Technical Assistance

The Europe-Africa-Caribbean-Pacific Liaison Committee (COLEACP) is a civil society organisation based in France and Belgium, established in 1973 by stakeholders in the international fruit and vegetable trade. COLEACP is a not-for-profit inter-professional association whose mission is to develop inclusive, sustainable trade in fruit & vegetables and food products, focusing on the ACP countries’ trade with one another and with the European Union.

From an operational standpoint, COLEACP is a network and a technical assistance tool for the sustainable and inclusive development of the private sector (SMEs) based on expertise and an active training system in 50 countries (outside the EU). Since its creation, COLEACP has been managing development projects in the ACP agricultural and food sector, financed by donors (European Union, French Development Agency, World Trade Organization).

COLEACP is also regularly consulted by public and private stakeholders to support them with crisis management (food safety and plant protection). Its positioning as an organisation permanently liaising between the different stakeholders in the agricultural sectors facilitates this type of action.

"Growing people"
COLEACP’s vision is that ongoing changes in the global agri-food model will require continuous capacity building and training for current and future generations of producers, entrepreneurs, consultants, technicians and all economic actors in the agricultural and food system. This is especially the case in ACP countries and particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, which is well positioned to become the driving force behind a new, sustainable model of agriculture.