Sustainable Economic Development Projects

IDH has contracted KIT Institute and the Institute of Development Studies (IDS) to conduct a mid-term and end-term evaluation of IDH’s full corporate portfolio of programs. IDH is an international organisation that brings together public and private stakeholders with the aim  to make global agricultural markets more sustainable and more inclusive.  In December 2024 KIT completed […]

The Coffee Farmer Income Resilience Program (CFIRP), launched in Kenya and Uganda by the IKEA Foundation and IDH, aims to address the daily challenges faced by coffee farmers and improve their livelihoods. The programme focuses on increasing income resilience by integrating sustainable farming practices, known as regenerative agriculture, with support services tailored to farmers’ needs. […]

KIT is the Knowledge Management Focal Point for the partners in the 12 countries included in Land-at-Scale. As the Focal Point we also work to promote exchange between the partners across countries and regions, enhancing the learning within the programme at large.

KIT conducted the end of-term Review (ETR) of the five-year MoMo4C programme which used a landscape approach to mobilise funding for projects implementing Bankable Nature Solutions to tackle climate change. Programme background WWF Netherlands, IUCN and Tropenbos are working together to address the financial gap in tackling climate change. Some countries, hit hardest by the […]

Child labour remains a persistent human rights violation in the cocoa sector, impacting children’s physical and mental health while depriving them of educational opportunities. The cocoa sector is increasingly responding to this issue by implementing innovative programmes, targeting the root causes of child labour, such as poverty and a lack of access to quality education. […]

In september 2023, KIT completed a mid-term evaluation of the Initiative for Sustainable Landscapes, an international land use management programme of the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH), financed by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The evaluation assesses whether ISLA is on track to reach its goals, and provides recommendations for the second half of the programme. […]

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

KIT Institute is working with the International Cocoa Initiative (ICI) to map the initiatives that have taken measures to address child labour in West Africa using a landscape, or an area-based, approach. A landscape approach A landscape approach in a programme is a holistic strategy that addresses complex issues by involving all the stakeholders, recognising […]

An analysis of the effects of Fairtrade’s financial regulations and other Fairtrade interventions on deforestation at the producer level. Programme background Fairtrade’s new Theory of Change assumes that its interventions – standard requirements and tools, pricing tools, producer support including climate academies and deforestation data and intelligence – will contribute to building climate resilient practices […]

This innovative intervention aims to tackle child labour, decrease poverty, promote diversification and push for more gender equality. The Income Accelerator Programme (IAP) is a four-year program initiated by Nestlé and six of their traders aimed at increasing the income levels of 10,000 cocoa farming households in Côte d’Ivoire while reducing the prevalence and risk of […]

In 2010, the Dutch Government and cocoa and chocolate sector initially committed to reach 100% sustainable cocoa consumption in the Dutch market by 2025. The Dutch Initiative for Sustainable Cocoa expanded on these ambitions in 2020. The Cocoa Origins Program supported companies that use small and medium quantities of cocoa and supply the Dutch consumer market, […]

Measuring incomes and proposing interventions to close income gaps Until 2021, there was no research available on the income levels of Guji coffee farmers, and no living income benchmark had been established.  In a multi-year programme Fairfood is working with Trabocca, a Dutch specialty coffee trader, to bring 300 coffee farmers in Guji Ethiopia to […]

A3-Seed The seed sector in South Sudan is currently dominated by seed aid. The A3-Seed project seeks to reduce the country’s dependancy on foreign-sourced seeds, and humanitarian support, with the aim to transform the seed sector into a commercially viable one.  “The yield was not good” As part of the project, we recently held an […]

What is the income of farming households and does it afford a decent living standard? This is a key question to answer in the design, monitoring, and evaluation of interventions seeking to improve livelihoods of farmers at the starting points of global supply chains such as cocoa and coffee. The answer requires primary data collection […]

KIT Institute and Farm Africa are conducting a participatory action research study on forest conservation, livelihoods, and gender in the Bale Ecoregion in Ethiopia. The study will guide and support women in communities around the Harenna forest in the pursuit of alternative income-generating activities that empower them, improve their wellbeing, and that contribute to forest […]

Poverty among cocoa farming households is still a key driver of child labour. The average cocoa farming household in West Africa earns less than one-third of the established living income needed to afford a place to live, food for the entire family, health care, and clothing and education for children, and cannot put some money […]

