A3SEED mid-term review

The Accelerating Agriculture and Agribusiness in South Sudan for Enhanced Economic Development (A3SEED) programme aims to reduce dependency on humanitarian support and promote the rise of domestic seed value chains and markets in South Sudan.

This mid-term review addresses the challenge of inadequate quality seed supply, detailing efforts to integrate businesses into supply chains, support enterprise growth, and develop a viable commercial seed market. It finds that the lack of supply of quality seeds delivered at the right price, right place and right time is the biggest limiting factor in the growth of the private commercial seed market.

Key initiatives include supporting over 100 enterprises, improving seed production models, and establishing the Seed Traders Association. The findings and recommendations aim to stimulate market expansion, highlight the importance of quality assurance, and suggest strategic approaches for sustainable market system changes.

This review is useful for informing future programmes, emphasising innovation and sustainability to support agricultural development in contexts of displacement and refugee populations.

Intervention description

The programme implemented several key interventions aimed at increasing commercial quality seed production in South Sudan. These included supporting seed companies in developing and managing outgrower models, producing quality declared seeds (QDS), and decentralising seed quality assurance.

The programme worked with ten seed companies, providing cost-share grants of around USD $55,000 to enhance their production capabilities. Activities included training seed company staff and outgrowers in good agricultural practices, establishing crop demonstration plots and supporting the Seed Traders Association of South Sudan (STASS).

The interventions led to significant improvements in seed production, with seed company partners almost doubling seed production from 2,500 metric tons (MT) in 2021 to 4,500 MT in 2022. Challenges such as high management costs and cash flow issues were noted.

Evidence methodology

The methodology involved a combination of document reviews, literature reviews and in-depth interviews with A3SEED staff, seed company partners and various seed market players.

Field visits were conducted to three of the five A3SEED hubs: Juba, Torit/Magwi, and Yambio. The review adopted an MSD-adapted OECD-DAC framework focusing on relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, coherence, impact, sustainability and learning. Data were collected from programme reports, studies, the MEL system, and interviews with stakeholders.