to partner with producer organizations to advocate for more ambitious and productive
agricultural market regulation policies, such as guaranteed minimum price for food crops.
This set of recommendations will be promoted and shared by WAFA and EnGRAIS with the new
EU/GIZ/WB funded West Africa Trade Facilitation Program implemented with ECOWAS, as well
as with the Africa Transport Policy Program of the World Bank, for possible collaborations and
joint activities.
1.2.2 Support WAFA’s role in quality control enforcement and trade facilitation
WAFA is interested in taking a role in promoting ECOWAS lab testing protocols among its
members. The aim is to have every WAFA member implement the ECOWAS lab testing protocol
as part of its routine operations to be eligible for WAFA-facilitated deals. As a first step, during
the June meeting in Abidjan (mentioned under Activities 1.1.1 and 1.1.8), WAFA’s Board worked
with EnGRAIS to develop a plan to enforce fertilizer quality among its members. EnGRAIS will
continue to support WAFA as it builds on that plan during FY20.
1.2.3 Improve access to finance for the fertilizer private sector

WAFA intends to improve access to finance for its members by facilitating the creation of
agribusiness-friendly financial mechanisms focused on fertilizer in West Africa and assisting its
members to effectively use these mechanisms. In December 2018, WAFA signed a consultancy
agreement with AFAP to conduct (i) a financial needs assessment of each member, (ii) an
assessment of financial instruments available, (iii) matching needs and instruments available to
WAFA members, including trainings, and (iv) a guarantee fund proposal developed on behalf of
WAFA. EnGRAIS provided guidance to prepare the terms of reference, as well as financial and
contractual support, and funded the study through a grant agreement with WAFA.
Initial study findings were presented by AFAP during WAFF. AFAP highlighted several
recommendations to finance WAFA needs:
• Credit guarantee to suppliers to facilitate intraregional fertilizer trade;
• Trade finance support through commercial banks to reduce importers’, manufacturers’,
blenders’, or distributors’ lending costs and ensure a timely supply of fertilizers; and
• An agri-flex fund to support the fertilizer industry growth by improving competitiveness
and reducing production costs while improving environmental sustainability.
Additionally, EnGRAIS continued to facilitate meetings and interactions between WAFA and
AfDB/AFFM in order to prepare the WAFFF. This included an update in Marrakech in February
2019 in the margins of the Argus Africa Meeting with high-level officials of the respective

organizations to discuss progress made and next steps for the WAFFF. Follow-up meetings were
held in Q2-Q4 in Abidjan.
Based on the findings and recommendations mentioned above

in AFAP’s study (click on WAFA-AFAP Financial Needs
Assessment Report, June 2019 for report), and in preparation
for the WAFFF, EnGRAIS assisted WAFA to develop a
business proposal to the AfDB during Q4. The proposal aims to
improve and increase access to finance for the West African
fertilizer industry in general and for WAFA members in
particular. Fourteen WAFA members submitted concept notes
for financial support from the AfDB. Their total financing needs
are estimated at $430 million, including $250 million for capital
investment and $180 million for working capital (equivalent to
420,000 tons of fertilizers). Additionally, the overall financing
need for regional fertilizer supply is estimated to be $1.58
billion for 2020 to ensure the growth of the fertilizer market to
reach the targeted rate of 50kg of nutrients/ha in 2025.
Furthermore, EnGRAIS supported WAFA’s efforts to facilitate

trade credit internally. WAFA’s Board held several meetings to develop a financing strategy with
that objective in mind. Implementation of the strategy is already underway as WAFA has invited
its members to visit OCP Africa, Indorama, and Notore (fertilizer producers and WAFA members)
to negotiate consolidated purchases and increased sales within the region.
1.2.4 Encourage creation of the National Fertilizer Platforms and development of Fertilizer
Roadmaps
During the reporting period, EnGRAIS and WAFA encouraged the creation of national fertilizer
platforms and the development of fertilizer roadmaps in Ghana and Senegal that will set the stage
for the sustainable development of the fertilizer sector, in collaboration and in partnership with
private industry. EnGRAIS and WAFA promoted existing and newly created national fertilizer
associations in West Africa who are or will be key promoters, implementers, and beneficiaries of
national fertilizer platforms and roadmaps (see details in 1.1.6).
In Ghana, one of the main recommendations EnGRAIS made to the Government of Ghana (GoG)
and its Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) in a December 5th presentation was to encourage
the fertilizer industry to create a national fertilizer association. This association would be expected
to promote inclusive participation of fertilizer suppliers, importers, blenders, and major
distributors in consultations and decision-making processes regarding the design and
implementation of the national fertilizer subsidy program and further optimization of the fertilizer
value chain. It was also recommended that the current National Task Force, initiated by the GoG,
transitions to a National Fertilizer Platform that would be responsible for coordinating the design
and implementation of the GFEP. EnGRAIS adapted the IFDC fertilizer platform development
roadmap it used successfully in Mozambique and Kenya to Ghana and will arrange a study tour to
Kenya sometime during FY20 for the GoG, if funding permits, to visit the national platform
(KeFert) established in late 2018.

In Senegal, as part of the collaboration process for the “Dundël suuf” buy-in awarded to IFDC on
September 30, 2019, EnGRAIS highlighted the opportunities of a national fertilizer platform to
stakeholders. The Government of Senegal (GoS), Ministère de l’Agriculture et l’Equipement Rural
(MAER), and other stakeholders were invited to the co-creation workshop held on June 7, 2019 to
design the buy-in and provide inputs to the project description, endorsed the concept of creating a
national fertilizer platform. Consequently, EnGRAIS and Dundël suuf will jointly facilitate this
goal early in FY20.
1.2.5 Facilitate participation of GoG in Argus Africa Fertilizer Meeting

During Q2, EnGRAIS provided a grant to the GoG to send two technical staff to the Argus Africa
Fertilizer Meeting primarily so they could learn more about the regional and international private
fertilizer sector and consult with possible service providers and partners who could help in
implementing the GFEP. The GoG participants met with CropNuts, OCP, Edenred, AfDB, and
others and, with their help, moved forward with implementation of different aspects of the GFEP
later in the FY.
3.2 IR 2: Comprehensive input packages developed and disseminated in

The objective of this IR is to facilitate the development and dissemination of comprehensive agro-
input packages (sometimes referred to as “kits” or “agricultural input based technology” by other
partners and donors) for specific crops and AEZs that include adapted, certified seed, and
appropriate balanced fertilizer blends along with GAPs to sustainably improve agricultural
productivity in West Africa. Activities under IR 2 are implemented in close cooperation with
CORAF, other regional and national agricultural development institutions, and the private sector.
Sub-IR 2.1 Fertilizer and seed recommendations updated and developed for
targeted crops and AEZs across West Africa
2.1.1 Contribute to the design of ECOWAS/UEMOA long-term agro-input strategy for West
Africa
Beginning in Q2, CORAF conducted several consultative meetings in the West African region,
including one in Q3 in Senegal, as well as four in Q4 in Guinea, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, and
Nigeria. EnGRAIS has closely coordinated with CORAF on these activities and contributed to
technical discussions on the development of the West African Regional Agri-Input Strategy.
EnGRAIS also contributed to the Regional Agro-Input Strategy through completion and
submission of the fertilizer portion of a comprehensive survey questionnaire on the distribution of
inputs in the region.

2.1.2 Synthesize and compile current fertilizer and seed recommendations for the FeSeRWAM
2.1.3 Validate joint strategy and work plan for agro-input packages
2.1.5 Synthesize and compile proven integrated soil fertility management training modules and
GAPs
During FY19, EnGRAIS coordinated with PAIRED, National Agricultural Research Services
(NARS), universities, and ministries of agriculture to collect and synthesize current fertilizer and
seed recommendations as well as GAPs for agro-input packages that are inputs into the
FeSeRWAM. This was completed following multiple workshops to review and validate the data
that supported the development of the FeSeRWAM and agro-input packages strategy. To ensure
the data was reviewed and updated by a broad range of regional stakeholders, EnGRAIS, together
with PAIRED, held regional workshops that included representatives from the Anglophone
(Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone), Francophone (Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte
d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and Togo, and Lusophone (Cape Verde and Guinee Bissau)
countries in the region.
Following the validation workshops, a final database was developed that includes fertilizer
recommendations and improved seed data (See Table 1).
Table 1 Summary of Number of Crops, Varieties and Fertilizer Recommendation per

Country in the Database
Number of Fertilizer
Countries Number of Crops Number of Varieties Recommendations
Benin 12 83 10*
Burkina Faso 7 52 15
Côte d'Ivoire 7 55 23*
Ghana 9 27 63
Guinea 11 29 11
Liberia 8 32 7
Mali 8 89 40
Niger 6 47 5
Nigeria 14 58 30
Senegal 5 35 9
Sierra Leone 6 43 6
Togo 10 45 26
The database includes fertilizer recommendations for 24 crops in 12 countries. Data in Table 1 for
Côte d’Ivoire and Benin was still under review at the end of Q4 and will be finalized during Q1 of
FY20. Data from Guinea Bissau, Guinea, and Chad is also in process and will be incorporated
sometime during FY20. There is no data yet for Cape Verde, whose officials participated in the
meeting, but did not provide data; Mauritania attended the first meeting but did not participate in

the data collection activities. The data variables include geographic locations, AEZs, soil
descriptors (texture, depth, and organic matter content), crops (variety characteristics), fertilizer
recommendation (including grades and dosage), and GAPs. The breakdown per country (Error!
Reference source not found.) includes number of different crop varieties per country.
Table 2 Breakdown Crops and Number of Varieties per Country for Benin, Burkina
Faso, Ghana, and Guinea
Country Crop (Mandatory) Number of varieties Ghana
Benin Cassava 2
Cashew - Cowpea 3
Cassava 8 Groundnut 3
Cotton 4 Maize 12
Maize 14 Millet 1
Millet 8 Rice 2
Oil palm 4 Sesame 1
Peanut 7 Sorghum 1
Pineapple 2 Soybean 2
Rice 8 Ghana Total 27
Sorghum 4 Guinea
Soybean 12 Banana 1
Yam 12 Cassava 1
Benin Total 83 Citrus 1
Burkina Faso Fonio 1
Cotton 2 Maize 6
Cowpea 7 Peanut 2
Maize 14 Pineapple 1
Millet 5 Potato (Irish) 3
Rice 3 Rice 7
Sesame 5 Tomato 3
Sorghum 16 Yam 3
Burkina Faso Total 52 Guinea Total 29
2.1.4 Organize and facilitate a regional workshop to validate the draft FeSeRWAM
Following the compilation of validated data for the region, EnGRAIS and PAIRED (with the
support of task force members and experts from IFDC Headquarters) developed the first version
of the FeSeRWAM. This prototype was validated at a regional workshop in August 2019 in Dakar,
Senegal (Click on FeSeRWAM Technical Validation Report, September 2019 for the validation
report). The current FeSeRWAM version is an online and interactive tool with two main views:
• Country-specific view (Figure 5). For instance, Nigeria below allows the viewer to make
queries for the whole country or within the country-specific AEZs on various data.
• West Africa regional view (Figure 6). This allows the user to make queries at the regional
level, investigating a particular AEZ or several across countries.

Figure 5 FeSeRWAM Version 1 Country AEZ View
Figure 6 FeSeRWAM Version 1 Regional AEZ View
The version of the FeSeRWAM launched during the reporting period (click on FeSeRWAM to
access prototype) lacks complete information for the region, but EnGRAIS and PAIRED
developed a work plan to complete the information and update the map in FY20 (click on

FeSeRWAM Fact Sheet for description). The next version of the FeSeRWAM will include the
following features:
• Ability for a user in a country to know what varieties, yields, GAPs, and fertilizer
recommendations are available in other countries;
• Ability to decide what product to use locally based on the information on successful varieties
in an AEZ;
• Simultaneously display information about multiple varieties for comparison;
• A feedback mechanism; and
• Queries for different user needs (agro-dealers, blenders, agricultural extension agents,
researchers, decisions makers, etc.).
2.1.6 Develop agro-input packages suitable for specific crops and AEZs in West Africa with
CORAF
Following the data collection and validation process, technical experts met during Q4 (September
25-27, 2019), to finalize initial agro-input packages. The group of 15 participants including seed
and fertilizer experts focused on packages for targeted crops across West Africa. A total of 40 agri-
input packages were developed (Table 3), and are under review by the NARS and international
research institutions, including ICRISAT, IITA, and Africa Rice. These agri-input packages
include different varieties of 12 crops and cover the three main West African AEZs.
Table 3 Numbers of Developed Agri-Input Packages by Crops and Regional AEZ's
Crops Semi-Arid Sub-Humid Humid Total

Cashew 0 1 0 1
Cassava 0 0 2 2
Cocoa 0 0 2 2
Coffee 0 0 1 1
Cotton 2 3 1 6
Cowpea 1 1 0 2
Maize 3 3 1 7
Millet 2 0 0 2
Peanut 1 2 1 4
Rice 4 3 2 9
Sorghum 2 2 0 4
AEZ Total 15 15 10 40
2.1.7 Determine if relevant and necessary to have and support a soil fertility board of experts
CORAF has decided to develop a group of community specialists, including various agricultural
experts available in CORAF member countries. EnGRAIS and PAIRED will contribute fertilizer
and seed experts, respectively, and continue to discuss opportunities for a soil fertility board to

collaborate with the group of regional agricultural experts. However, any proposal would need to
include a clear plan for initially funding such a board and making it sustainable in the long run.
Sub-IR 2.2 Comprehensive fertilizer and seed input packages promoted and
marketed across West Africa
2.2.1 Consult with relevant stakeholders regarding developing a web-based FeSeRWAM
2.2.2 Train stakeholders to access and use the web-based platform
Over the course of FY19, EnGRAIS and PAIRED continuously supported the task force members
in the development of the web-based FeSeRWAM, composed of information from the input
packages fact sheets. During the three-day FeSeRWAM validation workshop in Senegal in August
2019, EnGRAIS assembled experts (GIS, IT, web designers, etc.) and relevant stakeholders to
develop the web-based map. The prototype of the FeSeRWAM was presented and validated by
keys stakeholders and a roadmap was developed to update and revise the map as needed. EnGRAIS
will continue to work with the team of experts and consultant as they develop and upload the
revised FeSeRWAM.
During the FeSeRWAM validation workshop, the group also developed a communication strategy
to inform private sector and extension agents about the FeSeRWAM. It was agreed that the strategy
must inform stakeholders how to access, use, and share the information on the web-based platform,
and that such training materials should include a tutorial video. The communication strategy will
be completed when the new version of the FeSeRWAM is finalized.
3.3 IR 3: Fertilizer policy and regulatory systems across West Africa

improved and harmonized in accordance with ECOWAS guidance
The objective of this IR is to provide support to ECOWAS (and now UEMOA and CILSS) and
Member States on the implementation of harmonized policies and regulations for fertilizer to
facilitate increased regional private sector-led trade and improve use and supply of high-quality
and appropriate agro-inputs, including fertilizers.
Therefore, EnGRAIS worked with the RECs at regional level to facilitate interventions at country
level. Key activities undertaken during the reporting period include:
Strengthened Communication with the ECOWAS Commission and Advocated for Timely Political
Support to EnGRAIS
EnGRAIS maintained regular communications with the ECOWAS Commission to ensure smooth
planning, implementation, and monitoring of program activities, and put the following key issues
on the table for policy dialogue:
1. ECOWAS feedback on the new foreword developed by EnGRAIS that has already been
endorsed by WAFA and UEMOA;
2. ECOWAS’s feedback on discussion points regarding the establishment of the West Africa
Committee for Fertilizer Control (WACoFeC), which was submitted to both ECOWAS and
UEMOA Commissions on March 18, 2019;