In 2020, an estimated 3.6 percent (281 million people) of the global population were migrants. The officially recorded flow of remittances from migrants to low­- and middle-income countries reached USD 540 billion in 2020. Remittances represent a large component of GDP for many receiving countries and are a major supporting income stream for many households.  […]

Nigeria is currently unable to meet the local demand for vegetables, with a supply gap of around 13 million metric tons. The HortiNigeria programme aims narrow this gap by transforming and accelerating the development of a sustainable and inclusive horticulture sector that contributes to food and nutrition security in rural communities and alleviates poverty. The […]

Women living in cocoa growing communities in Côte d’Ivoire are disproportionately excluded from participating in cooperatives or benefiting from them. To address this gender inequality, a gender lens was applied to Rabo Partnership and Barry Callebaut’s ‘Empowering the Middle Program’. Specific entry points and activities were designed to promote women’s inclusion and elevate their status […]

Achieving gender equality and realising womens’ and girl’s empowerment and rights are critical elements of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However, progress varies as young women still find their voices silenced in patriarchal families, communities and political spaces, and are subject to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).  This calls for deeper understanding and intensified efforts to contribute […]

The Cocoa Household Income Study (CHIS) Programme is a sector-wide effort to create a harmonised methodology for measuring living income in the cocoa sector. The initiative is led and funded by World Cocoa Foundation (WCF) and Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), in collaboration with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and […]

Landscape approaches seek to reconcile social, economic, and environmental objectives in areas where agriculture and other productive land uses compete with environmental and biodiversity goals. The Sustainable Trade Initiative’s (IDH) pioneering role in promoting such landscape transformation is captured in the Production, Protection & Inclusion (PPI) approach – a three-pronged process that focuses on sustainably increasing productivity, protecting […]

Pro-ARIDES is designed to contribute to increased resilience, food security and household incomes for farmers and (agro-)pastoralists in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. To achieve this, a consortium of development professionals places public institutions and decentralized organizations at the heart of the program, with the objective of improving access to agricultural […]

The Dutch Fund Against Child Labour (FBK) supports companies to identify and eradicate child labour in their supply chains by sharing best practices, organizing learning events, and advising and financing child labour projects. Because of the strong interest shown by cocoa companies, FBK asked KIT Royal Tropical Institute to be its “eyes and ears” in […]

In 2018, KIT Royal Tropical Institute conducted a large-scale livelihoods baseline study in Liuwa Plain National Park (LPNP), Zambia. The study assessed the current situation of communities living in the park though an elaborate mixed-methods design as a basis for informing future decision-making on socio-economic investments in local communities.   Understanding the fine balance between wildlife & local communities LPNP is located in the Western Province of Zambia. […]

The Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) intends to catalyse and sustain an inclusive agricultural transformation in Africa by increasing incomes and improving food security for 30 million farming households in 11 focus countries. KIT is supporting AGRA in achieving this ambition by measuring and assessing progress at a household and agricultural systems level. […]

KIT was contracted by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs to evaluate and review 11 sector-level multi-stakeholder agreements on responsible business conduct (RBC agreements). Objectives The objective of this evaluation was to gain an insight into the extent to which the RBC agreements advance the implementation of due diligence by companies in conformity with the […]

The Nestlé Cocoa Plan (NCP) Elite programme aims to unleash the potential of a small selection of cocoa farmers and learn from them about how the programme can be expanded to help more farmers earn a living income. KIT assists Nestlé in understanding how successful this programme currently is and how it can be scaled up. Earning a living income is elusive for most cocoa farmers in Côte d’Ivoire  Only a small segment of cocoa-growing households in Côte d’Ivoire earn a living income. […]

 Can agribusiness investments in fragile and conflict-affected states deliver commercial returns for investors as well as positive development impact? Together with the Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness (CASA) Programme, KIT is working to find out.   Stimulating private investment in agribusiness in fragile states KIT conducted the research for an audience of international investors, to show both what is known and what […]

The Private Seed Sector Development (PSSD) project aims to double the production and incomes of 108,000 farmer households in Burundi. KIT is working with private and public sector partners to promote the development of a private sector-led seed industry that is able to provide farmers with sustainable access to high-quality seed and agricultural advisory services. […]

