WEBINAR: Covid response in EU External Action financing

9 July 2020. Covid response in EU External Action financing

In response to an increasing demand from the private sector, this webinar focused on Covid response in EU External Action financing. 

In recent years, the implementation of the budget that the European Union allocates to third countries has experienced what could be regarded as a revolution. Indeed, up to five years ago most of the so called External Action budget was managed directly by the European Commission and the recipient countries’ authorities. Nowadays, the implementation of a large chunk of that financial envelope is delegated to a wide variety of actors, such as Member States development agencies, International Financial Institutions and non-profit making organisations.

Program

Recording

Presentations:

• COVID response of the EU External Action budget in Subsaharan Africa, Asia and Latin America, Mar Martínez, European Commission DG DEVCO B4, Programme manager - Health 
• “Team Europe” COVID-19 response in Enlargement and Neighbourhood countries by Georg Ziegler, European Commission DG NEAR, Support Group for Ukraine (SGUA) and Team leader NEAR 
• New EU Multi Financial Framework (MFF) for external action and pre -accession by  Massimo MINA, European Commission DG NEAR A4, Strategy and Turkey, MFF, Programming & Evaluation 
• European Investment Bank’s Contribution to the EU global COVID-19 response Raffaele Cordiner, European Investment Bank, Investment Officer, Operations Directorate - Global Partners

Organized by

• Permanent Representation of the Federal Republic of Germany to the European Union in Brussels
• Germany Trade and Invest GmbH
• Association of German Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Representation to the European Union (DIHK)
• Permanent Representation of Spain to the European Union
• Embassy of Spain, Economic and Commercial Office - ICEX Spain Trade and Investment
• Contact Point
• Permanent Representation of France to the European Union

DevCo InfoPoint Virtual Conference on the SOFI 2020 report

16 July 2020. DevCo InfoPoint Virtual Conference. "The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020 Report" 

The recording of this webinar will be available in week 30

The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020 (SOFI 2020) report presents the most recent and authoritative estimates of the extent of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition around the world. The report is a FAO annual flagship publication and a clear example of UN collaboration as it is jointly produced with five UN agencies (FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO).

This year’s report provides new estimates of hunger in the world with greater accuracy. Hunger and food insecurity are not the only challenges, but also overweight and obesity and other forms of malnutrition. For this reason, food systems and nutrition patterns are also prominently featured and analysed.

Within the current COVID-19 pandemic, a preliminary assessment of COVID-19's impact on food security and nutrition is also included as well as policy recommendations to prevent cost increases of nutritious foods and ensure access to affordable healthy diets. This virtual discussion presented and analyzed the patterns regarding the food security and nutrition situation in the world. For more information, this year’s SOFI is available since Monday 13 July here.

• Willem Olthof - Deputy Head of Unit, DEVCO C1 – Rural Development, Food Security and Nutrition
• Maximo Torero Cullen - Chief Economist/Assistant Director General for Economic and Social Department, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO)
• Elaine Borghi - Statistician, Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, World Health Organization (WHO).

Running farmer field schools in times of COVID-19: A resource handbook

Running farmer field schools in times of COVID-19: A resource handbook

This handbook provides guidance and suggestions to farmer field schools (FFS) facilitators, Master Trainers, project coordinators and rural advisors to run FFS activities and other agricultural trainings in times of COVID-19. It includes basic protective measures, important considerations, proposed FFS activities, links to WHO resources and videos and more. It was written with FFS activities in mind, but will also be useful for Extension and Advisory Services and anyone running agricultural field trainings.

The handbook has two main purposes. First, it contains guidelines that focus on reducing risks of COVID-19 community transmission when running FFS and other agricultural training activities, based on WHO recommendations adapted to the context of FFS. Second, it aims to guide practitioners in using FFS positively to disseminate basic protective measures and build effective responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

To this end, a set of 21 learning activities – jointly designed by education and technical specialists – take the readers on journeys to integrate COVID-19-related topics in their FFS and help communities respond to the challenges they face. 

The handbook was written with FFS activities in mind but will also be very useful for extension and advisory services and anyone running agricultural field training activities.

Policy recommendations on Agroecological and other innovative approaches for sustainable agriculture and food systems

The First draft (14 pages) of the Policy Recommendation on Agroecological and other innovative approaches for sustainable agriculture and food systems that enhance food security and nutrition of Committee on World Food Security (CFS) has been published.

The aim of the following policy recommendations is to assist Members and stakeholders in strengthening agroecological and other innovative approaches for sustainable agriculture and food systems that enhance food security and nutrition. In working towards this aim, these policy recommendations will build on, and contribute to, relevant existing instruments of the CFS, including the CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Food Systems and Nutrition (VGFSyN). Moreover, the policy recommendations build on, and contribute to other global human rights instruments, such as the UN Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas (UNDROP).

These recommendations aim to support the achievement of the goals of the UN Decade on Family Farming (UNDFF), the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition (2016-2025), the upcoming UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Koronivia Joint Work on Agriculture (KJWA), the Convention on Biological Diversity’s upcoming post-2020 global biodiversity framework, and to contribute to the UN Food Systems Summit.

The policy recommendations pay particular attention to the promotion of family farming, in particular small-scale food production, as these production systems make highly significant contributions to food security and nutrition, equity, poverty alleviation, employment and sustainable management of natural resources, and require specific policies to support them.
Year: 2020
Full text available at: http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/cfs/Docs1920/Agroecology_an_other_innovative/CFS_Agroecological_innovative_approaches_Draft_One.Rev1.pdf

Nutrition in a Digital World

9 July 2020. This year, the 45th edition of UNSCN Nutrition, examines the complexity of the digital world for improved nutrition: Nutrition in a Digital World (148 pages)

Digital technology, in and of itself, cannot fix the world’s food and nutrition problems, nor mend its dysfunctional food systems. However, once improving nutrition is deemed a priority, digital technologies are important tools. The potential of digital technologies to improve nutrition is phenomenal, but so are the risks that these technologies might entail.

