Sunday, March 31, 2024

Compendium of forgotten foods in Africa

27 March 2024. Ahead of the 33rd Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Africa (ARC33), senior experts from across Africa met in this virtual session to discuss pressing technical issues related to food security and nutrition on the continent.

Also referred to as neglected, underutilized or orphan crops, these species offer valuable benefits, including nutrition and diet diversification, while supporting resilient, climate-smart agriculture but they are at risk of being lost as foods such as maize, rice and wheat dominate African diets.

See recording : https://www.fao.org/webcast/home/en/item/6489/icode/

Resource:

FAO, FARA (2024) Compendium of forgotten foods in Africa  # 120 p

This new Compendium of forgotten foods in Africa is a first-of-its-kind comprehensive collection of 100 African forgotten food crops.
  • The compendium list includes crops’ botanical classification, agroecological suitability, agronomic requirements, traditional and medicinal uses, value-added prospects and nutritional content. Among the entries are: African locust beans, African nightshade, baobab, Bambara nut, bush mango, cassava, fonio, marula, moringa, teff and tigernut.
  • Embracing both agricultural heritage and innovation can transform agrifood systems across Africa. By cataloguing these forgotten or underutilized crops, traditional knowledge is being honoured in the push to unlock the potential for better nutrition, sustainable agriculture, and resilience against the climate crisis.
  • The Compendium is a companion to the new publication Integrating Africa’s forgotten foods for better nutrition which explains the methodologies and analysis used to compile the Compendium.
  • The publication is part of FAO’s work in Africa for better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life under the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31.

Related:


18 - 20 April 2024. The 33rd Session of the Regional Conference for Africa (ARC33) will put a spotlight on the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-2031 and the four betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.
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Saturday, March 30, 2024

Webinars April 2024

  •  Next Sessions: Apr 10, 2024 14:00 + Apr 17, 2024 14:00
  • Agriculture plays a key role in supporting livelihoods and national economies in Africa. Given Africa’s close ties with Europe in trade and development, the developments in Europe regarding the proposed regulations on Plant Reproductive Materials are of significant concern due to their potentially far-reaching impacts.
  • Against this background, the PELUM Association in partnership with the African Organic Agriculture Network (AfroNet ), Broederlijk Dalen, and Bread for the World (BfW) organises this webinar
  • Meeting ID: 843 1551 0234 Passcode: 830054
5 April 2024. KM4AgD 2024 Challenge & Conference Kick Off Meeting
  • Knowledge Management for Agricultural Development Challenge (KM4AgD), is taking place from March to August 2024. 
  • As in previous years, a cohort of about 30 Knowledge Management enthusiasts will join the KM4AgD Challenge, which includes an 8-days Certification Course in Knowledge Management and Knowledge Society, coaching and support in the development of an organisational KM Strategy, the nomination for the KM4D-Award, and the collaboration on KM Challenges in the agricultural sector as a whole. 
  • The team will collectively develop a comprehensive outline for the development of a maiden Africa Knowledge Report.
  • Read more by downloading the details at https://bit.ly/KM4AgD2024c4app.


9-12 April 2024 | Leuven, Belgium. 5th Global Food Security Conference. Towards equitable, sustainable and resilient food systems
  • Building on the momentum from the UN Food System Summit and recognizing that the 2030 target year of the Sustainable Development Goals is on the horizon, this 5th Global Food Security Conference will bring together science, business and policy to address this need.
  • See PAEPARD blogpost with the presentations related to AFRICA
9 April, 12:30- 14:00 (CEST). INTPA InfoPoint Hybrid Conference: Transparency and traceability in the garment and footwear industry

9 April 2024, 4:30PM to 6:00PM EDT Roundtable on Strengthening Institutions, and Investments in Climate-Smart Agri-Food Systems to Improve Smallholder Livelihoods in Africa
  • Co-organized by Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU), Corporate Council on Africa (CCA), and IFPRI
  • This high-level roundtable is held on the occasion of AGRA President and UN Special Envoy for the Food Systems Summit, Dr. Agnes Kalibata’s visit to Washington, DC.