AATIF provides technical assistance to smallholder farmers in strategic value chains in which their investees and pipeline companies operate. KIT was asked to assess how the COVID-19 pandemic affected vulnerable groups in eight value chains across Ivory Coast (cocoa, cashew), Kenya (dairy) and Zambia (maize, wheat, cotton, soybean, sunflower).   Obtaining an early overview of the effects of the pandemic on smallholder farmers and their incomes will […]

Between 2015 and 2020, KIT co-led, together with the Zambezi Valley Development Agency (ADVZ) the NUFFIC-financed project ‘Integrated Seed Sector Development, Mozambique’. Educational & Seed Sector Development In Mozambique, Agricultural Education and Training Institutes (AETI) have traditionally focused on seed production as part of breeding and agronomic programmes, but without a dedicated seed sector development discipline. Gaps therefore exist in understanding the position of farming households […]

KIT provides seed sector and seed systems knowledge to the Access to Seeds Index, which evaluates and compares seed companies according to their efforts to improve access to quality seeds of improved varieties for smallholder farmers. The Index seeks primarily to identify leadership and good practices, providing an evidence base for the discussion on where […]

This project aims to develop viable business models for forage seed production and marketing that assure economically sustainable access to high-quality forage seed in Kenya and Uganda.   Gendered perceptions of livestock and agricultural production in Kenya: a new blog from the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, our project partners. In East Africa, dairy farming has high potential as […]

KIT Royal Tropical Institute conducted an assessment of the ‘Best Aquaculture Practices’ (BAP) certification of the Global Aquaculture Alliance. The assessment aimed to better understand how BAP social and labour standards are applied in practice and to determine how they impact practices among seafood producers, processors and buyers. Ensuring aquaculture production is environmentally and socially […]

In fragile states, there is often a significant gap between what the state can deliver and what the citizens need or expect. The participation of citizens contributes to inclusive decision-making. It improves local governance and the delivery of basic services, makes local governance more sustainable and increases welfare and stability. The Inclusive Decisions At Local […]

KIT Royal Tropical Institute – in consortium with Access Alliance – is a shortlisted service provider under a four year agreement to support FMO’s financial institution clients, participating in the NASIRA Programme, to (better) serve women, young- and migrant entrepreneurs. What is NASIRA? In December 2018, FMO and the European Commission signed an agreement for […]

Researchers from KIT Royal Tropical Institute conducted a qualitative baseline study of 55 small-scale producer organisations (farmer cooperatives) in six countries – Côte d’Ivoire, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, and Peru. The objective of the research was to provide insights into the conditions, internal and external, that are necessary for small-scale producer organisations to successfully develop, […]

In partnership with Palladium, KIT Royal Tropical Institute is supporting Access Bank to become the bank of choice for women. Understanding the women’s market in Ghana, Rwanda, Zambia & Nigeria The W Initiative is Access Bank’s approach to segmenting and serving the women’s market and positioning itself as the bank of choice for women. Launched […]

Advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment is a strategic focus of the Austrian Development Bank (OeEB). As part of this effort, KIT is supporting OeEB to integrate “gender smart” decision-making into their investment processes and operations. Gender Lens Investing The project’s primary objective is to integrate gender into OeEB’s work and workplace in a way […]

Legal education is key to promoting the rule of law. Law faculties need to teach their students to find solutions to legal problems which promote legal certainty and justice. The Strengthening Legal Education in Eastern Indonesia (SLEEI) project is supporting four universities in Eastern Indonesia to implement changes in what they teach to law students […]

Globally, fisheries and aquaculture contribute to the income of around 800 million people. But overfishing is putting increasing pressure on local fish populations and marine biodiversity, while threatening the livelihoods of many. Fish and seafood are a critical part of the world’s diet. It provides around 3.2 billion people with almost 20 per cent of […]

KIT Royal Tropical Institute is the lead organisation in the ‘ReCaFoP’ (Renforcer les capacités de formation professionelle) project, which aims to improve the supply of technical and vocational training (TVET) needed to tackle challenges such as natural resource management and the lack of economic opportunities for young people and women in Mali. Background Over the […]

The LEAP-Agri project is working to establish EU-Africa Research and Innovation partnerships on food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture. KIT Royal Tropical Institute is supporting two LEAP-Agri projects in Kenya and Uganda. Across Africa, many, often female-headed, families do not have the resources necessary to meet their basic needs. This increases both their risk […]