"Digital channels facilitate greater, faster and cheaper audience reach, but widely shared misinformation and disinformation on food and nutrition over the internet is a major concern – and particularly worrying when targeted at children and young people."  (page 8)

"Young people are especially vulnerable to the interactive nature of the advertising and marketing of energy-dense and nutrient-poor HFSS food and beverage products promoted through digital media platforms." (page 11)

Most of the articles in UNSCN Nutrition 45 consider the potential-risk duality in a range of food-system perspectives– from food production, transformation and distribution to digital food marketing and retail; from behavioural change and capacity-building, including through social media, to the generation, processing and use of data; and from the protection of vulnerable groups to issues of inequality and human rights.

The theme of UNSCN Nutrition 45 – Nutrition in a Digital World was choosen before COVID-19. Digitalization has been playing a key role ever since, enabling vital parts of the world economy to continue functioning, allowing us to remain connected and giving us access to numerous public services, including those directly related to the pandemic. Another wake-up call on the need to enhance our knowledge and further the debate on the potential benefits and adverse impacts of innovative digital technologies in helping to achieve sustainable healthy diets and progressively realize the right to adequate food.

"Digitalization creates the potential for the application of digital technologies to all steps in the food supply chain. This presents great opportunities for SMEs in the agrifood sector to enhance their overall capacity, leading to the supply of better-quality diets for consumers." (page 59)

Case studies:

The mNutrition initiative was launched in September 2013. This 8-country initiative aims to improve the health of at least 0.5 million people by 2016, rising to 1 million by 2018.

• Ghana: mHealth Country Feasibility Report: Ghana
  mNutrition was implemented through an mAgri platform called Vodafone Farmers Club (VFC). This service offered an innovative combination of customized agriculture and nutrition information through SMS, by sharing local weather updates and market prices, recorded voice messages with agricultural and nutrition tips, an expert call centre to answer farming- and nutrition-related queries, discounted tariffs and free calls and text messages to other VFC members.
• Malawi: mHealth Country Feasibility Report: Malawi
• Mozambique: mHealth Country Feasibility Report: Mozambique
• Nigeria: mHealth Country Feasibility Report: Nigeria + Catalysing mHealth Services for Scale and Sustainability in Nigeria
• Rwanda
• Uganda
• Zambia: mHealth Country Feasibility Report: Zambia
• Tanzania: mHealth Country Feasibility Report: Tanzania

In Tanzania mNutrition was implemented through the Healthy Pregnancy, Healthy Baby SMS programme, also known as the WazaziNipendeni SMS programme. 

• The programme was run by the mHealth public–private partnership initiated in 2012 by Tanzania’s Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. 
• The service offered customized health and nutrition information by text message to pregnant women, mothers with newborns and male supporters to promote good health-seeking behaviour and improve knowledge and practices around optimal childcare and nutrition. 
• Wazazi Nipendeni was not a standalone intervention, but informed by government policy, actively promoting the use of government services for additional support (for example, regular antenatal care visits during pregnancy and child growth monitoring).

Regional:

• The Use of Mobile to Drive Improved Nutrition Outcomes: Successes and Best Practices from the mHealth Industry
• mHealth Regulation Impact Assessment: Africa
• The Importance of Partnerships in mHealth
• Mobile SIM-based Medical Applications

Using the Food2share app to salvage food

The Public Health Nutrition research group and technology experts at New York University have partnered to develop a prototype app, Food2Share, which connects food-insecure individuals with food establishments. Food salvaging is a strategy to recover food that would otherwise go to waste from restaurants, supermarkets and other food establishments and redistribute it to local food programmes and communities.

The fully designed Food2Share app will be adaptable to numerous countries and regions and offer language options and culturally appropriate food choices. NYU will provide technological instructions and training for institutions and countries, so that it can be used on a large scale.

 

WEBINAR. TAAT Capacity Development and Technology Outreach

15 July 2020. TAAT Capacity Development and Technology Outreach Webinar: Enhancing Commercialization of Africa’s Agricultural Research Products

Transformation in Africa’s agriculture will happen only when technology gets to the end users. FARA is therefore supporting the translation of research into products for commercialisation, and this is done as an enabler compact within the context of the AfDB funded Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) program. After two years of providing support in setting up innovation platforms, carrying our TAAT training of trainers TAAT workshops and packaging TAAT technologies for scaling, it’s time to inventories technologies that are ripe for the market.

As the designated institution charged with the Capacity Development and Technology Outreach (CDTO), a crucial element is identification, packaging and presentation of technologies from the different Compacts. Using the electronic platform, we are rolling out a series of webinars to take stock of these technologies that will enhance transformation in the respective commodity sectors.

The inaugural webinar addressed the following:

• How can we translate Africa’s agricultural research into products for commercialization?
• Can a market systems approach lead to rapid technology adoption by the end users?
• What are the agri-preneurship opportunities within the TAAT value chains that can trigger industrialization?

Opening Remarks:

• Dr. Yemi Akinbamijo; Executive Director- Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)
• Dr. Jonas Chianu; Chief Agricultural Economist/Coordinator: TAAT – African Development Bank

Speakers:

• Facilitated by: Dr. Irene Annor Frempong; Director Research and Innovations - Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)
• Dr. Robin Buruchara: Advisor – Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA)
• Dr. Innocent Musabyimana: TAAT Clearing House – International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)
• Dr. Oumou Camara; Regional Director (North and West) – International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)
• Dr. Jacques Wery: Deputy Director General – International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)

WEBINAR: Delivering food for Africa in a transforming agri-food system in the new normal

15th July 2020. Webinar ‘Delivering food for Africa in a transforming agri-food system in the ‘new normal’. Organised by RUFORUM

This webinar on delivering food for Africa in a transforming agri-food systems in the ‘new normal’ deliberated on the need to: (i) Re-contextualise support for enhancing productivity and marketing systems for smallholder farmers; (ii) Innovations for delivering agricultural advisory services to farmers to enable them make smart decisions; (iii) Innovations for reducing logistical bottlenecks and enhancing e-commerce; and (iv) Innovations for multiple agricultural and social protection interventions.

• Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President, AGRA, Nairobi-Kenya
• Dr. Simeon Ehui, Regional Director for Sustainable Development for Africa, World Bank Washington D.C
• Hon. Dr. Owusu-Afriye Akoto, Minister for Food and Agriculture, Government of Ghana, Accra-Ghana
• Prof. Abebe Haile-Gabriel, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, Accra –Ghana
• Dr. Godfrey Bahiigwa, Director, Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union Commission, Addis Ababa- Ethiopia
• Discussant: Prof Frans Swanepoel, University of Pretoria, South Africa

WEBINAR: Pathways to realize the 2030 Agenda and respond to COVID-19: African countries,

9 July 2020.  Mobilizing international solidarity, accelerating action and embarking on new  Least Developed Countries and Landlocked Developing Countries

• How can the lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and its effects be used as an opportunity for enhancing resilience and structural transformation in LDCs, LLDCs and African countries?
• What structural and other changes are needed to address the impacts of COVID-19 such as rising external debt, drop in remittances and tourism or impact on food security? How can they be accelerated for realizing the decade of action for the SDGs?
• What specific policy measures and international support are needed to protect medium and small-scale enterprises and their role in the economies of some of these vulnerable countries?
• What strategies can we use to build back better, smarter and resilient in LDCs, LLDCs and African countries?
• What recommendations would you make for the next decade in the context of the future programme of action for LDCs?
• How can we resume and accelerate progress in achieving the SDGs and delivering on the programmes of action for LDCs and LLDCs and NEPAD?

• Chair: H.E. Ms. Mona Juul, President of Economic and Social Council
• Keynote speaker: Ms. Agnes Kalibata, former Minister of Agriculture of Rwanda, President of the Alliance for Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), and Special Envoy for the 2021 Food System Summit - Statement Agnes Kalibata - AGRA 
   Many LDCs, LLCs and African states risk becoming food insecure as a consequence of both the climate and now the covid19 crisis. It is important to prioritize agriculture by declaring it a critical sector that should not be interrupted by COVID19 related measures or by reductions in funding. Food corridors need to be secured, and producers supported, to ensure uninterrupted supplies and food security. Similarly, focus should be on regions and communities where risks are most acute, strengthening social protection systems and safeguarding access to food and nutrition for the most vulnerable groups, especially young children, pregnant and breastfeeding women, older people and other at-risk groups. LDCS, LLDS and Africa must be supported to avoid hunger and major reversal of SDG2 as a result of these crises. 
• Moderator: Ms. Fahmida Khatun, Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Bangladesh
• H.E. Mr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, former Prime Minister of Niger and CEO of AUDA-NEPAD - Statement H.E. Mr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki - AUDA-NEPAD
• H.E. Mr. Khalifa bin Jassim Al-Kuwari, Director General, Qatar Fund for Development - Statement H.E. Mr. Khalifa bin Jassim Al-Kuwari - QFFD
• Mr. Ahmed Ouma, Deputy Director of Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention
• discussant Ms. Vanessa Chivizhe, Junior Parliament of Zimbabwe 
• discussant Mr. Trymore Karikoga, Acting Executive Chairperson and VIONet Zim National Coordinator, VIONet Zimbabwe (Volunteers Stakeholder Group) - Statement Trymore Karikoga - Volunteers Stakeholder Group
• Respondent H.E. Ms. Matsepo Molise-Ramakoae, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Lesotho - Statement H.E. Ms. Matsepo Molise-Ramakoae - Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Relations, Lesotho
• Respondent Ms. Fekitamoeloa ʻUtoikamanu, High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States - Statement Fekitamoeloa ʻUtoikamanu - OHRLLS
• Respondent Mr. Thomas Munthali, Director General for the National Planning Commission, Malawi - Statement Thomas Munthali - National Planning Commission, Malawi

Soil science beyond COVID-19

Soil science beyond COVID-19

Rattan Lal
Journal of Soil and Water Conservation April 2020, jswc.2020.0408A; DOI: https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.2020.0408A

The lock down has strong scientific implications to conducting field research in soil science that begins in spring and includes soil sampling for determining the baseline properties prior to crop establishment, measuring the flux of greenhouse gases in relation to soil warming, evaluating surface runoff by snow melt and spring rains, determining sediment and nutrient trans-port into aquatic ecosystems, monitoring trafficability and strength properties with soil, etc. The entire season of data collec-tion for spring/summer 2020 may be lost to the necessity of flattening the COVID-19 curve.

While the continuity in science matters, extra time available can be used for initiating and strengthening scientific networks through teleconferences and virtual workshops, tabulating and synthesizing the data from prior field and laboratory studies, writing journal articles or book chapters, and reflecting and contextualizing where the soil science has been and where it should be for effectively addressing the present and emerging challenges facing humanity and the planet Earth. Specifically, the soil science community must position itself to effectively compete for the ever-dwindling research dollars necessary to document that degradation of soil quality sets in motion interconnected vicious cycles with adverse effects on environmental and human health (figure 1). 

Therefore, this is the time to identify the entry point(s) to effectively break the overlapping vicious cycles. 

The COVID-19 crisis necessitates implementation of the “One Health “strategy: health of soil, plants, animals, people, and environment is one and indivisible. 

One of the lessons learned is that we can reduce emissions voluntarily by changing our values, lifestyle, and business as usual before Mother Nature does it for us.

WEBINAR: Covid19 pandemic: a worldwide response from the global farmers’ community.

14 July 2020. Virtual Side event Covid19 pandemic: a worldwide response from the global farmers’ community. Stories from the field. Organised by the World Farmers' Organisation and IFOAM. 

This side event at the 2020 United Nations high-level political forum on sustainable development (HLPF) showcased how the global farming community is responding to this unprecedented crisis.