10 April 2024. @11:00 to 12:30 (GMT+2) Climate and energy futures: Africa's path forward
  • Venue: Online via Zoom (register to attend online) + Attend via webcast
  • Institute for Security Studies (ISS) with AUDA-NEPA
  • This seminar will discuss two new reports that examine Africa’s development prospects if countries adopt sustainable energy policies. Read the full report on Africa’s Climate Future here. (#34 p.) + Read the full report on Africa’s Energy Future here. (#41 p.) 

11 April 2024. 03:00pm - 04:15pm How Can Businesses Secure a More Sustainable, Equitable and Resilient Future for the Food Sector?
  • Co-hosted by the Food and Land Use Coalition (FOLU), World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), and We Mean Business Coalition, the event will delve into key insights from a recently published report series: ‘Future Fit Food and Agriculture’ revealing that US $205 billion per year is needed from the food sector to mitigate half of global food system emissions.
11 April 2024. Smallholder land management: practices in Zimbabwe and Malawi. Webinar 11.
  • Panel: Introductory remarks by ACT; Country presentations by Zimbabwe (Chief Director Edwin Zimunga & Foundations for Farming’s Matthew Mbanga); and Malawi (MoA Director Gertrude Kambauwa & Total LandCare’s Zwide Jere).
  • The Webinars and Discussion Forums are being organized by the interim F-SAMA steering committee,comprised of AUC, FAO &ACT Network: For more information, contact: • F-SAMA - AfricaMechanize Secretariat; Email: info@africamechanize.org
  • @14:30. Equity and inclusion in and through education: Addressing the critical role of education in advancing equity and inclusion, the panel will highlight how the EU and its partners are promoting equality, including gender equality and inclusion, through strategic investments.
  • @14:30. Gearing up VET and higher education for the future: The panel will showcase investments in higher education and vocational education and training (VET) in support of major social and economic transformations as the world seeks to achieve an equitable twin transition.
  • as part of the UNFCCC online series organized by PAFO, in collaboration with FFD and AHA.
  • This seminar will provide a general overview of:Update on the Loss and Damage Negotiations and its significance for smallholders. How to use weather information to verify disasters and/or losses.
  • Speakers: Mr. David Kaluba, In-country NDC focal point, Ministry for Green Economy and Environment, Zambia + Mr. Juhana Hyrkkänen, Director, Weather, Sea and Climate Service Centre from the Finnish Meteorological Institute.
15 - 17 April 2024. Cotonou. CORAF WECARD General Assembly 


  • an evening of talks and a discussion on the state of industrial animal agriculture in the context of intersecting crises.
  • The focal crops are common bean and cowpea. 
16 April 2024. 15-16:30 CET (UTC+1). Harnessing AI for Digital Extension Services
  • Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services in partnership with SAAI, FANRPAN and AiFarmer
  • Discover how advancements in artificial intelligence are revolutionizing digitalization efforts within the agricultural sector, unlocking new opportunities for enhanced advisory services and knowledge dissemination. 
  • Gain valuable insights into leveraging AI technologies for sustainable agricultural development and improved livelihoods.
16-18 April 2024. Brussels. 8th UNIMED WEEK
  • UNIMED – Mediterranean Universities Union – is a network of Higher Education and Research Institutions, active in promoting academic cooperation in the Euro-Mediterranean region and in SubSaharan Africa, in the Middle East and in Western Balkans. 
  • 17/04 An Africa-Europe Partnership on Education and Research, the Africa-Europe Foundation (AEF) and UNIMED will join forces to galvanize efforts toward fostering collaboration between Africa and Europe to invest in the youth’s dividend and foster collaboration between Europe, North and Sub-Saharan Africa. Initiatives like Regional Centres of Excellence in Sub-Saharan Africa, as part of the Global Gateway Investment Package, and Research Excellence Clusters further aim to strengthen collaboration in education, research, and innovation with Fadila Boughanemi Deputy Head of Research and Innovation, DG RTD, Dr. Cheikh Saad Bouh Kamara President of the University of Nouakchott Al Aasriya Roberto Zanino Rector's Delegate for International University Networks at Politecnico di Torino, Jimmy Hendry Nzally Youth Activist Diaspora, Postdoctoral Researcher at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) Contributors Peter Kwasi Kodjie Secretary-General at the All-Africa Students Union
  • 18/04 Soft Launch of the UfM-Portal for R&I Cooperation in the Mediterranean Region -with Nienke Buisman (DG RTD) annd Giuseppe Provenzano Union for the Mediterranean
  • 18/04 Horizon Europe NCPs Regional Meeting

