IntensAfrica is a proposed collaboration between the European Commission (EC) and Africa to develop a large-scale scientific partnership in the field of sustainable intensification of agriculture. The collaboration would aim to increase synergy and volume of ongoing research, as well as stimulate new research. It would be implemented using Article 185 as a model, which would involve research organizations as beneficiaries financed by the EC to serve European and EU policy interests. A 1 million euro project is proposed to develop a plan for IntensAfrica during a planning phase, describing the added value for Africa and Europe, the scientific agenda, and governance structure to guide a larger implementation phase receiving over 100 million euro in funding.

1. IntensAfrica: an Africa-EU collaboration
Adewale Adekunle, FARA
Huub Löffler, Wageningen UR
March 17, 2014

2. IntensAfrica: History
 In 2012, the EC asked CIRAD and Wageningen UR to
explore together with FARA the possibilities to
develop a large-scale scientific collaboration
between EU and Africa in the field of Sustainable
Intensification with the objectives to
● Increase the synergy of ongoing research
● Stimulate new research
● Increase the volume of the research
 The EC suggested ‘article 185’ as a model

3. IntensAfrica
 Objective:
…Improve the livelihood of family farmers by sustainable
intensification of agriculture…

4. Food security and livelihood of farmers
 Efficient agri-food systems
 High land productivity, serving also the urban population
 Sustainable production systems
 Higher labour productivity, income diversification on-
farm and off-farm
 Economic development by agri-food value chains
 Rural development and employment

5. Sustainable Intensification
 Many studies advocate sustainable
intensification
 Montpellier Panel paradigm: Higher
output of agriculture in terms of
production, income and nutrition

6. Sustainable Intensification
 Many studies advocate sustainable
intensification
 Montpellier Panel paradigm: Higher
output of agriculture in terms of
production, income and nutrition
 IntensAfrica
● A variety of pathways
● Interdisciplinarity
● System approaches
● Production and value chains
● Science with impact

7. Characteristics IntensAfrica
 Fits the objectives of CAADP
 Fits the S3A agenda
 Builds on what is ongoing
 Adds to what is ongoing
 System approach
 Multi stakeholder involvement

8. Potential activities for IntensAfrica
 Aligning existing research projects
 Launching new research projects
 Strenghtening scientific capacities of agriculture
scientists and institutions
 Enabling vibrant scientific communities and partnerships
between Europe and Africa
 Nurturing co-innovation
 Feeding policy-science interfaces

9. More information
 Keep informed (mailing list)
 Active participation in developing a plan for IntensAfrica
Contact
FARA: Adewale Adekunle (aadekunle@fara-africa.org)
Wageningen UR: Huub Löffler (huub.loffler@wur.nl)
CIRAD: Philippe Petihuguenin (philippe.petithuguenin@cirad.fr)

10. Current situation
Country 1
Funders Projects
Country 2
Country 3
Country 4
Country 5

11. Article 185
Country 1
Funders Projects
Country 2
Country 3
Country 4
Country 5
EU
Intermediate

12. Article 185: characteristics
 Activity of funders
 Research organizations are
beneficaries
 Financed by the DG Research and
Innovation
● Must serve the European
Research area and different
EU policies
● Not in competition with
other funding

13. Article 185: IntensAfrica
Funders ProjectsIntermediate
Country 1 EU
Country 2 EU
EU
Country 3 EU
Country 1 Afr
Country 2 Afr
Country 3 Afr
AUC ??
Country 4 Afr

14. Article 185: IntensAfrica
Funders ProjectsIntermediate
WHY HOW WHAT
Country 1 EU
Country 2 EU
EU
Country 3 EU
Country 1 Afr
Country 2 Afr
Country 3 Afr
AUC ??
Country 4 Afr

15. • Develop a plan for
the implementation
phase, addressing
the WHY, WHAT and
HOW
• Raise and
demonstrate
commitment for the
plan
• Workshop in
Wageningen
• Workshop in
Montpellier
• Concept Note
• Consultation at
policy level
• Side event Science
week Accra
• Side event High-
level Dialogue
• SA3 consultation in
Accra
• Discussion in
Nigeria
• Workshop in Paris
• Discussion with EC
Article 185: IntensAfrica
Exploratory phase Planning phase Implementation phase
NOW
1 Meuro
>100 Meuro

16. A project for the planning phase
 The EC invited Africa and EU to jointly submit a 1 Meuro
project proposal for the planning phase.
 Objective of this project is to develop a plan for the big
fish describing:
● The added value Africa and Europe and its relation
to ongoing research (Why)
● The scientific agenda (What)
● The structure (How)
 Submit half June to the EC

17. A project for the planning phase
WHY HOW WHAT
Expected
Impact
WP7
Creating
synergy
WP3
Research
Agenda
WP2
Working
modalities
WP4
Governance
WP5
Coordination WP1
Communication WP6

18. A winning consortium
WP EU Africa
1 WUR (NL) Huub Loffler FARA Adewale Adekunle
2 CIRAD (FR) Florent Maraux CORAF Abdoulai Jalloh
3 UCL (B) Philippe Baret CCARDESA Simon Mwale
4 SLU (S) Carolyn Glynn
5 IICT (P) Ana Melo
6 MTT (F) Rou Tubb AFAAS Dan Kisauzi
7 UoC (D) Andreas de
Neergaard
ASARECA Enoch Warinda
 Seven work packages
 Joint leadership

19. The Big Fish…
 Driven by funders,
policy and politics
 Multi stakeholder
involvment
 Open for all countries
to participate
 Open for all research
organizations to
contribute

20. IntensAfrica
...let’s make it happen...