EU/CGIAR Programmes: focus on Africa

24 November 2021. EU/CGIAR Programmes: focus on Africa

If you’d like to watch the full recording and access presentations from the webinar, please visit the event page at the following link: EU/CGIAR Programmes: focus on Africa (vfairs.com)

One CGIAR

In the context of this institutional process of change, One CGIAR will work with partners not only on research but also on integrated technological and institutional innovations, capacity development and policy engagement, to address the food, land and water systems challenges in a climate crisis, in six regions of the world: (i) Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC); (ii) Central and West Asia and North Africa (CWANA); (iii) West and Central Africa (WCA); (iv) East and Southern Africa (ESA); (v) South Asia (SA); and (vi) South East Asia and the Pacific (SEA).

EU Platforms

Various programmes of the European Union with Africa aim to support agriculture, food and bio-economy chains in the continent.

1. Food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture was the first common priority research and innovation area, as part of the AU-EU High-Level Policy Dialogue (HLPD) on Science, Technology and Innovation, embedded in the Joint Africa-EU Strategy (JAES). Topics are discussed and implemented through the WG on Food Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA). Furthermore, with the launch of the EU’s R&I programme - Horizon Europe (HE) – several calls of the Africa Initiative target actions towards these crucial issues.
2. Then, the European Innovation Partnership for Agricultural Productivity and Sustainability (EIP-AGRI) targets to stimulate innovation and seeks practical solutions to on-farm problems by bridging the gap between practice and science.
3. The DeSIRA initiative aims to contribute to climate-relevant, productive and sustainable transformation of agriculture and food systems in low and middle-income countries.
4. Afterwards, African Union Research Grants (AURG) programme provides funding to the African Union Commission to organize calls for proposals for collaborative research projects - the first call related to 'sustainable intensification' in agriculture, in line with the priorities of the Africa-EU High-Level Dialogue on Research and Innovation.
5. Finally, the Pan African Network on economic Analysis of Policies (PANAP) provides dedicated support in the framework of the AU-EU partnership on Agriculture; it is among the first EU plans supporting African policymakers with dedicated analyses of policy impact with focus on the ag-food sector and rural areas. The cooperation covers selected African countries and regions. It supports projects with local, country level, trans-regional, continental and global added-value in areas of shared interest, and offers new possibilities for the EU and Africa to work together.

Objectives of the seminar

• To share with research partners across Africa the EU Science and Innovation Division Programs
• To share on the one CGIAR reform processes and some priorities for the ESA and WCA regions.

Opening

Welcome and introduction including the objectives of the seminar

Dr. Siboniso Moyo

Deputy Director-General, Research and Development – Biosciences Livestock Genetics, Feeds and Forages
International Livestock Research Institute

Dr. Piero Venturi

European Union Science Counsellor to the African Union,
European Commission

Opening Remarks

Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)

Dr. Yemi Akinbamijo

Executive Director, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)

CGIAR System Organization

Dr. Kundhavi Kadiresan

Managing Director, Global Engagement and Innovation, CGIAR System Organization

Introduction to the One CGIAR Research and Innovation Strategy

Dr. Harold Roy-Macauley

Regional Director, East, and Southern Africa, One CGIAR, and Director General of the Africa Rice Center

Presentation and discussion on EU Platforms in Agriculture, food and bioeconomy

Presentations from the European Commission DG RTD and AGRI on HLPD, HE, Africa Initiative, EIP-AGRI

Dr. Hans-Joerg Lutzeyer

Senior Research Policy Officer, SCAR Secretariat, EU-African Union Food Systems R&I, Horizon Europe Food Systems Partnership 

• DG AGRI, Food Systems Partnership - Hans-Joerg Lutzeyer, Marta Iglesias

Marta Iglesias

Senior Policy Officer, Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development

Presentations from the European Commission DG INTPA on DESIRA, AURG, CGIAR funding, Africa RIP

Christophe Larose

Head of sector, Sustainable agri-food systems and fisheries, Directorate-General for International Partnerships, European Commission - Science, technology and innovation for development for agriculture and food systems transformationApproach and perspective fromDG International Partnerships (8 slides (INTPA) (8 slides)

Presentations on the JRC, PANAP

Dr. Fabio Micale

Team Lead of the PANAP Secretariatat JRC-IPTS, Joint Research Center, European Commission

Dr. Emanuele Ferrari

Tillie Researcher and Scientific Officer at JRC-IPTS, Joint Research Center, European Commission - AU-EU PANAPPan-African Network for Economic Analysis of Policies (11 slides)

Questions and Answers

Conclusions

Reflection and closing remarks

Dr. Nteranya Sanginga

Regional Director, West and Central Africa, One CGIAR, and Director-General of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)

Closing remarks

Dr. Piero Venturi

European Union Science Counsellor to the African Union, European Commission