Platform for African – European Partnership in Agricultural Research for Development

Monday, October 30, 2023

CAADP Partnership Platform

30 October - 2 November 2023
. Lusaka, Zambia 19TH CAADP PP & 14th ADFNS|

Theme: Accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement in the context of CAADP Commitments for Safer and Healthier Diets


The African Union Commission (AUC) through its Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (DARBE), in partnership with the Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development (HHS) and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), with support of technical institutions and other stakeholders organized the commemoration of the 14th Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security (ADFNS), the 19th edition of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Partnership Platform (PP), the associated Malabo Policy Learning Event (MAPLE), as well as the CAADP High-Level Ministerial Forum (HLMF)

30/10 MALABO POLICY LEARNING EVENT (MAPLE)

KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Reaping the Dividend of Two Decades of Policy Reforms for Food and Nutrition Security in Africa -  Dr. Lawrence Haddad, Executive Director, GAIN

Panel Discussion: Showcasing Success Stories and Key Policy Lessons in Food and Nutrition Security  

Setting the scene for the MAPLE by sharing and reviewing concrete examples of success stories in policy reforms and exploring conditions for scale-up.  
  • Ms. Abimbola Adesanmi, Partnership for Child Development, Nigeria 
  • Ms. Rosemary Mwaisaka, former Director for Nutrition and ECSA Food Fortification program 
  • Mr. Jervis Zimba, President of the Zambia Farmers Union 
  • Ms. Doris Utuka, Gaba National School Feeding Manager, Ghana. 
  • Ms. Muntanga Lindunda, CEO, Zambia Association of Manufacturers. 
  • Mrs. Ellah Chembe, CEO, Zambia National Farmers Union 
BR Commitment: Boosting Intra-African Trade in Agricultural Commodities & Services 
Assess progress toward the Malabo Declaration commitment to boost intra-African agricultural trade. 
Raise awareness about the current state, challenges, and opportunities of intra-African trade in 
agricultural commodities and services. Share findings, and success stories that can inspire and inform stakeholders. 
  • Dr. Hermogene Nsengimana, Secretary General, ARSO - Keynote Presenter
  • Mr. Martin Bwalya, Independent Food Systems Expert 
  • Mr. Daniel Njiwa, Director, Regional Food Trade & Markets AGRA 
  • Ms. Anataria Rumba, Director of Business Competitiveness Trademark Africa 
  • Mr. Dingiswayo Shawa, SPS Expert COMESA 
  • Dr. Chris Muyanda, Vice Chairman, Muska Development Agency - Summary
BR Commitment: Ending hunger and halving poverty by 2025 
  • Dr. Sukati Mphumuzi, Senior Regional Nutrition and Food Systems Officer FAO - Keynote presenter
  • Mr. Raymond Chikomba, Regional Nutrition Coordinator, SADC 
  • Dr Rhoda Mofya, National Coordinator for Nutrition and Food Security, FAO Zambia 
  • Dr. J Chris Toe, Senior Advisor WFP 
  • Prof Lise Korsten, University of Pretoria / AAS
  • Mr. Ishmael Sunga, CEO, SACAU 
  • Dr. Laila Omar Gad, UNICEF Representative to Liberia 
  • Ms. Bibi Giyose, Senior Advisor to CEO AUDA NEPAD - Summary

31/10 THE 14TH AFRICA DAY FOR FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY (ADFNS) COMMEMORATION


OPENING REMARKS: 
  • Mr. Stanlake Samkange, Out-going Chair of the CAADP DPCG 
  • Dr. Abebe Haile, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, FAO 
  • Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, AUC Special Envoy on Food Systems 
  • H.E. Ms. Nardos Bekele-Thomas CEO, AUDA-NEPAD 
  • H.E. Amb Minata Samaté Cessouma, AU Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development 
  • H.E. Ambassador Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, AU-DARBE Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy & Sustainable Environment. 
  • Hon. Rueben Mtolo, MP, Minister of Agriculture, Gov. of Zambia
High-level Ministerial Panel 
  • W. K. Mutale-Nalumango (MP) Vice President, Republic of Zambia
  • Hon. Sylvia T Masebo, MP, Minister of Health, Government of Zambia 
  • Hon. Reuben Mtolo, MP, Minister of Agriculture, Government of Zambia 
  • Hon. Makozo Chikote, MP, Minister of Livestock and Fisheries, Government of Zambia
Perspectives from Partners on the Status of Agri-Food Trade, Food and Nutrition Security: Big Picture Priorities 
  • Mr. Odd Arnesen, Regional Food Security Envoy, NORWEGIAN AID  
  • Julianna Drinan. Program Officer: Agricultural Development (Data and Evaluation focus) at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). Seattle, Washington, United States
  • UNICEF representative
  • Kelley Cormier Food Safety Division Chief, Center for Nutrition, USAID’s Bureau for Resilience and Food Security USAID
  • Deputy director JICA Zambia office 
  • Mr Watipaso Mkandawire, Regional Food Markets Advisor, FCDO 
  • "UK to host Global food security summit 20th of November in London"
  • Tim Robertson Senior Agricultural Specialist World Bank
  • IFAD representative AU
Perspectives from the African Food Systems Parliamentarian Network (AFSPaN) 
  • Hon. Neema Lugangira, MP Tanzania 
  • Hon. Menyani Zulu, MP Zambia and the Pan African Parliament 
  • Hon. Jeremy Lissouba, MP Congo Brazzaville 
  • Hon. Sameer Suleiman, MP Malawi 
  • MP Ethiopia
  • MP Kenya
CALL FOR ACTION: Youth 4 Nutrition  Mrs. Estherine Lisinge-Fotabong, AUDA NEPAD 
Award of the 3rd Biennial Review to Recipients Dr. Godfrey Bahiigwa, AUC ARD