Covid19 caused a health and economic crisis and lockdown measures are hugely impacting many sectors. Agriculture globally is facing severe consequences (markets’ closure, food waste - farmers cannot harvest, isolation of rural areas, difficulties in inputs supply) with devastating effects on the farmers’ livelihoods, especially small-scale ones in countries where agriculture is the main source of income. Yet, farmers keep on farming to ensure urban and rural areas do not go food insecure and everyone has access to healthy and nutritious food produced sustainably

View the recording after registering

Panel 1: an overview from the global perspective

• Theo De Jager, President, World Farmers' Organisation @3:14 + @1:05:30 in the recording
• Shamika Mone, Chairperson, INOFO/IFOAM-Organics International
• Nettie Wiebe, Representative, La Via Campesina
• Laura Lorenzo, Director, World Rural Forum

Panel 2: an overview from the regional perspective

• Elizabeth Nsimadala, President, Pan African Farmers' Organisation (PAFO) @59:58 in the recording
• Nemo Amaral, Representative, COPROFAM
• Patricia Flores, Senior Project Coordinator, IFOAM – Organics International
• Esther Penunia, Secretary General, Asian Farmers' Association
• Wrap up and closing remarks by the moderator Gábor Figeczky, Head of Global Policy, IFOAM - Organics International

Related: 

The impact of COVID-19 on family farmers in Madagascar. The video is produced by FIFATA, one of the organization participating in FO4ACP - published by PAFO on 2 July

FIFATA, littéralement « FIkambanana FAmpivoarana ny Tantsaha » ou association pour le progrès des paysans est une organisation professionnelle faîtière (OPF) malgache d’envergure nationale.
Créée le 29 septembre 1989 en qualité d’association à but non lucratif (Loi 60-133), Fifata fédère aujourd’hui des OP spécialisées (unions de coopératives, institutions de microfinance…) ou plus généralistes (fédérations régionales d’OP) dans 10 régions de Madagascar : Amoron’i Mania, Analamanga, Alaotra Mangoro, Bongolava, Haute Matsiatra, Ihorombe, Itasy, Menabe, Sofia, Vakinankaratra.

 

Les paysans africains face aux défis du Covid-19 - published by PAFO on 16 June

WEBINAR: High-Level Discussion on the Key Findings of the 2020 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World Report

14 July 2020. Transforming Food Systems for Affordable, Healthy and Sustainable Diets for All: A High-Level Discussion on the Key Findings of the 2020 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World Report Organised by IFPRI. 

The 2020 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) report highlights the most recent and authoritative estimates of the extent of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition around the world. The Report calls for a transformative change in food systems to ensure healthy and affordable diets for all, a sine qua non for eliminating hunger and malnutrition.

As the 2030 deadline looms, SOFI 2020 gauges whether #ZeroHunger remains achievable by tracking countries' performance and trajectory to offer a tiered assessment of the likelihood of success.

Opening Remarks 

• Vimlendra Sharan, Director, FAO North America
• QU Dongyu, Director-General, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
• Johan Swinnen, Director General, IFPRI
• Special Remarks Congressman Jim McGovern, 2nd District of Massachusetts and Co-Chair of the House Hunger Caucus

Keynote Speaker

• Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and SDG Advocate for UN SG Antonio Guterres

Presentation of Report's Key Findings

• Máximo Torero, Chief Economist, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Panel Discussion

• Anna Herforth, Tufts Affiliate and Senior Research Associate, Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard Chan School of Public Health
• Anna Lartey, Director, Food and Nutrition Division (ESN), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
• Marie Ruel, Director, Poverty, Health, and Nutrition Division, IFPRI
• Moderator - Thomas Pesek, Senior Liaison Officer, FAO North America

FARA Update: Individual Consultancy Opportunities

The Executive Director of FARA invites interested consultants to express their interest in carrying out the following assignments.

Consultants interested in this call must provide an Expression of Interest no longer than 10 pages, outlining proposed methodologies, references related to the execution of similar contracts, experience in similar areas or evidence of knowledge and/or involvement in climate change, and a proposed timeline. Brochures, CV’s, and other supplementary materials will not be included in the 10-page limit.

Expressions of Interest should be submitted electronically to [recruitment@faraafrica.org] and addressed to Dr. Yemi Akinbamijo, Executive Director of FARA, 12 Anmeda Street, Roman Ridge, Accra, Ghana, no later than Tuesday, 21st July, 2020, at 14h00 GMT. Tel: +233 302 772823/744888

Please find below links to Individual Consultancy Opportunities

Develop Continental Good Practice Guidance Notes based on AR4D Institutional Partnerships and Collaborative experiences of FARA, SROs and AFAAS to facilitate lesson learning and advocacy

https://faraafrica.org/2020/07/09/request-for-expression-of-interest-individual-consultant-develop-continental-good-practice-guidance-notes-based-on-ar4d-institutional-partnerships-and-collaborative-experiences/

Consultancy on Study on Africa Status Report on Research and Innovation – AfARR

https://faraafrica.org/2020/07/09/request-for-expression-of-interest-individual-consultant-study-on-africa-status-report-on-research-and-innovation-afarr/

  

Gender Mainstreaming in Regional and National Foresight Activities of the African Foresight Academy

https://faraafrica.org/2020/07/09/request-for-expression-of-interest-individual-consultant-gender-mainstreaming-in-regional-and-national-foresight-activities-of-the-african-foresight-academy/

Technical Support for strengthening of capacity for foresight among more professionals in African AR4D institutions and private sector.
https://faraafrica.org/2020/07/09/request-for-expression-of-interest-individual-consultant-technical-support-for-strengthening-of-capacity-for-foresight-ar4d-institutions-and-private-sector/

Facilitation of training and foresight analysis in Malawi.
https://faraafrica.org/2020/07/14/request-for-expression-of-interest-individual-consultant-facilitation-of-training-and-foresight-analysis-in-malawi/

For more information, visit: https://faraafrica.org

WEBINAR: COVID-19: A Wake-Up Call for Food System Change in Africa

14 July 2020. COVID-19: A Wake-Up Call for Food System Change in Africa. A conversation with the African Union and Food Sovereignty Activists (AFSA) from all sub-regions of Africa.

