APAF, Associations pour la promotion des arbres fertilitaires, de l'agroforesterie et la foresterie

What APAF, Associations pour la promotion des arbres fertilitaires, de l'agroforesterie et la foresterie does

APAF (Associations pour la promotion des arbres fertilitaires, de l'agroforesterie et la foresterie) is a federated non-profit NGO network that trains smallholder farmers across six African countries in agroforestry techniques using fertilizing trees — primarily deep-rooted (10-30m) leguminous species that fix nitrogen, mobilize subsoil minerals via mycorrhizal associations, and enrich topsoil without external chemical inputs. Founded in 1992 in Togo by Bruno Devresse, the network now operates independent NGO entities in Togo, Burkina Faso (2008), Senegal (2012), Côte d'Ivoire (2016), Cameroon (2016), and Benin (2018), coordinated by a support structure in France (APAF Internationale, headquartered in Moissac Vallée Française, with a Brussels office since 2015). The technical itinerary combines four field methods — multi-tiered cropping (cash or food crops under shade trees), alley cropping (East-West hedgerows with 8m corridors), scattered tree cultivation (~10m spacing), and assisted natural regeneration (RNA) — at densities of 20-100 trees per hectare, with end-to-end accompaniment from seed production through long-term maintenance.

Core internal infrastructure is the SIPAF (Système de Suivi Interne de l'APAF) database, which stores GPS coordinates, field contours, and species data per project and underpins impact measurement and (via the 2021 Samanea subsidiary) carbon certification. The network delivers services directly in farmers' own fields through locally recruited Agroforestry Technical Advisors (CTAs) working in close coordination with village chieftaincies and local authorities. As of the 2022 dashboard, APAF reports 53,497 beneficiary families, 81,539 hectares of agroforestry fields, and 26.5 million trees planted across 700+ villages; an EU-commissioned evaluation found 99% retention of fertilizing trees in Togo's coffee-cocoa fields five years after project closure.

Revenue mechanics are diversified across four streams: (1) tax-deductible individual and corporate donations under French law (66% deduction for individuals, 60% for companies, with €10 = 10 trees as the unit-pricing model and a €40 minimum for deduction eligibility); (2) a €10 annual membership subscription; (3) project funding from international donors — historically the EU (VIIème FED €1,980,000 for PAFVI 2001-2004, plus €480,000 tropical forest budget line and €122,500 STABEX), Belgian Cooperation AGCD, and private foundations (Ivory Foundation, FDPR, Audemars, Codegaz, Okofen); and (4) legacies/bequests. The for-profit subsidiary Samanea (2021) layers in carbon-credit revenue from certified sequestration projects. APAF Internationale is registered as a French association of general interest (SIREN 841640014), enabling the tax-deductible donation framework that underpins individual giving.

Name

APAF, Associations pour la promotion des arbres fertilitaires, de l'agroforesterie et la foresterie

Legal name

ONG APAF, Associations pour la promotion des arbres fertilitaires, de l'agroforesterie et la foresterie

Website

https://ong-apaf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

APAF is a non-profit NGO network operating across six African countries (Togo, Burkina Faso, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Benin) that trains smallholder farmers in agroforestry techniques using fertilizing leguminous trees to restore soil fertility, increase yields, and sequester carbon without chemical inputs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agroforestry Services

NAICS

Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating (115112), Support Activities for Crop Production (1151)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (BPAGAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Agroforestry & Perennial Cropping Systems (EUABABAD), Soil Health & Regenerative Agronomy Consulting (AFACABAA), Agriculture & Food Security Development (BPAGABAB), Soil Carbon & Regenerative Agriculture Removal (Soil Organic Carbon Credits) (EUABAFAG)

Keywords

• Agroforestry training services
• Fertilizing tree planting
• Smallholder farmer support
• Rural development programs
• Carbon sequestration projects

Headquarters

HQ city

Kpalimé

HQ country

Togo

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and companies. Individual donors can deduct 66% of donation from taxes (art.200 and 885-0 CGI), companies can deduct 60% within limit of 5 per 1000 of turnover (art.238 bis). Minimum 40€ per year for tax deduction.
2. Annual Membership: Annual membership fee of 10€ per year.
3. Project Funding: Funding from international donors and foundations for specific agroforestry projects. Major historical funders include EU (VIIème FED, 1,980,000€; STABEX funds 122,500€; tropical forest budget line 480,000€), Belgian Cooperation AGCD, and private foundations.
4. Legacy/Bequests: Legacies of part of assets by testament, coordinated through notaries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

APAF delivers participatory, field-based training to smallholder African farmers in agroforestry techniques centered on "fertilizing trees" (primarily leguminous arborescent species with deep taproots that fix nitrogen and enrich soils), enabling cultivation of the same plots year after year without chemical fertilizers while restoring soils and forests. The organization complements training with village nursery establishment, assisted natural regeneration, village forestry, organic cocoa and coffee production support, and carbon sequestration certification via its subsidiary Samanea (created 2021), operating a network of seven African NGO entities plus a French support structure (APAF Internationale).

