Public-private partnership can be a valuable development tool since far more money flows through trade than through aid, and private enterprises can provide valuable contributions to development activities. As a development organization dedicated to expanding economic activity and achieving sustainable increases in income around the globe, CNFA welcomes business contributions to our projects.

At the same time, CNFA sees potential for—and is expert in—developing, a higher, richer level of private sector partnership built on the recognition that (1) economic development is about increasing incomes and (2) income flows from buying and selling goods and services. To raise incomes, then, it is necessary not only to provide assistance to select beneficiary groups, but also to link them to markets. Partnering with the enterprises in those markets stimulates increased purchases from or sales of inputs to the target beneficiaries and thereby increases their incomes. Thus, public-private partnerships leverage both the financial capacity and the core business capacities of enterprises. CNFA provides financial or technical assistance as appropriate to help enterprises expand business activities that will in turn help them contribute to sustainable economic development.

Building True Partnerships for Sustainable Growth

CNFA partners with the private sector—from multinational enterprises down to small village shops— because efforts to help smallholder farmers increase their sales work best where there is collaboration and mutual understanding between buyers and sellers. Helping smallholder farmers penetrate export markets almost always means working with enterprises that will function as intermediaries in the value chain, providing storage, transportation, marketing or other key services. If supply of inputs to smallholder farmers is to be improved on a sustainable basis, there must be partnership and cooperation with the full range of input supply companies, wholesalers and retailers operating in that market.