17 April 2024, 12:30- 13:45 (CEST) InfoPoint Hybrid Conference: "Transparency and traceability in garment and footwear value chains – Part 2


17 April 2024. AGROMIX Policy Summit: Agroforestry for the future of European agriculture
  • Agroecology Europe and the AGROMIX Horizon Project are organizing the AGROMIX Policy Summit: Agroforestry for the future of European agriculture at the Square Brussels Convention Centre (Address: Coudenberg 3, 1000 Brussels).
  • The one-day event will provide a platform for exchange between policymakers, farmers, and researchers to explore agroecological solutions for more resilient European farming and food systems and tools to implement agroforestry practices.
  • you will be able follow live the event on this youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@revolvegroup
  • This conference, organised by the Belgian Federal Public Service of Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, the Directorate-General for Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and Ghent University, is a collective effort to align with the Sustainable Development Goals, offering a unique opportunity to address interconnected global challenges.
  • The anticipated outcome is not just knowledge but actionable insights—a roadmap towards ensuring healthy diets and better nutrition for all.
18 April 2024. Derisking Green Finance to Support Africa's Future Energy Landscape


  • the DigiCLA project is implemented by a consortium which includes the University of Parakou (UP), through the Research Laboratory on Innovation for Agricultural Development (LRIDA ), the NGO Eclosio and the startup company TIC Agro Business Center (TIC ABC). The DigiCLA project aims at promoting the adoption of digital and agroecological practices by young maize producers in northern Benin in the fight against FAW. Funded under the “Accelerating inclusive green growth through agro-industrial digital innovation in West Africa (AGriDI)” program, this project falls under ECOWAS regional priorities and priority area 1 (Consolidation of food and nutritional security in a context of climate change) 
  • Download the concept note / Note conceptuelle
18 April 2024. Two influential voices in 4cosystem restoration: Andrew Millison and John D. Liu.

18 April 2024 at 9:00-12:00 CEST (UTC+2). Brussels, Belgium / Online Enhancing Circularity in Africa’s mining sector. 
18 - 20 April 2024. 33rd Session of the FAO Regional Conference for Africa (ARC33)
  • (Morocco), Hybrid Event
  • Produced by Devex in partnership with CGIAR and IFPRI
  • This session will convene nutrition and climate experts to discuss the vital role of healthy diets; showcase a suite of proven solutions across the agrifood value chain for improving diets in low- and middle-income countries; and examine how best to scale these solutions so that everyone can reap the benefits of sustainable healthy diets.
  • With Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director, CGIAR

21 – 24 April 2024. Brussels, Belgium. World Cocoa Conference

21 April, 202422 April, 2024. Sixth African Science, Technology and Innovation Forum
  • Effective delivery of innovative science and technology solutions to reinforce the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Agenda 2063, and to eradicate poverty in Africa
  • 22/04 14:00-16:30 EAT. Addis Ababa and online. Access to finance for young innovators  with the participation of international and regional financing institutes. 
23 April 2024. Amsterdam. Africa Works! Africa's Green Industrialisation -Made in Africa
  • This conference will explore opportunities in circular food production, renewable energy, and sustainable agro-logistics, asking how the private sector, both Dutch and African, can contribute to a sustainable and inclusive future for the continent.
23 April 2024. 1200 noon GMT Inaugural Webinar of the Global Community of Practice (CoP) on the Vision for Adapted Crops and Soils VACS - Theme:  Optimizing the Vison for Adapted Crops and Soils in Africa


  • This webinar will delve into the critical tipping points in soil erosion and their implications, particularly in regions of the global south where the impacts are currently most pronounced. 
  • The panel will touch on the effects of global inequalities and human impact on soil and why it is crucial to understand our connection to nature through the lens of soil: Amaury Frankl (Ghent University), Nikolaos Nikolaidis (Technical University of Crete), Moderated by Amandine Erktan (IRD, UMR Eco&Sols, Montpellier)
  • Organised by https://futureearth.org/


  • this event marks a significant milestone in addressing the critical issues surrounding energy transformation and financing in Africa. 
  • The Italian G7 Presidency has recognized the imperative of ensuring a sustainable and just energy transition in Africa, making it a key priority for discussion during the G7 Planet Week.

