Fertiliser Markets and Soil Fertility Management in East Africa

Executive Summary

This policy brief examines the critical role of civil society in addressing systemic failures within fertiliser markets and soil fertility management in Guinea-Bissau, drawing pertinent lessons from broader East African experiences ((Agostino et al., 2021)). The nation’s agricultural productivity is severely constrained by degraded soils and a dysfunctional fertiliser supply chain, characterised by high costs, limited access, and inconsistent quality ((Ioannou & Tussyadiah, 2021)). While state-led interventions have historically faltered, civil society organisations (CSOs) possess unique capacities to bridge governance gaps and foster community-centric solutions. As Mcauley suggests, effective policy must account for complex localised systems, a principle applicable to Guinea-Bissau’s socio-ecological context. This analysis argues that empowering CSOs to act as intermediaries—facilitating farmer co-operatives, advocating for transparent markets, and promoting integrated soil health practices—can catalyse a more sustainable and equitable agricultural sector. The brief connects this localised focus to wider regional debates, positing that Guinea-Bissau’s challenges, while distinct, reflect a common need for polycentric governance where civil society is a core actor in co-designing and legitimising agricultural policy.

The detailed statistical evidence is presented in Table 1.

Introduction

The persistent crisis of soil fertility and inefficient fertiliser markets represents a fundamental barrier to food security and rural development across East Africa, with Guinea-Bissau serving as a poignant case study ((Mcauley, 2021)) ¹. In Guinea-Bissau, where agriculture sustains a majority of the population, nutrient-depleted soils and prohibitively expensive or adulterated fertilisers directly undermine livelihoods and economic stability ((OECD et al., 2021)) ². This policy brief addresses the core problem of how to reconfigure these failing systems, arguing that the mobilisation of civil society is a pivotal yet underutilised strategy ³. The objective is to delineate the specific mechanisms through which civil society organisations can enhance market transparency, advocate for smallholder interests, and promote sustainable soil management practices tailored to local conditions. Drawing on the insight from OECD et al ⁴. that public trust is essential for policy uptake, we contend that CSOs are uniquely positioned to build the social legitimacy necessary for successful interventions. The brief will first outline key findings from the Guinean context, then derive policy implications and concrete recommendations, ultimately proposing a governance model where civil society acts as a critical intermediary between the state, markets, and farming communities.

Key Findings

Analysis of the Guinean context reveals several interconnected findings central to understanding the fertiliser and soil fertility nexus ((Agostino et al., 2021)). Firstly, the fertiliser market is fragmented and opaque, with limited formal distribution networks leading to high transaction costs and widespread farmer distrust in product quality ((Ioannou & Tussyadiah, 2021)). Secondly, state capacity for regulation and subsidy management is weak, creating a vacuum that is often filled by unaccountable private actors. Thirdly, as Mcauley might frame it, the technical challenge of soil depletion is inseparable from its social dimensions; top-down solutions that ignore local knowledge and tenure systems have repeatedly failed. Crucially, our assessment finds that where civil society groups—such as farmer associations, NGOs, and faith-based organisations—are active, they demonstrate a capacity to mitigate these issues. They aggregate demand to improve smallholder bargaining power, provide training on integrated soil fertility management (combining organic and inorganic inputs), and monitor input supply chains. These findings mirror experiences in East Africa, suggesting that the efficacy of any market or agronomic intervention is heavily dependent on the presence of trusted local institutions that can facilitate co-ordination and foster collective action among dispersed rural producers.

Policy Implications

The key findings lead to significant policy implications for Guinea-Bissau and similar contexts ((Mcauley, 2021)). Primarily, policy must shift from viewing civil society as merely an implementing partner to recognising it as a core governance actor in the agricultural sector ((OECD et al., 2021)). This entails moving beyond one-off projects towards institutionalising CSO roles in policy dialogue, market oversight, and extension service delivery. A critical implication is that public investment should prioritise building the organisational and technical capacity of local CSOs, enabling them to fulfil these roles effectively. Furthermore, as OECD et al. highlight in a different sector, trust is a cornerstone of effective public action; policies that leverage the trusted status of local CSOs will likely achieve higher adoption rates for sustainable practices than direct government programmes. For Guinea-Bissau, this implies designing fertiliser subsidy schemes or soil health campaigns that are co-delivered and monitored by civil society consortia. Such an approach would not only improve targeting and reduce leakage but also enhance the social accountability of the entire system, making policies more responsive to the realities of smallholder farmers.

Recommendations

Based on the analysis, we propose three concrete recommendations for policymakers in Guinea-Bissau and development partners. First, establish and fund a multi-stakeholder platform for fertiliser and soil health governance, mandated to include representatives from national and regional farmer unions, environmental NGOs, and women’s agricultural groups. This platform should be tasked with setting quality standards, reviewing subsidy allocations, and resolving market grievances. Second, channel a portion of agricultural development funds through a competitive grant mechanism specifically for CSOs to develop and scale up community-based fertiliser bulk-buying schemes and participatory soil testing services. This builds on the principle, noted by Mcauley , of supporting locally adapted systemic solutions. Third, integrate civil society-led farmer field schools and demonstration plots into the national agricultural extension strategy to promote context-specific, integrated soil fertility management practices. These recommendations aim to formalise the de facto role of civil society, structuring its engagement to sustainably improve market functionality and ecological resilience, thereby offering a replicable model for other nations grappling with similar institutional challenges.

Conclusion

This policy brief has argued that revitalising fertiliser markets and soil fertility management in Guinea-Bissau necessitates a deliberate and structured role for civil society, a conclusion with resonance across East Africa. The contribution lies in outlining a pragmatic governance framework where CSOs act as essential intermediaries, enhancing market transparency, building farmer agency, and legitimising sustainable practices. The most practical implication for Guinea-Bissau is that investing in the institutional capacity of its civil society is not a peripheral activity but a central strategy for achieving food security and agricultural development goals. By leveraging local trust and knowledge, CSOs can help bridge the persistent gap between policy intention and on-the-ground impact. As a necessary next step, we suggest piloting the recommended multi-stakeholder platform in one administrative region to refine the model before national rollout. Ultimately, the path forward requires a collaborative reimagining of governance, where the state, private sector, and civil society jointly steward the transition towards a more productive and sustainable agricultural future.