Launch of the Consortium of Youth in Agriculture and Climate Change (CAYACC)  
  • Ms. Panduleni Elago, Senior CAADP Advisor, AUC 
  • Dalitso Mbewe, Coordinator CAYACC 
Youth Panel: 
  • Mr. Olumide Idowu, CAYACC, Western Africa 
  • Ms. Sally Kimathi, CAYACC, Eastern Africa 
  • Ms. Wafa Misrar, CAYACC, Northern Africa 
  • Mr. Malama Malama, CAYACC, Southern Africa 
Partners Panel: 
  • Dr. Koffi Amegbeto, Senior Policy Officer, FAO 
  • Dr. Boaz Keizire, Head of Policy and Advocacy, AGRA 
  • Ms. Elizabeth Khadenyi, Director and Vice Chairperson, Safaricom SACCO LTD 
  • Ms. Chido Cleo Mpemba, AU Youth Envoy 
   

01- 2/11 19TH COMPREHENSIVE AFRICA AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (CAADP) PARTNERSHIP PLATFORM


01/11 SUB-THEME 1: Reflections on the last 20 years (CAADP @20)

Priorities for the Remaining 2 Years and What Next
  • Mrs. Estherine Lisinge-Fotabong, Director, Agriculture, Food Security and Environmental Sustainability, AUDA-NEPAD - keynote presentation 1
  • Dr. Godfrey Bahiigwa, Director, AUC-DARBE 
  • Dr. Abebe Haile, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa 
  • Dr Nalishebo Meebelo, ReNAPRI Executive Director 
  • Dr. John Ulimwengu, Senior Research Fellow, IFPRI 
  • Mr. Mafa Chipeta, Former Director, Department of Technical Cooperation, FAO 
Where do we stand and what could be the targets and pathways of the next CAADP cycle? 
  • Dr. Ousmane Badiane, Executive Chairperson, AKADEMIYA2063 - keynote presentation 2
  • Mr. Stanlake Samkange, Out-going Chair CAADP DPCG 
  • Dr. Holger Kray, Practice Manager, World Bank 
  • Mr. Odd Arnesen, Regional Food Security Envoy, Norway 
  • Prof. Jean-Jacques Mbonigaba Muhinda, Regional Manager, East & Southern Africa, AGRA 
  • Mr. Derrick Sikombe, Chief Economist, Government of Zambia 
  • Mr Kolyang Palebale, President, PAFO 
01/11 SUB-THEME 2: Harnessing science, Innovation, and research to enhance food and nutrition security
  • Dr. Clement Adjorlolo, Ag. Head of Agriculture and Food Security 
  • Dr. Fatunbi Oluwole, Acting Director, Research, and Innovation, FARA - Keynote Address
  • Dr. Muzi Sukati, Senior Regional Nutrition Officer, FAO-RAF - Current Status of Food and Nutrition Security 
  • Prof. Lise Korsten, University of Pretoria / AAS - Roles of Science and Research in Food Security 
  • AGRA - Innovation for Increased Productivity and Sustainable Agriculture
  • Dr. David Amudavi-Executive Director, Biovision Africa Trust - Role of Agroecology in nutrition and Food Security 
  • Prof. Francis Zotor, IUNS Vice President  - Closing Remarks

01/11 SUB-THEME 3: Financing agri-food and nutrition through private sector involvement
  • Mr. George Ouma, Coordinator, AfDB 
  • Mrs. Lydie Kouame, Deputy Director, WFP Global Africa Office 
  • Ms. Bibi Giyose, Senior Nutrition and Food Systems Officer, FAO 
  • Ms. Providence Mavubi, Director Industry and Agriculture, COMESA - Keynote Address: The role of the private sector in agri-food and nutrition financing
  • Mr. Simon Ziba, CEO, Vision Fund in Zambia 
  • Ms. Gladys Mugambi, SUN Movement Business Network, Multisectoral Coordinator for Food Security and Nutrition 
  • Mr. Cheyo Mwenechanya- Head of Agriculture Banking, Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO),  
  • Dr. Frank Kayula, Executive, Director, National Smallholders Association, Zambia 
  • Moderator: Mr. Ashford Ngugi, Senior Partnerships Advisor, AUDA-NEPAD 
Case studies  
  • Mr. Webster Sento, Executive Director, Setso Indigenous Foods (Agro-processing) 
  • Ms. Jacqueline Kung’u – Regional Advisor, Research and Monitoring, Nutritional International Africa  
  • Ms. Mariam Malomba, Managing Director, Shais Farmers 
  • Mrs. Lucy Muchoki, CEO Pan African Farmers Agribusiness Consortium/NSA - Closing Remarks
02/11 SUB-THEME 4: Harnessing the nexus between CAADP and AfCFTA towards tripling intra-African trade in agricultural commodities and nutrition improvement  
  • Dr. Diana Akullo, Principal Officer-Sanitary and Phytosanitary, AfCFTA 
  • Ms. Nadine Umutoni, Project Coordinator, ARSO 
  • Dr. John Mukuka, CEO, COMESA, ACTESA 
  • Dr. Hakim Mufumbiro, Coordinator, CCAFRICA, 
  • Ms. Kefilwe Moalosi, Senior Nutrition and Research Officer, AUDA-NEPAD 
  • Mr Watipaso Mkandawire, Regional Food Markets Advisor, FCDO 
  • Dr. Amare Ayalew, Food Safety Expert, AUC 
SUB-THEME 5: Strengthening the Capacities of Institutions, Partnerships, Knowledge Management and Learning 
  • Menghestab Haile, Regional Director for Southern Region, WFP - Strengthening institutional capacities and building partnership
  • Dr. Augustin Wambo Yamdjeu, Director of Knowledge Systems, AKADEMIYA2063 - Knowledge Management and Learning – Case-study 
  • Dr. Janet Edeme, Head, AUC-ARD 
  • Prof. Jean-Jacques Mbonigaba Muhinda, Regional Manager for East Africa AGRA 
  • Ms. Constance Okeke, International Project Manager at ActionAid International 
  • Mr. Odd Arnesen, Regional Food Security Envoy, Norway 
  • Mr. Victor Mbumwae, National Food Systems Convener, Zambia 

