FARA's stakeholder engagement to respond to FAO’s science innovation strategy

15 February 2022. FARA-FAO CONSULTATIVE WEBINAR ON INNOVATIVE STRATEGY FOR 2022 - 2031

To rise to the challenge of harnessing the benefits of science and innovation, the FAO Director-General
requested the development of a targeted Strategy to provide guidance, coherence, and alignment for
impact at country level through better use of science and innovation. To ensure participatory
development of the strategy, a regional consultation is required to achieve this objective.

The FARA-led webinar provided an opportunity for regional, sub-regional and country level stakeholders to provide inputs into the development of FAO Science and Innovation Strategy. The format for the webinar will involve a presentation of the outcomes of the D-group discussions and a group discussion in breakout sessions to discuss and prioritize the issues identified during the D-group discussion. The facilitated discussions aimed to get to depth on the survey responses, to sharpen the region’s focus and engagement on science and innovation needs and priorities at the country and regional levels.

• Welcome and Opening Remarks Dr Akinbamijo (ED-FARA)
• Remarks by FAO Dr Abebe Haile-Gabriel (ADG/RR-FAO Africa)
• 
  The development of FAO Science and Innovation Strategy - Maryam  Rahmanian (FAO).
  See recording from 24:10 to 37:00
  She is an international consultant on issues related to biodiversity and agroecology, and newly appointed Co-chair of IPES-Food.  She was a Research Associate at the Centre for Sustainable Development and Environment (CENESTA), an Iranian NGO from 2001 to 2014, where she initiated the programme on Participatory Plant Breeding, working with farmers and breeders to develop varieties adapted to climate change. She was Vice Chair of the High Level Panel of Experts of the Commitee on World Food Security for two terms (2010 to 2015) and is currently a member of the Steering Committee of the Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity for Agriculture and Food study (TEEBAgriFood). She has also been a Research Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies in Potsdam, Germany.
  "We now have a zero draft which is discussed by the regional consultations. It will be shared on the 25th of February which will result in  new draft and to be adopted in June."
• Scene setting Dr Aggrey Agumya (Director for Research and Innovation (FARA)
• Presentation of the Outcomes of the Online D-Group Discussions and the Key Informants - Mr. Bappa Se Marc Ghislain (Facilitator)

The FAO Science and Innovation Strategy 

This strategy has a broad scope that includes all sectors and areas of agrifood systems, including crop and livestock production, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture – from production to consumption. It gives particular attention to the needs of low- and middle-income countries as well as small-scale producers, women, youth and Indigenous Peoples in order to accelerate progress towards the achievement of the SDGs, while also strengthening FAO's capacities, with the ultimate aim of benefiting the countries and people that the Organization serves. The Strategy addresses the full range of relevant scientific disciplines (e.g. the biological, social and economic sciences) and recognises the importance of interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity for addressing systemic challenges in a holistic manner. It recognises the need for a diversity of innovations (technological (including digital), social, policy, financial and institutional) and promotes indigenous and local knowledge systems as an important driver of innovation for inclusive, resilient, and sustainable agrifood systems.