The main focus of this sub-activity is to provide support to Producer and Processor Organisations (PPO) involved with indigenous natural products in Namibia.  Building the capacity of PPOs is critical for them to be able to effectively respond to market demands in terms of volume and quality.  This will be accomplished through the delivery of training and the provision of small Primary Production Improvement Grants to PPOs.  The priority training interventions will:

• Assist PPOs to develop skills and structures in leadership, governance, management, member communication and advisory services;
• Facilitate the development of viable/practical business plans and skills of members to implement the plans in financial recordkeeping, procurement contracts and customer accounts;
• Improve cultivation, harvesting, handling and processing “Codes of Practice” and new innovations adopted by PPOs and their members necessary to advance delivery of sufficient volumes of high quality product as demanded by buyers. Allow PPOs to understand the functioning of the value chain and their roles (utilising the INPs) within that chain; and
• Establish a basis to attain organic and fair-trade certification for these products.

In June 2010, MCA Namibia signed a contract with the Natural Resources Institute (NRI) of the University of Greenwich in the United Kingdom to provide technical support to the Producer and Processor Organisations active in the INP sector.  The NRI has teamed up with three Namibian organisations: the Centre for Research Information and Action in Africa Southern Africa Development and Consulting (CRIAA SA-DC), the Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation (IRDNC) and the Namibia Nature Foundation (NNF).  These Namibian partners are all well known for their work with indigenous natural products and community development in Namibia which will be a definite advantage in the implementation of this sub-activity.