Product overview

APAF is a network of African and European NGOs specializing in agroforestry training and implementation. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio centered on participatory farmer training in agroforestry techniques using fertilizing trees (arbres fertilitaires). The core offerings include field-based training programs, village forestry establishment, and natural regeneration assistance. Supporting services include the SIPAF internal tracking database, village nursery establishment support, wildfire prevention programs, and carbon certification through its subsidiary Samanea (established 2021). Major programs like PAFVI demonstrate the organization's scale and methodology. The technical approaches include multi-tiered cropping (champs multiétagés), alley cropping (culture en couloirs), and scattered tree cultivation, all aimed at restoring soil fertility, preventing deforestation, and sequestering carbon while enabling sustainable farming without chemical inputs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Field-Based Agroforestry Training Program (Formation agroforestière)
• Village Forestry Program (Foresterie villageoise)
• Fertilizing Tree Planting Service (Plantation d'arbres fertilitaires)
• Carbon Certification Service (via Samanea)
• Wildfire Prevention and Community Fire Management Program (Lutte contre les feux de brousse)

Quantifiable outcome

• 32% yield increase for maize, 5% for cocoa, 74% for coffee compared to non-adopters
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Pierre RabhicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2015In September 2015, a delegation of APAFs was invited to Pierre Rabhi's estate in Ardèche, France. As a connoisseur of nature and environmental protection, Pierre Rabhi is very interested in African ancestral agroforestry techniques reactualized by APAF. A lasting collaboration was established.
• Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner providing research and technical support for agroforestry initiatives.
• IRHA (International Rural Housing Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for rural development initiatives.
• GenevaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization in Geneva region.
• ASWminorOthersPrivate supporter of APAF initiatives.
• Emile GroupeminorOthersPrivate supporter of APAF initiatives.
• CodegazminorOthersPrivate supporter of APAF initiatives.
• Fruits OubliésminorOthersPartner organization for forgotten fruits and biodiversity.
• NapamminorOthersPartner organization for APAF initiatives.
• Soin de la VieminorOthersPartner NGO 'La Chaussure Rouge - Prendre soin de la vie et le communiquer ensemble!'
• Tree for YouminorOthersPartner organization for tree planting initiatives.
• ITRA (Institut Togolais de Recherche Agronomique)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChosen by EU to conduct scientific evaluation of PAFVI project in Togo.
• Association Togolaise des Producteurs Biologiques (ATPB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFarmer organization with ~20,000 members created through diffusion of agroforestry techniques. ATPB members produce 70% of Togo's cocoa and 62.7% of coffee without chemical fertilizers.
• Champ de MilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation founded by Pierre Gevaert that merged with APAF France in 2013. Pierre Gevaert became honorary president of APAF France/Internationale.
• SamaneaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany created in 2021 by APAF France to handle carbon certification of certain agroforestry projects.
• ACDR, SEATminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational development structures with which APAF signed protocol agreements for project implementation.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Vi Agroforestry (Vi-skogen):

Direct peers

• Trees for the Future: US-based nonprofit running a "Forest Garden Approach" training program for smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, with similar village-level agroforestry training and tree-planting methodology. Direct operational peer with comparable farmer training and impact-measurement model.
• One Acre Fund / Tupande: Large nonprofit providing inputs, training, and market access to smallholder farmers across East and Southern Africa. Comparable in serving smallholders with bundled agronomic services and tracking farmer outcomes at scale.
• Farm Africa: UK-based NGO implementing agroforestry and sustainable agriculture programs for smallholder farmers in East Africa. Comparable in methodology (tree planting, farmer training) and donor profile (EU, foundations).

Broad incumbents

• Rainforest Alliance: International sustainability certification organization focused on deforestation-free supply chains, including cocoa and coffee in West Africa. Comparable end-market focus (cocoa/coffee sustainability) but operates via certification rather than direct farmer training.
• Heifer International: Global nonprofit supporting smallholder farmers in Africa with sustainable agriculture, livestock, and value-chain projects. Overlapping donor base (EU, foundations) and similar training-plus-implementation model.
• TechnoServe: International nonprofit working with smallholder farmers in Africa and Latin America on coffee, cocoa, and other value chains. Comparable in serving West African smallholders and training in sustainable practices.
• World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF / CIFOR-ICRAF): CGIAR-affiliated research institution advancing agroforestry science globally and a recognized leader in fertilizer-tree research. Comparable in technical domain (fertilizing trees, agroforestry) but operates at research/policy scale rather than village-level training.

Emerging players

• Green Belt Movement: Kenyan grassroots organization founded by Wangari Maathai focused on tree planting and community-led environmental action. Comparable in community-based approach and African focus, though primarily tree-planting rather than integrated agroforestry.

Regional players

• Initiative for the Development of Agroforestry in the Sahel (IDAS): Regional Sahel-focused agroforestry programs under CILSS/AGRYHMET covering Sahelian countries (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Senegal). Operates in geographies adjacent to APAF with similar smallholder focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@apafinternationale718
• Facebookfacebook.com/ong.apaf
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/apaf

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about APAF, Associations pour la promotion des arbres fertilitaires, de l'agroforesterie et la foresterie