3. Acceptance of the Portuguese translation of Regulation C/REG.13/12/12 relating to fertilizer
quality control in the ECOWAS region;
4. The Commissioner’s communication to the fertilizer private sector at the 2019 WAFF on the
creation of a better enabling environment in the region and some of the critical first steps in
this process, including the ECOWAS/UEMOA/CILSS tripartite agreement on fertilizer; and
5. The request for political support to Member States to fast-track implementation of fertilizer
regulations at national level.
In addition, EnGRAIS posted the new Lower Coast Sub-Regional Coordinator (SRC) to Abuja,
Nigeria, to cover project activities in the sub-region and liaise with ECOWAS and key fertilizer
industry players in Nigeria.
Facilitated UEMOA Commission’s Political Support to Accelerate Implementation of Regional

Fertilizer Regulations in Member States
IFDC, through the previous USAID-funded WAFP and now EnGRAIS, is mandated by the
ECOWAS Commission to facilitate implementation of the harmonized regional legal framework for
fertilizer trade and quality control in all Member States. While significant progress was made during
WAFP (2012-2017), there remained some countries that were slow to publish and especially
implement at the national and sub-national levels. To support fast-tracking fertilizer policy,
EnGRAIS worked with the ECOWAS and UEMOA Commissions to organize a regional workshop
for representatives of UEMOA Member States and key stakeholders. The workshop was held
November 20-22, 2018, at the headquarters of UEMOA in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and brought
together 40 participants, including representatives from UEMOA and CILSS Member States, who
were delegates from the ministries of agriculture and national fertilizer regulatory bodies, UEMOA
senior officials, WAFA board members, and resource persons and experts. The agenda focused on
ensuring alignment of national supporting legal instruments and actions under the provisions of
ECOWAS Regulation C/REG.13/12/12 through sharing best practices regarding effective
implementation. In addition, EnGRAIS seized this opportunity to sensitize Member States and
strongly advocate for reformed subsidy programs through a presentation and discussions on the
validated, regional fertilizer subsidy guide. The participants made major recommendations (as
detailed by organization in Table 4) for integrating political support in policies and programs.
Table 4 Recommendations for Implementation of Fertilizer Regulations

Organization Recommendations
Workshop Make necessary arrangements for undertaking immediate actions identified so far: presentation of meeting
Participants outcomes, preparation of explanatory notes, development/review of supporting regulations, and lobbying
before the competent authorities.
Member • Publish as early on as possible the Regulation in the Official Gazette (Guinea Bissau, Mauritania).
States • Adopt relevant supporting regulations establishing the national regulatory systems for fertilizer quality
control (regulatory body, testing laboratories, national committee, etc.).
• Grant sufficient human, financial, and capital resources to the national regulatory system for efficient
operations.
• Solicit support from donors for strengthening the national regulatory system.
• Include in the general budgets necessary funds for implementing quality control activities.
• Inform IFDC about the status of implementation of the Regulation, on a regular basis.

UEMOA • Integrate the evaluation of implementation of this Fertilizer Regulation in UEMOA’s annual review of
Commission policies, programs, and projects at the national level.
• Support technically and financially the establishment and operations of national regulatory systems for
fertilizer quality control.
EnGRAIS • Provide to Member States a template for periodic reporting on the status of implementation of the
Regulation.
• Develop a summary report on the status of implementation of the Regulation for national governments
via UEMOA, ECOWAS, and CILSS.
Sub-IR 3.1 Regional Fertilizer Subsidy Guidance endorsed by ECOWAS and

disseminated to policymakers and industry stakeholders in Member
States
3.1.1 Update and disseminate WAFSuProM
During the last two quarters of FY19, EnGRAIS staff collected current data needed to update the
West Africa Fertilizer Subsidy Program Matrix (WAFSuProM) through a survey while building
on the fertilizer statistics presented at regional validation workshops facilitated by AFO, in
collaboration with WAFA, during Q2 as well as other sources of information. By the end of Q4, a
draft updated WAFSuProM was ready for final review (click on WAFSuProM ‒ Second Edition,
September 2019 to view document). Dissemination of the updated WAFSuProM will occur from
Q1 of FY20, including to business platforms to inform private sector decisions.
In general, updates for the initial eight countries show that: 1) there are no government fertilizer
subsidy programs in Benin and Côte d’Ivoire; and 2) Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria,
and Togo still implement subsidy programs, but now are beginning to implement reforms that,
when completed, will bring them closer to the “smart” subsidy programs proposed in the Regional
Fertilizer Subsidy Program Guide (click on West Africa Fertilizer Subsidy Program Guide,
February 2019 to review full document).
In addition, other countries such as Guinea and Sierra Leone are also implementing fertilizer
subsidy programs, and EnGRAIS plans to include information for new countries in the FY20
version of the WAFSuProM.
3.1.2 Analyze fertilizer cost structure for policy implications for subsidy programs
3.1.3 Develop and disseminate policy briefs on cost structure policy prescriptions and subsidy-
related issues
This activity was linked to completion of the cost build-up studies undertaken under IR 1 (Activity
1.2.1). Given that the cost build-up studies may have implications toward national subsidy
programs, EnGRAIS awaited the final results, which were validated during Q4. Therefore, these
activities were not completed as expected during the reporting period. However, during the first
quarter of FY20, EnGRAIS will analyze the studies and apply final findings and recommendations
toward policy prescriptions/implications for subsidy programs and related issues.

3.1.4 Coordinate fertilizer subsidy program review and analysis including seeds
Over the past year, there were clear indications that the CORAF/PAIRED project would not be
ready to collaborate with EnGRAIS to integrate seeds into an expanded regional input subsidy
matrix and subsequent guide until at least FY20. However, EnGRAIS continued to print and
widely disseminate the current, validated, and rebranded Regional Fertilizer Subsidy Programs
Guide to stakeholders during all major EnGRAIS- and partner-organized national and international
events such as the 10th Annual Argus Africa Fertilizer Meeting in Marrakech, Morocco, February-
March 2019, and the WAFF held in April. More than 300 copies of the regional guide were
distributed during FY19.
In addition, EnGRAIS transformed, through support from a legal consultant, the regional guide
into a draft directive in French (click on ECOWAS Subsidy Program Directive – French Draft to
read document), which was submitted to ECOWAS in August 2019 for endorsement and its
issuance to Member States for improving their subsidy programs.
3.1.5 Provide advice and technical assistance to GoG under the GFEP (to modify the current
Ghana fertilizer subsidy program)
See the report on assistance to GoG to finalize the GFEP and to reform the current fertilizer subsidy
program in Section 4.1.3. However, another high-level discussion point of joint interest is the GoG
plan for management of blending facilities and a review of a Terms of Reference (ToR) for
development of guidelines that will help the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate
(PPRSD) better regulate blending activities.
During the FY, two other countries discovered that applying the Regional Fertilizer Subsidy
Program Guide principles and recommended actions would help them reform their subsidy
programs. EnGRAIS facilitated these changes to existing programs in Burkina Faso and Niger. In
Burkina Faso, preliminary support to the Direction Générale des Productions Végétales, which is
in charge of the subsidy program, and to AGRA, has resulted in a synopsis entitled: “Revue du
programme de subvention d’intrants et d’équipements agricoles au Burkina Faso et proposition de
réformes.” This working document outlines: (i) a brief overview of the current subsidy program, (ii)
major shortfalls and challenges, (iii) a brief description of proposed reforms, and (iv) major actions
to be taken for operationalizing proposed reforms using the Regional Subsidy Program Guide.
EnGRAIS will be involved in the major actions to be taken to reform the subsidy program during
FY20, from validation of the draft policy document to effective implementation and subsequent
monitoring and evaluation. In Niger, as a result of several discussions with key managers of the
IFDC-implemented PARSEN2 project (Niger Fertilizer Sector Reform and Technical Assistance for
Implementation of the Reform Plan), EnGRAIS provided technical support to PARSEN on
reforming the fertilizer subsidy program that will help address the main inefficiencies in the system
and fill in the gaps identified. Major components and activities undertaken for initial changes to the
subsidy program include:
2
PARSEN is funded by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC)/Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) Niger.
The reform plan is structured around the following components: an institutional, legislative, regulatory, and policy
framework for a reformed subsidy program; and the management of the reform program. The reform plan was
validated by all stakeholders during a national workshop in December 2017 and adopted by the Government of Niger
in January 2018.

1. Targeting 15,000 beneficiaries in the 10 communes in the selected three regions (Dosso,
Tahoua, and Tillabery);
2. Beneficiary selection criteria are food security status, targeted crops (rice, maize, and
onion), area cropped (0.25 to 0.50 ha), women or youth group, and ability to a pay non-
subsidized portion of fertilizer price;
3. Use of e-voucher system;
4. Identification of entry points (cooperatives in irrigated schemes, field technicians in other
sites that know farmers) in each region to get secondary data on resident farmers to be
screened; and
5. Training of enumerators for registering identified beneficiaries.
Sub-IR 3.2 ECOWAS regulation for fertilizer quality control published by all
Member States and implemented at the regional level
Developed policy briefs in partnership with USAID’s Bureau for Food Security, PEMEFA, and
TAAT
During Q1, EnGRAIS collaborated with the USAID-funded Soil Fertility Technology Adoption,
Policy Reform, and Knowledge Management Project, PEMEFA, and AfDB’s TAAT project to
develop a series of draft policy briefs addressing many of the quality concerns often raised in
Africa, and regarding: (i) assessments of the quality of fertilizers traded in 11 countries in Africa,
and (ii) implementation of the ECOWAS fertilizer regulatory framework. The regional brief
covering these issues entitled, “ECOWAS Fertilizer Regulatory Framework: Implications for the
Development of Private Sector-Led Supply of Quality Fertilizers in West Africa” is included as
Annex 2. These policy briefs are communication materials for sensitization campaigns, trainings,
policy dialogues, etc., by various projects and programs depending on their needs.
Organized Peer Review of Fertilizer Quality Assessments in Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, and
Liberia
During Q2, EnGRAIS organized a peer review of two draft reports on fertilizer quality assessments
conducted under WAFP in Mali, Benin, Burkina Faso, and Liberia. Peer comments and changes
made by two senior scientists at IFDC were integrated into the drafts and finalized during Q3 and
Q4. These reports, along with the associated statistical data and findings, provide a baseline for
the respective countries on their quality control systems.
3.2.1 Facilitate the publication of Regulation C/REG.13/12/12 in official gazettes

There remain three ECOWAS Member States (Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, and Nigeria) and
Mauritania that have yet to publish ECOWAS Regulation C/REG.13/12/12 in their Official
Gazettes. While EnGRAIS facilitated the Portuguese translation of the Regulation and reviewed it
with ministry officials from Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau, it had not yet been officially
approved by ECOWAS by the end of the FY, despite regular reminders from EnGRAIS since the
November 2018 submission. The approval of this translation is essential to enable the publication
of the Regulation in the Official Gazettes in these two countries.
While Nigeria has yet to publish the ECOWAS Regulation in its Official Gazette, with continued
advocacy by EnGRAIS, the country’s National Assembly passed the National Fertilizer Quality

Control (NFQC) Bill3 in March 2019, and it will be signed into law by the President of Federal
Republic of Nigeria early in Q1 of FY20. From conversations with the current national fertilizer
regulatory body, the Department of Farm Input Support Service (FISS) of the Federal Ministry of
Agriculture and Rural Development, and other stakeholders, including FEPSAN, EnGRAIS has
learned that the Regulation is expected to be published soon after the passage of the NFQC into
law. For Mauritania, the tripartite agreement between ECOWAS, UEMOA, and CILSS on
fertilizer will provide the legal basis to expedite the publication of the Regulation, which should
occur during FY20.
3.2.2 Facilitate the development and adoption of supporting regulations

During the reporting period, EnGRAIS provided significant technical support to multiple countries
in the region for their implementation of ECOWAS fertilizer regulations.
In Niger, EnGRAIS collaborated with PARSEN to support several efforts to advance the country’s
implementation of fertilizer quality control regulations. These included the following:
1. Facilitated a workshop to review and amend Decree N° 2016-304/PRN/MAG/EL, which
highlights implementation modalities of ECOWAS Regulation C/REG.13/12/12.
Participants included members of the National Committee for Fertilizer Control in Niger
(CONACEN), as well as representatives from PARSEN and MCA-Niger.
2. Supported development and technical validation of six draft country-specific fertilizer
regulations covering registration and licensing, fee payment and allocation of proceeds,
customization of fertilizer inspection and analysis manuals, and penalties for violations, all
of which are aligned with ECOWAS’s framework.
3. Presented ECOWAS fertilizer regulations and its approach, focusing on key issues and
challenges facing the implementation of these regulations in Niger to the two supervisory
bodies working on implementation of the fertilizer reform plan – Niger Fertilizer Technical
Committee (COTEN) and Niger Fertilizer Market Information Network (OMEN).
4. Conducted two workshops, training 62 fertilizer inspectors (13% women) on the new
regional and national legal frameworks, as well as procedures and techniques for fertilizer
inspection, sampling, and quality control.
During the FY, the agriculture hierarchy in Côte d’Ivoire underwent significant political changes,
with a new Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MINADER) and its Director General
of Crop Production and Food Security (DGPSA). Consequently, EnGRAIS held several meetings
with the new MINADER officials and the newly appointed Director DGPSA in order to discuss
the status of regulations implementation in the country and plans to move things forward.
EnGRAIS did the following during Q4 to prepare the new Director to properly brief his Minister
and advocate for appropriate measures:
1. Developed two major documents: an explanatory note on the current situation of fertilizer
regulatory system in Côte d’Ivoire and a brief report on status of implementation at the
regional level comparing Côte d’Ivoire to other Member States. These documents provide
3
The fertilizer bill seeks to regulate the manufacture, importation, distribution, and quality control of fertilizer in
Nigeria.

