Announcement: PAEPARD AFRICA Multi-Stakeholders Consultation (AMSC)

Practical organization: WP II leader and co-leader (PAFFO- EAFF) and FANRPAN
Date and place: 12th-13th May 2011. – NAIROBI (HILL PARK HOTEL)
Duration: 2 days

Objectives
The main objectives are to synthesize and harmonize the process out of the sub-regional MSC exchanges to develop a common perspective for the African stakeholders. In order to explore the possibilities of having common federating themes within the fast track and slow track processes inclusive of balanced ARD partnership. This workshop will be coming in the back drop of the European MSC which has also interrogated various partnerships.

The main questions to be answered during the MSC are:

1. How should non-research (farmer’s organizations, private sector and NGOs) lead or influence the orientation of ARD towards a more balanced but demand driven approach whilst incorporating partners in research and ensuring engaged participation of the African family farmers?
2. How do we shift the thinking and approach of research by researchers and development partners to be more results oriented in as far as addressing real challenges faced by African farmers
3. How to establish, manage and sustain inclusive and balanced partnerships in ARD?
4. What are the most promising opportunities federating and common themes suggested by the MSC consultations and around which ARD collaboration of research and non-research stakeholders from Africa and Europe could be envisaged?
5. What are the needs of each stakeholder category in order to establish inclusive and balanced partnerships in ARD and what role can PAEPARD play to support establishment of such partnerships?
6. How could non-research partners strategize in advocating form increased and sustainable (from within and outside Africa) funding for ARD that benefit the majority of African farmers
7. How to strengthen the analytical capacity of non-research partners in Africa to enable them analyze research policies and programmes with the intent of providing informed and balanced inputs into ARD in Africa

Expected results from the MSC are:

1. Lessons learned from the internal and MSC consultations shared
2. Processes and mechanisms for balanced demand driven partnerships identified
3. Promising opportunities of federating themes for partnership identified
4. Collective and individual stakeholder groups needs in terms of information, capacity strengthening, and advocacy defined
5. Main elements for the case studies common format and analytical framework agreed
6. Recommendations for project follow-up agreed, in particular for the facilitation/brokerage of new partnerships
7. Elements to feed the PAEPARD advocacy strategy identified