25 April 2024 | 14:00 BST (UK time). Webinar | Gender-focused Living Income Interventions | Hosted by LICoP

25 April 2024. 3:00 to 4:00 pm East Africa Time/12:00 to 1:00pm UTC The Seed Equal Webinar Series: Measuring inclusive access to quality seeds-the why, how and what next
  • Women and poor smallholder farmers in many developing countries across regions continue to face challenges in accessing good quality seed of preferred varieties at the time and place they need, due a range of challenges and barriers.
  • The Africa Seed Access Index (TASAI) will present on a newly developed indicators of inclusive access, primarily interpreted as access by women and youth, to quality seed of preferred varieties.
25 April 2024. TP Organics Soil health and global food security: Research & innovation for productive and sustainable agriculture
  • The event will feature presentations and discussions on practical approaches to integrating biological inputs into farming practices, drawing insights from experiences in both the European Union and Africa.
25 April 2024, 14:00- 15:00 (CEST). Securing sustainable crop nutrition: the role of fertilizers in regenerative agriculture



25-26 April 2024, 8:00 GMT+1 Digital Climate Advisory Services Training to Support Climate Resilience for Smallholder Agriculture in Central Africa

  • Emphasizing the crucial role of biodiversity preservation and the need to mitigate the environmental impact of agriculture, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has recognized certain traditional agricultural, forestry, and fishery systems as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). 
  • These systems, which are richly integrated with local cultures and biodiversity, have been carefully adapted to the unique climatic and natural environments of their respective regions. They stand out for their vital contribution to preserving cultural heritage for future generations. As of February 2024, 86 agricultural heritage systems have been officially designated in 26 countries.
  • In response, the "Project for Promotion and Dissemination of Sustainable Agrifood Systems (GCP/GLO/1185/JPN-F)," funded by Japan, aims to facilitate a global workshop/webinar to gather, analyze and shared information on outstanding initiatives and best practices for promoting greening the supply chain in agriculture.

25 April 2024 - 26 April 2024 09:30 (GMT+02:00) EU Missions and cross-cutting activities info days
  • As part of the UNFCCC online series organized by PAFO, in collaboration with FFD, and AHA
  • 30/04 @16h30-17h30 CET. VLIR-UOS Panel discussion on Global Partnerships for EU higher education and European alliances. Panelists include the directors of DGD and of directorate G of DG INTPA, the rector of UNIKIN, and policy makers from universities in Cuba, DRC, Ecuador and South Africa. 
May 2024. Ghana-EU Business Forum: Q2 2024

  • launch event for a facilitators' guidebook on youth and agroecology which has been developed by partner organisations of DKA Austria in South Asia through the RAISE Consortium. 
  • The RAISE Consortium is a network of networks supported by the Swiss Development Cooperation.
  • This guidebook sheds light on the often-overlooked importance of children and youth as essential stakeholders in transformative change processes. It emphasizes active citizenship and youth empowerment and engages adolescents and youth for agroecology based on various modules.
  • The guidebook is intended for facilitators in rural areas. It includes a collection of methods anchored in the 13 Principles of Agroecology and a food systems perspective and is based on Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA). It has been developed with the participation of local youth and facilitators.
  • The launching event will present the guidebook and present perspectives of youths who had been part of its development. 
  • It will also look at other experiences of networks from the Philippines (SEARICE) and Africa (Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa) and their work on youth and agroecology.