a history of all activities and actions carried out both at national and regional levels to
promote the adoption of the regional Regulation since its publication in the national
Official Gazette in 2013.
2. Advocated for joint development of an updated action plan to establish a regulatory system,
including the NaCoFeC.
3. Reviewed and provided feedback on a draft decree that will identify the national
application of the ECOWAS Regulation on fertilizer quality control, to serve as a basis for
a tripartite meeting between the DGPSA, the Legal Department of MINADER and
EnGRAIS during early FY20.
As a result of meetings with the MoAs and other senior officials and stakeholders in Banjul, The
Gambia and Freetown, Sierra Leone, EnGRAIS facilitated the creation of a National Fertilizer
Regulatory Taskforce in each country to help move the national regulatory agenda forward.
EnGRAIS organized and facilitated a two-country workshop held March 25-29, 2019, at the Riviera
Royal Hotel in Conakry, Guinea, for 19 participants from the two countries, including
representatives from various Ministries’ Departments and Agencies (MDAs) working within the
fertilizer sector, the private sector, and producers’ organizations. The workshop on “Facilitating
Development of Country-Specific Fertilizer Supporting Regulations for The Gambia and Sierra
Leone” focused on drafting country-specific fertilizer supporting regulations aligned to the
ECOWAS Regulation C/REG.13/12/12, sharing best practices regarding effective implementation,
and reviewing other countries’ in the region models.
Figure 7 Country Workshop for The Gambia and Sierra Leone, Conakry, Guinea,
During the workshop, the two countries’ team representatives developed draft roadmaps to
enhance implementation of the regulations with support from EnGRAIS and other partners. The
participants also determined that developing a National Fertilizer Regulatory Agency (NaFRA)

was a crucial aspect for Sierra Leone, as well as incorporating fertilizers into the current draft Plant
Protection Bill. In addition, transforming the current Agribusiness Unit into a Directorate is critical
for The Gambia. Recommendations and next steps discussed at the workshop are presented in
Table 5.
Table 5 Recommendations for Implementation of Fertilizer Regulations
IFDC and 1. IFDC to provide technical assistance for finalization of the Conakry draft documents and for further
ECOWAS capacity building of key stakeholders and required facilities (e.g., regulatory entities, designated
laboratories, agro-dealers, etc.) as identified by the respective countries.
2. ECOWAS/IFDC to follow up on implementation of the proposed actions and provide support where
necessary.
3. Facilitate the organization of exchange visits between ECOWAS Member States and/or outside the
region to share experiences and learning on the functioning of fertilizer regulatory systems.
4. Develop jointly with national governments project proposals for mapping soil fertility, developing
agro-dealership, and upgrading of national laboratories to analyze fertilizers, pesticides, seeds, and
soils.
5. Make necessary arrangements for undertaking immediate actions identified so far: presentation of
meeting outcomes, preparation of explanatory notes, development/review of supporting regulations,
and lobbying before the competent authorities.
Sierra Leone 1. National Agricultural Research Institutions to update fertilizer recommendations for the various
and The Gambia agro-ecologies and crops.
2. Strengthen collaboration/linkages between extension, research, and farmers for increased use of
fertilizers.
EnGRAIS shared the major outcomes from the two-country workshop with both countries’
Ministers of Agriculture in the form of one-page briefs (see Annex 3). The Sierra Leonean Ministry
of Agriculture and Forestry has capitalized on these outcomes to validate the draft country-specific
regulations for fertilizer and seeds for ratification by Parliament and submitted a detailed
implementation plan and budget to the World Bank requesting funding for effective
implementation, including the establishment of the NaFRA.
As Nigeria will pass its NFQC Law in early Q1 of FY20 and should soon thereafter publish the
ECOWAS Regulation C/REG.13/12/12 in its Official Gazette, EnGRAIS supported preparations
during Q3-Q4 by the government and private sector – making sure that once the prerequisites are
met, the law and regulations under review will be effectively implemented immediately. For
example, EnGRAIS attended a stakeholder meeting in May 2019, facilitated by a legal consultant
hired by AGRA, and provided recommended changes and amendments to the draft Nigeria
Fertilizer Regulations and raised issues in the document for further discussion. Additionally,
EnGRAIS facilitated a meeting with FISS, in Abuja in June 2019, to support the development of
a roadmap and activity plan to guide FISS in the start-up and enforcement of the NFQC Law. Other
stakeholders such as AFAP, with the support of AGRA, undertook some additional preparatory
work during Q4 by assessing the blending facilities currently installed and training public and
private stakeholders on the implications for the upcoming guidelines for improved blending.

EnGRAIS participated in and informed the process by ensuring that AFAP knew the necessity of
aligning Nigeria’s law and implementing regulations to ECOWAS Fertilizer Regulation.
In parallel to development on the regulatory agenda, Nigeria is implementing a radical policy,

banning solid fertilizers in some parts of the country because of fears that they may be used as
explosives by Boko Haram. The situation is alarming in terms of possible repercussions to food
production in Nigeria, and more widely in West Africa, if such bans are extended to other conflict
zones, with so much of the population living in poverty and food insecurity. In response to the
situation, EnGRAIS and the IFDC Country Representative in Nigeria met with Indorama and
WAFA and developed an action plan to react to the issue during Q4. While the action plan was
not deployed during the reporting period, EnGRAIS sought and received advice and information
from IFA on the issue. IFA shared the considerable information it had on actual safety and security
issues related to fertilizers while giving reassurance that they stand ready to help further when
needed.
During Q4, EnGRAIS facilitated Benin’s adoption of five country-specific fertilizer regulations
relating to the following:
1. Designation of a fertilizer testing laboratory, known as the Soils-Water-Environment
Laboratories (LSSEE) of the National Agricultural Research Institute of Benin (INRAB);
2. Modalities for fertilizer sampling and analysis;
3. Modalities for labeling and tolerance limits of fertilizers distributed in the country;
4. Conditions and modalities for obtaining a license granted for fertilizer manufacture,
packaging, importation, and distribution in Benin, or for its suspension and withdrawal; and
5. Appointment of the eight members of the NaCoFeC/CONACE.
On September 3, 2019, the CONACE was officially inaugurated and held its first statutory meeting
on September 6. Additionally, the country has been in the process of reviewing licensing fee costs,
taking into consideration licensing fee costs in other countries in the region. At the request of the
National Fertilizer Regulatory Body,4 EnGRAIS provided technical and cost information on the fees
for acquiring a license to sell fertilizers in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Togo and shared relevant legal
instruments of the respective countries as guidance.
In Burkina Faso, OCP supported enforcement of fertilizer regulations by financing a study tour for
fertilizer inspectors to visit Jorf Lasfar’s production plant in Morocco on January 7-February 1, 2019.
During the tour, the inspectors were trained on fertilizer manufacturing processes as well as
techniques for sampling and analysis, which indicates the increasing role of the private sector in
ensuring fertilizer quality in West Africa.
EnGRAIS supported the National Fertilizer Regulatory Body in Togo in sensitizing public and
private fertilizer stakeholders at a national meeting (July 2019) about the new regional/national
regulatory environment and legal implications for the fertilizer industry and regulators. The Body
4
Division Inspections Phytosanitaires, Contrôle de qualité et Gestion des Engrais (DIPCGE) Under the Directorate
of Crop Production (in French, Direction de la Production Végétale - DPV).

also equipped about twenty appointed fertilizer inspectors and trained them (September 2019) on
the legislations, techniques, procedures to control the quality of fertilizers sold in the country.
In addition to the activities highlighted above, due partially to advocacy and technical support by
EnGRAIS, the PPRSD, which is charged with fertilizer quality control in Ghana, has been
increasing its capacity. New inspectors have already joined the department, and the wet chemistry
laboratory is being equipped through support from OCP for analyzing N, P, and K by December
2019, while contracting with other private and public laboratories for testing secondary and micro-
nutrients. With support from OCP and GIZ, training is being delivered for new fertilizer inspectors
and chemists/analysts.
Chad submitted three draft supporting regulations to EnGRAIS, which reviewed them and provided
written comments and suggested changes as well as templates from other countries. The supporting
regulations related to the following main areas:
1. Designation of a fertilizer testing laboratory;

2. Conditions and modalities for manufacturing, importing, distributing, and experimenting
with fertilizers in the country; and
3. Roles, organization, and functioning of the NaCoFeC, to repeal provisions previously
adopted.
The first and third above-mentioned legal instruments were adopted during Q4 while the second one
is still in draft form.
3.2. Prepare status report of NaCoFeCs that should be represented in the WACoFeC
3.2.4 Facilitate establishment and operations of the WACoFeC
3.2.5 Convene the launching and first statutory meetings on the establishment of the WACoFeC
3.2.6 Build the organizational, operational, and technical capacity of the WACoFeC Secretariat
EnGRAIS began a survey on implementation of ECOWAS fertilizer regulations by country,
including the NaCoFeCs during Q1, and after much follow up and analysis, submitted the report
to the RECs during Q2 (click on Status of Implementation of REG.13.12.12, March 2019 to read
report). Currently, eight countries have established their NaCoFeCs and are ready to participate in
the WACoFeC once established (Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal, and
Togo) (click on ECOWAS Fertilizer Regulation Matrix ‒ September 30, 2019 to see the regulatory
status of all countries in the sub-region). However, ECOWAS remained hesitant to initiate the
committee, given that Nigeria was not eligible to join during the FY. This question should be
resolved once Nigeria publishes the Regional Regulation hopefully in early FY20. However, given
this delay and ECOWAS’s position on it, EnGRAIS was not able to take action on any activity
pertaining to the WACoFeC during the reporting period.
3.2.7 Finalize discussion on possible piloting of a standardized fertilizer testing system

During Q1, EnGRAIS engaged in multiple discussions with several partners in Ghana on
developing a standardized fertilizer testing system using spectral technology. EnGRAIS facilitated
CropNuts presenting this concept at the GoG/OCP Foundation/private fertilizer blenders’ meetings
in November 2018, followed by a visit to the PPRSD wet chemistry laboratory facilities.

Discussions to pilot this model in Ghana were finalized during Q1 and follow-up discussions on
mobilizing necessary resources to commence and effective pilot were ongoing throughout the
reporting period.
3.2.8 Develop and facilitate the adoption of a regional action plan for fertilizer testing
laboratories
During Q4, EnGRAIS finalized a ToR for a capability assessment of country laboratories and
launched field assessments in Senegal in August 2019. Three public and one private laboratory,
including CERES-LOCUSTOX Laboratory, which has been designated by the Ministry of
Agriculture to test official fertilizer samples under the regulatory program, were assessed. Key
areas evaluated include: location of laboratory, staffing, equipment (instrumentation efficiency and
capabilities), chemicals (reagents) accessibility and quality, water availability, analytical methods,
sample preparation, standardization (ISO methods and regulations), and spacing, etc. Assessments
will be pursued for the remaining six countries (Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger,
and Nigeria) during Q1-Q2 of FY20.
The Nigerian Institute for Soil Science, led by Professor Victor Chude, has received the mandate
from Nigerian Government to compile information on and assess the capabilities of existing
laboratories throughout the country. As this activity is closely aligned with EnGRAIS, the institute
and IFDC plan to sign an MoU to exchange information and methodologies in early Q1 of FY20.
3.2.9 Develop and disseminate modules and/or materials for capacity building of regulatory
personnel
During Q4, EnGRAIS developed a first draft of training modules for fertilizer inspectors for five
major modules, as follows:
1. Fertilizer Regulatory System
2. Introduction to Fertilizer Inspection and Sampling for Quality Control
3. Fertilizer Inspection and Sampling, and Monitoring of Compliance
4. Fertilizer Inspection and Sampling Reporting
5. Assessment of Quality of Fertilizers as Baseline or for Performance Evaluation
These will be reviewed and finalized during Q1 of FY20.
3.2.10 Promote the use of ICT for improved monitoring of fertilizer regulations
A report was developed under WAFP on Ghana’s experience with a mobile-based ICT system to
monitor and ensure compliance with fertilizer regulations. During Q4, EnGRAIS staff reviewed
that report and began to develop guidelines based on the Ghana pilot so that other countries can
learn from the Ghana experience and set up effective e-surveillance systems. At the same time,
EnGRAIS explored user friendly and cheaper ICT applications used elsewhere to facilitate field
inspections and quality control as well as monitoring of compliance with regulations being
enforced.
3.2.11 Provide technical assistance to strengthen the national fertilizer regulatory enforcement
tool
See the review of the GFEP Strategic Plan and blending ToR in Section 3.1.5 above.

3.4 IR4: Mobilizing commitment and harmonizing engagement from key
The objective of this IR is to mobilize commitment and engagement for key stakeholders across
West Africa from bilateral missions, local governments, and other donors for country-level
activities related to regulations and policies, market information, appropriate and affordable input
packages, and the development of effective supply systems. Meeting this goal at the country level
is integrally related to how EnGRAIS will implement activities to realize this goal at the regional
level. Since no EnGRAIS buy-ins existed during FY19, the activities below do not fall under
specific sub-IRs and are related to pursuit of buy-ins. However, they are numbered and stated
according to sub-IRs presented in the FY19 Work Plan.
4.1.1 Conduct outreach and consultation with bilateral USAID Missions in the region
During the course of FY19, EnGRAIS conducted extensive outreach and consultations with each
of the Feed the Future Missions in the region (Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal) regarding
possible buy-ins to the project. While prospects were very good in Mali, Niger, and Nigeria, both
Mali and Niger did not have potential resources available until FY20; and the Nigeria Mission
indicated that it would request its awarded agricultural projects to provide associated sub-contracts
on fertilizers to IFDC directly, rather than buy into EnGRAIS. USAID/WA also indicated that the
Ghana Mission reiterated its unwillingness in Q4, which it expressed in a letter to the GoG during
Q1, to buy into EnGRAIS.
In Senegal, after several meetings with IFDC/EnGRAIS management and receiving the buy-in
menu and mechanism sheet, the Mission decided to move forward with an EnGRAIS buy-in.
During Q3, IFDC submitted a project description (PD) for the Senegal Dundël suuf Fertilizer
project. The request specified that the intervention should have four outcomes:
● Analyze and map soil nutrient deficiencies to better characterize fertilizer requirements;
● Develop fertilizer formulas based on AEZ profiles and crops needs;
● Develop and disseminate proven fertilization products and technologies that combine
effectiveness, economic efficiency, and environmental compliance; and
● Support the Government of Senegal (GoS) to promote the fertilizer market by achieving
regulatory provisions for ECOWAS fertilizer quality standards and reinforcing the
capacities of the government and other actors in the fertilizer value chain to enforce quality
standards.

