The document summarizes the progress made by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) in implementing resolutions from its 5th General Assembly in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. It discusses actions taken to address resolutions on investing in agricultural innovation, knowledge centers and networks, and resilience of African agricultural trade. It also outlines FARA's journey over time, a joint external review, and plans to develop a Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa to guide future work.
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Monty jones aasw2013 from ouaga to accra
1. Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa
Prof. Monty P. Jones
Executive Director, FARA
The Journey from
Ouagadougou to Accra:
What we have done
6th Africa Agriculture Science Wee
Accra, Ghana 15-20 July 2013
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Outline
• Introduction: How we got to Accra
• Progress report on actions taken in response to
resolutions of the 5th General Assembly in
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
– 13 resolutions
3. Maputo 2002
•Constitution
•Executive
Secretary
•FARA Strategic
thrusts
Joburg 2007
•Strategic Plan
2007-16
•MTOP (2008-12)
Accra 2013
• SP 2014-18
• MTOP 204-18
• Science Agenda
Dakar 2003
Refinement of
FARA’s strategic
thrusts
Ouagadougou
2010
Annual dialogue of
Ministers of Agric.
and S&T
Entebbe 2005
Integration of
North Africa
FARA’s Journey to Accra
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5th AASW Theme & Sub themes
Theme:
African Agricultural Innovation in a Changing Global
Environment
Subthemes:
1. Investment in agricultural innovation in the post-financial
crisis era
2. Knowledge centres and networks to cope with the challenges
of globalization and climate change
3. Resilience of African agricultural trade to domestic and
external shocks
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1. Investment in agricultural innovation in
the post-financial crisis era …1/3
Resolution Achievement Comment
1. Establish platforms
to facilitate innovative
partnerships with
Europe
PAEPARD II implemented
PAEPARD III negotiated
Done
2. Support studies and
assessments of trends
and impacts of ARD
investments
Joint FARA-ASTI workshop in
Accra, Dec 2011
Implementation of
recommendations on-going
On-going
7. 1. Investment in agricultural innovation in
the post-financial crisis era …2/3
Resolution Achievement Comment
3. Improve access to
research, business and market
information
• National agricultural
information platforms and
systems strengthened
• 2 Research-Media dialogues
organised
On-going
4. Establish a fund to support
coordination of AR&D in
Southern Africa
• CCARDESA is now fully
functional
• CCARDESA reserve fund
established and MDTF is
under development
On-going
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1. Investment in agricultural innovation in
the post-financial crisis era …3/3
Resolution Achievement Comment
5. Intensify advocacy for more
investments in AR&D
• 2 Ministerial dialogues
• Increased awareness of the
case of investing in AR&D
On-going
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2. Knowledge centres and networks to cope with the
challenges of globalization & climate change …1/3
Resolution Achievement Comment
1. Facilitate integration of
agricultural practices,
extension, research and
policies
• International extension
workshop in November 2011
• Integration widened to
include business + education
(UniBRAIN)
On-going
2. Scale up and out
integrated AR4D
Proof-of-IAR4D concept
established
Innovation platform concept
advocated and increasingly
mainstreamed in AR4D
On-going
10. 2. Knowledge centres and networks to cope with the
challenges of globalization & climate change …2/3
Resolution Achievement Comment
3. Intensify human capital
development for ARD
• Capacity development is on top of
the AR&D agenda
• Demand-led and across the pyramid
• Institutional arrangements for
advancing capacity strengthening
Ongoing
4. Support gender policy
audit to improve balanced
gender performance
• Strategy for mainstreaming gender
in AR&D inclusively developed
• Gender mainstreamed in new FARA
SP & MTOP
On-going
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2. Knowledge centres and networks to cope with the
challenges of globalization & climate change …3/3
Resolution Achievement Comment
5. Support AFAAS to
develop its capacity to
facilitate agricultural
innovations
AFAAS is a fully functional
Pan-African organisation
Done
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3. Resilience of African agricultural trade to
domestic and external shocks …1/2
Resolution Achievement Comment
1. Facilitate strengthening of
linkages between stakeholders
and networks in agriculture,
forestry, bioenergy and food
• Regional dialogue held in
Abuja (Oct 2012).
