Is there a role for the African diaspora in Agricultural Research for Development?

Association of African Agricultural Professionals in the Diaspora

A new organization will link African agricultural professionals abroad and in Africa together to strengthen the continent's agricultural and rural development.

The Association of African Agricultural Professionals in the Diaspora, or AAAPD, wants to help transform African smallholder agriculture into an engine of economic growth in the continent. In addition to providing opportunities for networking among Africa's professionals, AAAPD will mobilize resources, promote the exchange of information and technology, and encourage public-private investments in agricultural research, extension and training.

"Our role is to become a bridge to African agricultural institutions, play a catalytic role in agricultural development and provide a mechanism to harness African Diaspora experiences toward Africa's agricultural and rural development," AAAPD President Peter Jeranyama said. "In this quest, we plan to work in collaboration with 'Friends of Africa' -- people who share a common interest of facilitating Africa's development."

The Association of African Agricultural Professionals in the Diaspora is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization registered in Massachusetts. AAAPD is the implementer of a grant to Iowa State University from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. A multi-disciplinary team of African professionals founded AAAPD in July 2008. The team includes Andrew Manu (Iowa State University), Stephen Machado (Oregon State University), Thandiwe Nleya (South Dakota State University), Samuel Essah (Colorado State University), Felicitas Katepa-Mupondwa (Agriculture AgriFoods, Canada), Edmund Mupondwa (Agriculture AgriFoods, Canada), Dianah Ngonyamo-Majee (Monsanto Company), Daniel Karanja (Partnership to Cut Hunger and Poverty in Africa) and Peter Jeranyama (University of Massachusetts Amherst).

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One of the assumptions of PAEPARD is to also include the Diaspora: “African Diaspora can be mobilised for ARD”. It is assumed that preventing African ARD stakeholders being part of the “scientific diaspora” support the submission of high quality proposals depending on their field of expertise and whether they are still active in agriculture.


Following a presentation of Raoul DONGE, Président Réseau CEFOREC International Centre de Formation et de Renforcement des Capacités at the European Development Days in Brussels on December 7th, CEFOREC was invited to collaborate with PAEPARD in order to mobilize the African Diaspora active in the agribusiness sector or supporting SMEs in Africa in the agricultural sector.