FDC developed a strong initial PD and budget based on the Mission’s request and the results of
the co-creation workshop, and after incorporating comments from the Mission, submitted the final
version to USAID/Senegal during Q4, on July 5, 2019. The activity was approved on September
30, 2019, and program start-up will begin during Q1 of FY20.
4.1.2 Work with missions to develop a program of interventions that link with EnGRAIS
All the above outcomes for the Senegal buy-in are within the scope of the overall EnGRAIS RF,
and will further its SO, IRs, and expected results by taking key fertilizer development activities to
the level of Senegalese farmers, fertilizer private sector, and national institutions.
4.1.3 Ensure that proposed interventions emanate from country priorities and needs
Based on direction from the Senegal Mission, IFDC facilitated a project co-creation workshop
with 42 Senegal stakeholders, including representatives from the Mission and GoS, in Dakar on
June 7th. IFDC submitted its draft PD, based largely on results from the workshop, on June 14th,
complete with a Senegal-specific RF, indicators, and targets, and a budget for $8 million over three
years. The Mission then provided comments on June 27th, and IFDC submitted the final PD on
July 5th, which was responsive to all Mission comments (click on PD Dundal Suuf USAID/Senegal
Final, July 2019 to read the full, submitted PD). Through this participatory process, IFDC ensured
the new project interventions will meet the country’s priorities and needs.
In Ghana, EnGRAIS worked intensely with the GoG, particularly the Office of the President and
MoFA, and other stakeholders, such as AGRA, AFAP, OCP, and fertilizer blenders on supporting
key aspects of the GFEP. This included development and management of the GFVCOS and report
(click on Ghana Fertilizer Value Chain Optimization Study, August 2019 to read the full report),
technical inputs into the feasibility analysis for possible fertilizer plant development in Western
Ghana, the GFEP Five-Year Strategic Plan, a Ghana-specific blending training, and the farmers’
database being developed through tracking of distributions of subsidized fertilizer that will later
be used to measure and monitor demand for subsidized fertilizer, so that farmers can be subsidized
directly through use of vouchers/coupons, and the need for GoG contracts with suppliers will be
eliminated.
The initial phase of the GFVCOS was conducted during Q1 by consultants engaged by
IFDC/EnGRAIS with funding from OCP (cost-share). The consultants produced a draft report that
had a great deal of good information from the study, but the report was poorly organized and did
not provide clear enough conclusions or recommendations for the GoG, especially with regard to
needed changes to their fertilizer subsidy program. However, these initial findings and
recommendations were presented to about 40 representatives of stakeholders, including MoFA,
other GoG representatives, OCP, other members of the fertilizer private sector/blenders, and
development partners, in Accra, on December 5, 2018.
According to the study, the largest cost increase to fertilizer products occurs in the domestic
distribution chain. Of the total domestic supply, about 40 percent is absorbed by the cost of doing
business at the wholesale/distributor and retail levels, which includes profit margins and the
commissions paid for the distribution of fertilizer. The same proportion of the costs is related to
financing working capital, while 15 percent is absorbed by transportation cost, and five percent is
absorbed by storage. Simulation results show that the cost of importing and distributing non-

subsidized fertilizer is not the same as subsidized fertilizer. Results of the GFVCOS also showed
that Ghana has more than enough blending capacity (over one million tons divided between six
different blenders for a current market of about 350,000 tons) already to accommodate the subsidy
programs shift to using more balanced blended fertilizer products.
As shown in Figure 8, the 50 percent subsidy applied to fertilizers under the Planting for Food and
Jobs Program contributed to a reduction of operational costs (57 percent) and financial costs (42
percent), as compared to non-subsidized fertilizers. While ensuring a lower retail price to the
farmers, the current subsidy system is characterized by very low margins along the domestic
distribution channels that do not provide the necessary incentives for retailers to expand their
businesses or for new ones to enter the market.
Following the December 5th presentation and several follow up presentations and meetings with
the GoG that included preparations for the 2019 subsidy program, EnGRAIS revised and enhanced
the GFVCOS report to include, among other things, more elements of the Regional Fertilizer
Subsidy Program Guide and eight specific recommendations for changes to the 2019 subsidy
program that could be made prior to the 2019 growing season. The final report was then issued
during Q4, in early August, and the GoG implemented at least six out of the eight recommended
changes to the subsidy program.
subsidized NPK blend
NPK 15-15-15 Blend
subsidized NPK compound
NPK 15-15-15 Compound
Subsidized urea
Urea
- 100.0 200.0 300.0 400.0 500.0 600.0 700.0 800.0
FOB Taxes and tariffs Port cost Storage cost

Transportation costs Financial cost Operational costs
Figure 8 Cost of Procuring Subsidized Fertilizers vs. Commercial Distribution
4 CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES
4.1 Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL)
During FY 2019, EnGRAIS finalized the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEL) Plan with
USAID/WA and incorporated the suggested indicator to identifying the number of individuals
participating in program events disaggregated by both individual type and sex. Additionally, the
MEL indicator database was completed and will record and store all data and other related
information on the project’s performance indicators. EnGRAIS also developed a data collection

instrument to determine the extent of private sector investment due to the program’s activities and
trained the SRCs on how to apply the tool with WAFA members. The Performance Indicators
Table in Annex 4 illustrates that EnGRAIS achieved or exceeded targets for 11 out of 13 of its
indicators during FY19.
EnGRAIS finalized its Environmental Monitoring and Mitigation Plan (EMMP), which details
how the project will anticipate and address environmental impacts under EnGRAIS activities and
the buy-in programs. The EMMP was approved by USAID in November 2018.
EnGRAIS rolled out a comprehensive and secure online MEL database in July after it was piloted
in April 2019. The database is designed to facilitate indicator data flow, management, analysis,
and reporting, as well as record and store other information related to the project’s performance.
EnGRAIS established internal procedures to ensure that data and information collected, analyzed,
and reported on are subjected to quality assurance and meets USAID data quality standards. The
MEL Specialist worked with the IRTLs to review DQA procedures and proper documentation of
indicators to ensure EnGRAIS collected and reported accurate and quality data. During Q4,
USAID/WA conducted Data Quality Assessments (DQAs) on all EnGRAIS Performance
indicators as planned, and there were no major changes suggested for EnGRAIS’s MEL
system/provisions in the DQA assessment report.
4.2 Information and Communications Technology/Market Information

System (ICT/MIS) Support
EnGRAIS provided ICT/MIS support during the year through the following activities:
• Organized fertilizer statistics validation
workshops in Ghana (March 13-14, 2019) and
in Burkina Faso (March 27-28, 2019) to
validate 2018 annual fertilizer statistics figures
for 6 countries in West Africa (Burkina Faso,
Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Mali and
Senegal). This was done in collaboration with
AFO and WAFA.
• Prepared 2019 fertilizer factsheets for Burkina
Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Mali and
Senegal that was shared during the West Africa
Fertilizer Forum in Togo and other events. This
was done in collaboration with AFO and
WAFA.
• Supervised the development of EnGRAIS
Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL)
database that is be used to monitor the
performance indicators of EnGRAIS and help
in report writing (graphs).

• Updated and disseminated the WAFBIM English and French (April 2019), with new
information on fertilizer production and blending plants that are operational in West Africa
to guide decision making in the region (with WAFA and IR 1 TL).
• Updated and disseminated the Fertilizer Recommendations for West Africa Map
(FeRWAM) English and French (October and December 2018), with new information
about crops and fertilizer recommendations (with IR 2 IRTL).
• Supported the development and validation of the Fertilizer and Seed Recommendations for
West Africa Map (FeSeRWAM) prototype which is being implemented in collaboration
with CORAF – PAIRED. Currently, the prototype has information on 2 countries (Nigeria
and Togo) and is being hosted by IFDC HQ. The final product will be developed in West
Africa by a consultant and it will include all countries in West Africa where we have
collected seed varieties and fertilizer recommendations.
o https://wpavan.shinyapps.io/FeSeRWAM4/
• Supported in the Agro-input package selection and development with analysis on data that
was provided.
• Analyzed fertilizer prices and disseminated twelve monthly issues of FertiNews which
consist of fertilizer prices and fertilizer market information to partners. This was done in
collaboration with AFO. (Link to Newsletter)

4.3 Communications
During the fourth quarter of FY19, the project recruited a Bilingual Communications Specialist
to support project communications efforts. The project communications team carried out
activities in line with its objectives for the year. Activities included:
• Providing communication support for Intermediate Results components.
• Producing public communications materials to promote project activities (flyers, banners,
etc.).
• Monitoring adherence to USAID-approved branding strategies with partners to ensure
appropriate branding guidelines are followed.
• Using EnGRAIS social media pages (Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr) as communications
tools to communicate project activities.
• Leveraging IFDC website to publish information on the project such as in-country
support on fertilizer quality regulations and updates on the FeSeRWAM.
• Producing and disseminating EnGRAIS Quarterly Newsletters.
4.4 Administration/Finance
Staffing
By Q3, EnGRAIS was completely staffed, and the following are staff brought on during FY19:
• SRC, Lower Coast, Mr. Kido K.J.J. Kouassi (February 2019)
• SRC, Upper Coast, Ms. Olive L. M’Bahia (February 2019)
• Communications Specialist, Mr. Felix Deyegbe (July 2019)
The only other change in staffing was that the title of sub-regional liaison (SRL) was changed to
sub-regional coordinator (SRC) for the three incumbents. This change was made because the
SRC title better reflects what is in the incumbents’ job descriptions than that of SRL.
Staff Travel
The table in Annex 6 provides details on staff travel during the reporting period.

4.7 Local Grants and Subcontracts Agreement Status
Grants
During FY19, EnGRAIS awarded five in-kind grants ‒ four to WAFA and one to the Office of the
President/MoFA. These grants totaled US $435,726.00 and supported the implementation of a
wide range of activities, including ongoing organizational/institutional capacity building for
WAFA as well as sponsorships for regional and continental fertilizer technical events. Table X
below provides details on the five grants awarded during FY19.
Table 6 Summary of Grants Awarded During FY19

Grant
Description/ Grantee/
Type Amount Date/Period Remarks
Purpose Contractor
(USD)
Implementation of WAFA Capacity WAFA $138,900 August 27, Amendment #1
Strengthening 2018 to signed
(organizational/institutional + AGM) September 30, December 12,
and WAFA Promotion in Key 2019 2018 (amount
Fertilizer Sector Events + reflects FY19
Amendment commitment)
Improving and deploying WAFA WAFA $91,350 October 8,
Signed October
strategic and communication plans 2018 to May
Non-Competitive 23, 2018
30, 2019
(USAID pre-
Review, processing and pre- WAFA $49,416 March 8, 2019 Signed March
approved)
validation of 2018 fertilizer statistics to June 8, 12, 2019
for 6 West African countries (Ghana, 2019
Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Cote
d’Ivoire, Senegal).
Partially sponsoring the participation WAFA $147,660 April 18, 2019 Signed April 27,
of technical personnel from the to July 15, 2019
private and public sectors to the 3rd 2019
WAFF
Provide support to 2 technical Office of the $8,400 January 22, Signed February
Non-Competitive personnel, 1 from the Office of the President, 2019 to March 11, 2019
(USAID pre- President and 1 from MoFA, to Republic of 15, 2019
approved) participate in the Argus 2019 Africa Ghana
Fertilizer Meeting in Marrakech,
Morocco
Total $435,726
Sub-Contracts
EnGRAIS spent a total of US $186,497.41 on consultants in FY19 to support both technical
and administrative activities. Annex 7 provides details about the contracts and consultants
signed and active during the reporting period.

5 OUTLOOK FOR THE NEXT QUARTER
(OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2019)
5.1 IR 1: Competitive, inclusive, private sector-led, regional fertilizer
market strengthened
Sub-IR 1.1 WAFA’s and other relevant regional private sector
organizations/associations capacity strengthened and made
sustainable
During the next quarter, EnGRAIS support to WAFA will mainly focus on strengthening the
organizational management capacities of the association and implementing WAFA’s five-year
strategy and 2020 work plan. EnGRAIS support will mainly be provided through no-cost activities
and use of the EnGRAIS grant (left over from FY19, and additional new grant agreements
depending on funds availability). Key activities for the coming quarter include:
• Conduct WAFA OCR in early October 2019 in order to design and start implementation
of the WAFA capacity building strategy (2018-2023) and corresponding annual work plan.
• Consolidate current WAFA membership, support WAFA in collection of outstanding
registration and membership fees, and expand membership in Nigeria and other countries
(including Niger, Togo, Ghana).
• Secure WAFA funding beyond the end of EnGRAIS support, through the design and
implementation of an enhanced revenue generation strategy that can support the
implementation of its five-year strategic plan.
• Provide technical and legal support to national associations (e.g., support to APECI in Côte
d’Ivoire, to launch FIAG in Ghana, and to launch an association in Senegal).
• Support development of formal and varied institutional linkages and partnerships,
including the signing of an MoU between WAFA and UEMOA before the end of Q1 FY20.
• Initiate partnership between WAFA and ASIWA, mainly through linkages with IR 2-
related and PAIRED activities.
Sub IR 1.2 Industry actors collaborate through multi-stakeholder platforms to

improve supply chain efficiency and improve fertilizer affordability
• Publish the final version of the Fertilizer Cost Build Up and Process Maps for four major
fertilizer trade corridors and promote implementation of the results of 2019 reports and use
of the Fertilizer Cost Simulator.
• Prepare, in collaboration with WAFA, a series of policy briefs derived from the findings
and recommendations of the first set of studies, for submission to relevant policy makers
at national and regional levels.
• Monitor the effective publication by AfDB and WAFA of the proceedings of the WAFFF.

• Assist WAFA board and its members to follow up on WAFFF presentations,
recommendations, and business linkages.
• Support the effective implementation of the WAFA-AFO partnership agreement, and more
specifically the handing over of the national price and market analysis from consultants to
the WAFA coordinating unit.
5.2. IR 2: Comprehensive input packages developed and disseminated in

Sub-IR 2.1 Fertilizer and seed recommendations updated and developed for
targeted crops and AEZs across West Africa
• Identify and hire consultant to support the development of the revised FeSeRWAM.
Sub-IR 2.2 Comprehensive fertilizer and seed input packages promoted and
marketed across West Africa
• Develop detailed activities and methods to promote and disseminate agri-input packages.
5.3. IR 3: Fertilizer policy and regulatory systems across West Africa

improved and harmonized in accordance with ECOWAS guidance
Sub-IR 3.1 Regional Fertilizer Subsidy Guidance endorsed by ECOWAS and
disseminated to policymakers and industry stakeholders in Member
States
• Conduct analysis of fertilizer cost structures in various West African countries to determine
policy implications related to subsidy programs (link with IR 1).
• Conclude discussions with CORAF/PAIRED about possible expansion of fertilizer subsidy
program review and analysis to include seeds.
• Translate the draft fertilizer subsidy directive into English and Portuguese, submit
translated versions to ECOWAS, and discuss the next steps towards appropriate
endorsement and issuance to Member States.
• Work together with ECOWAS to prepare a memo introducing the draft directive to
Specialized Technical Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and Water Resources.
• Provide advice and technical assistance to the GoG under the GFEP and GoS under the
Dundël suuf Fertilizer Project to: (1) modify the current Ghana and Senegal fertilizer
subsidy programs to adhere to the Regional Subsidy Program Guide and ensure that they
become “smart” subsidy programs; and (2) strengthen the national fertilizer regulatory
environment and capacities in Ghana and Senegal to ensure they are in harmony with the
ECOWAS fertilizer regulations.
•

• Sub-IR 3.2 ECOWAS regulation for fertilizer quality control published by all Member
States and implemented at the regional level
• Follow up with national MoAs on the publication of the ECOWAS Regulation in the
national gazettes of the three remaining ECOWAS Member States, adoption of country-
specific supporting regulations, as well as establishment of national committees for
fertilizer control.
• Follow-up with ECOWAS, UEMOA, and CILSS for establishment of the WACoFeC to
monitor effective application of harmonized regional fertilizer regulations in Member
States.
• Complete assessments of laboratory capacities for fertilizer testing in Burkina Faso, Côte
d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria for development of a regional action plan for
strengthening and upgrading reference fertilizer testing laboratories in West Africa.
• Review draft modules and/or materials for capacity building of regulatory personnel.
5.4. IR 4: Mobilizing commitment and harmonizing engagement from key

• Begin implementation of Senegal buy-in, approved by USAID/WA, on September 30,

2019, including recruiting, office procurement, kickoff Meeting in Dakar, and Year 1
activities.
• Explore buy-in opportunities in additional GFSS/GFSS-aligned countries:
- Present results of Ghana Fertilizer Value Chain Optimization Study and follow-up
work modifying the 2020 Ghana Planting for Food and Jobs/subsidy program to Ghana
Mission in hopes of interesting them in an EnGRAIS buy-in;
- Seek to convert well-received Nigeria IFDC Global Development Alliance (GDA)
proposal to EnGRAIS buy-in and/or propose other activities for buy-in;
- Seek to convert well-received Mali IFDC GDA proposal to EnGRAIS buy-in and/or
propose other activities for buy-in;
- Propose a buy-in to USAID/Niger to close gaps in the MCA-funded, IFDC-
implemented PARSEN project; and
- Further explore a possible buy-in by USAID/Liberia.
• Explore cost-share opportunities from other donors or donor-funded projects, especially
in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and other non-GFSS focus
ECOWAS countries.

