Banana Accompanying Measures BAM

The BAM programme is clearly geared towards reducing and ultimately eradicating poverty. Various considerations very explicitly call for addressing small farmers' and local workers' living conditions, fair allocations of revenue in the production chain, protection against health, safety and environmental hazards.

Ten countries are eligible for BAM support (with a total envelope of EUR 190 million), based on the level of banana exports, measured as import volumes by the EU over the ten years preceding the GATB.

Africa: Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana

Caribbean: Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname

Three documents were necessary in order to access BAM funds: a National Adaptation Strategy, a Multi-annual Support Strategy and an Action Fiche.

The National Adaptation Strategy (NAS) is obviously the responsibility and reflect priorities of the eligible country (government and stakeholders). Nevertheless, some characteristics of the NAS may be inferred: it will have a long-term perspective and it will most probably focus on:

a) Social and environmental resilience measures: adaptation strategies may especially address potential impacts on employment, education and healthcare, land use and the environment, and/or

b) Reducing the vulnerability of regions that currently produce bananas for export to the EU by promoting economic diversification (alternative income generation activities) and/or

c) Investing to boost the sector competitiveness.

Countries that have decided to boost their competitiveness: Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Dominican Republic, Belize, Suriname.

Countries that have chosen to promote economic diversification: Jamaica, St Vincent et the Grenadines, St Lucia and, in between the two options, Dominique

Introduction to The BAM programme

The BAM programme is clearly geared towards reducing and ultimately eradicating poverty. Various considerations very explicitly call for addressing small farmers' and local workers' living conditions, fair allocations of revenue in the production chain, protection against health, safety and environmental hazards.

Ten countries are eligible for BAM support (with a total envelope of EUR 190 million), based on the level of banana exports, measured as import volumes by the EU over the ten years preceding the GATB.

Africa: Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana

Caribbean: Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname

Three documents were necessary in order to access BAM funds: a National Adaptation Strategy, a Multi-annual Support Strategy and an Action Fiche.

The National Adaptation Strategy (NAS) is obviously the responsibility and reflect priorities of the eligible country (government and stakeholders). Nevertheless, some characteristics of the NAS may be inferred: it will have a long-term perspective and it will most probably focus on:

a) Social and environmental resilience measures: adaptation strategies may especially address potential impacts on employment, education and healthcare, land use and the environment, and/or

b) Reducing the vulnerability of regions that currently produce bananas for export to the EU by promoting economic diversification (alternative income generation activities) and/or

c) Investing to boost the sector competitiveness.

Countries that have decided to boost their competitiveness: Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Dominican Republic, Belize, Suriname.

Countries that have chosen to promote economic diversification: Jamaica, St Vincent et the Grenadines, St Lucia and, in between the two options, Dominique