AFSA Chairperson Dr Chris Macoloo (Kenya) asked following questions to representatives from the African Union Commission and activists from across the continent:

• What guidance is the African Union giving to member states, and to what extent is it working?
• Where are African people getting their food? How are the markets systems coping?
• What is the situation of women and young people?
• What is the impact on pastoralists and their livestock?
• What is the situation north of the Sahara?
• Where do we see the role of the industrial food system in the COVID crisis?
• What are the implications for food sovereignty?
• What is happening to support the transition to agroecology?

Webinar Speakers 

• Dr Laila Lokosang CAADP Adviser Food and Nutrition Security @Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union 
• Josephine Atangana Expert in gender and entrepreneurship @Platform of Farmers' Organizations of Central Africa (PROPAC) 
• Omar Aziki A trade union activist in the agriculture sector. @North African Network for Food Sovereignty
• Charles Dhewa - Knowledge Transfer Africa, Zimbabwe
• Mariama Sonko - We are the solution West Africa

SOFI: Transforming food systems Hand-in-Hand to deliver affordable healthy diets in Least developed Countries (LDCs)

13 July 2020. SOFI: Transforming food systems Hand-in-Hand to deliver affordable healthy diets in Least developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS)

• Invitation
• Concept note
• Agenda
• Maximo Torero presentation
• Angélica Jácome presentation
• Webcast

This virtual webinar highlighted the food security and nutrition situation in LDCs, LLDCs and

SIDS, based on latest SOFI data and highlight FAO approach taken to support LDCs, LLDCs and
SIDS in transforming their food systems in a sustainable manner.

It identified key priorities, gaps and shortcomings to end hunger and all forms of malnutrition as a pathway to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs for Sustainable Development. the challenges.

Opening remarks

• QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General
• Fekitamoeloa Katoa ‘Utoikamanu, Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States
• Leonardo Mizzi, Head of Unit at the European Commission, Directorate-General (DG) for International Cooperation and Development - Rural development, food security and nutrition
  See: intervention of Leonard Mizzi  @ 15:21 in the Webcast

Presentations

• “2020 The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World: Challenges and opportunities for LDCs, LLDCs and SIDs” by Máximo Torero Cullen, FAO Chief Economist

• “FAO’s Hand-in-Hand Initiative” by Angélica Jácome Daza, Director, Office for Small Island Developing States (SIDS), Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), OSL
  Angelica announced the upcoming webinar: 21 July 2020. 4:00 PM CEST. Hand-in-Hand Geospatial Platform

Comments from key partners

• Suzanne van Tilburg, Global Head, Corporate Relations, Rabobank
• Alexandra Brand, Chief Sustainability Officer, Syngenta
• David Crean, Vice President, Corporate and D, Mars Incorporated
• Geeta Sethi, Advisor and Global Lead for Food Systems, World Bank
• Tara Nathan, Executive Vice President Digital Solutions for Development, Mastercard

Interactive discussion: (i) What are the key priorities in addressing food insecurity in LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS ; (ii) What are the gaps – and what are the challenges to address them ; (iii) What are the key tools to address the challenges?

• Chair of Group of Least Developed Countries (LDCs): H.E. Mr. Perks Master Ligoya, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Malawi to the United Nations
• Chair of Group of Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs): H.E. Mr. Kairat Umarov, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the United Nations
• Chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS): H.E. Ms. Lois Michele Young, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Belize to the United Nations
• Concluding remarks - QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General

Launch of the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020 (SOFI) report

13 July 2020. 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM. Launch of the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020 (SOFI) report.

• The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020 (SOFI 2020) report presents the most recent and authoritative estimates of the extent of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition around the world.
• This year, the report includes a special focus on transforming food systems for affordable healthy diets.
• It analyses the cost and affordability of healthy diets around the world, by region and in different development contexts. See concept note (2 pages)

Transforming Food Systems for Affordable Healthy Diets

FAO, IFAD, UNICEF, WFP and WHO. 2020. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020. Transforming food systems for affordable healthy diets. Rome, FAO. (350 PAGES)
Digital report | Report | In brief | E-Book MOBI/EPUB
The report  complements the usual assessment of food security and nutrition with projections of what the world may look like in 2030, if trends of the last decade continue. Projections show that the world is not on track to achieve Zero Hunger by 2030 and, despite some progress, most indicators are also not on track to meet global nutrition targets. The food security and nutritional status of the most vulnerable population groups is likely to deteriorate further due to the health and socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Launch event:

• Agenda: State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020 (SOFI)
• Bios of Speakers: State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020 (SOFI)

OPENING
Curtain Raiser Video

INTRODUCTION

• Lana Wong, moderator
• Mona Juul, Host and President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council 
• Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, President of the 74th Session of the UN General Assembly 
• Thanawat Tiensin, Chairperson of The Committee on World Food Security (CFS) and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Thailand to FAO, IFAD and WFP 
• Video message from António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations 

PARTNERS STATEMENTS + PANEL

• QU Dongyu, Director-General, FAO 
• Gilbert F. Houngbo, President, IFAD 
• Henrietta H. Fore, Executive Director, UNICEF 
• David Beasley, Executive Director, WFP 
• Naoko Yamamoto, Assistant Director-General, UHC/Healthier Populations, WHO 
• Carla Montesi  Director at the European Commission’s Directorate General for Development and Cooperation, responsible for the Directorate “Planet and Prosperity” (her intervention starts at 2:05:29) in the recording on YouTube

SETTING THE SCENE 

• Máximo Torero Cullen, FAO Chief Economist and Assistant Director-General for Economic and Social Department 

 

Related upcoming events:

• 13 July 2020 @ 7 PM. SOFI: Transforming food systems Hand-in-Hand to deliver affordable healthy diets in Least developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
• 14 July 2020. 16:00-17.30 CEST/CAT. Virtual Event - Transforming Food Systems for Affordable, Healthy and Sustainable Diets for All: A High-Level Discussion on the Key Findings of the 2020 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World Report  Organised by IFPRI. Incl. Qu Dongyu, Director-General, FAO; Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and SDG Advocate for UN SG Antonio Guterres; Máximo Torero, Chief Economist, FAO.
  