Annex 1 Success Story
WAFA Unlocks New Doors of Opportunity for its Membership

“We started with nothing, but today the The West Africa Fertilizer Association (WAFA) has big plans for
WAFF has become a powerful platform in the regional fertilizer sector. Officially registered in 2016 as a
West Africa for fertilizer stakeholders, and
brings together over 200 key public and
regional private sector association, WAFA has been looking for
private sector players … Everything to do profitable partnerships to support it to achieve its main objective
with fertilizer in West Africa passes of building a competitive and reliable market that guarantees
through this forum,” says Mr. Moussa sustainable access to quality and affordable fertilizers to West
Diabate, President of WAFA. African farmers. While WAFA has chalked up significant success
since its formation, and now represents 85% of the fertilizer
trade in the region, it remains a young organization that needs to
continue strengthening its organizational and coordination
capacity to achieve the goals in its 5-year strategy.
If WAFA succeeds, the fertilizer sector in West Africa will be

primed for success. Recognizing this opportunity, the Feed the
Future Enhancing Growth through Regional Agricultural Input
Systems (EnGRAIS) Project for West Africa, implemented by the
Mr. Moussa Diabate, WAFA President, addressing
International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), has been
participants at the WAFF in Lome, Togo, April 2019 supporting WAFA to become a strong and efficient association
that can organize the private sector and promote quality,
accessible, and affordable fertilizers across the region.
In 2018, EnGRAIS and WAFA agreed on a two-year joint work

plan to improve WAFA’s organizational efficiency and reach
financial and operational sustainability. An important milestone
was completed recently as an EnGRAIS-provided consultant
conducted an Organizational Capacity Review (OCR) exercise.
With the OCR support, WAFA can develop activity plans,
regularly review its performance, identify and address
weaknesses, and improve its management procedures and
ECOWAS Commissionner and WAFA President processes, in line with the expected results of its strategic plan.
signing the MoU
Platforms for Progress

With support from EnGRAIS, WAFA co-organizes the annual
West Africa Fertilizer Forum (WAFF) with Argus Media. WAFF
is a regional platform created to strengthen the West African
fertilizer market and sector, encourage private sector
investment, and promote the use of quality fertilizers among
farmers. This forum gives WAFA the opportunity for key
business discussions and to develop these relationships across
the region and generate significant financial resources for the
Key participants at the first-ever WAFFF in Abidjan, association. WAFA has already hosted three successful annual
Côte d’Ivoire, Sept. 30 – Oct. 1, 2019 WAFFs.

“We started with nothing, but today the WAFF has become a powerful platform in West Africa for
fertilizer stakeholders, and brings together over 200 key public and private sector players annually to
discuss issues related to fertilizers,” says Mr. Moussa Diabate, President of WAFA. “Many people are eager
to participate in this forum now. Everything to do with fertilizer in West Africa passes through this forum.”
WAFA now has credibility that is attracting the attention of major financial institutions, including the
African Development Bank (AfDB) and its Africa Fertilizer Financing Mechanism. AfDB worked with
WAFA on the first-ever West Africa Fertilizer Financing Forum in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, (September 30 –
October 1, 2019) focused on solutions to the region’s fertilizer sector financing needs.
Logistics and quality issues are among the top priorities for WAFA. The association participated in cost
build-up studies conducted by EnGRAIS along four main fertilizer trade corridors in West Africa. The
study results provide critical information for suppliers’ logistical planning to make fertilizers available,
accessible, and affordable to end-users. WAFA is a strong promoter of the ECOWAS regulations on
fertilizer quality, and EnGRAIS contributed to develop the regulations, in collaboration with the industry,
policy makers, and users.
By signing a new Memorandum of Understanding with ECOWAS, WAFA has become a key ECOWAS
partner to improve and increase the flow of quality and adapted fertilizers in the West Africa region. The
MoU strengthens WAFA’s position as the official voice for all fertilizer sector players in the region. In this
position, WAFA is better placed to access better opportunities for its members to help farmers access
appropriate and balanced fertilizers.
Improving Fertilizer Quality and Expanding Memberships

As of September 2019, WAFA had 41 members in 11 out of 15 ECOWAS countries, including most of the
fertilizer manufacturers, importers, and major distributors and blenders across the region. WAFA can
boast of strategic partnerships and alliances with key fertilizer industry players and technical partners
including, IFDC, AfricaFertilizer.Org, Argus Media, and the International Fertilizer Association.
EnGRAIS will continue to support WAFA to direct its efforts appropriately to benefit its members.
Through increased memberships, strong partnerships, and improved efficiency, WAFA will become the
cornerstone of a thriving, private sector-led fertilizer market that is capable of providing the best,
affordable product for the farmers of West Africa.

Annex 2 ECOWAS Regulatory Fertilizer Framework
ECOWAS5 Fertilizer Regulatory Framework:

Implications for the Development of Private Sector-Led
Supply of Quality Fertilizers in West Africa6
Bocar Diagana7, Emmanuel Alognikou8, Porfirio Fuentes9, Joaquin Sanabria10 and

Latha Nagarajan11
Background
High-quality fertilizers supplied in a timely manner and at affordable prices to knowledgeable farmers
through professionalized private supply chains constitute a key outcome of a harmonized regulatory
framework that would enable fertilizer markets to properly function at regional and national levels. Policies
and regulations are essential levers that the West Africa regional economic integration body – ECOWAS –
has used for creating this enabling environment. The importance of a harmonized regulatory framework is
manifold. Fertilizer quality control, which relies heavily on the capacity for monitoring, policing, and
enforcement, is critical as “the physical attributes and chemical properties of fertilizers to make them
effective in providing nutrition for crops and for the consumers of crop products and that make them safe
for the ecosystems depend highly on the soundness of the regulatory and legal procedures in place” (IFDC
policy briefs, forthcoming). Well-trained operators throughout the fertilizer supply chain with solid and
tested experience on fertilizers and with a capacity to apply sound business management practices will
rightly react to market signals and proper incentives to ensure efficient procurement and delivery of high-
quality fertilizer products where and when needed.
However, in West Africa, the creation of an enabling environment is still an ongoing process not yet
completed. Over the last decade, ECOWAS has been developing a regional regulatory and policy
5
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is the main economic body for regional integration
in West Africa and comprises the following 15 Member States: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire,
Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo.
6
The preparation of this policy brief by IFDC was funded by a grant from the Alliance for African Partnership (AAP),
a new, innovative initiative at Michigan State University that seeks to develop a collaborative and cross-disciplinary
platform for addressing today’s global challenges. Acknowledgement is also given to two IFDC-implemented projects
that leveraged activities achieving results reported in this brief: Feed the Future Soil Fertility Technology Adoption,
Policy Reform and Knowledge Management Project, under a cooperative agreement with the United States Agency
for International Development to support the Bureau for Food Security, and the Feed the Future Enhancing Growth
through Regional Agricultural Input Systems (EnGRAIS) Project, funded by USAID.
7
Regional Economist, IFDC North and West Africa, Dakar, Senegal
8
Fertilizer Policy Expert, IFDC EnGRAIS Project Policies and Regulations Team Leader, Lome, Togo
9
Senior Scientist/Economist, Trade and Development Policies, IFDC Fertilizer Research Program, Muscle Shoals,
AL, USA
10
Senior Scientist, Biometrician, IFDC Fertilizer Research Program, Muscle Shoals, AL, USA
11
Senior Economist, Research and Monitoring, Evaluation, Learning and Sharing Specialist, IFDC, Washington,
D.C., USA

framework with the ultimate objectives of harmonizing national regulations and policies across Member
States, in line with those stressed in the recent Regional Agricultural Investment Plan for Food Security and
Nutrition (RAIP-FSN, 2016-2020). This policy brief shows how quality issues, among other things,
triggered the process of setting a regional regulatory framework, describes what the framework entails and
its status of implementation across ECOWAS Member States, and draws selected policy and research
implications for effective quality control and increased private sector engagement in the fertilizer value
chain.
The Starting Point: The 2010 Fertilizer Quality Assessments in West Africa
In the 2010s, studies were conducted to contribute to national and regional efforts to intensify the use of
fertilizers, an input declared as “a strategic commodity in achieving the African Green Revolution to end
hunger” by African Heads of States and Governments during the Africa Fertilizer Summit, held in Abuja,
Nigeria, in 2006. These studies were also meant to serve as a baseline for assessing the performance of the
quality control and regulatory mechanisms that are being instituted with the adoption of the regional
framework.
Salient Assessment Results

Salient results of the Fertilizer Quality Assessments in West Africa covered the following aspects of
fertilizer quality: nutrient content, bag weight, and adulteration.12
Nutrient Content Compliance
The nutrient content of a fertilizer is probably the most important quality characteristic. Table 1 shows the
out-of-compliance (OOC) frequencies for one or more macronutrients in the most important fertilizers
traded in West Africa. Major findings include:
• Nutrient shortages OOC occurred with higher frequency and severity in NPK bulk blends manufactured
in the ECOWAS region, as compared with compound (or complex) products. Most of the nutrient
deficiencies are due to granule segregation and/or insufficient nutrient inputs at the time of the blending
(Sanabria et al. 2013).
• Compound/straight imported fertilizers had less frequent and severe nutrient shortages OOC, but the
shortages are still an issue. OOC of compound NPKs may be explained by shortages during manufacture
and by granule degradation during handling along the distribution chain (Sanabria et al. 2013).
Adulteration
It should be noted that the only cases of completely proven adulteration are seven samples of single
superphosphate (SSP) from Nigeria that were found to have no P2O5 nor any of the minerals that carry P in
phosphate rock.
Bag Weight Compliance

As shown in Table 2, fertilizer bags being underweight is a serious problem that may be attributed to lack
of control in filling and weighing bags during manufacture or re-bagging. This includes inappropriate bag
12
Other findings not largely covered in this synthesis include external factors that potentially affect the quality of
fertilizers traded in national and regional markets (see forthcoming IFDC country policy briefs for Côte d’Ivoire,
Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, and Senegal).

filling procedure and/or equipment. Data also suggest a few cases in which the weight shortages were
deliberate13 (Sanabria et al. 2013).
Other external factors that can influence fertilizer quality include characteristics of fertilizer markets,
fertilizer distributors, storage conditions, and fertilizer products. For example, 68% of caking in urea and
NPK 15-15-15 compound in Benin (2014) was due to hot and humid storage conditions and bag stacks
more than 20 bags high. Market characteristics, such as concentration of dealers and location, also matter
as isolated dealers and non-permanent markets had samples with more nutrient content OOC than dealers
operating within a market or markets in a permanent location (Ghana, 2010).
These assessments, particularly those carried out in 2010, provided references to develop a harmonized
regional legal framework for controlling the quality of fertilizers traded within the ECOWAS zone.
Table 1. Frequency of Nutrient Content OOC for Major Fertilizers

Commercialized in West Africa
Nutrient Content
Number OOC* in One or
Type of of More Nutrients
Manufacture Fertilizer Grade Samples (%)
West Africa 2010-2013: Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Togo
NPK 15-15-15 106 51
NPK 20-10-10 90 86
NPK 6-20-10 30 12
Bulk Blends NPK 15-10-10 27 96
Asaase Wura
23 31
(NPK 0-22-18+9CaO+7S+5MgO)
Cocoa Feed (NPK 0-30-20) 27 26
NPK 15-15-15 356 10
Ammonium Sulfate 340 16
Compound/
NPK 16-16-16 162 15
Straight
NPK 23-10-5 103 1
Products
Sulfan (NPK 24-0-0+6S) 89 3
Urea 534 4
West Africa 2014-2016: Mali
NPK 15-15-15, NPK 15-15-15+4S, NPK 15-15-
Bulk Blends 47 92
15+6S
Straight DAP 25 17
Products Urea 26 11
West Africa 2014-2016: Benin, Burkina Faso, and Liberia
NPK 15-15-15 24 38
Bulk Blends NPK 15-15-15+6S+1B 24 38
NPK 14-23-14+6S 43 30
NPK 14-23-14+5S+1B 36 11
13
The frequency of deliberate underweighted bags was estimated by subtracting the average random error
committed filling and weighing the bag from the frequency of having bags underweighted by more than -0.5 kg.

Compound/ NPK 23-10-5+3S+2MgO+0.3Zn 57 0
Straight Urea
136 22
Products
* The nutrient content OOC is assessed using the regulation and tolerance limits adopted by ECOWAS.
Source: IFDC, 2013 and 2018-19 (data from baseline fertilizer quality assessments).
Table 2. Bag Weight OOC in West Africa: Percentage of Fertilizer Bags

Underweight by at Least 0.5 kg
Country Number of Bags Sampled Bag Weight OOC (%)*
Côte d’Ivoire 18 28
Ghana 560 12
Nigeria 174 41
Senegal 146 13
Togo 157 6
Mali14 97 13
Burkina Faso15 277 23
Benin 136 31
Liberia 31 0
* The tolerance limit suggested by ECOWAS for weight departure from the label-specified net weight is 1% of the
bag weight, hence 0.5 kg for 50-kg bags. Since bag weights reported in most assessment questionnaires are integers
with no decimals, 1.0 kg was adopted as the weight at which a fertilizer bag starts to be out of weight compliance.
Source: IFDC, 2013 and 2018-19 (data from baseline fertilizer quality assessments).
The Current State of Implementation of 2012 Regional Regulations in West Africa
In order to address many of the challenges that constrain availability and use of fertilizer in the region, the
ECOWAS and UEMOA16 Commissions embarked, starting in 2010, on the development of a regional legal
framework that harmonizes national regulations governing fertilizer trade and quality control under the
framework of the IFDC-implemented, joint ECOWAS and UEMOA project entitled “Marketing Inputs
Regionally (MIR) Plus.” This resulted in the adoption of the Regulation C/REG.13/12/12 relating to
fertilizer quality control in the ECOWAS region in December 2012 for effective implementation and
enforcement by all national governments.
Furthermore, four implementing regulations were adopted in 2016:
1. Roles, organization, and functioning of the West Africa Committee for Fertilizer Control (WACoFeC).
2. Labeling standards and tolerance limits for fertilizers.
3. Inspection of fertilizers.
4. Analysis of fertilizers.
With a mandate given by the ECOWAS Commission in April 2013 to facilitate implementation of the
regional fertilizer regulations at the country level, IFDC, through the West Africa Fertilizer Program
14
IFDC report on Fertilizer Quality Assessment in Mali (in preparation).
15
IFDC report on Fertilizer Quality Assessment in Burkina Faso, Benin, and Liberia (in preparation).
16
Union Economique et Monétaire Ouest Africaine (UEMOA) or West Africa Economic and Monetary Union.