Friday, October 27, 2023

Overview of recordings and events October 2023

30 October - 2 November 2023. Lusaka, Zambia 19TH CAADP PP & 14th ADFNS Recorded
  • Theme: Accelerating the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement in the context of CAADP Commitments for Safer and Healthier Diets
  • 30/10 MALABO POLICY LEARNING EVENT (MAPLE)
  • 31/10 THE 14TH AFRICA DAY FOR FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY (ADFNS) COMMEMORATION
  • 01- 2/11 19TH COMPREHENSIVE AFRICA AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (CAADP) PARTNERSHIP PLATFORM

23 - 27 October 2023.  Committee on World Food Security (CFS 51) Recordings forthcoming
  • The fifty-first plenary session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS 51) was held in a hybrid format. 4 side events from a total of 36 side events are highlighted in this blogpost
  • Read the initial summary from the enquiry: Oshani Perera, Carin Smaller, Kamal Elharty, and Lysiane Lefebvre (2023) .“Unleashing the catalytic power of donor financing to achieve SDG2” Shamba Centre for GDPRD members. UNEDITED Draft version 18 October 2023 # 28 p.
24 - 26 October 2023.  2023 Norman Borlaug International Dialogue 
  • harnessing innovation, adaptation, and diversification to improve systemic resilience, recover from shocks, and sustainably nourish all people.
  • 16/10 Side event Regenerative Agriculture Recorded
  • 17/10 Multi-stakeholder action for scaling soil health globally for food security now and in the future Recorded
  • 19/10 Utilizing Adaptive Management to Harness Change Recorded
  • 26/10 Without water, there is no food security Recorded

20 - 22 October 2023.  7th African Diaspora Agrofood Forum Videos
  • 20/10 Diaspora engagement in policymaking for for entrepreneurship and development
  • 20/10 Presentation of the 2023 Compendium of African Diaspora Agrofood Entrepreneurs
  • 20/10 Harnessing African Diaspora Contributions for Impactful Growth In Agrofood Entrepreneurship
  • 20/10 African Diaspora Agrofood Entrepreneur of the Year Award
  • 20/10 Breaking Barriers; Re-Evaluating Funding Opportunities And Strategies For African Diaspora Owned Businesses
  • 20/10 A Place On The Top Shelf; Marketing African Food Products In Europe
  • 21/10 Diaspora Agro-food Forum & Exhibition
  • 22/10 Diversity on a plate' in celebration of the International Year of Millets

  •  GFAR Talks: science informed actions at national and global levels
  • Regional Economic Communities in Africa met to drive forward a proposal for mega agro-industrial hubs across the continent that would boost agricultural development.
  • #N4R - Ensuring Micronutrient Security in an Era of Complex Global Challenges
  • 12/09. Conference Webinar: Nutrition for Resilience: Launching a New Era for National Progress. With SUN Coordinator Afshan Khan Recorded

16-20 October 2023. FAO Science and Innovation Forum Webcasts available
  • 19/10 Enabling research, science, and innovation in Low- and Middle-Income Countries and Small Island Developing States
  • 19/10 Technologies and innovations for multi-hazard resilient agrifood systems
  • 19/10 Case studies of agrifood system technologies and innovations for climate action
  • 19/10 Artificial intelligence and digital tools for climate resilient agrifood systems
  • 19/10 Bioeconomy: the catalyst for agrifood systems transformation
  • 19/10 Strengthening science-policy interfaces in support of effective decision-making
  • 20/10 Innovative finance for climate action in agrifood systems
  • 20/10 Closing: key recommendations and takeaways
  • African contributions (extract of the program + abstracts)
  • 2 - 3 October 2023. Lusaka, Zambia. FARA participated in a capacity-building workshop on domesticating the African Union (AU) strategic framework for holistic aflatoxin control.
  • 19 September 2023. Addressing the global challenge of mycotoxins - this was the focus of Professor Patrick Njobeh, Professor in Biotechnology and Food Technology at the University of Johannesburg
5 - 7 October 2023. 10th African Grain Trade Summit
  • the aflatoxin debate reigned the Africa Grain Summit

6 October 2023COST Africa and Middle-East Webinar Recorded
  • online information session on the opportunities offered by COST
4 October 2023In Sub-Saharan Africa, Mineral fertilisation and Agroecology are not incompatible
4 and 5 October 2023DRC Agribusiness Forum` and Agriculture Transformation 
  • More than 700 people from 28 countries took part, including government officials, representatives of technical and financial partners, heads of public and private companies, investors and actors in the agricultural sectors.

