The PAEPARD platform aims to address insufficient agricultural research capacities, linkages, and collaboration between Africa and Europe. It has established 19 Africa-EU research partnerships and 5 sub-regional partnerships led by African farmers' organizations. Lessons learned include the importance of understanding innovation processes, the role of civil society groups and farmers, and using flexible funding strategies to incentivize demand-driven agricultural research. Going forward, the platform aims to strengthen partnerships, advocate for its innovation approach, and explore expanding to additional world regions.

1. Platform for African-European
Partnership on Agricultural
Research for Development
Paolo Sarfatti
EFARD / AGRINATURA

2. Outline of the presentation
 Introduction
 Problems addressed
 Activities, outputs and outcomes
 Lessons learned
 Commitment to collective actions
2012-2014
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3. Introduction
 PAEPARD Phase II (2009-2013)
 Total budget 6.85 Mio Euro (80% funded
by the European Union)
 Collaboration between FARA and EFARD
 FARA  lead
 AGRINATURA (CIRAD/IAO/NRI)  colead
 Other partners  PAFFO
(EAFF/ROPPA/PROPAC/SACAU);
RUFORUM; FANRPAN; COLEACP; CSA;
ICRA
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4. Problems addressed
 Insufficient capacities
 Insufficient research-extension-
development linkages
 Insufficient cross-sectoral linkages
 Agricultural research insufficiently driven by
demand and opportunities
 Insufficient collaboration between Africa
and Europe in ARD
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5. Theory of change
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6. Current activities
 Stakeholders networks mobilisation
(Africa & Europe)
 Information & Communication
 Capacity strengthening
 Partnerships development
 Advocacy
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7. Outputs
 Regional SH consultations
 Information/communication
 19 Africa-EU research-user consortia
established
 5 “sub-regional” partnerships around
“federating themes” led by African Farmers
Organisations and private sector.
 24 “Agricultural Innovation Facilitators”
 New funding modalities advocated
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8. Outcomes generated
 Strengthened EFARD, mobilized EU & African
stakeholders
 Working relationship between Af/Eu networks
and key constituent organizations established
 “Balanced” MS partnerships
 Role of partnership “brokers/facilitators”
developed
 More effective funding mechanisms to support
integrated ARD (expected through advocacy)
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9. Lessons learned 1
 EFARD - effective regional forum
 Understanding innovation processes
 Role of CSOs (NGOs, FOs) and linkages with
other SH groups
 Traditional financing instruments favour initiatives
led by formal research organizations.
 Community-managed Local Innovation Support
Funds interesting alternative.
 Power goes with control of resources
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10. Lessons Learned 2
 ARD partnerships need to allow space/support
for farmer-led experimentation/ innovation
 Incentives structures of research
organisations
 Flexible “funding strategies”
 “Brokers” and “facilitators” vital in effective
ARD partnerships
 Need to be realistic about
“transaction/investments” costs
 Trust takes time P. Sarfatti - PAEPARD
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11. Committments to collective
actions 2012-2014
 Mobilize stakeholders in the demand-led
process
 Document and share information
 Improve/Strengthen PAEPARD e-platform
 Involve partners in capacity strengthening
 Mentoring established consortia
 Advocate for innovation approach
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12. With additional support
Finance partnerships/consortia
facilitated by PAEPARD through other
funding sources
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13. With large scale investments
 Mid-term review in 2012 recommened third
phase
 Formulation phase launched by the EC
(on-going)
 Explore feasibility of platforms with other
regions.
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14. Thank you for your attention
www.paepard.org
www.paepard.blogspot.com
www.efard.org
www.agrinatura.eu
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