• 16 July 2020. 02:00 - 3:30 PM CEST. InfoPoint Virtual Conference via Webex Meetings: "The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2020 Report" 

WEBINAR: Parliamentarians' Action for Gender Equality and Food Security as a Response to COVID-19

18 June 2020. Webinar | Parliamentarians' Action for Gender Equality and Food Security as a Response to COVID-19

This virtual meeting was the first in a series of dialogues organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), IISD, and Oxfam as part of their policy support to the ECOWAS Network of Parliamentarians on Gender Equality and Investments in Agriculture and Food Security.

The objective of the series is to enhance the role of African parliamentarians in mitigating the gender-differentiated impacts of COVID-19 on food systems.

Recording made available on 02/07

This virtual meeting was the first in a series of dialogues organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), IISD, and Oxfam as part of their policy support to the ECOWAS Network of Parliamentarians on Gender Equality and Investments in Agriculture and Food Security. The objective of the series is to enhance the role of African parliamentarians in mitigating the gender-differentiated impacts of COVID-19 on food systems.

Speakers:

• Maria Helena Semedo, Deputy Director-General, FAO
• Siga Fatima Jagne, Commissioner for Social Affairs and Gender, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
• Ana Regina Segura Martínez, Head of Unit for Rural Development, Food and Nutrition, Spanish Agency for International Cooperation and Development
• Monica Eva Copa, President of the Senate, Bolivia
• Jario Flores, General Coordinator of the Parliamentary Front Against Hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean
• Soraya Rodriguez, Member, EU Parliamentary Alliance on Food Security and Nutrition
• Mathias Kasamba, Chairperson, Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resource, East African Legislative Assembly
• Teresa Cálix Raudales, Honduran Representative and Coordinator, Parliamentary Front Against Hunger in Mesoamerica
• Abdoulaye Vilane, Chairperson, ECOWAS Network of Parliamentarians on Gender Equality, Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Security
• Tacko Ndiaye, Senior Gender Officer, FAO
• Francine Picard, Policy Officer, IISD 

Resources:

• CALL FOR ACTION | Call to action of parliamentarians 18 June 2020 (see related event above)
• COMMENTARY | Ensuring a Balance of Power in the Face of COVID-19 June 2020
• BLOG | How are African governments responding to avert a COVID-19 hunger crisis? 24 June 2020
• EVENT'S REPORT | Webinar with African ministers, 10 June 2020 (available in English and French) (3 pages) See PAEPARD blogpost of 10/06

Upcoming event:
The next event from this series of dialogues will take place on the 22 July 2020

WEBINAR: Accelerating inclusive farmer-led irrigation development: a sustainable approach to reaching scale

9 July 2020. Session II - Accelerating inclusive farmer-led irrigation development: a sustainable approach to reaching scale

The Global Water Partnership (GWP) is contributing to the development of a 2-part webinar series on farmer-led irrigation (FLI), in partnership with the World Bank, the International Water Management Institute, and the Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute. The first Webinar was held on 11 June 2020: WEBINAR: Accelerating Inclusive farmer-led irrigation and Reaching Scale: Key Considerations

This second session focused on the systems approach to sustainability and inclusivity as we want to accelerate scale. In the first webinar, the panelists shared their perspectives with more than 490 engaged participants in 66 countries about systemic barriers to scaling farmer led irrigation development and how to strengthen supply chains and services and how innovative finance modalities could support social inclusivity.

In this webinar, the question was raised on how accelerating FLI development can be sustainable and inclusive.

• How do we ensure water security whilst supporting agricultural economic development? 
• What are the incentives across actors within food systems to support sustainable use of water resources? 
• How do we ensure that water access remains equitable to all water users? 
• What is the role of institutions and regulations to safeguard and stimulate water stewardship?

SPEAKERS:

• Armand Houanye, Global Water Partnership West Africa (GWP West Africa)
• Petra Schmitter, International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
• Shilp Verma, International Water Management Institute (IWMI-TATA)
• Dave D'Haeze, Hanns R. Neumann Foundation
• Claudia Ringler, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)
• Barbara Van Koppen, Rural Water Supply Network and IWMI
• Sarah Keener, Water Global Practice of the World Bank Group

REMARKS:

• Peter McCornick, Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI)
• Peter Repinski, Global Water Partnership (GWP)
• Regassa Namara, Water Global Practice of the World Bank Group
• Joy Busolo, WRG Africa of the World Bank Group

WEBINAR: Innovation in social protection in response to COVID-19 in the NENA region: Building on best practices cases

9 July 2020. Zoominar VIII: Innovation in social protection in response to COVID-19 in the NENA region: Building on best practices cases

This webinar discussed some of the promising digital and innovative solutions in social protection in order to limit the negative impacts of this crisis on rural poverty, resilience and food systems, including on food security and nutrition.

Recording forthcoming

• How the NENA region has been affected by the crisis? (Socio-economic impacts)
• What social protection initiatives have been implemented to support rural areas that can be scaled up and replicated? (Selected success country-cases from NENA, and other examples)
• How can governments and partners foster innovation and digital technology applications in social protection to build the basis for a more comprehensive and inclusive social protection system in the long-term?

Opening remarks:

• Abdessalam Ould Ahmed, Assistant Director General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa – FAO
• Rabah Arezki, Chief Economist for NENA Region – World Bank, Forging a new social contract in the NENA region as a response to COVID-19.
• Facilitated by: Omar Benammour, Social protection Officer – FAO

Speakers:

• Fabio Veras, Communications, Publication and Research Coordinator – IPC-IG, Overview of the social protection response to COVID-19 around the world and in the region for FSN.
• Samman Thapa, Regional Social Policy Advisor for the MENA region – UNICEF, Overview of the child-sensitive social protection response to COVID-19 around the world and in the region.
• Rodrigo Assumpção – Social protection Management Information Systems specialist – ILO, Overview of the horizontal expansion of social protection to the informal and rural economy in Egypt or Tunisia.
• Chakib Abouzaid, Secretary General – General Arab Insurance Federation, Overview of the role of agriculture insurance as a response to COVID-19 in the region.
• Salma Zaky, Social Protection Officer & Marta Dabbas, Regional Digital Assistance Services Officer – WFP, Overview of digital technology applications in social protection in response to COVID-19 in the region.
• Omar Benammour, Social Protection Officer– FAO ESP, Overview of FAO’s work on social protection in the region and the response to COVID-19: Example of Kenya, Tunisia, Sudan and Morocco.