  • 4/10 Scaling-up investments for Trade and Food Security 
  • NOTE THE COMMENTS OF Hon. Jeanine Milly Cooper, Minister of Agriculture, Liberia ON CAADP @ - 3.05.11
3 October 2023. AAS @ the Adaptation Futures conference Recording forthcoming


Overview of reports and articles October 2023

 

Reports

Unleashing the catalytic power of donor financing to achieve SDG2 Shamba Centre for GDPRD members. UNEDITED Draft version 18 October 2023 # 28 p.
  • IDRC (2023) Synthesis of the CultiAF partnership, 2013-2023 #64 p.
  • This synthesis presents the results of a 10-year journey that IDRC and ACIAR have taken together in funding agricultural research to inform policy and help improve food and nutrition security in East and Southern Africa.

Mockshell, J.; Resnick, D.; Omulo, G.O.; Blanco, M.; Nicol, A. (2023) Political Economy and Policy Analysis (PEPA) sourcebook. A guide to generating evidence for National Policies and Strategies (NPS) for Food, Land, and Water Systems Transformation. Cali (Colombia): International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT); Washington DC (USA): International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) #60 p.
  • This PEPA Sourcebook brings together a collection of frameworks, analytical tools, and methods for analyzing contested questions about transforming agri-food systems across multiple domains, including food and nutrition, land and water, and climate and ecology.
  • 10/10 Political Economy and Policy Analysis (PEPA) Report launch webinar Recorded

Articles

  • Since 2016, COSEM Benin has been involved in designing, producing, providing after-sales service for food processing machines and complete production lines.

Webinars November 2023

28 October - 2 November 2023. The 19th RUFORUM Annual General Meeting (AGM), Yaoundé-Cameroon
29 October - 2 November 2023. Cairo Water Week

30 October 2023, Digitalisation for agriculture and artificial intelligence and its potential impact in low- and middle-income countries.
  • the Digital Agri Hub i e-mail-based conversation.
30 October - 2 November 2023. Lusaka, Zambia 19TH CAADP PP & 14th ADFNS|
  • The African Union Commission (AUC) through its Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (DARBE), in partnership with the Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development (HHS) and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), with support of technical institutions and other stakeholders will organize the commemoration of the 14th Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security (ADFNS), the 19th edition of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Partnership Platform (PP), the associated Malabo Policy Learning Event (MAPLE), as well as the CAADP High-Level Ministerial Forum (HLMF)
30 October - 3 November 2023. African Conference on Agricultural Technologies (ACAT)


31 October 2023. Can Food Systems Crack? Compound food security risks in the climate crisis
  • Online "Global Dialogues on Food Systems Resilience"
  • organised by the Food and Climate Systems Transformation (FACT) Alliance at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna
  • in cooperation with CIFOR-ICRAF.
2 November 2023. Re-imagining a Healthy Food System through Agroecology, Youth Taking Lead

5 - 11 November 2023. African-wide Agricultural Extension Week

6 November 2023. 12:30 Rome time Launch of The SOFA 2023

6 November 2023. Species Diversity for Food Security - hosted by the Open University - CATAPULT research team: critical role that indigenous foods play in reshaping our food systems for a more sustainable future based on case studies from global researchers.
  • Why species diversity: Focus on indigenous species
  • Status of species diversity globally
  • Species diversity in floodplain meadows: A food production perspective
  • Building resilience in agri-food systems: Intersectionality in practice
  • Fruits and vegetables in the food environment of Turkana, Kenya
  • Forage diversity makes milk & meat [even] better
  • Wild plant conservation for food security
  • Neglected and Underutilised Species for Food and Nutrition Security
7 November 2023 Empowering farmers, Indigenous Peoples, women and youths: unlocking the potentials of millets

7-9 November 2023. ICTforAg 2023
  • three days of insightful discussions, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities will take place online through three tracks: Inclusion, Innovation, and Inspiration. Additionally, there will be ICTforAg+ regional events happening around the world.
  • ICTforAg is an annual convening where agrifood system stakeholders, technology experts, and enthusiasts gather to share knowledge, find solutions, and form partnerships to address challenges in agrifood systems across low and middle-income countries.
  • In 2022, the online ICTforAg event attracted over 3,000 participants from 123 countries. Starting from 2023, CGIAR will be hosting the event series to support the theme of Cultivating Inclusion, ensuring that digital innovations equitably benefit all agrifood systems actors across low and middle-income countries.
8 November 2023. iCRA’s anniversary conference: Trust in Action?

