Overview

CEHA's main focus is to transform the horticultural industry in the region currently at USD 4 billion to be tripled in the next 10 years. Initiated in 2022 through public-private sector dialogue, CEHA officially started in July 2023 and is supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and FCDO.

Launch Year

April 19, 2024

Funding Partners

B&MGF, FCDO

Target Countries

Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia

Priority Value Chains

Avocado, Onion, Irish Potatoes

Grant Amount

$5 million over 5 years

Investment Leverage

Over $1 billion

Strategic Objectives

Co-ordinating investments that are primarily private sector-led into production and processing clusters in support of the EAC, COMESA, and individual country horticulture strategies.

Facilitating access to both working capital and capex finance, as well as to technical assistance, for processors, farmers, and other agribusinesses across the value chain to accelerate growth.

Facilitating policy and standards improvements to stimulate trade and market access for multiple regional fruit and vegetable value chains across the region.

Vision

By 2031, climate-smart horticulture value chains will become a significant driver of income growth, inclusive job creation, and improved nutrition throughout Eastern and Southern Africa.

Mission

CEHA will facilitate the modernization of regional horticulture value chains across East Africa, leveraging the comparative advantage, infrastructure, and technology in each country for maximum impact.

Key Activities

Strategic Storage and Logistical Infrastructure

Establishing strategic storage and logistical infrastructure between clusters and key urban markets, ports, and border crossings. These would be complemented by micro or locally appropriate solutions such as mobile, solar-powered refrigerated containers.

Supply Chain Strengthening

Strengthening supply chains within clusters through farmer organizations and digitalization, using processors and farmer organizations as entry points to provide financing, technical assistance, and mutually beneficial contracting.

Production and Processing Clusters

Establishing strategic horticultural production and processing clusters with agribusiness incubators throughout 5 targeted countries based on unique comparative and competitive advantage.

Capacity Building Programs

Providing capacity building for farmer organizations to collect and market produce, deliver financial literacy and GAP training to farmers, and ensure timely inputs via digital infrastructure.

Expected Outcomes

Enhanced climate-smart horticultural productivity, value chain development, and economic empowerment

Increased gender-inclusive rural income growth

Employment creation throughout Eastern and Southern Africa

Enhanced business and trade facilitation in the horticulture sub-sector

Improved nutrition throughout Eastern and Southern Africa

Reduction of non-tariff barriers, including the harmonisation of CEHA standards

Market growth through increased intra-regional trade in fruit and vegetables

Programme Structure

CEHA has a bottom-up structure where strategic priorities identified by national-level stakeholders, mainly the horticulture private sector, drive the priorities at a regional level. It consists of a CEHA Board, National Chapters/Platforms, and the CEHA Secretariat managed by ACTESA. The Secretariat manages 4 technical committees: Trade, Standards and Marketing; Infrastructure and Value Chains Co-ordination; Research & Development Climate Change; and Nutrition, Gender and Metrics. An annual General Assembly comprised of a broader set of stakeholders from governments, development agencies, and the private sector provides endorsement opportunities.

COMESA EAC Horticulture Accelerator

CEHA

Overview

Strategic Objectives

Key Activities

Expected Outcomes

Programme Structure