(WAFP),17 has supported ECOWAS and its Member States to adopt and implement these regional
regulations.18 As a result of this assistance, the status of implementation stands to date as follows and is
summarized in Table 3:
• Twelve Member States (Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Senegal,
Sierra Leone, Gambia, and Togo) have published the main ECOWAS regulation in their national gazettes.
• National advisory (technical) committees/councils in charge of advising the Ministers of Agriculture on
policies and regulations for development of fertilizer manufacture, inspection, sampling, analysis, and
marketing were also established/reinforced in six countries (Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, and
Senegal).
• The 12 Member States that have published the main regulation in their respective gazettes, plus Cape Verde
and Nigeria, have developed at least one country-specific legal instrument/procedure for alignment to
harmonized regional quality control rules.
• Nine countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo) out of
these 12 have adopted at least one country-specific legal instrument/procedure and aligned it to harmonized
regional quality control rules.
Table 3. Implementation of Regional Fertilizer Regulations at the National Level

Countries by Tier Broad Characteristics
Tier 1: Much to be done • Formal regulatory system for fertilizer not in place.
8 countries: Côte d’Ivoire, • Registration and licensing sometimes done by the Ministry of Agriculture or
Cape Verde, Gambia, Ministry of Commerce/Trade.
Guinea, Guinea Bissau, • Quality control sometimes done by standard board or environmental agency.
Liberia, Sierra Leone, • Limited awareness of the regional regulations among key stakeholders including
Senegal many government officials.
Tier 2: Some progress • Legal framework consistent with ECOWAS rules in place (Benin, Niger, and Togo)
or finalized and awaiting approval (Nigeria).
4 countries: Benin, Niger,
Nigeria, Togo • Limited implementation of some aspects of the regulations including quality
inspections.
• Most regulatory staff identified and/or appointed, but not all trained or operational.
• National laboratory identified and/or designated with some capacity for fertilizer
analysis.
• Good progress with sensitization of key stakeholders (Benin, Niger).
Tier 3: Almost there • Legal framework mostly consistent with ECOWAS regulations already in place. A
review of national legislation for full alignment to ECOWAS legal framework needed.
3 countries: Burkina Faso,
Ghana, Mali • National laboratory appointed and staffed, capacity improvements ongoing. Limited
laboratory operations but contracting with private and public laboratories for
fertilizer testing (Ghana).
• Measures taken or being taken for monitoring and tracking inspection and general
compliance of fertilizer shops (license validity, packaging, labeling, and bag
weights).
• Systems developed or being developed for registration, import, and license renewal.
Source: Adapted from WAFP, 2014 and World Bank Group, 2015.
17
The WAFP project, a USAID/West Africa-funded project (2012-2017) implemented by IFDC, aimed to increase
regional availability and use of appropriate fertilizers in West Africa in support of ECOWAS agricultural policies.
18
The application process consists of four concrete steps from publishing the ECOWAS regulations in national official
gazettes to taking appropriate measures to implement and enforce the adopted regulations.

Table 3 shows the wide disparity across Member States with respect to the full setting of an effective
regulatory framework, despite progress made at the regional level in completing regulations enforceable in
all Member States.19 Several implications can be derived on policy and research grounds on what is left,
needed, and can be expected as outcomes or impacts on the fertilizer market at the regional level through
interlinked national markets when all Member States effectively enforce the regulations.
Key Implications
Policy-Related
Quality Control Capacity

Many ECOWAS Member States still lack necessary technical, human, equipment, and financial resources
for effective implementation of the harmonized regional legal framework. Therefore, political commitment
and allocation of adequate resources as well as capacity building are key to enforcement and successful
implementation.
Quality control systems must ensure that the principle of truth-in-labeling is a reality. However, most
laboratories designated for fertilizer testing under the Ministries of Agriculture in West Africa are very
familiar with soil, plant tissue, and water analyses, and lack the specifics about fertilizer testing in addition
to relevant equipment and qualified staffing to some extent.
Quality control being a governmental oversight responsibility should be extended to public fertilizer
tendering systems and subsidy programs when applicable. Quality problems associated with bulk-blended
products require that particular attention be paid to strategies to enhance manufacturing knowledge and
equipment, particularly for making blends.
Building Capacity of Fertilizer Suppliers

Fertilizer dealer characteristics, such as knowledge and training about fertilizers, type of distributor, and
possession of license to sell fertilizers, are equally important indicators of fertilizer quality. Unlicensed retail
dealers who sell mainly to small-scale farmers and have no knowledge or training about fertilizers presented
a higher frequency of samples of nutrient content OOC. Therefore, appropriate actions should be taken to
reverse this trend, including training for fertilizer distributors on various technical topics (appropriate handling
of fertilizer products, physical and chemical properties of fertilizers, appropriate storage of fertilizer products,
good business practices) and enhancing manufacturing knowledge and equipment for manufacturing blends.
Findings also suggest to policymakers that, while promoting greater fertilizer use, it is sound policy to
enforce quality control and promote fair competition among sellers that ensures farmers get what they pay
for and encourage further quality fertilizer use.
Private Sector Engagement in Supply Chains
The regulatory objective of protecting fertilizer companies involved in product manufacture, blending,
importation, and distribution should be extensive enough to detect any unlawful practices. Protection
afforded to fertilizer companies relieves them of the necessity of self-defense and allows them to
19
Note that national fertilizer laws were passed in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Ghana in 2007, 2008, and 2010,
respectively, before the 2012 ECOWAS regulations. The ECOWAS regulation takes precedence over them, but some
harmonization is needed in each country.

concentrate on their core responsibility of delivering quality fertilizers and innovative services to their
clientele. By establishing effective and reliable fertilizer regulatory systems, governments thereby ensure
that all participants in the fertilizer supply chain can make informed business decisions on quality fertilizer
manufacture, blending, and sales. Private sector investors would also benefit from such oversight and enjoy
farmer confidence leading to increased sales and incomes, hence increased investments in the fertilizer
industry. Partnerships between public and private sectors and self-regulation by the private sector are
essential elements for a successful implementation of the regulatory framework. Hence, the private sector
can actively participate in improving regulatory oversight and trade regulations by having representation
on national committees for fertilizer control as one of the key and front-line players while participating in
the WACoFeC meetings, depending on issues for discussion, as prescribed.
Research Implications
Research activities focusing on the current ECOWAS regulatory framework will zero-in on quality issues
and the impact of poor-quality fertilizers. These activities will include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Assess the current fertilizer legal and regulatory environment and the fertilizer value chain.
• Strengthen the capacity of ECOWAS Member States to adopt complementary, country-specific,
supporting legal instruments and implement and enforce the harmonized ECOWAS regulations.20
• Conduct studies to identify the origin of the quality problems of bulk-blended fertilizers, to assess
whether the regulatory framework allows West African fertilizer markets to appropriately handle both
compounds and blended fertilizers, and to propose appropriate policy and regulatory solutions.
• Analyze the economic impact of frequent poor-quality fertilizer found in West African countries.
References
ECOWAS Commission. 2012. Regulation C/REG.13/12/12 relating to Fertilizer Quality Control in the
ECOWAS Region, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
ECOWAS Commission. 2016. Regional Agricultural Investment Programme for Food Security and
Nutrition, Draft document to Consultative Committee for Food and Agriculture, Abuja, Nigeria.
IFDC Marketing Inputs Regionally (MIR Plus) Project. 2014. End-of-Project Report.
IFDC West Africa Fertilizer Program. 2017. Final Report.
IFDC. 2018/19 (forthcoming). Country Policy Briefs on “Assessment of Quality of Fertilizer Marketed in
Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo,” Muscle
Shoals, AL.
IFDC. 2019 (forthcoming). Fertilizer Quality Assessment in Benin, Burkina Faso and Liberia, Muscle
Shoals, AL.
IFDC. 2019 (forthcoming). Fertilizer Quality Assessment in Mali, Muscle Shoals, AL.
Keyser, J.C., M. Eilitta, G. Dimithe, G. Ayoola, and L. Sene. 2015. Towards an Integrated Market for Seeds
and Fertilizers in West Africa, The World Bank, Washington, D.C.
Sanabria, J., G. Dimithe, and E.K.M. Alognikou. 2013. The Quality of Fertilizer Traded in West Africa:
Evidence for Stronger Control, IFDC, Muscle Shoals, AL.
20
Capacity strengthening needs will be determined from the assessment of the regulatory environment, which will
also cover the quality of existing laboratories in the region.

Annex 3 Two-Country Workshop Reports
Highlights of Two-Country Workshop on
“Facilitating Development of Country Specific Fertilizer Supporting Regulations”
Held in Conakry, Guinea on March 25-29, 2019
Sierra Leone is enhancing its policy environment to allow agriculture and a vibrant fertilizer private
sector to develop. As part of the efforts to get there, the country published the ECOWAS Fertilizer
Regulation C/REG.13/12/12 relating to fertilizer quality control in its National Gazette in June 2017, and
the national assembly passed the National Fertilizer Regulatory Agency Act, 2017 in November 2017.
Within this context, a two-country (Sierra Leone and the Gambia) workshop aimed at drafting prescribed
country-specific regulations that support the harmonized ECOWAS Regulation C/REG.13/12/12 was held
in March 2019. The 5-day workshop was facilitated by the Feed the Future “Enhancing Growth through
Regional Agriculture Input Systems (EnGRAIS)” project for West Africa, implemented by the
International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), and saw the participation of a resource person from
Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture, high ranking officials from government ministries, and
departments from The Gambia and Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone had ten nominees representing the
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), Ministry of Justice,
the private sector, the National Federation of Farmers, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
The participating country delegates drafted key supporting regulations by using templates provided by
EnGRAIS. They were aided in the task by discussion sessions where participants learned from experience
from other countries and made sure that the regulations produced reflected realities on the ground.
Three notable outcomes resulted from the workshop:
i. Shortcomings of the National Fertilizer Regulatory Agency Act, 2017 were identified, and
recommendations were made for amendment;
ii. First drafts of country-specific supporting regulations and administrative forms for inspection,
sampling, quality assessment, and testing of fertilizer were developed, as per provisions of ECOWAS
Regulation C/REG.13/12/12; and
iii. Roadmaps and timelines defining the next steps towards effective implementation of the Regulation
were proposed, with special reference to Government’s commitment to fast-track the relevant
processes.
In addition to these outcomes, recommendations listed in the table below were made to further enhance
the fertilizer sector:
IFDC and 1. IFDC/EnGRAIS to provide technical assistance for finalization of the Conakry draft documents
ECOWAS and for further capacity building of key stakeholders and required facilities.
2. ECOWAS/EnGRAIS to follow up on implementation of the proposed actions and provide support.
3. Facilitate the organization of exchange visits between ECOWAS Member States and/or outside
the region to share experiences and learning on the functioning of fertilizer regulatory systems.

4. Develop with the Government project proposals for mapping soil fertility, developing agro-
dealership, and upgrading national laboratories to analyze fertilizers, pesticides, seeds, and soils.
5. Undertake actions identified so far: presentation of meeting outcomes, preparation of
explanatory notes, development/review of supporting regulations, and lobbying before the
competent authorities.
Government of 1. SLARI to update fertilizer recommendations for the various agro-ecological zones and crops.
Sierra Leone 2. Strengthen collaboration between extension, research, and farmers for increased use of
fertilizers.
Highlights of Two-Country Workshop on

“Facilitating Development of Country Specific Fertilizer Supporting Regulations”
Held in Conakry, Guinea on March 25-29, 2019
The Gambia is seeking to enhance its policy environment to allow agriculture and a vibrant fertilizer
private sector to develop. As part of the efforts to get there, the country published the ECOWAS Fertilizer
Regulation C/REG.13/12/12 relating to fertilizer quality control in its National Gazette in October 2016.
Within this context, a two-Country (the Gambia and Sierra Leone) workshop aimed at drafting prescribed
country-specific regulations that support the harmonized ECOWAS Regulation C/REG.13/12/12 was held
in March 2019. The 5-day workshop was facilitated by the Feed the Future “Enhancing Growth through
Regional Agriculture Input Systems (EnGRAIS)” project for West Africa, implemented by the
International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC), and saw the participation of a resource person from
Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture, high ranking officials from government ministries and
departments from the Gambia and Sierra Leone. The Gambia had nine (9) nominees representing the
Ministry of Agriculture and the relevant departments, the Ministry of Justice, the Strategic Policy and
Delivery Department of the Office of the President, the National Coordinating Organization for Farmers’
Association, the Gambia Standard Bureau and the National Environment Agency.
The country delegates drafted key supporting regulations by using templates provided by EnGRAIS.
They were aided in the task by discussion sessions where participants learned from experience from other
countries and made sure that the regulations produced reflected realities on the ground.
Three notable outcomes resulted from the workshop:
iv. Propositions to amend the current draft Gambia Plant Protection Bill to include fertilizers and to
formally designate a regulatory body for the fertilizer sector were made;
v. First drafts of country-specific supporting regulations and administrative forms for inspection,
sampling and quality assessment and testing of fertilizer were developed, as per provisions of
ECOWAS Regulation C/REG.13/12/12; and
vi. Roadmaps and timelines defining the next steps towards effective implementation of the Regulation
were proposed, with special reference to Government’s commitment to fast-track the relevant
processes.
In addition to these outcomes, recommendations listed in the table below were made to further enhance
the fertilizer sector:

IFDC and 1. IFDC/EnGRAIS to provide technical assistance for finalization of the Conakry draft documents
ECOWAS and for further capacity building of key stakeholders and required facilities.
2. ECOWAS/EnGRAIS to follow up on implementation of the proposed actions and provide
support.
3. Facilitate the organization of exchange visits between ECOWAS Member States and/or outside
the region to share experiences and learning on the functioning of fertilizer regulatory systems.
4. Develop with the Government project proposals for mapping soil fertility, developing agro-
dealership, and upgrading national laboratories to analyze fertilizers, pesticides, seeds, and
soils.
5. Undertake actions identified so far: presentation of meeting outcomes, preparation of
explanatory notes, development/review of supporting regulations, and lobbying before the
competent authorities.
Government of 1. NARI to update fertilizer recommendations for the various agro-ecological zones and crops.
the Gambia 2. Strengthen collaboration between extension, research, and farmers for increased use of
fertilizers.

