A seven-year operational partnership between AHA and INOFO – the International Network of Organic Farmers Organisations – came to an end in December last year with a joint workshop and a festive closing event. The occasion was not only the formal conclusion of the project, but above all a celebration of an intensive journey together, characterised by trust, learning and continuous organisational development.
In the first week of December, representatives from INOFO and AHA came together for a final workshop lasting several days to mark the end of the seven-year project phase of the International Network of Organic Farmers Organisations.
In intensive working sessions, the participants reflected on the impact and scope of the collaboration, pooled key learning experiences and sharpened their shared perspectives for the coming years. The workshop provided space for strategic consolidation as well as mutual appreciation. The focus was less on reviewing individual activities and more on developing a shared understanding of how INOFO has evolved as an organisation – and what its strengths are today.
The workshop concluded with an excursion to a Demeter farm in the Bonn area, which gave the international participants practical insights into organic farming in Germany and an opportunity to exchange ideas about shared challenges and solutions.
A joint lunch also provided an opportunity to bring seven years of project-based cooperation with project partners and companions to a fitting conclusion. We were particularly pleased to welcome a representative from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), which provided financial support for the cooperation, as well as our long-standing implementation partner, the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ). We were also delighted to welcome other companions such as former trainers and partners.
Since the start of the collaboration in 2018, INOFO has developed dynamically. Step by step, an international network has grown into an effective organisation with a clear identity, strategic orientation and growing international presence. AHA supported this process in the spirit of flexible organisational development – always adapted to the respective development phase of the association. The focus at was not on individual measures, but on the interaction between people, structures and vision. Through joint reflection processes, training and strategic support, INOFO was able to strengthen its internal processes, define responsibilities more clearly and further develop leadership at several levels.
A key result of the collaboration is INOFO’s significantly strengthened organisational structure. Governance and decision-making processes, an international secretariat and transparent working methods form a solid foundation for sustainable action. At the same time, the ability to consciously integrate regional diversity has grown. In parallel, INOFO has been able to further expand its role as the international voice of organic farmers. Contributions to global expert and policy platforms, a continuous presence at international events and new strategic partnerships have significantly increased the visibility and recognition of the association.
For AHA, this conclusion does not mark an end point, but rather a successful transition: an organisation was supported over several years until it was able to stand on its own two feet. We would like to thank INOFO for the trust it has placed in us, its openness to joint learning and the very enriching cooperation, both on a personal and professional level.
