Breaking the Cycle: An Unorthodox Approach to Lasting Change

We’ve all been there – seeing another non-profit organization pop up and wondering, “There are so many already. Shouldn’t the world’s problems be solved already?” It’s a fair question and one that often brings a sting of self-consciousness and apprehension to the helper and do-gooder in us all. In the early concept phases of Walisha, we grappled with these doubts and narratives, too. However, what kept us moving ahead was the firm belief and knowledge that Walisha stood apart from the status quo and was willing to take the time to do things differently. 

The Slow Road to Success

In some of the first conversations about what we wanted to do differently with Walisha, time became a recurring theme. We all know that “time is money,” and in the age of efficiency, getting things done as quickly as possible is often the #1 priority. But we decided we wanted to look at time differently. Time, we believe, is like money in the sense that if you invest it wisely and patiently, the payoff will be more than you ever dreamed. 

That’s why our first key differentiator is our commitment to a long-term, sustainable approach. We’re okay with going a little slower at first because we’re in it for the long haul. Our slogan, “One Commodity, One Country at a Time,” reflects this mindset. Before taking on new challenges, we want to ensure that we’ve genuinely helped provide support to solve the original ones. We aim to see communities succeed for generations, not just a single harvest cycle.

As the Navy SEALs mantra goes, “Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.” 

Too often, NGOs understandably aim to create the biggest impact in the shortest time. While well-intentioned, this approach can be misguided. Big, fast, and hurried actions may generate great headlines and reports for donors, but they often create a dizzying and damaging effect on communities, lacking a long-term view.

Learning from the Rubble of Good Intentions

The aftermath of these quick and dirty interventions was on full display in the wheat fields of Rwanda. During our recent trip to Rwanda’s southern farming district in April, we met with a representative of a local farmer cooperative who shared stories of immensely successful projects and programs they had worked on with various organizations a decade ago. All of these were terrific initiatives but ultimately missed the mark in the long run. 

How did they miss the mark if the programs were so successful? They didn’t consider the long road. 

On our trip, the cooperative’s legal representative, while grateful, mentioned that one program didn’t account for the ongoing costs required to maintain the newly installed irrigation system. After the first round of expensive maintenance was needed, the cooperative couldn’t justify the cost of repair, and the beneficial equipment sat unused for years, with crop yields suffering as a result.  

Another organization helped install a storage facility that was neither adequately designed nor maintained to be used at more than 25% capacity. This clearly limited the project’s effectiveness and created additional costs for the farmers, who had to store their crops elsewhere. 

Yet, each organization that supported these programs proudly listed their names as partners on their websites and touted the initial successes loudly to attract the next round of funding and carry on to the next region and project.

Hindsight is always 20/20, and it is easy to see what should have been done differently today. But it makes one wonder if, had these organizations stayed around a little longer, they could have worked through the challenges and learned from them in real-time. Yields may have remained elevated, and more crops could have avoided spoilage. 

Yet, should-haves do little to help today’s problems. So instead of looking back, we’re ready to start looking forward…way forward. 

Walisha’s Four Pillars to Sustainable Agriculture Development

At Walisha, we’re committed to breaking this harmful cycle with a four-pillar strategy that supports communities from seed to sale and beyond.

Pillar 1: Boosting Yields and Resilience from the Ground Up

This pillar empowers smallholder wheat farmers to sustainably boost yields, incomes, and resilience. We promote high-yielding, locally adapted varieties alongside training in optimal agronomic practices. Facilitating soil testing, customized fertilizer plans, expanded access to irrigation, and techniques like intercropping help build climate resilience. Farmer groups are linked to stable wheat value chains, incentivizing productivity investments.

Pillar 2: Forging Modern Value Chains

The second pillar connects smallholders to modern value chains while minimizing post-harvest losses. Community-managed storage allows selling when prices are favorable. Farmer cooperatives gain bargaining power, equipment for quality compliance, and contract farming arrangements with major buyers. We advocate for improved rural transportation infrastructure and provide digital tools for pricing, weather data, and direct producer-buyer linkages.

Pillar 3: Cultivating Africa’s Young Agri-Innovators

Recognizing youth as Africa’s future, this pillar attracts top young talent through a selective fellowship. The one-year program provides classroom and field training from universities, research centers, and private-sector apprenticeships. Viable plans receive startup packages and investor connections to scale impactful agribusinesses driving food systems change.

Pillar 4: Reshaping the Policy Landscape

This pillar lobbies for unified pan-African agriculture policies aligned on doubling yields and halving losses. We build momentum through policy papers, media partnerships, and youth networks. Advocating for debt relief expands fiscal space for sustainably upgrading production systems. Combining smart policies and financing can secure Africa’s food future.

The First Battleground: Rwandan Wheat

Walisha chose wheat as its “first commodity” in Rwanda because of the immense potential to uplift smallholder farmer incomes across Africa’s massive wheat market and favorable growing conditions.

However, on-the-ground assessments revealed a daunting array of obstacles:

• Soaring production costs squeezing profits
• Dismally low yields from poor inputs and practices  
• Crippling post-harvest losses from inadequate storage
• Inconsistent quality failing market standards
• Missing midstream links like farmer-owned mills
• Underdeveloped upstream access to inputs/finance
• Untapped consumer market potential  
• Technology gaps hindering coordination
• Financing roadblocks stifling investment

Many Rwandan wheat farmers already battle low yields, high losses, and limited drying/storage capacity.

Rather than prescribing top-down solutions, Walisha collaborates side-by-side with the entire value chain – from government agencies to universities, youth trainers, and wheat buyers. This ensures solutions precisely target pain points voiced by impacted communities themselves.

Armed with this cross-sector partnership approach, Walisha projects at least a 20% increase in Rwandan wheat production within the first year – a vital step towards resilience against food supply disruptions.

Walisha’s four-pillar model and long-term vision break the cycle of unsustainable quick fixes, driving lasting agricultural transformation one commodity and one country at a time.

Partners for Progress: Transforming Rwanda’s Wheat Value Chain

The challenges facing smallholder farmers in Rwanda and across Africa are immense but not insurmountable. At Walisha, we believe that our four-pillar approach, coupled with a long-term mindset and commitment to collaboration, can create lasting, positive change in these communities.

But we can’t do it alone.

We need partners who share our vision and are willing to invest in a sustainable future for agriculture in Africa. Whether you’re an individual donor, a corporation, or a fellow organization, your support can make a tangible difference in the lives of smallholder farmers and their families.

Join us in breaking the cycle of short-term thinking and unsustainable practices. Together, we can empower communities, boost incomes, and build a more resilient and prosperous future for all.

You can take action today by subscribing to this blog, our social media pages or by visiting our website at https://www.walisha.org/ to learn more about how you can get involved. Whether through a financial contribution, volunteering your time and expertise, or simply spreading awareness, every effort counts.

Together, we can be the lasting change we want to see in the world – one commodity, one country at a time.