KIT Royal Tropical Institute is partnering with a coalition of Dutch research institutes, CGIAR research centers and (local) partners from the public and private sector to improve seed systems in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. The work is funded by NWO-WOTRO Science for Global Development. Seed systems: from groundnuts and chicken seed to tilapia and cocoa […]

Developed by KIT Royal Tropical Institute and Wageningen Economic Research, with funding from the Netherlands Food Partnership, this tool generates practical recommendations for food and nutrition security policy and programming. It is the product of a series of assignments commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality […]

KIT is providing technical assistance to Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the Communal Approach for the Agricultural Market (ACMA) project. Together with consortium partners, our work includes monitoring and evaluation, developing and implementing the project’s youth strategy and advising on the strategic direction. Improving agricultural performance in Benin Building on the achievements of the […]

This project examined the ways in which aquaculture value chains can contribute to inclusive and sustainable economic growth in Zambia and Cambodia. KIT Royal Tropical conducted two studies as part of the VCA4D project, commissioned by the European Union and implemented by Agrinatura. Aquaculture value chains: finding opportunities for smart & sustainable investment KIT’s two […]

In January 2016, CGIAR established the CGIAR Collaborative Platform for Gender Research, hosted by the CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions and Markets and coordinated by KIT Royal Tropical Institute. The Platform aims to increase the visibility, impact and quality of CGIAR gender research, while advancing a system-wide research agenda on gender, aqua/agriculture and natural […]

KIT is providing gender integration capacity development to WorldFish to help them implement the FISH Gender Strategy. This strategy describes how FISH will implement research that identifies and addresses the gender dimensions of barriers, opportunities and mechanisms for change in fisheries and aquaculture development. Supporting WorldFish and the FISH CGIAR research programme WorldFish is an […]

In 2017, ICARDA partnered with KIT to research gendered constraints and opportunities for fodder production systems in rural Afghanistan.   Addressing the Winter Fodder Gap in Rural Afghanistan  In Afghanistan eight million farm households rely on crop and livestock production for food, income, and as a ‘safety-net’ in times of need. However, small farmers in rural Afghanistan often […]

Half-way between the north-eastern Atlantic coast of South America and the northern-Brazilian border, KIT Royal Tropical Institute, Conservation International Suriname, and the Matawai Investment Fund are collaborating to develop a management plan for the sustainable use of the Pusugrunu Community Forest. The Matawai community consists of descendants of former slaves who escaped the Dutch plantations […]

How can fodder gaps in the water constrained provinces of Baghlan and Nangarhar in Afghanistan be reduced? What are the links between women’s empowerment and sustainable fodder production systems? These were two of the questions addressed during a week-long workshop in Amman, Jordan organised by The International Center for Agriculture Research (ICARDA), CSIRO and Murdoch […]

KIT Royal Tropical Institute conducted an assessment of how the African Agricultural Capital Fund (AACF) affects economic and social outcomes for small family-run farms in Kenya. KIT and Wayfair (UK) were selected because of their expertise in sustainable economic development research and analysis in developing countries. The AACF The AACF started in September 2011 with […]

In 2018, KIT Royal Tropical Institute, Agriterra, Moyee Coffee, and the Food & Business Knowledge Platform came together to try and better understand the functioning of agribusiness-based Advisory Services. The partnership focused on companies buying or selling agricultural produce, equipment and goods. In addition, the study also included farmer cooperatives operating as an agribusiness. Agribusiness-based advisory […]

KIT conducted a qualitative study to better understand youth engagement in agriculture for the DFID-funded NU-TEC Market Development Programme. More specifically, the study focused on youth dynamics and opportunities in sunflower and soya markets. It also highlighted business models and strategies to foster private sector linkages and youth engagement in land preparation, seed production, storage […]

This project developed models for cost effective and sustainable projects that address the supply and demand of nutritious food in poor urban areas in Kenya. A KIT Collaboration This was a collaborative project that brought together experts from KIT’s global health and sustainable economic development. It produced a model which can help policy makers, development […]

The Sustainable Nutritiion for All project aimed to improve nutrition through the adoption of agro-biodiversity and improved dietary diversity at the household level in Uganda & Zambia. Summary The project looked specifically at the needs of pregnant/ lactating mothers and 0-24 month old infants and children. It proposed an innovative and scalable approach, the Sustainable […]

