MOVE - Market Oriented Value Chains for Jobs and Growth in the ECOWAS region improves income and employment prospects in the ECOWAS region along market-oriented and resilient value chains (rice and cashew).
Our MOVE umbrella
With global and regional demand constantly rising, cashew and rice production and processing offer important potential for training, employment, and wealth creation. This can be achieved through private sector development, can help to mitigate climate change, and bring economic empowerment to women and youth. Under the umbrella of MOVE your can find CARI - Competitive African Rice Initiative, EU Reach - Resilience against Climate change and ComCashew - Competitive Cashew Initiative.
CARI
Competitive African Rice Initiative
The Competitive African Rice Initiative (CARI) was launched in 2013. We, at CARI, support small-scale climate-friendly rice production, and advocate for cooperation on equal terms, between our target groups and the private sector.
REACH
Resilience Against Climate Change
The REACH Project on adaptation and mitigation to climate change for the local population in North West Ghana has been developed to contribute to the development of rural communities and stable land management in the face of climate change, by promoting climate resilient practices.
ComCashew
Competitive Cashew Initiative
ComCashew constitutes a new era of multi-stakeholder partnership aiming to achieve a sustainable poverty reduction in the project countries Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone, by enhancing the competitiveness of African cashew smallholders, processors and other actors in the value chain.
Our approach
Increasing the value creation of processing in the ECOWAS region through strengthened private sector engagement.
Improve the economic and environmental sustainability of agricultural systems using good agricultural practices (GAP) and Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) for climate-resilient, resource-conserving agriculture and carbon sequestration.
Increasing local consumption of rice and cashew products through marketing initiatives and by-products.
Disseminating good practices in promoting inclusive business models by integrating gender transformative approaches (GTA) and information technology (IT) capabilities.
Strengthening public-private cooperation in policymaking to reduce regional trade barriers and to support social transformation, like ECOWAS Rice Observatory (ERO), the Consultative International Cashew Council (CICC), African Cashew Alliance (ACA).
News

ComCashew
Call for Mentors: Empower the Next Generation of Women in the Global Cashew Sector
Are you a woman in the global cashew sector with a passion for empowering others? Do you want to share your expertise, experiences, and insights to help shape the future of young and ambitious women in the industry?
We are excited to invite you to volunteer as a mentor in our new CasheWomen Mentorship Initiative. This initiative is designed to connect seasoned professionals like you with emerging women leaders who are eager to grow, learn, and excel within the cashew industry.
Read more … Call for Mentors: Empower the Next Generation of Women in the Global Cashew Sector

Impact
Call For Applications - Rice Miller Business Training (RMBT) Program and Business Development Support (BDS)
RMBT & BDS Program
The call for applications is specifically looking for mills intending to improve their mill operations. Bühler, PFS, GPIC and GIZ-CARI/MOVE are offering an in-depth specialization in ...

ComCashew
Fostering Progress: Enhancing Private Sector Development for a Resilient and Prosperous Future in the OACPS Member States.
The Organisation of the African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS Secretariat), in partnership with the European Union under the Samoa Agreement, organized a High-level Dialogue on Private Sector Development (PSD) in Brussels on the 13th and 14th of February 2025. The event was a celebration of the Business ACP Facility, nearing the conclusion of its impactful journey in mid-2025.

Forging Stronger Agricultural Partnerships: Hon. Eric Opoku Meets with German Development Cooperation Representatives
On February 18, 2025, representatives of the German Development Cooperation; Daniel Böhme WZ Officer, German Embassy, Beate Weiskopf project leader for GIZ/Market-Oriented Value Chains for Jobs and Growth in the ECOWAS Region (MOVE-ComCashew) and Bashiru Fuseini Deputy Head of Programme for the GIZ/Sustainable Employment through AgriBusiness (AgriBiz) in Ghana, met with the newly appointed Ghanaian Minister of Food and Agriculture, Honorable Eric Opoku, in response to his invitation.

Impact
AfricaRice and MOVE Launch Inaugural Rice Master Training Programme
Master Training Programme on the Rice Value Chain
Designed with a focus on sustainability, innovation and practical application, the RMTP equips value chain actors with essential skills to ...
Read more … AfricaRice and MOVE Launch Inaugural Rice Master Training Programme

Impact
Enhancing Ghana’s Rice Value Chain through Contract Farming
Contract Farming
The sessions were designed with adult learning methods, combining theoretical concepts with hands-on exercises to ensure an engaging and impactful learning experience.
Read more … Enhancing Ghana’s Rice Value Chain through Contract Farming