WEBINAR: Global Impact of Climate Change

7 July 2020. Webinar. “The Global Impact of Climate Change”. By Yale International Alliance. This

livestream panel program is part of the Yale International Alliance Virtual Series on Global Citizenship.

The recording is available here

Climate change connects us all – the magnitude of its effects on the interdependency between the global environment and human society may jeopardize our survival as a species in the not-too-distant future. And yet efforts to mitigate the looming risk of climate change are often uncoordinated and conflicting, differing from country to country and industry to industry. What does it mean to be a Global Citizen in the face of this reality? 

This panel discussed how we can use interdependence of our own to counter the threat that climate change poses and the role that Global Citizenship can – and should – play in tackling this vital issue.

• Devrim Celal ’96 MPPM (moderator), CEO, Upside Energy
• Marc DuBois ’81, Independent humanitarian analyst/consultant; Senior Fellow at SOAS; former Executive Director at Medicins Sans Frontieres-UK/IE
• Gernot Laganda, 2016 World Fellow; Director, Climate and Disaster Risk Reduction, UN World Food Programme
• Susan Tambi Matambo ’04 MEM, Senior Environmental Specialist, World Bank
• Adrien Couton, 2011 World Fellow; Vice President, Americas Sustainability Services, Engie Impact, and Principal, Firefly

Reflecting on IFPRI’s 2020 Vision Initiative

8 July 2020. Hindsight is 2020: Reflecting on IFPRI’s ‘2020 Vision Initiative’ Organised by IFPRI.

Launched in 1993, IFPRI’s 2020 Vision Initiative set out to develop and promote a shared vision to eradicate hunger and malnutrition while protecting the environment and to catalyze global action. Through this initiative, IFPRI hosted a landmark series of high-profile conferences, workshops, and meetings to generate debate; produced an array of publications and communication products to inform the global discourse; developed an innovative program to strengthen agricultural economics training in Africa; and much more. The initiative was championed by three of IFPRI’s director generals and spearheaded by Rajul Pandya-Lorch, IFPRI Director of Communications and Public Affairs, for more than 15 years.

• Opening Remarks Rajul Pandya-Lorch, Director, Communications and Public Affairs & Chief of Staff, Director General's Office, IFPRI
• Shenggen Fan, Senior Chair Professor, China Agricultural University (CAU) (and former IFPRI Director General)
• Per Pinstrup-Andersen, Professor Emeritus and Graduate School Professor, Cornell University (and former IFPRI Director General)
• Joachim von Braun, Director of the Department for Economic and Technological Change, Center for Development Research, University of Bonn (and former IFPRI Director General)
• Catherine Bertini, Distinguished Fellow, Global Food and Agriculture, Chicago Council on Global Affairs
• Ruth Meinzen-Dick, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI
• Robert Paarlberg, Adjunct Professor of Public Policy, Harvard University
• Mark Rosegrant, Research Fellow Emeritus, IFPRI
• Closing Remarks Johan Swinnen, Director General, IFPRI

Related:

Resetting the Table. STRAIGHT TALK ABOUT THE FOOD WE GROW AND EAT
By Robert Paarlberg

A bold, science-based corrective to the groundswell of

misinformation about food and how it’s produced, examining in detail local and organic food, food companies, nutrition labeling, ethical treatment of animals, environmental impact, and every other aspect from farm to table Consumers want to know more about their food–including the farm from which it came, the chemicals used in its production, its nutritional value, how the animals were treated, and the costs to the environment. 

They are being told that buying organic foods, unprocessed and sourced from small local farms, is the most healthful and sustainable option. 

Now, Robert Paarlberg reviews the evidence and finds abundant reason to disagree. 

• He delineates the ways in which global food markets have in fact improved our diet, and how “industrial” farming has recently turned green, thanks to GPS-guided precision methods that cut energy use and chemical pollution. 
• He makes clear that America’s serious obesity crisis does not come from farms, or from food deserts, but instead from “food swamps” created by food companies, retailers, and restaurant chains. 
• And he explains how, though animal welfare is lagging behind, progress can be made through continued advocacy, more progressive regulations, and perhaps plant-based imitation meat. 
• He finds solutions that can make sense for farmers and consumers alike and provides a road map through the rapidly changing worlds of food and farming, laying out a practical path to bring the two together.

AfDB Report: African Economic Outlook 2020 - Supplement Amid COVID–19

7 July 2020.  Real GDP in Africa is projected to contract by 1.7 percent in 2020, dropping by 5.6 percentage points from the January 2020 pre-COVID–19 projection, if the virus has a substantial impact but of short duration. If it continues beyond the first half of 2020, there would be a deeper GDP contraction in 2020 of 3.4 percent, down by 7.3 percentage points from the growth projected before the outbreak of COVID–19.

The curve of the pandemic in Africa is flattening gradually
The number of confirmed cases of COVID–19 in 54 African countries was 04,642 with 8,087 reported deaths as of 22 June 2020. The reported figures are likely to be understated because of the limited testing capabilities in most countries. Countries in North Africa and Southern Africa appear to be the most affected to date, while the number of cases reported in East, Central, and West Africa have been lower. Still, the differences could be due to lags in testing or differences in mitigation approaches. 

By disrupting domestic and international distribution channels of inputs and outputs and stimulating consumer hoarding, the COVID–19 shock has provoked an increase in the prices of agricultural and other commodities, thereby reducing household purchasing power. This could threaten the food security for poor households, especially if prices of essential goods remain high and therefore unaffordable for an extended period. (page 30)

Policy option 
Given the global scale of the COVID–19 pandemic and its repercussions, governments and development partners must respond in a coordinated, targeted, and rapid manner to be effective in limiting its impacts. 