This project developed and tested the approach, tools and methods needed to carry out a Nutrition Sensitive Value Chain Analysis in northern Nigeria. It was implemented to support the IFAD-funded Climate Change and Agribusiness Support Program (CASP). Summary Based on a nutrition assessment conducted previously, the study team carried out in-depth analyses of five  commodity value […]

This major study aims to contribute to the cocoa sector’s body of knowledge and provide a solid evidence base to test common assumptions and beliefs.  The research covers issues such as household demographics, food security and nutrition, and crop choices and crop diversification. Specific to cocoa, the study investigates why households grow cocoa, and analyses […]

Water management in agriculture remains a serious challenge in Kenya. Around 90 percent of the country is arid or semi-arid land and it has highly variable rainfall patterns. A growing number of water-intensive economic and agricultural activities are also exacerbating these conditions. Download the new publication: Lessons on Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration for Farmer-Led Irrigation Development Investing in smart […]

Commisioned by FMO, KIT Royal Tropical Institute executed a feasability study and designed an impact evaluation of the MASSIF support to the Agronomika Finance Corporation, the non-bank financial institution for cocoa farmer finance set up by Kennemer Foods International (KFI) in the Philippines.  In cooperation with the Dutch Sustainable Trade Initiative, FMO supports cacao trader KFI in its efforts to develop the […]

KIT Royal Tropical Institute supports Loan eXchange (ILX) in developing the fund’s impact strategy.  ILX serves as an impact investment platform through which leading institutional investors – such as European pension funds – can co-invest with Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) in high SDG-targeted impact. KIT works alongside ILX in the design of their impact strategy, […]

This technical review was commissioned by DANIDA, Denmark’s development cooperation, and carried out in partnership with the Carnegie Consult of the Netherlands. It was designed to assess how the Private Agricultural Sector Support Trust (PASS)  functioned and help the Embassy to decide on new financial commitments for the coming years. Credit guarantee instrument PASS is a credit guarantee […]

This study shows business opportunities for financial institutions to serve women in Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt. Carried out in partnership with ENCLUDE, EDG (Egypt) and SIGMA (Tunisia and Morocco) it identifies the demand and needs for financial services among women across different markets. The study includes: profiling and mapping targeted segments of women (women entrepreneurs, young […]

The Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) requested support in gender mainstreaming their development finance funds. A strategy towards realising gender equality, or at least awareness of inequalities. Integration of a gender perspective This project involves the integration of a gender perspective into the preparation, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies/investments, with a view to promoting equality between women […]

KIT Royal Tropical Institute is engaged in assessing the impact of the “Strengthening African Rural Smallholders” project (STARS). The four-year project is funded by the MasterCard Foundation (MCF) and implemented by ICCO in four African countries.   Supporting microfinance  STARS supports microfinance institutions in developing financial products for smallholder commercial producers, producer groups, as well as small […]

KIT Royal Tropical Institute is supporting FMO in the development of a Women SMEs (WSMEs) market as well as to incorporate an improved gender lens in their financing strategy and product offering. Gender equality as a cornerstone Gender equality – SDG 5 – is a cornerstone of FMO’s strategy for Financial Institutions (FIs). FMO has long seen the potential of […]

KIT Royal Tropical Institute developed a study on approaches to financial inclusion that enable women to overcome gender barriers.  Moving beyond access to finance Access to financial products and services is believed to be a key enabler of women’s economic empowerment. But access to finance alone is not transformative. Gender barriers still constrain women from […]

Based on field work in the three targeted countries and a literature review the aim was to compose a set of very practical critical standards for effective youth (un)employment programmes to guide future programmes as well as potentially scaling up of the Youth Building the Future programme. Research that provides practical suggestions A literature review […]

This research builds on the outcomes of several scoping efforts, seminars and networking meetings on youth and agriculture in rural areas as well as the consortium’s broader experience in working with agricultural cooperatives.  The study underscores the critical need to develop additional knowledge with respect to youth inclusion in agricultural cooperatives. Providing insights This explorative […]

As part of an international partnership to improve the rights of women and girls across the African continent, KIT led a research team to develop the State of African Women Report. The report raises awareness of continental-African commitments to women and girls’ sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) and progress in their implementation. Realising women and girls’ […]

The main objective of the State of African Women (SoAW) campaign is to contribute to securing, realizing and extending women’s rights enshrined in African Union (AU) policies. The campaign seeks to influence change in both legal and social norms for women and girls’ rights in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), at the continental, […]

