Agricultural production is an important dimension for the livelihoods of rural population in Sub-Saharan Africa. The holistic promotion of agriculture value chains by the A4SD-program contributes directly to several SDGs. Thus farmers are trained in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and in business skills and entrepreneurship through Farmer Business School (FBS) training. Farmers apply their knowledge on GAP and FBS to more than 60%. The application results in up to 214 % yield increases of yields and an increase of up to 287% in incomes. The application of GAP is highly labour intensive. It therefore has a high job creation effect. We estimate that approximately 760,000 employment opportunities, mostly informal in the rural agricultural economy have been created due to the projects. In sum, the programme therefore makes a significant contribution to SDG 1: end poverty in all its forms.

Due to increased incomes, farmers are able to buy food on local markets and improve their food security. In addition, trainings on nutrition impart knowledge on a good and balanced diet. In combination, the undertaken trainings also contribute to the achievement of SDG 2 which aims to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

A4SD follows a multi-stakeholder approach, working closely together with more than 150 partners from the private sector, civil societies, research institutes and government institutions. These contribute enormously to the success of the project. Thus private partners contributed 200,000,000 Euro and (mostly african) public partners 30,000,000 Euro to the implementation of the programme. Another 56,000,000 Euro was Official Development Aid (ODA) money contributed by international donors. Thus in total partners match ODA funds in a ratio of 1 : 4.1. A4SD hence directly contributes to SDG 17: partnership for goals.

Furthermore activities of A4SD contribute to the following SDGs:

• Quality Education (SDG 4): In GAP , FBS and nutrition trainings farmers learn important skills on farming, economics, and health and nutrition
• Gender Equality (SDG 5): training of women in GAP and FBS contributes to improved self-esteem and agency of women who use their skill for a sustainable production and entrepreneurial decision making
• Decent work and economic growth (SDG 8) and Industry Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9): working along entire value chains, the program contributes to employment creation in processing industries. Until 2018 the projects created an estimated 760,000 employment opportunities along the value chains, mostly in the informal rural agricultural economy.
• Responsible Production (SDG12) is a main objective of the program. In trainings on GAP, farmers are trained in the responsible use of production inputs and sustainable production of crops in their farming system
• Sustainable production also means acting towards better climate resilience and fighting against climate change (SDG 13)

Contributing to the achievement of several SDGs, the program is fully in line with development priorities laid out in the “Marshall Plan for Africa”, recently released by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. The establishment of value chains and targeted support for agriculture form the cornerstones of the projects regrouped under the A4SD. They create jobs and increased income in production and processing which leads to improved food security which the Marshall plan formulates as main target. In addition, the mobilization of private investment is the main impact of the programme’s innovative Matching Fund model. 

Besides the Marshall plan aims to mobilize own funds of partner countries. This is a key aspect in the cooperation with public partners in the A4SD projects. These contribute substantially in cash or kind in the implementation of project activities, thus driving project implementation towards achieving their priority goals.