In Lesotho, the Private Sector Fund will expand credit guarantee facilities to the Lesotho National Development Corporation and the Ministry of Small Business. It will target tourism and food sectors, among other small enterprises. (page 80)

In Tanzania inflation is expected to increase as the disruption in imported food supply chains due to travel restrictions and the depreciation of the shilling on account of lower export and tourism receipts offset lower domestic demand. Reduced export earnings and FDI inflows are expected to further depreciate the shilling and contribute to a buildup in inflation. (page 103)

Across Africa, the response must be well-sequenced and multipronged, involving: a public health response to contain the spread of the virus and minimize fatalities, a monetary policy response to ease liquidity constraints and solvency risks, a fiscal response to cushion the economic impacts of the pandemic on livelihoods and to assist businesses, labor market policies to protect workers and their jobs, and structural policies to enable African economies to rebuild and enhance their resilience to future shocks. 

Resources:

• AfDB Report (English): African Economic Outlook 2020 - Supplement Amid COVID–19
• Rapport BAD (French): Perspectives économiques en Afrique 2020 - Supplément

WEBINARS: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and food systems in Latin America and the Caribbean

2 July 2020. The 13th FAO regional COVID-19 webinar, "Private Sector Investment in Agriculture and Fisheries: The Preparation and the Pay-Off", co-organized with the CARICOM Secretariat focused on public policies, legal frameworks and innovative ways of expanding private sector investment in agriculture.

The economic impact of COVID-19 has imposed the need for urgent investments in food systems, agriculture and fisheries, especially with the drop in tourism in Caribbean countries. New approaches to public investment are needed to accelerate recovery efforts, and the private sector has a fundamental role to play in this recovery, in particular as a booster of innovation and productivity.

Public-private partnership experiences in agriculture can be helpful to identify the major challenges in order to join public and private resources for an inclusive recovery and a sustainable development of agrifood systems.

• Jose Alpuche, CEO, Ministry of Agriculture, Belize
• Diane Edwards, President of Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO)
• Keith Flett, Managing Co-Founder, One Skip, LLC
• Ralph Birkhoff, CEO Alquimi Renewables
• Joseph Cox, Assistant Secretary General for Trade and Economic Integration in CARICOM
• Luther St Ville, Senior Operations Officer (Agriculture), CDB
• Minister Michael Pintard, Minister of Agriculture and Marine Resources. The Bahamas
• Jeremy Stephen, Economist
• Moderator: Shaun Baugh, Agriculture Programme Manager, CARICOM Secretariat

Background:

FAO Webinars - COVID-19 and Food Systems in Latin America and the Caribbean Series

This initiative led by the FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean is part of the agreement made between 11 international organizations present in the region to coordinate their actions and provide technical support to governments in order to keep agri-food trade alive, expand social protection systems, reach common sanitary and phytosanitary standards, and increase intraregional trade.

FAO together with the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) have launched a weekly newsletter Analysis and responses of Latin America and the Caribbean to the effects of COVID-19 on food systems, and have a web portal updated with the most relevant information worldwide on the pandemic.

On the FAO website are all broadcasts the COVID-19 and Food Systems Series

Next webinar
9 July 2020. Rural investment for an inclusive post-COVID-19 recovery

Universities role in preparedness, response and monitoring of emerging and re-emerging pandemics

3 July 2020. This webinar Universities’ role in preparedness,response and monitoring of emerging and re-emerging pandemics discussed:

1. Universities innovations in response to COVID-19 situation; 
2. Innovations for technical and policy response to public health emergencies; 
3. Capacity building needs for Africa’s excellence in the new normal (diagnostics-laboratory infrastructure, molecular, clinical management, therapeutics, vaccines); and 
4. Africa’s collaboration and financing for health innovations in the new normal. 

Panelists

• Dr. Raiji Tajudeen, Head NPHIs and Research Division, Africa Centre for Disease Control Addis Ababa-Ethiopia 
• Dr. Ruth Aceng, Minister of Health, Government of Uganda, Kampala-Uganda 
• Prof. Jan-Ingvar Jönsson, Vice Chancellor, Linkoping University-Sweden 
• Prof. Willian Bazeyo, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Makerere University, Kampala-Uganda 
• Prof. Simeon Mining, Director of Research & Professor of Immunology, Moi University Eldoret-Kenya 
• Discussant: Prof. Johan Dabrosin Söderholm, Dean Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linkoping University-Sweden 
• Moderator: Prof. Address Mauakowa Malata, Vice Chancellor, Malawi University of Science and Technology, Lumbe-Malawi

Forthcoming:

15 July 2020. 15.00-17.00 East African Standard Time Webinar  ‘Delivering food for Africa in a transforming agri-food system in the ‘new normal’. Organised by RUFORUM

This webinar on delivering food for Africa in a transforming agri-food system in the ‘new normal’ seeks to deliberate on the need to:

1.  Re-contextualising support for enhancing productivity and marketing systems for smallholder farmers; 
2. Innovations for delivering agricultural advisory services to farmers to enable them make smart decisions; 
3. Innovations for reducing logistical bottlenecks and enhancing ecommerce; 
4. Innovations for multiple agricultural and social protection interventions; and 
5. Galvanizing partnerships and collaboration to strengthen African agricultural research and innovation capacity. 

Panelists

1. Dr. Simeon Ehui, Regional Director for Sustainable Development for Africa, World Bank, Washington 
2. Dr. Agnes Kalibata, President, AGRA, Nairobi-Kenya 
3. Prof. Abebe Haile-Gabriel, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, Accra –Ghana 
4. Dr Owusu-Afriye Akoto, Minister for Food and Agriculture, Accra-Ghana 
5. Dr Godfrey Bahiigwa, Director, Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (DREA), AUC-Addis Ababa 
6. Discussant: Prof. Frans Swanepoel, University of Pretoria, South Africa 
7. Moderator: Prof. Dora F. Edu-Buandoh, Pro-Vice Chancellor, University of Cape Coast, Ghana