THE ROLE AND REQUIREMENTS OF A NETWORK FOR THE PROMOTION OF THE AFRICAN HONEY TRADE
Bert-Jan Ottens, ProFound, The Netherlands

ProFound Work

• 16 years working experience with NGOs, GOs and International Organisations such as UNCTAD, ITC, IUCN and FAO on linking biodiversity and trade:

- Market research/analysis (particular CBI)

- Feasibility studies

- Programme formulation and evaluation (CBI, NTFP-EP, Biotrade,
  Phytotrade Africa, Afghanistan)

- Training in Value Chain Analysis and Market Information Systems

• Working in Asia, Africa and Latin America

Website: www.ThisIsProFound.com

  www.cbi.nl

Biodiversity and trade

Elements of Value Chain Analysis and Development in the sustainable utilisation and marketing of Biodiversity Products

NOVIB-RALF Multi-Stakeholder Programme in Afghanistan: Natural Ingredients for Food, Cosmetics & Pharmaceuticals RALF 02-07

Value Chain Development of Natural Ingredients for Sustainable Livelihoods iIn Afghanistan
Bert-Jan Ottens, Executive manager

African Honey Trade Workshop

Resolution August 2005 in Dublin:

• Establish an African Honey Traders Forum to increase honey exports from Africa, piloted in Eastern and Southern Africa
• Principally be of benefit to traders working with beekeepers who are already at organisational and productive capacity to export honey and hive products
• Membership restricted to traders, though Forum will assist other producers and traders in reaching this capacity
• Members assist one another, exchange of technical advice and best practices, and providing local consultants

Aims of the Forum (November 2005):

• Build capacities of African Beekeepers and African honey traders to export honey
• Build a broader market for African Honey in Europe
• Safeguard the needs and interests of African Producers

Resolution and Aims point at African Honey Trade Association or TPO?

Terminology: Forum – Trade Association – Trade Promotion Organisation

ApiTrade Africa

Becoming specific upon decision to go ahead:

• Proper name giving: Forum, Association, TPO: ApiTrade Africa
• Competition vs collaboration: common needs/interests, creating win-win situations (e.g. joint research/investing); harmonising language, standards (incl. African consumer standards), legislation
• Product development and targeting different markets (local, regional, EU, other internat. ?) at different levels diversification: what products are included + further dev’t of specialty products, segmentation; differentiating standards for different markets
• Multi-stakeholder approach needed (practice/producers, science, policy/legislation, B2B linkages), even when members only traders
• Forum based on strong country networks, and based on pro-active collaboration and strategies; strong members are drivers, to take on mentoring role for weaker ones (whether traders or countries) = common interest: strong African voice, image, market development
• Which traders and countries are in at start, and who can join later?
• Clear rules and criteria for:
  - Engagement
  - Involvement
  - Termination
  
• Management of the Trade Network; secretariat vs decentralised; leaders and leadership; taking on board weaker partners
• Ambitions, targets, critical mass; country and (sub)region wise? Timeframe and funding; Strategy paper
• Constitution, constituents and policies
• Conflict and frustration resolution: transparency, sharing
• International collaboration = solving internal national disputes, strengthening national strategies as basis for African strategy
• Long process; start with small eastern and southern African group for concrete, decisive steps: joint (export) trade development policy: improving (cost) efficiency, effectiveness, joint investing (e.g. in laboratory test facilities), trust building vis-à-vis buyers
• Building up trade network, based on:
  - Value Chain Analysis and Development: adding value
  - Quality assurance
  - Accreditation
  - CSR as part of the product chain
  - FLO and Organic as premiums
  - B2B development towards market
  - Branding and labelling?
  - Collaboration!
  

  Download Bert-Jan Ottens' PowerPoint presentation here (6.77mb .pps file)