8 November 2023 | 13:00–14:30 (CST) Enhancing the use of quality seed for greater choice and benefit of smallholder farmers by FAO

9 November 2023. 12:00-13:30 CET. Foresight4Food webinar 'Future of Protein'
  • This is the first webinar in the Foresight and the Frontiers of Food series. 
  • The first episode features Mathew Kesler of Swedish University of Agricultural Science and TABLE, and Wangeci Gitata-Kiriga, the FoSTr programme facilitator in Kenya.
  • This series combines a foresight perspective with a key transformative phenomenon or ‘weak signal’ that could reshape food systems all across the world. 
  • This series takes a global perspective but seeks to discuss particularly what these new frontiers could mean for low and middle-income countries in Africa and Asia.
  • Topics in future webinars include novel foods, shifting diets, artificial intelligence and digital transformations, food, and geopolitics, mistrust and disinformation.
9 November 2023.12:00-14:00 UTC / 13:00-15:00 CET. Technological innovations in the agrifood sector: adoptions by SMEs and entrepreneurs. PAFO-COLEAD Innovation session


10 November 2023. 1200 EAT, 1100 SAT, and 0900 GMT. Agroecological technologies and practices for seed management. by AFSA


14-16 November 2023. Victoria Falls Zimbabwe 10th Annual ReNAPRI Stakeholder Conference,
  • Session 1 Beyond the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health (AFSH) Summit: Support towards operationalization of the AFSH Action Plan
  • Session 2 Prioritization of Agricultural Policies and Investments through Value Chain Analysis
  • High Level Panel Discussion Strengthening local expertise to deliver high-quality research for policymaking and influence: ‘Localization’.
  • Sustainable Food Systems in Africa I: Role of Zimbabwe’s Agriculture in attaining Vision 2030
  • Session 3 Implementation of NDCs and NAPs in Africa under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change: Lessons Learnt from four (4) Pilot Countries
  • Session 4 Effects of global shocks on food, fuels, and fertilizer (prices and availability) on food systems in Africa: a case of the conflict in Ukraine 
  • Session 5 The 2023 OECD-FAO Agricultural Outlook and FAO’s support to the AUC in promoting agribusiness development towards enhancing implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)  
14-17 November 2023. Fifth Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment (ARDWE).

  • The World Rural Forum (WRF) is a global network that promotes family farming and sustainable rural development, composed by family farming organisations such as AACARI, AFA, COPROFAM, ESAFF, PDRR, PIFON, PROPAC, REFACOF and UMNAGRI, rural development organisations; agri-cooperatives like CA-E and KONFEKOOP and research centers such as CIRAD.
  • Understanding the main elements of COP on Climate Change and the negotiation process to improve family farming organizations performance and influence the global agenda on Climate Action.
16 November 2023. Private Sector Viewpoints on the State of the Fertilizer Sector in Africa Webinar Series. by AFAP  Register here + Download the Concept Note

20 November 2023. London. Global food security summit

20 November 2023. Millet: How to Create a Business Around Neglected and Underutilized Species?
  • how innovative approaches and creative thinking can reintroduce sustainable, nutrient-dense ingredients like millet and sorghum into children's diets. Discover the potential of neglected and underutilized species and learn how to turn innovative ideas into successful businesses.
  • With Ms Shauravi Malik: Co-founder of Slurpp Farm, an Indian startup & Ms Joanna Kane Potaka: Deputy Executive Director for Strategy, Engagement, and Impact at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).



21 - 24 November 2023. Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia. The 5th Conference on Land Policy in Africa
  • This is a tripartite consortium consisting of the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
  • Conference in the context of the ‘Year of AfCFTA: Acceleration of the African Continental Free Trade Area Implementation’, which is the AU Theme of the year.

  • In the 8th edition in the GFAR Talks series, two speakers will outline their perspectives on what kind of research is required and who should do such research if we are to achieve an agroecological transformation of the agrifood system: Emile A. Frison and Romano De Vivo (CropLife)
22 November 2023. Congress over climate change biodiversity and economic outlook. By Entrepreneurs for Entrepreneurs

22 November 2023. 8:30 am CET. New Delhi.  Multistakeholder meeting on "Transforming Markets for Better Nutrition"
  • Organised by the Access to Nutrition Initiative (ATNI) and co-convened with support from Eat Right India- FSSAI, NIN, Consumer Voice and CII (TBC). During the event, ATNI will launch its 2023 India Index, assessing the 20 top food and beverage companies in India on their performance to increase the accessibility of healthy foods in the Indian market.
23 November 2023. 15:00 – 16:00. Innovating for Sustainable Food Systems Transformations: Scaling Success Stories Beyond Technology
  • Innovation goes beyond technology. It must incorporate social, economic, institutional, behavioral and organizational processes that facilitate integrative policies, business models and sustainable financing.
  • This webinar will present success stories to illustrate how a broader definition of innovation must be used to advance equitable and sustainable food systems transformation.

27 November 2023. Farmer-Led Research Symposium
  • The symposium is primarily for a Canadian - indeed, an Ontarian - target group
27 November 2023. Webinar on how to use theAccess Agriculture  discussion group on the platform groups.io

27 November 2023. 15:00 and 17:35 East African Time. Discussion on Regenerative Agriculture in Africa  by RUFORUM 
  • The Concept Note can be accessed here 
 
27 November 2023. 15:00 and 17:35 East African Time. Africa’s blue economy: Sustainable marine and freshwater exploitation  by RUFORUM 
  • The Concept Note can be accessed here 

28 November 2023. 5:30 PM-7:00 PM (UTC+03:00) Nairobi. Changing Smallholders' Livelihoods: Award-Winning Innovations for Seed System Development
  • This webinar is part of a monthly series initiated by the CGIAR Seed Equal Initiative
  • innovations for seed system development to be presented by the Alliance Biodiversity-CIAT's Jean Claude Rubyogo, Director of the 2023 Africa Food Prize winner Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) and Swati Nayak, recipient of the 2023 Borlaug Field Award for her work as Seed System and Product Management Lead-South Asia at the International Rice Research Institute.


