Period: 01/04/25 – 30/03/28
Responsible Unit (RU): Cristiana PEANO
Funders: NGO LVIA – AICS 2023 Call

Description:
In Guinea, inadequate nutritional knowledge and limited opportunities for agricultural diversification—within a context of gender inequality and degradation of natural resources—underlie the high levels of chronic malnutrition and food insecurity, as well as rural exodus and migration. This happens despite growing urban demand for healthy and nutritious food, which farmers organized in Producer Organizations (POs) are unable to meet. However, there are promising experiences of services provided by POs in high-potential agricultural value chains and in the sustainable management of land, water, and seeds. These initiatives are poorly documented and have not yet led to real transformation of food systems.

This opens a window of opportunity to support food and nutritional security pathways based on agroecology and to strengthen the capacities of Producer Organizations to more decisively pursue regenerative agriculture—leveraging digital transition and effective marketing—and to support data-driven food policies for agroecological transition and new employment and development opportunities in key value chains such as rice cultivation and horticulture, for food sovereignty and nutritional security.

International and local partners active in Guinea and in the target areas (Fouta Djallon, Bofa, and Cankan) have recognized expertise in implementation, development, and research. The project aims to support “Access to sustainable, healthy, and nutritious food and the improvement of livelihoods through agroecological transition in Guinea.”
The specific objective is to “Contribute to the transformation of agri-food systems to improve efficiency, inclusiveness, and sustainability of the food system for communities living in the target areas.”

Period: 01/10/2020– 30/09/2023

Research Unit Responsible: FORTINA Riccardo and DEMENEGHI Daniele

Funders: Ministero dell’Interno italiano, Dipartimento per le Libertà Civili e l’Immigrazione, Ufficio III 

Description: Obiettivo Lavoro” is a project funded by the Italian Ministry of the Interior, carried out by CISV Onlus in partnership with Movimento Africa ’70. With “Obiettivo Lavoro,” we aim to promote better employment opportunities for young people in the regions of Zinder, Tillabery, and Niamey in Niger. Young people in rural areas of Zinder and Tillabery are forced to migrate due to lack of employment opportunities, while the cities of Niamey and Zinder are destinations for migration from rural areas. Unfortunately, even in these urban areas, employment is scarce despite the high potential of the livestock and dairy product processing and sales sector. In this context, we have decided to address the lack of employment and create new income opportunities for the youth of Niger.

“Obiettivo Lavoro” is linked to and implements our “Milk and Honey” project on the dairy value chain in Tillaberi. In fact, some beneficiaries are already members of the cooperatives receiving milk and honey.

Period: 01/10/22 – 01/10/25

Project Leader: Egidio DANSERO

Funders: CISV – Community Involvement Volunteer Service

Description: The project is promoted in 4 regions of Senegal (Saint-Louis, Louga, Thiès, and Dakar) for a duration of 3 years. PRO-VIVES aims to contribute to the promotion of sustainable and inclusive economic growth, entrepreneurship, and employment in the intervention area. The main target group of the initiative is rural, peri-urban, urban micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) with a social and environmental focus (“green”), open to innovation, and circular economy approaches (collection, recycling, reuse of waste and scraps). The project has the specific objective of promoting value chains and policies in favor of MSMEs with a social and environmental focus using green economy and digital innovation approaches. This objective is also in line with Senegal’s political and economic strategies (Plan Sénégal Emergent 2035) to promote inclusive growth, social and environmental sustainability, and to boost training and employment for youth.

Period: 15/01/19 – 14/01/22

Funders: EU under the Erasmus+ program (KA2 Cooperation for Innovation and the Exchange of Good Practices – Capacity Building in the field of higher education).

Description: Development of five courses (three for undergraduate level, one for graduate level, and one for PhD) in the areas of Geology and Mining Engineering. The five courses share the common vision of local sustainable development, approaching issues in an integrated manner between geology/mining engineering, environmental, economic, and social impacts. The programs are discussed among project partners, and all should contribute to the improvement of each course. At the end of the project, the results will be reported to European institutions.

Period: 07/09/16 – 31/08/22

Research Unit Responsible: Sabrina Maria Rita BONETTO

Funders: European Commission – RIMRAP Program

Description: The project aims to enhance the resilience of all local actors and the population in the Hodh el Chargui region. This will be achieved through strengthening governance in accessing resources and improving their sustainable utilization.