Carrefour des Organisations des Producteurs Agricoles pour le Développement Local (COPADEL) - Benin

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Country

Benin

Region

Africa, South Asia

Programme Summary

Established in 2001 by Centre Africain d'Echange Culturel (CAFEC), Le Carrefour des Organisations des Producteurs Agricoles pour le Développement Local (COPADEL) is a coalition of several farming organisations in 4 districts in Benin. As of this writing, the network has 2500 members (1386 women and 1114 men) who work to ensure the survival, protection, and development of children in their respective localities. Reducing poverty among rural households and supporting the participation of women in all aspects (economic, social, and cultural) of community life are goals that support COPADEL's central aim: ensuring the economic sustenance of rural communities in Benin.

Communication Strategies

COPADEL uses advocacy as a strategy for overcoming poverty in the communities it serves. In order to increase the income of rural households, network members:

promote increases in the sale prices of agricultural products to the producers
support the purchase of agricultural equipment and land on the part of the poorest farmers
offer credit possibilities (leases) on certain land to the poor and work to improve access to credit
fight against malnutrition on the part of high-risk groups (pregnant women and babies)
work to improve access to health care on the part of the poor and encourage preventive medicine
seek to improve the levels of education of the rural population, especially women
aim to control population by encouraging both parents to participate in what should be a voluntary and enlightened decision about the number of children they wish to have.

This advocacy work involves a number of projects. First, COPADEL engages in capacity-building programmes. For example, it has worked to strengthen the institutional capacity of organisations of agricultural producers (in Kpanroun); it has held a workshop on learning trades for the girls in the town of Wawata Fanmè; it has held a workshop on the processing of manioc into gari (cassavaflour), which is typically the domain of small independent women producers, in Sèdjè-dénou; and it is working to bring Internet service to Zinvié-Centre.

Second, COPADEL holds meetings and workshops on issues such as children's rights, women's rights, local governance, and national legislation. The times and topics of these meetings are planned based on the employment schedules and focus of men and women in the particular district; any materials used are translated into the local language. In addition, plans are in the works for COPADEL members to attend workshops hosted by other agricultural organisations (regional and even international) so that they can share their experiences.

Development Issues

Agriculture, Economic Development, Rights, Women, Children, Nutrition, Health, Political Development, Networking.

Key Points

CAFEC is an NGO that works to promote intercultural approaches to development, improve the status of women, defend human rights, and support youth-based projects.