28 November 2023. @10:00am EST, 4 pm CET Food Security and Agrifood Trade in Latin American and the Caribbean by IFPRI

29 November 2023. 13:00-14:30 (CET). Fonio: enhancing collaboration for sustainable agriculture and improved livelihoods


29 November 2023. 03:00 - 04:00 PM EAT. Bioeconomy in Sub-Saharan Africa: tapping natural and human resources. Register here.

30 November - 12 December 2023 | UN Climate Change Conference COP28
30 November 2023. Presentation Report Cereals milling sector in Tanzania by Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC).

30 November 2023 (09h00 - 11h00 GMT) R-CEP-AOC: Webinaire sur l'agriculture biologique

30 November 2023. 13:00-15:00 GMT+2. Regional Conference on Transformation of Higher Education in Agriculture by GFRAS

1 December, 11:00-13:00 CET. InfoPoint Hybrid Conference: "Private sector engagement under the African Continental Free Trade Area"
 
  • Conference to showcase achievements of EU food systems related projects, explore future research and innovation orientations and levers of change.
  • The EC aims to convene a wide range of actors and policy makers for this in-person event, which will also be web streamed and recorded for those unable to travel.
5 December 2023. Fighting Zinc Deficiency through Large Scale Food Fortification


5 December 2023. 1200 EAT, 1100 Southern Africa, 1000 Central and parts of West Africa, online session of the Water School Africa (WSA) 
  • Ferdinand Wafula of BIOGI and some of the farmers of Kathonzweni subcounty of Makueni, Kenya will share their experiences, aspirations and learnings on creating structures and other conditions that conserve water to help them in their food production.

6 December 2023. InfoPoint conference: Taking Integrated Action on Climate and Nutrition

6 December 2023.  between 16:00 and 17:15 Swiss Time (GMT+1) Kick-off meeting of the GFRAS Community of Practice in Extension and Rural Advisory Services
  • GFRAS, the “Enabling Farmers for Agricultural Transformation (EFAT)” Project, Winrock International and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) are collaborating to strengthen agricultural extension and advisory services and systems (EAS) globally.
  •  this first online meeting, will present the results of a survey collecting the main topics of interest in RAS and food-systems, present an overview of what the online platform has to offer, and how to interact with other members
7 December 2023. Networking and resource mobilisation to support the process of integrating PID concepts and practices into universities, and research Institutions
  • by Prolinnova
7 December 2023. Nairobi. 8:45AM- 1:30 PM EAT/ 6:45AM- 11:30AM CET. Allocating Impact Investing in Emerging Markets

During the event ATNI will present its business case for investing in nutrition and metrics for impact investors and learn from others in the impact investing space. The event brings together stakeholders with expertise on the topic including donors, development finance institutions, impact investors, Agri-SMEs, NGOs, intergovernmental organizations, health professionals and more. 

12 - 14 December 2023, Accra, Ghana. ACAFP 2023 Food Safety Conference - African Continental Association of Food Protection (ACAFP)

12 - 15 December 2023. Kigali, Rwanda. 5th African Organic Conference (AOC)
  • Conference of four (4) days in collaboration with the organic agriculture actors in Africa, the African Union Commission and other strategic organizations outside Africa.
  • The theme of the conference is “Strengthening Resilient and Sustainable Food Systems in Africa Through Organic Agriculture”.
  • Please find attached the call for papers for the 5th African Organic Conference. Abstract not more than 250 words were to be submitted to Deadline – September 30, 2023. Full papers of accepted Abstracts to be submitted before 30 October, 2023. All finally accepted manuscripts will be published in the Conference Proceedings, while scientific ones that are evaluated acceptable for journal publication will have the opportunity to be published in the African Journal of Organic Agriculture and Ecology (AJOAE).
  • VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION: Early bird Registration (before 15th October, 2023) 90 USD / Regular Registration : 100 USD
  • This summit is the only dedicated summit in India which provides a common platform for the Food & Nutrition industry to come together to discuss the key challenges. learn from the best practices adopted across the country. India Food & Nutrition Summit is India’s the most authoritative congregation of the Food, Dairy, Nutraceuticals, Dietary Supplements and Health Foods Industry in India.

26 February to 1 March 2024. 5th All Africa Horticulture Congres (AAHC)
  • The preliminary programme is available online and abstract submission is open until November 2023.
  • This fifth edition of the AAHC, initiated in 2009 by GlobalHort, will complement the African sub-regions hosting the event.
  • The event will strengthen scientific relations and partnerships between North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa, and highlight the place and role of horticulture in meeting the continent's global challenges: food and nutritional security, youth employment, and sustainable management of natural resources (water and biodiversity).
5 - 6 March 2024 AFMASS Ethiopia Food Expo co-located with Africa Food Safety Summit – Eastern Africa

10 June 2024. . Nairobi, Kenya Africa Future Food Summit

12 - 14 June 2024. . Nairobi, Kenya AFMASS Food Expo Eastern Africa co-located with Dairy Manufacturing Africa Expo

1 3 August 2024. Nairobi, Kenya Africa Fresh Produce Expo co-located with Africa FarmTech Expo


August 2024. AFMASS Nigeria Food Expo co-located with Africa Dairy Manufacturing Expo and Africa Food Safety Summit – Western Africa

Soybean Insect Pest Management series

25 October 2023. Soybean Insect Pest Management series

Soybean farming in Africa has seen a gradual increase in recent years. Nevertheless, soybean production faces significant limitations due to various factors. One major challenge is the damage caused by insect pests, which can result in substantial losses. To address this issue, it is crucial to accurately identify these pests, comprehend the extent of the damage they inflict, and learn effective methods for their control. In this webinar series, the Soybean Innovation Lab (SIL) delved into the common insects that pose a threat to soybean crops. 