Annex 4 Performance Indicator Table
FY19 Achievement
FTF or Custom
Total
Disaggreg- FY19 % of FY19
Type
Unit
Indicator Baseline Remarks
ation Target Target
Total LOP
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
SO: Regional availability and use of appropriate fertilizers sustainably increased

Ind. 1 - Volume
Reasons for increase
(MT) of apparent
of apparent
fertilizer
Custom
Impact
ECOWAS 3,276,409 consumption by 30%

MT
consumption in 2,521,000 2,571,420 0 0 0 0 10%

Region (30% 130% against a 2% target for
ECOWAS
increase) FY19 is explained in
member
Annex 5.
countries.
Ind. 2 - Average
Reasons for exceeding
fertilizer price
the 2.55 target set for
ratio for Urea
Custom
Impact
ECOWAS 1.64 (37% the weighted average

between FOB and % 2.60 2.55 0 0 0 0 2.34
Region decrease) 35% price ratio in West
ECOWAS
Africa is explained in
Member States’
Annex 5.
retail prices
Target of $1 million
Total 0 201,034% $30 million
1,000,000 - - - 20,103,401 $20,103,401 was far exceeded
USG because of the support
Commit- and advice EnGRAIS
Ind. 3 - EG.3.1-14 0 31,534% gave to MOFA in
ment 200,000 - - - 630,674 $630,674 $350,000
Value of new amount Ghana for the GFEP
USG for subsidized
commitments and fertilizer to be blended
Output
private sector locally. The Ghana

FTF
$
investment private sector partner
leveraged by the Private leveraged amount was
USG to support Sector $19.47 million. This
food security and Partner 0 243,409% was blended by
800,000 - - - 19,472,727 $19,472,727 $29,650,000
nutrition leveraged Glofert and Yara. In
amount addition, the USG
commitment amount
(grant) amounted to
over $630,674.
GFSS)
Outpu
Ind. 4: EG.3.2 Total by The overall target was

FTF(
# 0 756 109 161 194 45 509

t
Number of Type of 67.3% not achieved because
EnGRAIS Project FY 2019, Q4 Report 55

individuals Individual of the over-estimation
participating in and by sex of the expected
USG food participation of in
People in
security programs Civil Society at
Govern- 0 66 22 52 39 1 114
[IM-level] 172.7% EnGRAIS organized
ment
events. In addition, the
Men 0 56 17 46 33 1 97 participants at IR2-
173.2% organized events
Women 0 10 5 6 6 0 17 included those
170.0% sponsored by CORAF,
Proprietor and to avoid double
s of USG- counting, those
assisted participants were not
0 211 64 107 129 30 330
private 156.4 % counted here.
sector Otherwise all other
firms sub-targets for this
Men 0 196 61 96 110 26 293 indicator were
149.5 % achieved.
Women 0 15 3 11 19 4 37
246.7%
People in
Civil 0 479 23 2 26 14 65
13.6 %
Society
Men 0 418 20 2 26 14 62
14.8 %
Women 0 61 3 0 0 0 3
4.9 %
IR 1: Competitive, inclusive, private sector-led, regional fertilizer market strengthened
Ind. 1.1.2 -
Outcome
Percentage of
Custom
The target was

WAFA members % Members 0 40% 0 0 0 46% 106% 80%
exceeded by 6%.
who have paid
their dues on time
The targets have been
Ind. 1.2.1 - achieved - 3 logistics
Number of plans were developed
regional fertilizer i.e. 1. Build a
Custom
Output
logistics and # Total 0 5 0 0 0 5 100% 9 Logistics Monitoring

financial plans System, 2. Invest in
developed and better port logistics for
promoted bulk cargo and 3.
Change public policies

Regional to promote more
logistics efficient import
0 3 0 0 0 3 100% 5
plans logistics. For financial
developed plans, they include,
Financing plans with AfDB and
mechanism WAFA’s own
s available 0 2 0 0 0 2 100% 4 financial plans to
to WAFA support members
members
IR 2: Appropriate input packages developed and disseminated in cooperation with CORAF
Steps 0 40 0 0 0 40 40 160
Ind. 2.1.1 - Developed 0 40 0 0 0 40 40 100% 80

Number of agro- Made
input packages 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 80 The targets were
available
developed by achieved as 40 agro-
Custom
Output
Agro-
EnGRAIS and/or # input packages were
ecological 0 40 0 0 0 40 40 80
CORAF/WECAR developed for the
zone
D by AEZ as a three AEZs.
result of USG Semi-Arid 0 15 0 0 0 15 15 100% 27
Assistance
Sub-humid 0 15 0 0 0 15 15 100% 27
Humid 0 10 0 0 0 10 10 100% 26
Type of The targets for the
Ind. 2.1.2 - stakeholde 0 29 0 0 0 0 0 29 stakeholders accessing
Number of r agro-input information
stakeholders who
Public will be achieved
Custom
Output
have accessed 0 21 0 0 0 0 0 N/A 21

# sector: during FY20 as the
information on
Private FeSeRWAM from
key agro-input 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 N/A 5
sector: which information will
packages by type
Civil be accessed will be
of stakeholder 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 N/A 3
society: fully functional
Agro-
Ind. 2.2.1 - ecological 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 80
Number of agro- zone
input packages
The dissemination of
Custom
Semi-Arid 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N/A 27
Output
disseminated by
# agro-input packages
the Program's
Sub-humid 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N/A 27 will begin in FY20
partners by AEZ
as a result of USG
Assistance Humid 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 N/A 26
IR 3: Fertilizer policy and regulatory environments across West Africa improved and harmonized in accordance with ECOWAS guidance

Ind. 3.1.1 -
Number of
ECOWAS The target has been
Member States exceeded as 3
that have ECOWAS countries
Custom
Output
reformed their # None 0 1 0 0 0 3 3 300% 6 (Ghana, Togo and
fertilizer subsidy Niger) reformed their
policies by using fertilizer subsidy
the Regional policies.
Subsidy Program
Guidance
Ind. 3.2.2 -
Number of
ECOWAS or Target could not be
CILSS Member achieved because
States that have ECOWAS and MS
Outcome
Custom
published national governments

# None 13 2 0 0 0 0 0 0% 4
regional fertilizer declined to move fast
regulations enough on
relating to adoption/publishing of
fertilizer quality regulations.
control in their
national gazettes
IR 4: Mobilizing commitment and harmonizing engagement from key stakeholders across West Africa supported by mission buy-ins
4.1. Number of
buy-in
agreements
Only 1 buy-in in
Custom
Output
signed with
# None 0 2 0 0 1 1 1 50% 6 Senegal was obtained
bilateral missions
while 2 were targeted
to carry out
country focused
set of activities
Countries 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 5,500,000
Ghana 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,000,000
4.2 - Amount of
additional Mali 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,000,000 The target has been
Custom
Output
resources exceeded because of

$ Niger 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 500,000
obtained per the $8 million buy-in
country through Nigeria 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1,000,000 Senegal
buy-ins
Senegal 0 1 0 0 0 $8 million $8 million 800% 1,000,000
Others 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1,000,000

Annex 5 Explanation on Performance Indicators 1-2
Indicator 1: Volume (MT) of apparent fertilizer consumption in ECOWAS member

countries.
Reasons for increase of apparent consumption of fertilizer by 30% in West Africa against the 2%
target set for FY19:
a. Two subsidies introduced by the Ghanaian Government in 2017 increased 2018

supply.
In Ghana, the fertilizer market largely depends on the size of GoG subsidies. The normal market
size is around 250,000 to 300,000, but the new administration launched a new subsidy program
called the PFJ in Q2 of 2017 whilst the normal fertilizer subsidy program was launched earlier in
Q1 of 2017. The two subsidy programs brought in more fertilizers, and there were carryover stocks
into the following year, thus increasing the overall supply.
b. Subsidy program introduced in Nigeria in 2017 increased 2018 supply.

Nigeria, in trying to revive their fertilizer blending industry, launched the Presidential Fertilizer
Initiative (PFI) in 2017 and sourced urea from local production. At the same time, phosphate was
sourced from OCP through the government, and potash was imported and blended for local
consumption. Nigeria also had a lot of carryover stocks from 2017 into 2018 and that increased
supply.
Indorama, a fertilizer manufacturing company in Nigeria, produced large quantities (over 1.3
million tons) of urea in 2018 and supplied to the Nigerian market. Indorama started production of
urea in June, and Notore, another Nigerian manufacturer, was also producing urea in 2018. During
2017, Indorama had also been producing all year, thereby increasing urea supply to the Nigerian
market in 2018.
c. Increase of supply of fertilizer on Malian market.

Mali had a huge increase in fertilizer brought into the Malian market in 2016 as a result of increases
in demand for a new irrigated area of about 24,609 hectares due to a Presidential Initiative as well
as a newly introduced subsidy program. Since then, imports of fertilizer have progressively
increased in Mali, rapidly increasing their apparent consumption of fertilizers.
Indicator 2: Average fertilizer price ratio for Urea between FOB and ECOWAS Member
States’ retail prices
There are key reasons for the reduction far below the 2.55 target set for the weighted average price
ratio in West Africa ‒ 1.64 was achieved in FY19. The weighted average price of urea in 2018 in
West Africa was 1.64 which fell below the target of 2.55 set for FY19. This was as a result largely
of influence from cheaper Ghana and Nigeria urea fertilizer prices. The ratios of urea price in
Ghana and Nigeria were 1.46 and 1.47, respectively, meaning that their prices were closer to the
World (FOB) price than other West African countries.

Annex 6 FY19 Staff Travel Report
Name Destination Departure Return Purpose

Sansan Youl Dakar – Ouagadougou - Dakar 28/10/2018 1/11/2018
Robin Wheeler Accra - Ouagadougou - Accra 29/10/2018 1/11/2018 Attend and facilitate the Agro-
Input Package Development
Christian Amedo Accra - Ouagadougou - Accra 29/10/2018 1/11/2018 and Dissemination Strategy
Workshop, October 30-31
Fred Gyasi Accra - Ouagadougou - Accra 29/10/2018 1/11/2018 Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Ekwe Dossa Lomé - Ouagadougou - Lomé 29/10/2019 1/11/2018
Diyana Bawiena Accra - Abidjan - 22/10/2018 2/11/2018 Participate in the Meeting with
Ouagadougou - Accra AFFM/AfDB and WAFA on
financing mechanisms and
Emmanuel Lomé - Abidjan - Lomé 22/10/2018 27/10/2018 policy advocacy
Alognikou Plan and assist at the meeting
with private and public
stakeholders on CIV fertilizer
regulations and markets
WAFA strategic workshop
Demba Doua Bamako - Ouagadougou - 29/10/2019 1/11/2018 Attend and facilitate the Agro-
Diallo Bamako Input Package Development
and Dissemination Strategy
Workshop, October 30-31
Sansan Youl Dakar - Accra - Dakar 11/11/2018 13/11/2018 Attend GFVCOS Presentation
organized within the GFEP
framework
Emmanuel Lomé - Accra - Lomé 11/11/2018 16/11/2018 Attend the Presentation of the
Alognikou IFDC-facilitated GFVCOS.
Meet with CropNuts on
introduction of a spectral
fertilizer quality testing
method, as a pilot in Ghana.
Work with D. Bawiena on
preparations for up-coming
UEMOA experience sharing
workshop. Attend the meeting
with the Acting CEO.
Patrice Abidjan - Accra - Abidjan 11/11/2018 17/11/2018 Attend OCP / GoG / MoFA
Annequin meetings (GFVCOS).
Attend series of meetings with
Pat Murphy, Acting IFDC
CEO.

Patrice Abidjan - Ouagadougou - 18/11/2018 22/11/2018 WAFA 2nd strategy workshop
Annequin Abidjan EnGRAIS / UEMOA
Bernardin Gatete Accra - Ouagadougou - Accra 18/11/2018 21/11/2018 workshop on fertilizer
regulations
Robin Wheeler Accra - Ouagadougou - Accra 19/11/2018 22/11/2018
Emmanuel Lomé - Ouagadougou - Lomé 19/11/2018 25/11/2018 EnGRAIS / UEMOA
Alognikou workshop on fertilizer
regulations and side meetings
Sansan Youl Dakar - Banjul - Dakar 2/12/2018 8/12/2018 Attend the Food Crisis
Prevention Network RPCA-
Robin Wheeler Accra - Banjul - Accra 5/12/2018 8/12/2018
AGIR annual meeting and
others side
meetings
Patrice Abidjan - Accra - Abidjan 2/12/2018 6/12/2018 Attend OCP / GoG / MoFA
Annequin meetings (GFVCOS)
Diyana Bawiena Accra - Abidjan- Accra 14/12/2018 22/12/2018

Sansan Youl Dakar - Abidjan - Dakar 15/12/2018 22/12/2018
Andre Bationo Accra - Abidjan - Accra 17/12/2018 21/12/2018 Prepare and Participate in the
Andy Thigpen Alabama - Abidjan - Alabama 14/12/2018 21/12/2018 regional workshop to develop a
concept note and roadmap for
Ekwe Dossa Lomé - Abidjan - Lomé 17/12/2018 21/12/2018 posting online regional
Daniel Mensah Accra - Abidjan - Accra 17/12/2018 22/12/2018 agricultural input
recommendation and agro-
Christian Amedo Accra - Abidjan - Accra 17/12/2018 22/12/2018 input packages maps for West
Harrison Abu Accra - Abidjan - Accra 17/12/2018 22/12/2018 Africa
Demba Doua Bamako - Abidjan - Bamako 17/12/2018 21/12/2018
Diallo
Christian Amedo Accra - Dakar - Accra 21/01/2019 24/01/2019 Participate in a Technical
Planning and Coordination
Robin Wheeler Accra - Dakar - Accra 21/01/2019 24/01/2019 Workshop on Agri-Inputs and
Ag Technologies for
Emmanuel Lomé - Dakar - Lomé 21/01/2019 24/01/2019 USAID/WA key partners
Alognikou Purpose
Oumou Camara Accra - Dakar - Accra 21/01/2019 24/01/2019 CORAF/PAIRED,
IFDC/EnGRAIS, and
AGRA/PIATA issues
Diyana Bawiena Accra - Bamako - Accra 10/2/2019 16/02/2019
Robin Wheeler Accra - Bamako - Accra 12/2/2019 15/02/2019
Christian Amedo Accra - Bamako - Accra 12/2/2019 15/02/2019

Fred Gyasi Accra - Bamako - Accra 12/2/2019 15/02/2019
Participate in the WAFA AGM
Sansan Youl Dakar - Bamako - 12/2/2019 16/02/2019
in Bamako
Patrice Abidjan - Bamako - Abidjan 11/2/2019 15/02/2019
Annequin
Olive M'Bahia Abidjan - Bamako - Abidjan 11/2/2019 15/02/2019
Samuel Goulivas Abidjan - Bamako - Abidjan 11/2/2019 15/02/2019
Sansan Youl Bamako - Abidjan - Dakar 17/2/2019 21/02/2019 Attend the IPNI West Africa
Program launching workshop
Robin Wheeler Accra - Marrakech - Accra 26/2/2019 2/3/2019 Participate in the Argus Africa
Fertilizer Conference
Patrice Abidjan - Marrakech - Abidjan 26/2/2019 2/3/2019
Annequin
Oumou Camara Accra - Dakar - Accra 26/2/2019 28/3/2019 Attend a meeting with USAID/
Senegal regarding a possible
buy-in
Emmanuel Lomé - Accra - Lomé 10/3/2019 15/3/2019
Alognikou
Ekwe Dossa Lomé - Accra - Lomé 10/3/2019 13/3/2019
Attend the regional
Sansan Youl Dakar - Accra - Dakar 10/3/2019 13/3/2019 brainstorming session
Amadou Bamako - Accra - Bamako 10/3/2019 13/3/2019
Ouadidje
Demba Doua Bamako - Accra - Bamako 10/3/2019 13/3/2019
Diallo
Olive M'Bahia Abidjan - Accra - Prampram - IFDC/EnGRAIS inception
Abidjan have a meeting with team
Meetings with private sector
Kido Kouassi
partners for the cost build up
10/3/2019 13/3/2019 study. Attend the GFSS
brainstorming regional
workshop and the FTWG
(Nigeria & Ghana)
Robin Wheeler Accra - Abuja - Accra 18/3/2019 21/3/2019 Introduce new SRC, Kido
Kouassi to and meet with key
Emmanuel Lomé - Abuja - Lomé 18/3/2019 22/3/2019
EnGRAIS partners in Nigeria:
Alognikou
WAFA Vice-President, NFTC,
Kido Kouassi Abidjan - Abuja - Abidjan 18/3/2019 22/3/2019
AGRA, FEPSAN,
FISS/FMARD, ECOWAS, and
WAAPP
Salasi Idris Abuja - Conakry - Abuja 18/3/2019 21/3/2019 Plan and deliver 2-country
workshop for Gambian and
Diyana Bawiena Accra - Conakry - Accra 18/3/2019 21/3/2019 Sierra Leonean reps to develop

