Scientific and Technical Partnerships in Africa: Technologies, Platforms, and Partnerships in support of the African agricultural science agenda, Abidjan, Cote d'Ivoire, April 4&5, 2017

1. Rolling out the Science Agenda for Agriculture
in Africa (S3A) at country level
Technologies, Platforms and Partnerships in support of the African agricultural science agenda
Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire / April 4 and 5, 2017
Aggrey Agumya
Director, Partnerships & Communication
FARA

2.  Apex continental body for agricultural research and
innovation
 Forum encompasses research and innovation actors at all
levels (national, sub-regional, continental, international)
 Secretariat coordinates implementation of the agric.
research and innovation strategy set by the forum.

3. FARA was commissioned by
the AUC and NEPAD agency to
coordinate the development of
the Science Agenda

4. In line with its mandate, FARA is now coordinating
the operationalization of the Science Agenda at
country level
 Goal of the Science Agenda is to double agricultural
productivity by 2025
 What STI-related actions should be taken by countries
to achieve this goal? In terms of:
• Capacity development
• The science (technologies & innovations)
• The enabling policy environment
• Investments
 Planning and implementation of country science
agendas

5. FARA and SROs are engaging with countries to:
Sensitize them about the Science Agenda and craft a country-
owned process for operationalization at country level.
 Approach:
• 4 regional consultations in Lilongwe, Kigali, Dakar, Accra.
(April-May)
• National consultations in tier 1 countries: Malawi, Rwanda,
Senegal, Ghana & possibly South Africa (June-July) & High
level buy-in

6. The Science
Agenda
consultations will
involve actors in
the national
agricultural
innovation system
(NAIS)
NAIS
NARIs
Education
Advisory
Services
Producers
Agri-
business
Policy
makers
Investors
SRO
FARA
CGIAR
etc

7. FARA and SROs are engaging with countries to:
Sensitize them about the Science Agenda and craft a country-
owned process for operationalization at country level.
 Approach:
• 4 regional consultations in Lilongwe, Kigali, Dakar, Accra.
(April-May)
• National consultations in tier 1 countries: Malawi, Rwanda,
Senegal, Ghana & possibly South Africa (June-July) & High
level buy-in
• Draft funding proposal to support operationalization in tier 1
countries and its validation (August)
• Partnerships for implementation, followed by implementation

8. Gaps
 Limited involvement of national actors—they are
responsible for most of the action
• Addressed through the planned regional and national
consultations
 Results framework and tracking mechanism not yet
elaborated
• This is now being developed
 Coordination to ensure coherence of the various
initiatives contributing Science Agenda indicators
(national progs, APPs, TAAT, AARP, CG programmes,
RUFORUM, AGRA, etc) --consultation

9. Concretizing partnerships for impact
 Results framework as the bridging mechanism
 Strengthen the Technical Network on Research & Extension +
linkage with other actors
 A forum to coordinate planning and track progress
 Oversight / governance
NARIs
FARA
AFAAS
SROs
CGIAR
centres
Private
Sector
Ruforum
AGRA Development
PartnersAATF
Policy Makers
S4AC
CAAD TN on
research and
extension

10. Thank you
www.faraafrica.org