HIVOS wanted to reflect on the state of women’s activism and organizing in Zimbabwe, to document trends and emerging knowledge, and have a basis for a future research and knowledge programme. Researching the current state of events Hivos contracted KIT to prepare an overview of the scope and quality of the body of knowledge and […]

As the gender partner of the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), KIT is working on gender mainstreaming the WCF’s cocoa livelihood programme (CLP) in West Africa, while supporting cocoa industry and technical partners to improve their outreach to female cocoa farmers. A combination of capacity building, data analysis and research have led to recommendations on how […]

This study examined the gender dimensions of agricultural mechanisation in Ethiopia and Kenya in order to inform future interventions. A competitive research grant from the CGIAR Research Programme MAIZE funded the study. Gender matters in farm power Mechanisation directly affects patterns of labour allocation in households because of its potential to increase labour efficiency and […]

This project aims to strengthen education and training on gender and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in Bangladesh. One specific objective is the development, piloting and fine tuning of flagship courses on SRHR, sexuality and gender at the Centre for Gender and SRHR of the James P. Grant School of Public Health (JPGSPH) […]

Major shifts in the field of international development over the past 15 years have posed both challenges and opportunities for the advancement of gender equality and women’s rights. This annual forum is designed to stimulate critical reflection on the state of gender knowledge. It focuses on how dominant trends in international development enable or constrain the […]

KIT developed a conceptual model on the empowerment of women and girls in close partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The model was presented in a White Paper: Conceptual model of women and girls’ empowerment. KIT conducted in-depth background research that formed the basis for the Foundation’s Method’s Note for measuring women and girl’s empowerment.  […]

In 2008 KIT was approached by the Dutch-German company Intersnack to assist in the sustainable sourcing of peanuts in Bolivia. KIT helped the Bolivian company Agritrade to establish a subsidiary Agrinut  in order to promote the sustainable production and export of Bolivian peanuts. Nuts not beans Peanuts originate from Bolivia and there are still many unique […]

KIT conducted a systematic review of food security in middle and low income countries to inform policy in light of recent best practices. The publication was presented at the OECD conference on food security and to the Netherlands parliament. Click here to download the full report. The impact of development interventions For several years food security has […]

KIT was hired by sustainable development organisation SNV to conduct an external, independent evaluation of household food security in Burkina Faso. The evaluation strengthens SNV’s accountability to funders and improves its work on food security. Food security as vital development aspect SNV West-Africa has put food security at the top of its development agenda for […]

The Annona Sustainable Investment Fund (ASIF) was founded in 2009 by SPF Beheer and KIT. ASIF is a Venture Capital Fund that invests in small and medium enterprises in Africa and Latin America with a view to enhancing sustainable development. Balancing interests Although profit is seen as a necessary condition for long term sustainability, ASIF’s […]

KIT supported the Dutch Embassy in defining strategic areas and possible interventions for enhancing food security in three provinces of Burundi (Bujumbura Rural, Bubanza and Cibitoke). This was the first step in the implementation of the Multi-Annual Strategic Plan (MASP 2012-2015) of the Dutch Embassy with the aim of contributing to socio-economic and environmental stability […]

At the request of the Dutch Embassy in Mali, Royal Tropical Institute offered strategic assistance for the development of a support programme for sustainable development of the Inner Niger Delta in Central Mali. In this role we defined the types of interventions and the institutional arrangements necessary for ensuring effective co-ordination of interventions while strengthening […]

KIT, at the request of the Dutch Embassy in Kigali, conducted research into the Rwandan agricultural value chains with the strongest market potential. Interventions, with a focus on the private sector, were suggested and implemented in order to encourage growth and sustainability. Stimulating private sector growth through selection and analysis Rwanda’s economy is based mainly […]

This study examined the existing knowledge and experience of CGIAR Research Programme (CRP) MAIZE on the integration of gender concerns in maize research. Led by CIMMYT, CRP MAIZE focuses on increasing maize production for the 900 million poor consumers for whom maize is a staple food in Africa, South Asia and Latin America. To mark […]

The Iraq-Public Sector Modernization programme (I-PSM), a multi-agency UN joint programme, supports the Government of Iraq and regional Government of Kurdistan to modernize the public sector and build effective, efficient, and responsive public administrations. KIT provided support and gender analysis to help I-PSM achieve its goals. The I-PSM worked to develop an effective, efficient, and […]