  • The webinar will cover a range of topics including the drawbacks of traditional industrial agriculture and the advantages of adopting agroecology, the role of local governments in advancing agroecological policies, and the processes involved in the production, certification, and testing of biofertilizers within Kenya and Zambia. 
  • Additionally, it will delve into Kenya's holistic farming system strategies and the transition towards agroecology. 
  • The discussions will also highlight the relationship between soil health and climate change, the progress in bio-fertiliser technology in Africa, and biofertilizer-related research in Southern Africa.
  • Featured Speakers: 1) Dr Million Belay (AFSA) via recording - Transitioning to agroecology, 2) Mamadou Goita (IRPAD) - The failure of industrial agriculture (specifically synthetic fertilizers) and the need for viable alternatives. 3) Ester Bett (RODI Kenya) Kenya is proudly pioneering biofertilizer production, certification, and use. 4) Daniel Gitahi (Muranga County Agriculture Director) - Why Muranga County is embracing agroecology. 5) Blessing Magonziwa (University of Harare) - Biofertilizer research in Southern Africa. 6) Henry Chinutu- National Coordinator, SCOPE Zambia - Agroecology in practice in Zambia.
6 May 2024. at 10:00 GMT or 13:00 EAT. Digital Tools to Drive Market Access & Manage Ag Value Chains 
  • ESOKO Ltd, Accra, Ghana
  • This webinar aims at sharing experiences and lessons learnt from the DigiMakt project being implemented by Esoko in the Bono East and Oti Regions of Ghana. 
  • The project seeks to digitize the entire agricultural value chain. 
  • It will also discuss the opportunities and challenges encountered in the implementation while it explores the prospects for stakeholders in the Agricultural value chain.

7 -10 MAY 2024. Abuja, Nigeria. Open Source in Energy Access Symposium

8 May 2024. Nudging the local financial market place
  • Financial service providers like commercial banks, non-bank financial institutions, cooperatives and microfinance institutions are front-line couriers of loans in local currencies to agricultural SMEs in sub-Saharan Africa. 
  • Given their wide coverage in local markets, financial incentives such as guarantees or first loss facilities that are meant to entice them to extend more loans to these enterprises are growing in popularity. 
  • But what level and types of incentives work best for banks in Africa? Which other incentives have worked elsewhere that may be applied in the region? Will financial incentives change their behaviour in the long term? 
  • The third and final session of ‘Backing the Middle’ will unpack these questions.
8 May 2024, from 8:00 am to 1:30 pm in Arusha, Tanzania. Implementation of upcycling and waste management programs Training
  • The Agriculture Sector Network (ASNET), in partnership with the East African Business Council (EABC) with support from the GIZ Program Agency for Business and Economic Development
9-10 May 2024. East Africa Carbon Markets Forum, a premier event bringing together key stakeholders in the region's carbon markets.

13 – 17 May 2024. World Bank Land Conference 2024: Securing Land Tenure and Access for Climate Action
15-17 May 2024. From Climate Crisis to Climate Resilience. 
  • A 3-day Joint Pontifical Academy of Sciences (PAS) and Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences (PASS) Workshop Summit for bending the curve and bouncing back
23 May 2024. Brussels and online Innovation: a key enabler for sustainable food system transformation in Africa-  Belgium presidency

28 – 30 May 2024. ICTforAg 2024

29 May 2024. EU Green Week 2024: Towards a water resilient Europe

29 May 2024.  (10.00-15:00 CEST)
Virtual Workshop Series of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda
  • The series will comprise seven virtual workshops that will focus on topics related to the priority areas of the AU-EU cooperation in Research and Innovation: Public Health, Green Transition, Innovation & Technology and Capacities for Science and will offer working and interactive sessions, including AU-EU Deep Tech training modules.
  • The next Workshop will focus on Access to finance for innovators.
  • REGISTER HERE

30 May 2024. Webinar 12 Discussion Revamping Manufacturing of Agricultural Machinery and
Implements in SSA along the lines of SAM. 
  • Panel: Introductory remarks by UN Agency; presentations by: Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers’ Associations of Brazil, China, India, and Europe.
  • The Webinars and Discussion Forums are being organized by the interim F-SAMA steering committee,comprised of AUC, FAO &ACT Network: For more information, contact: • F-SAMA - AfricaMechanize Secretariat; Email: info@africamechanize.org