• Actions to advance
bioenergy agenda agreed
On-going
2. Integrate actions of CAADP
Pillar II and IV in food safety
• Increased attention to issues
of food safety alongside
nutrition and health
CAADP pillars
phased out
13. 3. Resilience of African agricultural trade to
domestic and external shocks …2/2
Resolution Achievement Comment
3. Agricultural programs to
place more emphasis on:
• Spotting and taking
advantage of opportunities
Mind-set change is taking
root to embrace balanced
analysis of problems +
opportunities
On-going
• Engaging the private sector in
value chains
Value chain approach now
being mainstreamed in
AR&D; IAR4D
On-going
• Strengthening capacity for
foresight planning
Proposal for African virtual
foresight academy promoted
for support
On-going
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Joint External Review of FARA
1. Combined 2nd EPMR and mid-term review of MTOP
FARA has:
– Made many significant achievements in a short time
– Has put AR&D firmly on development agenda
– Reduced fragmentation among subsectors actors
Challenge: Balancing mandate and stakeholder expectations
with funding especially for core and from African sources
Recommendations: Priority areas for the next planning
phase.
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A reference articulating the
science, technology, extension, innovation
s and social learning Africa needs to apply
in order to meet its development goals for
agricultural transformation
The Science Agenda for Agriculture in
Africa (S3A)
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Institutional Arrangements for
Developing the S3A
S3A
S3A
CAADP – CGIAR
alignment steering
committee
17. Process for developing the Science Agenda
1. Framing
and Scoping
2. Developing a
Discussion
Paper and an
Issues Paper 3. Commissioning
focused studies
4. Deepening the
consultation
process
5. Prepare
Science Agenda
document and
submission to
AU process
6. Launch of
Science Agenda
at July 2014 AU
summit
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Concluding Remarks
• Substantial actions initiated to implement
resolutions
• Most of the work initiated is on-going
• 5th GA Resolutions were considered when
developing the new Strategic Plan & MTOP
2 picturesoverlayed over each otherThe 5th AASW in Ouga was characterised by intensive discussion and dialogue (picture 1). The business session featured lively debate and consensus (Picture showing delegates supporting a motion)This report summarises the main decisions and what we have done to respond to them.
The resolution are organised by sub theme. Reporting is on progress made for each resolution.Reporting is on 13 resolutions: 5 for subtheme1; 5 for subtheme 2 and 3 for subtheme3
Report for Subtheme 1: 4 resolutions.IFPRI through ASTI has been tracking investments—we are taking this further to assess impact of these investments as an input in advocacy for more investments and improved utilisation of investments to deliver impact
Advocacy for agricultural information systems; Active RAILS platforms in over 30 countries; CIARD-ring strengthened in AfricaMedia dialogues were held cote d’Ivoire (French) and Ghana (English speaking)Establishment of CCARDESA was a pre-condition for a fund to be established.Contributions to the World Bank –managed MDTF come from donors. Some commitments have been made to the MDTF to finance implementation of CCADESA’s MTOP. A reserve fund with contributions from member states has also been established. SADC and CCARDESA are commended for getting African governments to directly finance their sub regional organisations.
The issue is not just about increasing investments (quantity) but also the quality i.e. where the investments are targeted and the stability of the investments.
Extension workshop was sponsored by numerous actors: CTA, FARA, AFAAS, FAO, GFRAS, GFAR, IFAD, ANAFE, RUFORUM etc. declaration made and actions agreed are being followed upIP concept has been adopted in DONAT IPTAs, CRPs, G8 technology platforms, and numerous other initiatives aimed at delivering impact and working across value chains.
The science agenda highlights the issue of food safetyThe regional dialogue in Abuja was on “renewable energy technology for increased agricultural productivity and sustainable development in Africa”Bioenergy has been an important cross cutting theme in the current MTOP and will remain an important theme in the next MTOP
Concluded that FARA remain highly relevant With regard to challenge: mandate is about triggering, catalysing, convening, facilitating, communicating etc, but few funders are willing to support this kind of work because the impact cannot be as readily demonstrated as the implementation-based work. Recommendations were a major input in preparations for the next SP And MTOP.
The Science Agenda is aimed at aligning all agricultural research for development actors [NARS; SROs, ARIs etc] around a common framework and reference. It is expected to: (1) place science in the development agenda (2) improve application of science—demand-driven and (3) improve efficiency by enhancing coordination among the all the science actors (suppliers of science e.g. CGIAR and demand e.g. investment plans)Is a component of the CAADP’s refreshed strategy under the knowledge and knowledge support thematic thrustHighly commended at this AASW by many speakers (kanayo, Mayaki, Commisioner, external partners, and many others)
Main bodies areoversight group to ensure African ownership as well as ownership by Africa’s external partners Expert panel comprising 12 members including a 4-person synthesis team
6 step process commenced in January 2013 after months of preparations Discussion paper and issues paper developed and presented at side event
In many instances a workshop or meeting of stakeholders was convened t take forward the resolutions. Actions were agreed and formed the basis of implementation of the resolutions. These actions are on-going.