ASSEFAD - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS!

WHAT IS ASSEFAD?

ASSEFAD is an acronym of Society for Shelter, Education, Food and Agricultural Development in Africa, established by African Citizens Development Foundation as an NGO for Agriculture and Rural Development with mandate to work with farmers in the entire continent of Africa.

WHAT IS THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ASSEFAD AND ACDF?

ASSEFAD was established in1998 by ACDF as its executing arm for development of Agriculture and Rural communities’ for Food security.

WHERE IS ASSEFAD LOCATION?

ASSEFAD shared the same Head office with ACDF at No. 12, Samota Falola Street, off Fadeyi Street, by Obafemi Awolowo way, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.  Its own mailing address is P.M.B. 21237.

WHAT IS LEGAL STATUS OF ASSEFAD?

ASSEFAD was registered under Part C of the Incorporated Trustees of Companies and allied matters Decree No. 1 of 1990 with RC, No. 12,740

WHAT IS ASSEFAD MANDATE?

ASSEFAD was given the mandate to organize and work with the Farmers across the Continent of Africa.  To re-orientate the African farmers, change their attitudes and improve their skills towards constant positive activities in order to place the Continent properly for achieving the Millennium Development goals (MDGs)

WHAT IS THE SUMMARY OBJECTIVES OF ASSEFAD?

1. To join global development forces towards halving poverty and hunger by the year 2015.

 

1. Turning Graduates into Employers of Labour

1. Creating Job opportunities for rural dwellers through the improvement of Agricultural activities.

 

1. To compliment Governments’ efforts at both National, State and local levels in empowering the vulnerable groups and for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

1. Helping African Citizens to access Food easily being the top priority of basic Human needs which absence is capable of causing an irresolvable conflict.

1. To mobilize African Farmers for a single voice and joint problem solving.

HOW DOES ASSEFAD ACHIEVE THE SET OBJECTIVES?

By organising into group of 10 minimum and maximum of 15 members per group

WHAT STRATEGY IS ASSEFAD ADAPTING TO ASSIST THE FARMERS?

1. Working towards provision of land for the landless farmers through dialogue with stake holders including governments at all levels.

 

2. Making necessary arrangement to make available quality and unadulterated farm inputs including improve varieties.

3. To provide services towards land preparation for all farming activities.

 

4. To protect the interest of farmers against unforeseen occurrences including necessary arrangement to underwrite insurance policies for the protection of farmers’ investments all year round..

5. Providing technical and scientific advice through seminars, workshops and symposium for farmers including extension services.

 

6. ASSEFAD Council will arrange a marketing Board for sales of members produce to help them maximize their profit as a means of encouraging them to remain in the farming business.

WHAT IS MEMBERSHIP POLICY OF ASSEFAD?

Membership is on voluntary basis and it is of two types (I)  Group membership
(ii)  Associate membership.

1. Group membership is meant for the practicing farmers, or potential ones who come together with minimum of 10 and maximum of 15 members in a group.  This type of group must be prepared to cooperate with Policies of  ASSEFAD Council to form a common platform as voluntary group for sustainable development.

 

1. Associate membership is preserved for individual for the fundraising purpose and is of 3 categories ( a )  Green with minimum contribution of =N=200 (Two Hundred Naira) ( b )  Silver with minimum contribution of =N=4,000 ( Four Thousand  Naira) Gold with minimum contribution of =N=6,000 (Six Thousand Naira).

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS FOR ASSOCIATE MEMBERS?

Associate members will have unlimited benefit on all ASSEFAD activities such as workshops, seminars, symposium and conference at a discounted rate.

An Associate member with Silver membership will specifically be entitled to 5% discount on all ASSEFAD and ACDF activities including at the Citizens Colleges, while Associate Golden membership will have 10% as stated above.

WHAT IS THE ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE OF ASSEFAD?

The structure is as follows:

1. Board of Trustees

 

2. National Council headed by an elected Chairman, members include National Coordinator and Deputy National Coordinators as 1st Deputy and 2nd Deputy respectively, Zonal Coordinators as Vice-Chairmen and some invited stake holders as Council members.  Reputable African Citizens are to be appointed as Patrons and they can attend the Council meetings as ex-officio.

3. National Executive Committee (NEC) to be headed the Chairman ASSEFAD Council.  Other members are the Deputies Chairmen, Executive Secretary, and maximum of 4 other appointed members of the Council.

 

4. Zonal Boards are headed by the Zonal Coordinators. Members include other zonal officers and State Coordinators within a zone.

5. State Chapter to be headed by State Coordinator, members include other state officers and Local Government Focal persons.

 

6. Local Gongress to be headed by the Local Government Focal person, members include all Chairmen of ASSEFAD farmers groups.

 

WHAT IS THE SOURCES OF FUNDING FOR ASSEFAD?

1. Membership registration ( Group members)

 

1. Groups annual dues

1. Donations from Associate members

 

1. Solicited Fund from Donors i.e., Local and International Donors including Government at all levels.

1. Returns from ASSEFAD Investment such as micro-finances, Proceeds from ASSEFAD Millennium farm investments, Workshops, Seminars and Symposium.

 

 

IN WHAT WAY IS ASSEFAD FUNDING ITS FARMERS’ GROUP?

ASSEFAD will provide direct micro-credit facilities for the farmers’ groups within the scope of its income generating sources.

Solicit with Banks, especially the Agricultural financing institutions for soft loans from within and outside the continent for farmers’ at most reasonable negotiated interest rates in related to Agricultural Development.

Solicit for Grants and returnable Grants from Governments and other Donor Agencies for the use of farmers.

WHAT IS ASSEFAD COUNCIL POLICY ON INFORMATION MANAGEMENT?

No Council, Zonal or Chapter Officers or Representative of ASSEFAD is allowed to make any publication or Printed materials or granted Press briefing either through Print or Electronic media without express permission from the ASSEFAD Council.