2 - 3 June 2024. Exploring Intersections: Decolonization, Diasporas and the African Food System
  • This hybrid conference is an initiative of the Food Bridge vzw in partnership with Diaspofood ULB, Africa Museum Tervuren, Interdisciplinary Historical Food Studies Research Group (FOST) VUB, The New Global Order (TNGO), Alefa Diaspora and others.
  • The conference seeks to unravel the historical, cultural, and socio-economic dynamics that shaped the
  • current state of African food systems and its impact on the continent’s development. Furthermore, it will be considering the effects of colonization, the experiences of diasporic communities, and the potential for decolonization to reshape the African food systems.
  • Abstracts should be in .doc or pdf format and sent to diasporaprojet@gmail.com Maureen.Duru@vub.be Sarah.Oneill@ulb.be
3–13 June 2024, Bonn, Germany UNFCCC | Bonn Climate Change Conference SB60

3 -5 June 2024. Global Soil Partnership PLENARY ASSEMBLY FAO headquarters and virtually
6 June 2024, Bonn, Germany, and online. GLF & CIFOR-ICRAF | GLF Peatlands: Building Bridges, Sharing Success

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

12 - 15 June 2024 31st Afreximbank Annual Meetings

17 to 20 June 2024. ANH2024 (Online) Learning Labs
The 9th annual Agriculture, Nutrition, and Health (ANH) Academy Week

23 June 2024. IUFRO World Congress 2024 - Forests and Society Towards 2050, Stockholm, Sweden

24 June 2024. SUN Movement Global Gathering 2024
  • The SUN Movement Global Gathering is the Movement’s flagship event and one of the largest international gatherings within the nutrition community.
24-26 June, 2024. COMPIE 2024 conference
  • Developments in the theory and the applications of counterfactual methods for policy impact evaluation. Amsterdam (The Netherlands)
  • The aim of COMPIE is to bring together practitioners and academics to discuss developments in the theory and the applications of counterfactual methods for policy impact evaluation. Applications can cover a broad range of interventions, from labor and social policy to regulation and funding programmes, ideally with a focus on EU policies or developing countries.
  • Paper submissions: January 1, 2024 to 28 February, 2024
23–29 June 2024, Stockholm, Sweden. IUFRO | 26th World Congress

27 June 2024. Webinar 13 Human Resources Development and capacity building for SAMA. 
  • Lead by RUFORUM and contributions by SUA, PASAE, KeSABAE, and ACT ICAAP-Africa.
  • The Webinars and Discussion Forums are being organized by the interim F-SAMA steering committee,comprised of AUC, FAO &ACT Network: For more information, contact: • F-SAMA - AfricaMechanize Secretariat; Email: info@africamechanize.org
28-29 Juin 2024 à Bambey, Sénégal et en ligne. Colloque international Sciences et Agriculture (CISA-1) de l’Institut supérieur de Formation agricole et rurale (ISFAR) - Université Alioune DIOP, les 

1–5 July, 2024. CGIAR Science Week, Nairobi.
  • Drawing on CGIAR science and partnerships from around the world, the inaugural CGIAR Science Week will bring together the community working for a food, nutrition and climate secure future to: co-create a roadmap for food, land and water systems transformation, forge partnerships for action, build the case for investment, inspire change.
3 July 2024 4th Life Cycle Innovation Conference | LCIC 2024

3 - 4 July 2024. Kenya, Kwale County. BlueInvest Africa 2024
  • BlueInvest Africa is an important business event, initiated by the European Commission in 2022.
  • The objective of BlueInvest Africa is to facilitate meetings between African entrepreneurs seeking financing and international investors scouting for opportunities, all centred around projects capable of propelling Africa's blue economy forward
8 - 17 July 2024. High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development 2024

22 - 26 July 2024. Accra, Ghana. 2024 Evidence to Action Conference and Exhibition (E2A)

