Pre-RUFORUM AGM 2022 Convening on Strengthening Agri-Food Systems Research Capacity in Africa

12 October 2022. Pre-RUFORUM AGM 2022 Convening on Strengthening Agri-Food Systems Research Capacity in Africa: Overcoming Bottlenecks to Current and Future Challenges 

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The overall objective of the dialogue is to establish an operational partnership on capacity development in Agri-food Systems Science, Research and Innovation at different scales on the continent. Specifically, the dialogue aims to achieve the following objectives; 

1. Discuss the current state of agri-food Systems Science, Technology and Innovation capacity in the African continent: Policies, institutions, organisations and individual capacities to deploy state of the art agri-food STI will be discussed; 
2. Review existing partnerships, collaboration and coordination mechanisms for strengthening agri-food Systems STI in Africa and propose actions for positive impact on the agri-food Systems Sector; 
3. Discuss the agri-food Systems STI financing mechanisms and provide an African perspective for sustainable financing of the Sector; 
4. Propose a Common Framework and a road map to guide Capacity Development interventions for strengthening Agri- food Systems STI in the continent.

Session 1: Opening and Setting the Scene 

• Opening Remarks by Prof. Adipala Ekwamu, Executive Secretary, RUFORUM 
• Official opening by Dr. Godfrey Bahiigwa, Director of the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Development, African Union Commission 
• Policy perspective: Hon. Lobin C. Lowe, Minister of Agriculture, Malawi (TBC) 
• Policy perspective: Hon. Monica Musenero, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Uganda: Turning Research Into Use (TBC) 

Session 2: Leveraging Research Capacity in Africa 

• Perspective from the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), Dr. Yemi Akinbamijo, Executive Director 
• Perspective from the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA), Dr. Enock Warinda, Executive Director 
• Perspective from Centre for Coordinating Agricultural Research for Development in Southern Africa (CCARDESA), Dr. Cliff Sibusiso Dlamini, Executive Director and Head of Mission 
• Perspective from the West and Central Africa Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF), Dr. Emmanuel Njukwe, Director of Research and Innovation 

Session 3: Fostering/Facilitating Research for Impact in Africa 

• Moderator: Prof. Brice Sinsin, University of Abomey Calavi, Benin 
• Perspective from the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS), Dr. Silim M. Nahdy, Executive Director (TBC) 
• Perspective from RUFORUM: the case of Community Action Research Programme (CARPs): Dr. Anthony Egeru, Program Manager-Training and Community Development, RUFORUM 
• Key Messages and Recommendations: Dr. Nadia F. Fogny, University of Abomey Calavi, Benin
• Closing Remarks by the Session Moderator: Prof. Brice Sinsin, University of Abomey Calavi, Benin