Emmanuel Lomé - Conakry - Lomé 23/3/2019 2/4/2019 country-specific fertilizer
Alognikou supporting regulations, aligned
Kido Kouassi Abidjan - Conakry - 23/3/2019 2/4/2019 to the harmonized ECOWAS
framework; hold side meeting
with the fertilizer regulatory
body in Guinea to follow-up
on implementation activities
and issues.
Kido Kouassi Conakry - Abuja - Abidjan 2/4/2019 4/4/2019 Attend Joint WAFA -FEPSAN
Meeting
Kido Kouassi Abidjan - Abuja 11/4/2019 Relocation to Abuja
Christian Amedo Accra - Dakar - Accra 8/4/2019 11/4/2019 Consultations with PAIRED
on MEL issues
Diyana Bawiena Accra - Lomé - Accra 22/04/2019 30/04/2019 Prepare and participate in
WAFF 2019 and the EnGRAIS
staff retreat
Christian Amedo
Robin Wheeler
Daniel Nana Sei
Mensah
Bernardin Gatete Accra - Lomé - Accra 23/04/2019 28/04/2019
Fred Gyasi
Olive M'Bahia Abidjan - Lomé - Abidjan Participate in WAFF 2019 and
Patrice Abidjan - Lomé - Abidjan 24/04/2019 28/04/2019 the EnGRAIS staff retreat
Annequin
Kido Kouassi Abuja - Lomé - Abuja 23/04/2019 28/04/2019
Doua Demba Bamako - Lomé -Bamako 23/04/2019 28/04/2019
Diallo
Patrice Abidjan - Accra - Abidjan 14/05/2019 17/05/2019 Work on GoG/MoFA final
Annequin GFVCOS inputs and report
Kido Kouassi Abuja - Accra - Abuja 15/05/2019 17/05/2019
Patrice Abidjan - Accra - Abidjan 26/05/2019 31/05/2019 Participate in IFDC
Annequin international training [balanced
crop nutrition] as trainer /
session chair
Emmanuel Lomé - Accra - Lomé 27/05/2020 4/6/2020 Participate in and deliver
Alognikou presentation at the IFDC
international training on
"Bringing Balanced Fertilizers
to Small Scale Farmers" (May
27-29). Work directly with

EnGRAIS staff on key
activities (May 30-June 4).
Oumou Camara Accra - Dakar - Accra 6/6/2019 8/6/2019
Diyana Bawiena Accra - Dakar - Accra 5/6/2019 8/6/2019

Robin Wheeler Accra - Dakar - Accra 6/6/2019 8/6/2019
Andre Bationo Accra - Dakar - Accra 6/6/2019 8/6/2019 Facilitate/participate in
Kofi Debrah Accra - Dakar - Accra 6/6/2019 12/6/2019 Senegal Dundël suuf co-design
workshop
Kuukua Accra - Dakar - Accra 6/6/2019 12/6/2019
Ghunney
Christian Amedo Accra - Dakar - Accra 6/6/2019 8/6/2019
Patrice Abidjan - Dakar - Abidjan 6/6/2019 8/6/2019
Annequin
Emmanuel Lomé - Dakar - Lomé 6/6/2019 8/6/2019
Alognikou
Ekwe Jean Lomé - Abuja - Lomé 9/6/2019 12/6/2019
Dossa
Fred Gyasi Accra-Abuja-Accra 8/6/2019 13/6/2019 Validation of improved
Samuel Arthur 8/6/2019 13/6/2019 fertilizer recommendations
data to update the FeSeRWAM
Sansan Youl Dakar - Abuja - Dakar 8/6/2019 13/6/2019 for Anglophone countries
Diyana Bawiena 8/6/2019 13/6/2019
Christian Amedo Accra - Abidjan - Accra 17/6/2019 28/6/2019 Update and adjust
WAFA/EnGRAIS Workplan
Diyana Bawiena Accra - Abidjan - Accra 17/6/2019 28/6/2019 (17-21 June); validate
improved seed and fertilizer
Fred Gyasi Accra - Abidjan - Accra 17/6/2019 28/6/2019 recommendations data to
update the FeSeRWAM for
Francophone Countries (24-28
June 2019)
Samuel Arthur Accra - Abidjan - Accra 23/6/2019 28/6/2019 Update the FeSeRWAM with
new recommendations data to
for Francophone Countries
(24-28 June 2019).
Robin Wheeler Accra - Abidjan - Accra 23/6/2019 26/6/2019 Participate in the sub-regional
workshop for the validation of
recommendations data to
Francophone countries.

Sansan Youl Dakar - Abidjan - Dakar 22/6/2020 4/7/2019 Participate in the Sub-Regional
Workshop for the validation of
Francophones countries. Side
meeting with partners and
attend the Africa Rice
invitation
Felix Deyegbe Accra - Abidjan - Dakar - 4/8/2019 17/08/2019 Participate in the technical
Accra validation meeting for the
Robin Wheeler Accra - Dakar - Accra 14/8/2019 17/08/2019 Nitidae cost build up studies
and the FeSeRWAM Regional
Validation Workshop
Diyana Bawiena Accra - Dakar - Accra 7/8/2019 17/08/2019 Planning pre/during and post
of the Regional Validation
Workshop ‘‘FeSeRWAM’’
Diyana Bawiena Accra - Abidjan - Accra 25/08/2019 28/08/2019
Christian Amedo Accra - Abidjan - Accra 25/08/2019 28/08/2019
Robin Wheeler Accra - Abidjan - Accra 25/08/2019 28/08/2019
Felix Deyegbe Accra - Abidjan - Accra 25/08/2019 28/08/2019
Samuel Arthur Accra - Abidjan - Accra 25/08/2019 28/08/2019
Participate in EnGRAIS staff
Victorine Goly Accra - Abidjan - Accra 25/08/2019 28/08/2019 retreat in Abidjan
Fred Gyasi Accra - Abidjan - Accra 25/08/2019 28/08/2019
Kido Kouassi Abuja - Abidjan - Abuja 25/08/2019 28/08/2019
Sansan Youl Dakar - Abidjan - Dakar 25/08/2019 28/08/2019
Bernardin Gatete Cotonou - Abidjan - Cotonou 25/08/2019 28/08/2019
Kido Kouassi Abidjan - Accra - Abuja 1/9/2019 7/9/2019 Meeting with MoFA for
subsidy and lab assessments
preparation; meeting with IFA,
Prem, AFO and Development
Gateway
Patrice Abidjan - Accra - Abidjan 3/9/2019 6/9/2019 Participate in AGRF and side
Annequin meetings with GoG and Ghana
fertilizer industry
Patrice Abidjan - Accra - Abidjan 23/09/2019 28/09/2019 Meetings with MOFA to assist
Annequin in the definition of the PFJ
2020 modus operandi

Samuel Arthur Accra - Dakar - Accra 23/09/2019 28/09/2019 Technical Meeting for
Finalization of Initial Agri-
Input Packages Across AEZs
of West Africa
Emmanuel Lomé - Accra - Lomé 23/09/2019 26/09/2019 Preparation for Ghana 2020
Alognikou PFJ/Fertilizer Subsidy
Program, discussions on
personnel issues with COP and
Regional Director, and
research on ICT applications
for improved monitoring of
implementation of regulations
Emmanuel Lomé - Abidjan - Lomé 29/09/2019 5/10/2019 Side meetings with EnGRAIS
Alognikou partners: ECOWAS,
DGPSA/MINADER, etc.
Side meeting with EnGRAIS
SRCs and other staff members
EnGRAIS Advisory
Committee Meeting
Diyana Bawiena Accra - Abidjan - Accra 30/09/2019 4/10/2019 Participate in WAFFF,
EnGRAIS Advisory
Robin Wheeler Accra - Abidjan - Accra 30/09/2019 3/10/2019 Committee Meeting and OCR
Christian Amedo Accra - Abidjan - Accra 30/09/2019 4/10/2019 Training for WAFA

Annex 7 Subcontracts in FY19
Name of Amount
Types Start End Purpose
consultant US$
Catherine L. Independent 17-Oct-18 30-Jul-19 Report Writer/Editor
Alston consultant 14,250.00
Isaac Alvin Independent 3-Sep-18 15-Oct-18 GFVCOS Consultancy
Amoah consultant *3,657.60 Focus: Ghana fertilizer
market and cost build up
analysis
Eli Gaveh Independent 3-Sep-18 15-Oct-18 GFVCOS Consultancy
consultant *8,814.47 Focus: Fertilizer
blending market
development & subsidy
scheme analysis
Binta Ceesay Etim Independent 3-Sep-18 15-Oct-18 GFVCOS Consultancy
consultant *17,500.00 Focus: Fertilizer
blending market
development & subsidy
scheme analysis
Knowledge & Consultant 21-Oct-18 28-Feb-19 Facilitating the
Skills Training Institution 9,750.00 Development of WAFA
Consultants 5-Year Strategic Plan
Nitidæ Consultant 22-Jan-19 30-Apr-19 Fertilizer Cost build up

Institution 99,488.00 studies and process maps
in West Africa
Samuel Arthur Independent 14-Jan-19 13-Apr-19 EnGRAIS (MEL)

consultant 6,600.00 Database Consultant
Samuel Arthur Independent 15-Apr- 14-Jul-19 EnGRAIS (MEL)

consultant 19 6,600.00 Database Consultant
Atakora Williams Independent 30-Apr- 30-May- Consultant to compile

Kwame consultant 19 19 3,000.00 improved fertilizer
Ishaku Yo'ila Independent 30-Apr- 30-May- recommendations data to
Amapu consultant 19 19 3,000.00 update the FeSeRWAM
Prof. Victor Independent 30-Apr- 30-May- Consultant to Facilitate
Okechukwu Chude consultant 19 19 1,750.00 the workshop to compile
improved fertilizer
update the FeSeRWAM

Bitrus Dawi Tarfa Independent 30-Apr- 30-May- Consultant to compile
consultant 19 19 3,000.00 fertilizer
update the FeSeRWAM
Fatimata Sy Independent 25-Apr- 31-Dec-19 Drafting of an ECOWAS

Sawadogo consultant 19 4,384.34 directive for improving
fertilizer subsidy
programs in West Africa
Dr. DICKO Independent 12-Jun-19 30-Jun-19 Consultant to compile
Koulam Mohamed consultant 3,774.00 improved fertilizer
update the FeSeRWAM
(Francophone countries)
Dr. Jean Independent 12-Jun-19 30-Jun-19 Consultant to compile

Ouedraogo consultant 3,013.00 improved fertilizer
update the FeSeRWAM
Dr. Felix Kouelo Independent 12-Jun-19 30-Jun-19 Consultant to compile

Alladassi consultant 3,013.00 improved fertilizer
update the FeSeRWAM
Dr. Komla Kyky Independent 12-Jun-19 30-Jun-19 Consultant to compile
GANYO consultant 2,053.00 improved fertilizer
update the FeSeRWAM
M. Moussa Independent 20-Jun-19 5-Jul-19 Consultant to compile
N’DIENOR consultant 2,139.00 improved fertilizer
update the FeSeRWAM
M. Moussa Independent 12-Jun-19 30-Jun-19 Consultant to compile
SALOU consultant 1,711.00 improved fertilizer
update the FeSeRWAM
CNRA (Cote Consultant ? ? 5,732.00 Consultant to compile
d'Ivoire) Institution improved fertilizer
update the FeSeRWAM

197,497.41
* Cost eventually will be paid by OCP as cost-share for GFVCOS. However, IFDC is still awaiting
payment.

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Enhancing Growth through

Regional Agricultural Input

USAID Cooperative Agreement No. 720624181000001

P.O. Box 2040

4 CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES ............................................................................................................ 35

ANNEX 1 SUCCESS STORY .............................................................................................................. 43

EnGRAIS Project FY 2019, Annual Report i

EnGRAIS Project FY 2019, Annual Report iii

EnGRAIS Project FY 2019, Annual Report iv

October 2018 – September 2019

EnGRAIS Project FY 2019, Annual Report 1

2.1 Highlights of FY 2019 Performance

EnGRAIS Project FY 2019, Annual Report 2

2.1.2 IR 2: Comprehensive input packages developed and disseminated in

EnGRAIS Project FY 2019, Annual Report 3

2.1.4 IR 4: Mobilizing commitment and harmonizing engagement from key

2.2 Challenges and Issues

EnGRAIS Project FY 2019, Annual Report 4

3 MAIN ACTIVITIES AND RESULTS

EnGRAIS Project FY 2019, Annual Report 5

EnGRAIS Project FY 2019, Annual Report 6

Figure 1: WAFA-Elected Board

1.1.4 Facilitate WAFA’s set up of a coordination unit

EnGRAIS Project FY 2019, Annual Report 7

1.1.5 Assist in WAFA’s design of a communication strategy

1.1.6 Assist WAFA to build sustainable partnerships and alliances

Notable outcomes of these meetings/partnerships include the following:

EnGRAIS Project FY 2019, Annual Report 8

Figure 2 VP WAFA, Minister Agric Sierra Leone, ECOWAS commissioner,

EnGRAIS Project FY 2019, Annual Report 9

WAFA and AFO validate 2018 West Africa Fertilizer Statistics

EnGRAIS Project FY 2019, Annual Report 10

Figure 4. 2016-2018 Apparent Consumption of Fertilizer

EnGRAIS Project FY 2019, Annual Report 11

1.1.9 Promote WAFA through organization of and/or participation in industry events

EnGRAIS Project FY 2019, Annual Report 12

West Africa Fertilizer Forum (April 2019)

EnGRAIS Project FY 2019, Annual Report 13

The main objectives of the study (click on Nitidae Cost

EnGRAIS Project FY 2019, Annual Report 14

1.2.3 Improve access to finance for the fertilizer private sector

EnGRAIS Project FY 2019, Annual Report 15

Based on the findings and recommendations mentioned above

Furthermore, EnGRAIS supported WAFA’s efforts to facilitate

EnGRAIS Project FY 2019, Annual Report 16

1.2.5 Facilitate participation of GoG in Argus Africa Fertilizer Meeting

3.2 IR 2: Comprehensive input packages developed and disseminated in

EnGRAIS Project FY 2019, Annual Report 17

Table 1 Summary of Number of Crops, Varieties and Fertilizer Recommendation per

EnGRAIS Project FY 2019, Annual Report 18

EnGRAIS Project FY 2019, Annual Report 19

Figure 6 FeSeRWAM Version 1 Regional AEZ View

EnGRAIS Project FY 2019, Annual Report 20

Table 3 Numbers of Developed Agri-Input Packages by Crops and Regional AEZ's

Crops Semi-Arid Sub-Humid Humid Total

EnGRAIS Project FY 2019, Annual Report 21

3.3 IR 3: Fertilizer policy and regulatory systems across West Africa

EnGRAIS Project FY 2019, Annual Report 22

Facilitated UEMOA Commission’s Political Support to Accelerate Implementation of Regional