This two-day event in Vanuatu aims to strengthen coordination and innovation in priority food value chains in the Pacific to improve nutrition and food systems. Day one will include presentations on a study of key value chains in several Pacific countries, lessons from value chain training, and a launch of an online platform to connect actors. Participants will discuss constraints, opportunities, and how to operationalize the platform. Day two focuses on assessing capacity needs and pilot testing the online platform through working groups, with the goal of finalizing how to implement the platform and a training program to support value chain development in the region.

1. PROMOTING NUTRITIOUS FOOD SYSTEMS
IN THE PACIFIC
PRIORITY VALUE CHAIN COORDINATION/
AGRICULTURAL INNOVATION PLATFORMS
Melanesian Hotel, Port Vila, Vanuatu
Room: The Melanesian
Tuesday, 17th
October 2017 (PM)
&
Wednesday, 18th
October 2017 (AM)

2. Context
CTA with matching funding from IFAD and in collaboration with PIPSO is
implementing the Project “Leveraging the Development of Local Food Crops and
Fisheries Value Chains for Improved Nutrition and Sustainable Food Systems in
the Pacific Islands with a focus on Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon
Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu”. The goal is to strengthen the capacity of the
Pacific Island Governments, farmer and private sector organizations, and sub-
regional institutions to develop strategies and programmes, as well as mobilize
financing, that can increase poor rural people’s access to nutritious and healthy
food. An essential component of the project is the establishment and
operationalization of the value chain coordinating/ agricultural innovation
(VCC/ AI) platform to facilitate networking, knowledge exchange and interactive
learning among actors to enhance value chain performance.
In 2017, within the framework of the project, a study was commissioned to
analyse priority ‘nutrition sensitive’ value chains in Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and
Vanuatu, map the actors and identify the constraints and opportunities, taking
into consideration the perspectives of farmers. This study was complemented
by the documentation of lessons learned from targeted VC analysis training of
farmers and other value chain actors throughout the Pacific. In addition, the
online value chain coordinating/ agricultural innovation (VCC/AI) platform was
designed and developed and is ready to be tested. The virtual platform will be
supported by face-to-face capacity building and networking sessions; nationally
and regionally.
This interactive PWA side event will be used to build the foundation for
fostering shared commitment among actors to joint actions that enhance VC
performance and provide sustainable income and growth opportunities for
farmers and other value chain actors in the Pacific. More specifically
mechanisms for improving coordination and spurring innovation in policy and
practice for upgrading Pacific priority value chains will be explored. Delegates
will discuss the results and lessons learned from VC studies, identify capacity
needs of key stakeholders, reflect on the principles, processes for strengthening
collaboration and building trust among VC actors, as well as pilot-test, and
evaluate the VCC/AI online platform. The outcomes will be used to: address any
functional deficiencies and finalise the principles and process for
operationalising the VCC/AI platform and design the capacity development
programme to support the process.

3. Programme
Time Day 1: 17th
October, 14:00 – 18:00
13:30 – 14:00 Light Lunch
14:00 - 14:15 Registration
14:15 - 14:30 Remarks
Chair - Michael Hailu, Director CTA, The Netherlands
Ron Hartman IFAD Country Director Indonesia and the
Pacific.
Alisi Tuqa, Chief Executive Officer (Ag), PIPSO, Fiji
14:30 - 14:45 Opening Address
Pacific Value Chain Development: A Priority for the
European Commission - Perspectives and Opportunities
Patrick Polacsek, EU Delegation, Fiji
14:45 - 15:00 Discussion
15:00 - 15:15 Promoting Nutritious Food Systems in the Pacific –
Overview of the CTA/ IFAD/ PIPSO Project and
Principles of the VCC/AI Platform
Judith Ann Francis, Senior Programme Coordinator, Science
and Technology Policy & Project Leader, CTA, The
Netherlands
15:20 - 15:30 Discussion
15:30 - 15:50 Priority ‘Nutrition Sensitive’ Value Chains in Fiji,
Tonga, Samoa, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu –
Constraints and Opportunities
Lavinia Kaumaitotoya, Programme Manager, Pacific
Islands Farmers Organisation (PIFON)

4. Time Day 1: 17th
October, 14:00 – 18:00
Andrew McGregor, Value Chain Consultant and
Agricultural Economist, Fiji
15:50 - 16:00 Discussion
16:00 - 16:30 Coffee Break
16:30 - 16:45 PIFON Video – ‘Value Chain Training and Lessons
Learned’
Kyle Stice, Manager, PIFON, Fiji
16:45 - 17:00 Launch of the Online VCC/ AI Platform
Pier Andrea Pirani, Consultant, Malaysia
17:00 - 17:30 Learning from IFAD Projects in Fiji and Solomon
Islands and Building Synergies
Tevita Ravumaidama, Project Manager Partnership in High
Value Agriculture Project(PHVA), Fiji
Mark Johnston, Project Component Manager, Rural
Development Programme, Solomon Islands
Soane Patolo, Project Manager, Tonga Rural Innovation
Project (TRIP), Tonga
17:30 - 17:45 Discussion
17:45 - 18:00 Closing remarks – PIPSO, IFAD, CTA
Time Day 2: 18th
October: 8:30 – 14:00
8:30 - 8:45 Recap of Day 1 & Principles and Processes for
Operationalizing the VCC/AI Platform
Judith Ann Francis, Senior Programme Coordinator, Science
and Technology Policy, CTA, The Netherlands
8:45 - 9:00 Discussion

5. Time Day 2: 18th
October: 8:30 – 14:00
9:00 - 12:30 Working Group Sessions – Capacity Development Needs
Assessment
Co-Facilitators: Peter Walton and Pier Andrea, Consultants
9:00 - 10:00 Session 1: Online VCC/AI Platform
Exploring Platform Functionalities
10:00 - 10:30 Coffee Break
10:30 - 12:00 Session 2: Value Chain Development and Coordination
and Training Needs
Establishing Functional and Effective VCC/AI National and
Regional Nodes
12:00 - 12:30 Feedback and Wrap-up
12:30 - 14:00 Lunch