Impact of Multi-Stakeholder Dialogues in Agriculture: The Case of Sunflower Sector Development in Tanzania

Abstract

Agriculture development have tended to disregard the efficacy of multi-stakeholder dialogues (MSDs) in bringing lasting change to the poor small-scale producers in developing countries. Though the proponents of MSDs promote the application of MSD methodology, handful examples exist of how it fosters business-enabling environment in the agriculture sector and benefit the smallholder farmers. Thus, this case study demonstrates the power of multi-stakeholder dialogues (MSDs) in coordinating ecosystem market actors’ increased industry voice in edible oil/seeds, with example from sunflower development in Tanzania. The case study is a flashback to SNV’s experience in influencing edible oils policy changes in the country through MSD methodology. The case study draws an example from SNV Netherlands Development Organisation’s experience in facilitating series of multi-stakeholder dialogues in sunflower sector development using a framework of Oilseeds Multi-stakeholders Forum (OMSF). From highly uncoordinated actors to alliance building, the case study attests the uniqueness of MSDs in reforming, tackling policy and market constraints in sunflower value chain in the country. The initiative resulted in the establishment and development of alliances- the Tanzania Edible Oilseeds Association (TEOSA), Tanzania Sunflower Processors Association (TASUPA), Sunflower Oilseeds Processors Alliances (CEZOSOPA and UMAMBE). TEOSA and TASUPA in collaboration with the sunflower oil processing alliances of CEZOSOPA and UMAMBE, succeeded in changing sunflower business environment in the country. After succeeding in claiming space in the Ministry of Industries, Trade and Investment task force, the alliances managed to influence, for the first time in sunflower history in Tanzania, the government to come up with a five years sunflower development strategy.

Keywords: Sunflower, Value Chain, Accountability, Multi-stakeholders, Dialogue, Farmers, Market Actors, Alliances,

DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/12-20-05

Publication date:October 31^st 2022