This programme aimed to shape the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center – or CIMMYT – into a gender-responsive research and learning institution. It equipped staff with skills to conduct gender-responsive research to improve agricultural productivity, food security, and research-for-development outcomes for women and men farmers. 250 staff trained KIT developed a six-module training programme […]

An assessment of the position of female faculty and affirmative action policies in Ethiopian universities was carried out for the Education Strategy Centre in Addis Ababa. Building on that assessment, a leadership programme specifically aimed at female faculty was designed and piloted. Assessing female faculty and affirmative action The first component of this project was […]

KIT is working with multiple partners to support Holeta Agricultural College in Ethiopia. The project delivers training in the field of commercial agriculture with the development of a gender strategy as an integral part. Supporting with expertise We have been working with Holeta’s stakeholders to provide gender and agricultural training, creating a case example that will be […]

The KIT gender team initiated and implemented the West Africa Gender Inclusive Citizenship Program (WAGIC) in partnership with seven local women’s and human rights organisations in Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. The participatory action-research programme promoted gender inclusive citizenship and better access for women to social, political and economic rights. The realisation of gender […]

KIT, in consortium with the Maastricht School of Management, was hired to strengthen the capacity of the Women National Committee (WNC) to guide the mainstreaming of gender and provide leadership for the improvement of the status of women in Yemen. The project strengthened WNC’s capacity to mainstream gender and address women’s needs and interests in government […]

KIT Royal Tropical Institute carried out gender audits of the CGIAR Research Programs (CRPs) on MAIZE and WHEAT. The goal was to strengthen the institutional capacity of the CRP partners to integrate gender equality concerns in research for development projects. Strengthening capacity for gender integration in agricultural research The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center […]

In the Sahel, a region sensitive to environmental degradation and climate change, farmer-led research networks (FaReNe) are strengthened and supported to take the lead in joint experimentation by farmers, researchers and other actors in agricultural innovation processes. The project is an initiative of the Prolinnova network that promotes local innovation processes in agriculture and natural resource […]

In May 2015, Burkina Faso hosted the West Africa Farmer Innovation Fair (Foire de l’Innovation Paysanne en Afrique de l’Ouest FIPAO) in Ouagadougou, showcasing over 50 farmer innovations from eight countries in the Sahel region: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo. The fair was an initiative of the Prolinnova/PROFEIS network that […]

Together with the Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH), KIT conducted research into the costs and benefits of making spice trade more sustainable. Looking at the case of Vietnamese black pepper, we were able to recommend important aspects of trade to invest in, for instance in improving agricultural systems and involving the food industry in sustainable trade. Interventions for […]

Together with the Academy on Land Governance for Equitable and Sustainable Development (Landac), KIT conducted studies on land governance for 15 partner countries of the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. To inform the debate on effective land policies in these countries, we produced a reference note and fact sheets that continue to be a source […]

This KIT report – commissioned by the Land Dialogue – provides insight into a fundamental issue affecting large parts of the globe: land governance. Detailed focus is given to land governance as a possible priority theme in the process of International Responsible Business Conduct (IRBC) Agreements. These agreements involve companies, civil society organisations (trade unions, […]

KIT Royal Tropical Institute was part of an international group of academics and practitioners that developed a tool to help value chain practitioners assess the impact of their work. The tool was tested in Tanzania and generated a number of case studies which were used for a manual that was  published. A simple, flexible and […]

Members of the International Secretariat of Prolinnova (an international network for promoting local innovation in ecologically oriented agriculture and natural resource management, hosted by KIT Royal Tropical Institute), are working together with its country partners in recognising and supporting farmer innovation through a process of farmer-led joint research. Such an approach strengthens community resilience by […]

KIT Royal Tropical Institute is working with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), a UN organisation, to strengthen the most promising agricultural value chains in Malawi. We provide hands-on assistance in analysing value chains and designing actions to improve development of these chains. Developing value chains for investment In this project, we have selected […]

KIT has been assisting ESNEC, the business school of the Eduardo Mondlane University in Mozambique, in focusing on developing the skills students require to flourish in the labour market. Improving student career prospects By developing links between the ESNEC teachers and management, and future employees (mainly small businesses), KIT has established practical internships and training projects […]

