A new consortium comprising Caritas Denmark, Access2innovation and the Danish Agriculture & Food Council have been selected for a Strategic Partnership Agreement by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a total funding of DKK 63 million per year for the period 2027–2031. Caritas Denmark, who is the lead in the consortium, is already a strategic partner to the Danish Government; but based on the need to involve the private sector in the development work, the consortium was formed and pre-qualified as partner last year.
“First, I would like to commend the Danish government for its new Africa strategy, with its greater focus on private-sector development assistance, which has now also left its mark on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ partnership agreements. Humanitarian aid is important, but in my view, it cannot stand alone, because it focuses more on acute needs and is not sufficiently addressing the long-term problems of developing economies,” says Henrik Anker-Ladefoged of Access2Innovation. He continues:
“In a country like Uganda, some 75% of the population is under 25 years of age, and especially young people in rural find it very difficult to get a job. From our own experience we know that stable economic development helps create the framework for a strong democracy and civil society. Together with our consortium partners, we will therefore focus on building capacity in business understanding and development among cooperatives and small businesses in the agricultural sector, where around 70% of the population earns its primary livelihood. The challenges are many and significant, and includes cultural, financial, political, educational, climaterelated and organizational issues. Tackling them requires a range of competencies, and no single organisation can manage the task on its own. That is why we have formed a consortium with Caritas Denmark and the Danish Agriculture & Food Council, and we look forward to working with our partners to deliver sustainable solutions that can create job opportunities, especially for young people and women in rural areas, and thereby help strengthen civil society in African countries.
The other consortium partners are equally excited about the partnership:
“We are proud and grateful for the trust. It shows that a strong local network and high professional quality make a difference. With our new consortium partners, we can connect local leadership with Danish expertise in food, innovation and sustainable business development,” says Maria Hammershøy, Secretary General of Caritas Denmark.
“We look forward to contributing Danish solutions and knowledge on sustainable agricultural production. Agriculture is central to local job creation and development,” says Kenneth Lindharth Madsen, Head of Trade, Market & Geopolitics at the Danish Agriculture & Food Council.