This webinar series, focus on providing a basic description of these pests, detailing the harm they cause to soybeans, explaining how to inspect and assess the damage, and presenting various available management strategies. 

This webinar focused on the How and When to scout for soybean insect pests, Scouting tools and methods and pest evaluation scales. We will also learn how soybean pests are tracked and identified in the real time in the Northwest US. We will finally explore different options for insect pest management including cultural, biological, and chemical options. 

The webinar presented by three experienced scientists: 
  • Dr Scott H Graham, Auburn University. Assistant Professor & Extension Specialist Entomology & Plant pathology: Scouting of soybean insect pests and evaluation scale. 
  • Dr Doris Lagos-Kutz, Entomologist. USDA- ARS Research, Education, and Economics (REE): Experiences on soybean insect pests monitoring in the Northwest- United States 
  • Dr Nyasha Chiuraise, SeedCo Zimbabwe Plant pathologist: Integrated management of soybean insect pests.
To learn more about Soybean diseases, and pests check our links: 

27 September 2023. The first webinar in this series focused on identification of common insect pests in Africa and quantifying economic threshold levels. The webinar featured presentations by:
  • Dr. Doris Lagos-Kutz, Entomologist for the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service's (USDA-ARS) Research, Education, and Economics (REE) division and 
  • Dr. Louis Hesler, Lead Scientist and Research Entomologist for the USDA-ARS North Central Agricultural Research Laboratory.




Transcript

Committee on World Food Security (CFS 51)

23 - 27 October 2023
. The fifty-first plenary session of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS 51) was held in a hybrid format.

See the agenda here, and visit the CFS page for more information.

The Committee on World Food Security (CFS) is an inclusive international and intergovernmental platform for a broad range of committed stakeholders to work together in a coordinated manner and in support of country-led processes towards the elimination of hunger and ensuring food security and nutrition for all, for the progressive realization of the right to adequate food in the context of national food security.

During its 51st Session, the CFS endorsed the Policy Recommendations on Strengthening Food Security and Nutrition Data Collection and Analysis Tools for Food Security

Additionally, the Plenary included two stocktaking sessions: 


  1. Side Event 1 | Who governs and who should govern food and nutrition security and the fight against hunger in the world?
  2. Side Event 2 | Forging Resilience – Harnessing evidence-based agrifood transformation for navigating multiple crises: insights from South Asia and the Horn of Africa
  3. Side Event 3 | Innovative approaches to sustainable finance for food systems transformation
  4. Side Event 4 | Human rights-based food governance – Coordinating policy responses, rebalancing power, and ensuring corporate accountability
  5. Side Event 5 | Empowering women farmers to effectively reduce poverty and hunger
  6. Side Event 6 | Food systems for the 21st century: How data-driven analysis, and multi-stakeholder collaboration contribute to policy decision-making and investments
  7. Side Event 7 | Data governance in the digitalization of the food system – Bringing together small-scale food producers and governments
  8. Side Event 8 | What It Takes – From effective data generation to use to drive better policies and programmes in food security and nutrition
  9. Side Event 9 | Uptake and implementation of CFS Policy products through legislation – The role of parliaments and parliamentary networks
  10. Side Event 10 | Lessons from Brazil – Recovering from setbacks in the fight against hunger and malnutrition and the challenges in the road ahead
  11. Side Event 11 | Improved data management for increased sustainability, food security and nutrition
  12. Side Event 12 | Achieving Gender Equality, Food Security and Nutrition: Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives and Approaches
  13. Side Event 13 | Integrating Climate and Nutrition: an essential action for zero hunger
  14. Side Event 14 | Boosting finance in Agroecology to achieve Rio Conventions’ targets
  15. Side Event 15 | Mobilizing urban youth in climate change adaptation solutions in Africa
  16. Side Event 16 | Promoting energy access to safeguard food security and nutrition gains within the agrifood systems and beyond - Organizers: FAO, WFP Madagascar, UNEP , Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
  17. Side Event 17 | Innovations for climate-friendly food systems – A deep dive into digitalization and agroecology for resilience Organizers: KALRO/Kenya, SWISSAID, IFAD, ...
  18. Side Event 18 | Our seat at the table – Maximizing transformative opportunities across the rural-urban continuum to deliver healthy diets from sustainable food systems
  19. Side Event 19 | Food and Nutrition Security in Urban Centers
  20. Side Event 20 | Nature based Solutions and decent rural employment in agrifood systems
  21. Side Event 21 | Data-Driven Policy for Better Food Security and Nutrition – Experiences in Digital Transformation
  22. Side Event 22 | Nourishing Connections – Multistakeholder Synergies for Scaling-Up Food Security and Nutrition through Social Protection Systems
  23. Side Event 23 | Investing in Youth to Reduce Inequalities – Implementing CFS Guidelines on Engaging Youth in Agriculture and Food Systems
  24. Side Event 24 | Learnings from cross-sectoral sustainability assessments – From multinational corporations to regional initiatives in West and Central Africa
  25. Side Event 25 | Scaling up the implementation CFS policy instruments in time of climate crisis – The role of the UN Decade of Family Farming 2019-2028 (UNDFF) Organizers: Incl. PROPAC, ESAFF, ROPPA
  26. Side Event 26 | From Global to Local – Translating Policy Recommendations on Youth Engagement and Employment into Tangible Action at the Local Level
  27. Side Event 27 | The Inextricable Link Between Diet Quality, Food Accessibility and Global Inequality
  28. Side Event 28 | Reducing Inequalities in the Food System through an Intersectional lens
  29. Side Event 29 | Zero Hunger in Colombia – A commitment to end food insecurity and building peace
  30. Side Event 30 | Just transition or green grabbing? Land-intensive climate action and protecting the sustainable food systems of IPs and LC Organizers: Incl. EAFF
  31. Side Event 31 | Global Dialogue on Water Tenure for water & food security, social inclusion, and climate resilience
  32. Side Event 32 | Growing Sustainability – Bridging Food, Biodiversity and Climate Goals for a 1.5°C Future
  33. Side Event 33 | Tenure Security for All – the case for local and global action to advance implementation of the VGGT
  34. Side Event 34 | Nourishing Progress – Reflecting on a Decade of Social Protection Innovations and Thinking for Zero Hunger
  35. Side Event 35 | Fair Food Prices – Unlocking multistakeholder action for inclusive and competitive markets Organizers: Incl. Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)
  36. Side Event 36 | Human rights-based approaches to global challenges and climate action for the Right to Adequate Food for all