KIT Gender is working in partnership with the International Network for Gender and Sustainable Energy (ENERGIA) to support Norad in applying a gender and human rights-based approach to energy in Norwegian-supported sector programs in Nepal. Gender equality and sustainable energy for all This project supports the UN’s Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) initiative, which seeks […]

Research Into Use (RIU) is a programme funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID). It seeks to maximise the effect of research into poverty reduction and economic growth. Recommendations for practice and policy KIT analysed five RIU cases in Africa – three RIU Innovation Platforms  initiatives and two Best Bets. The RIU programme […]

KIT and SNV are analysing value chain development initiatives in order to enhance their impact on poverty on a large scale. Through the analysis of cases, an approach for stimulating commodity sector development for impact at scale will be proposed. Designing interventions at scale Agricultural value chain development has become mainstream practice. Many published cases show successful […]

The Integrated Seed Sector Development (ISSD) aims to enhance access to quality seed by smallholder farmers. It integrates both formal and informal seed systems and fosters participation of both public and private actors in the development of demand-driven seed chains. As a result, this supports the ability of smallholder farmers to produce food sustainably and […]

KIT Royal Tropical Institute — through a five-year framework contract — has provided support to document experiences and lessons learned from Belgium Development Agency (BTC, now known as ENABEL) capitalisation projects and programmes worldwide. Our support contributed to individual and organisational learning at BTC and its partners. It also increased the visibility of BTC projects […]

KIT Royal Tropical Institute has been supporting CRP MAIZE in strengthening stakeholder interaction and the capacity of its staff to make such interaction contribute to research impact. Together with MAIZE innovation specialists, we document and analyse the work being done in four projects (two in Africa, one in Asia and one in Latin America), supporting […]

KIT Royal Tropical Institute is assisting the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) to help smallholder farmers and SME agribusinesses improve productivity in sub-Saharan Africa by improving sustainable business links with lead firms. Sustainable sourcing can contribute to the local economic development of suppliers, small and medium enterprises (SME) and their communities. However, leading firms are […]

KIT Royal Tropical Institute facilitated and led the writing process for the fourth book in the value chain series: Challenging Chains to Change – gender equity in agricultural value chain development. The book is used in development and coaching trajectories for gender equity in value chain development in Africa. Meeting challenges Efforts to improve value chains often […]

In 2008 The World Food Programme (WFP) piloted a programme to direct a percentage of its procurement to smallholder farmers in developing countries. The pilot – Purchase for Progress (P4P) – took place in 21 countries. KIT undertook value chain research for WFP in six of those countries and delivered recommendations for programme implementation at […]

ISSD/Sahel Thirty-two per cent of the Nigerien population and 21 per cent of the Malian population still struggle with food and nutrition insecurity. Sustainable intensification of food crop production can address this and, at the same time, provide economic opportunities. To this end, high-quality seeds are essential. This project will ensure the availability and use […]

BAMSCOS, a union of farmer cooperatives in Baringo, Kenya teamed up with KIT and Agriterra in an effort to further strengthen and professionalise its extension services. For BAMSCOS this was a crucial step towards improving the income and conditions of their members. Furthermore, by handling larger volumes of milk it would increase the viability of […]

KIT was part of a consortium working with the Research Institute for a Sustainable Environment (RISE) to establish a sustainable and practice-oriented agriculture training centre for male and female skilled labour. This aimed to contribute to the delivery of adequate training for the agricultural sector in Egypt. Best practice centre  RISE – formerly the Desert […]

At the request of Plan UK, KIT Royal Tropical Institute undertook this baseline study to identify the factors affecting access to and completion of lower secondary education by girls in Cambodia, El Salvador, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe. The project led to a system for improved use of data, production of […]

The gender and land governance action learning programme aims to identify and test approaches that address barriers to realising women’s land rights. Given the complexity in land governance and gender relations and the close link with agricultural development and the protection of livelihoods, the programme implements context specific projects run by interdisciplinary teams of members […]

Graduate Opportunities for Innovation and Transformation (GO4IT) helped train university students in Africa to bring change to rural areas. The initiative was born of the understanding that universities needed to improve the quality and content of their agricultural education programmes. KIT Royal Tropical Institute played a key role in defining and driving the strategy for […]

This gender audit was carried out for the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA). On its basis we were able to offer strategy and policy advice to improve the gender orientation of ASARECA’s work, and therefore its impact. A powerful indicator of impact When gender factors are integrated into development […]