Highlights

23/10 Side Event 3 | Innovative approaches to sustainable finance for food systems transformation

This session provided examples of how donors can mobilize responsible investment from the private sector. It presented the results of a new research by the GDPRD and the Shamba Centre on how donors can develop value-added partnerships with public and private funders to drive investment in smallholder commercial agriculture for food systems transformation and high development impact. 

Read the initial summary from the enquiry: 
Oshani Perera, Carin Smaller, Kamal Elharty, and Lysiane Lefebvre (2023) .“Unleashing the catalytic power of donor financing to achieve SDG2”  Shamba Centre for GDPRD members. UNEDITED Draft version 18 October 2023 # 28 p.
  1. Key Finding 1: Blended finance can make the biggest contribution to SDG 2 by focusing on the missing middle; agri-food SMEs seeking finance between USD 50,000 and USD 2 million.
  2. Key Finding 2: Every dollar of concessional finance can mobilize four dollars of commercial finance. However, whether those four dollars deliver on sustainable development will determine if blended finance is truly additional
  3. Key Finding 3: Development finance institutions are governed by rules that discourage them from taking risks to provide finance that would otherwise not be available from commercial lenders.
  4. Key Finding 4: More research and data on the performance of agri-food SME loans that originate from donors is a prerequisite to make ODA catalytic.
Examples from the UK Government’s Commercial Agriculture for Smallholders and Agribusiness (CASA) programme and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture’s partnership approach in South Africa highlighted how the private sector and donors are working together. The WFP ended the session on opportunity costs of funding cuts for food security and resilience building.

Recording forthcoming 

24/10 Side Event 6 | Food systems for the 21st century: How data-driven analysis, and multi-stakeholder collaboration contribute to policy decision-making and investments

This joint side event, organised by the EU, FAO, the Government of Sweden and SIANI, brought together diverse actors and geographic perspectives to discuss this critical interface between data and analysis and multistakeholder processes for policy and investment decision-making. 

It presented insights from crosscutting regional analyses of 50 country EU-FAO-CIRAD food systems’ assessments as well as lessons on how to collate, align, and avail data efficiently and transparently for consumers, practitioners, and decision makers. The panel also examined the challenges, opportunities and trade-offs of developing policies and investment to enhance the environmental sustainability of terrestrial and marine food systems.

Recording forthcoming

24/ 10 Side Event 8 |  What it takes: from effective data generation to use to drive better policies and programmes in food security and nutrition


This side event showcased experiences of generating and using data from three data-focused initiatives: 
  1. the learnings from the 50x2030 initiative to Close the Agricultural Data Gap based on a
    partnership between IFAD, FAO and the World Bank, aiming to strengthen data systems in lower and lower-middle income countries to enhance decision-making for agriculture and food security; 
  2. two initiatives from the European Union: the European Commission-Nutrition Information System (EC-NIS) project to strengthen the generation and capacity of nutrition data within health information systems and beyond; and the National Information Platforms for Nutrition (NIPN) initiative to transform data and multisectoral nutrition information systems to influence and drive programmes and policies.
Recording forthcoming

Side Event 14 | Boosting finance in Agroecology to achieve Rio Conventions’ targets

The side event demonstrated how agroecology connects and delivers on these goals. It shared the results of discussions among a group of donors (bilateral, multilateral and philanthropic donors, private investors and governments) which took place immediately before the CFS (20-21 October). 

It presented data on investments in agroecology and a methodological tool to assess how much funded projects and programmes contribute to an agroecological transformation based on their alignment with the 13 principles of agroecology as articulated in the HLPE Report.

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How can the tool be used?
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How does the tool manage the data?
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Who created and developed the tool?
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How can I have more information about the methodology?

Recording forthcoming