24 July 2024. Webinar 14 Joint actions in operationalization of the F-SAMA. 
  • Panel discussion at the 9WCCA introduced by FAO/ACT. Panelists: AUC, AfDB, FAO, DAMES committee, and CIMMYT
  • The Webinars and Discussion Forums are being organized by the interim F-SAMA steering committee,comprised of AUC, FAO &ACT Network: For more information, contact: • F-SAMA - AfricaMechanize Secretariat; Email: info@africamechanize.org
25 July 2024. Webinar 15  Scaling CA with SAM in the Context of Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI).
  •  Introductory remarks of the panel discussion at the 9WCCA by Paswel Marenya (CIMMYT) or UN Women. Panelists: Dr Snapp (CIMMYT), ICARDA/INRA, and UM6P/Al Moutmir.
  • The Webinars and Discussion Forums are being organized by the interim F-SAMA steering committee,comprised of AUC, FAO &ACT Network: For more information, contact: • F-SAMA - AfricaMechanize Secretariat; Email: info@africamechanize.org
29 - 31 July 2024. Kigali, Rwanda. 2nd Science & Partnerships for Agriculture Conference (SPAC 2024)

2–7 August 2024. Transformation Towards Sustainable Agri-Food Systems, 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists
  • 02/08 Assessing the impacts of international agricultural research: New methods, rigorous evidence, better decisions [SPIA Fest 2024] - CGIAR Standing Panel on Impact Assessment (SPIA)
  • 02/08 Regional integration, sustainability and food security in South Asia
  • 02/08 The bioeconomy and sustainable development
  • 02/08 Transforming food systems in South Asia - IFPRI
  • 02/08 Transdisciplinary approaches in agri-food systems transformation research- IFPRI, Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, ICARDA
  • 02/08 Facilitating the rapid, Inclusive and sustainable rural transformation in Asian developing countries
  • 04/08 Plenary 3: Healthy and Sustainable Diets and Nutrition
  • 04/08 Plenary 4: Agri-Food Value Chains and Sustainability
  • 05/08 Plenary 5: Gender in Agri-Food Systems
  • 06/08 Plenary 6: Agri-Food Systems, Climate, and the Environment
  • 06/08 Plenary 7: Novel Approaches in Agri-Food Systems Research
  • Selection of Invited Panel sessions that will be held at the conference. For session details and timing, please consult the conference program app (available from July 2024).Science Policy Interface for Sustainable Food Systems (organizer: Hans-Jörg Lutzeyer, Peter Wehrheim) (speakers: Justus Wesseler, Shenggen Fan, Jill McCluskey, Akiko Suwa-Eisenmann, Joachim von Braun)
  • Toward Sustainable Food Systems Transformation in Africa (organizer: Ousmane Badiane, Tsitsi Makombe) (speakers: Sheryl Hendriks, Anna Lartey, John Ulimwengu, Getaw Tadesse, Julius Ecuru, Katrin Glatzel, Racine Ly)
  • Nourishing Growth: How Public Spending Decisions are Shaping Agricultural Transformation and Food Security in India and Africa (organizer: Ashok Gulati, Joachim von Braun) (speakers: Shyma Jose, Bezawit Beyene Chichaibelu, Lukas Kornher, Ousmane Badiane, Usha Barwale Zehr, Sachin Chaturvedi, Shahidur Rashid, Sheryl Hendriks
  • Strengthening the Capacities of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes in Africa (organizer: Thomas Jayne) (speakers: Nalishebo Meebelo, Lenis Saweda O. Liverpool-Tasie, Chris Barrett, Tinashe Kapuya, Milu Muyanga)
  • Urban Food Systems and Dietary Transition in Africa (organizer: Felix Asante (speakers: Jonathan Mockshell, Sylvester Ogutu, Hannah Ameye, Matin Qaim, Makaiko Khonje
  • Alternative Proteins: Challenges and Opportunities in Low- and Middle-Income Settings (organizer: Claudia Ringler) (speakers: B Dayakar Rao, Arghadeep Saha, Frans Swanepoel, Melissa van der Merwe, Holly Wang)
August 2024. AFMASS Nigeria Food Expo co-located with Africa Dairy Manufacturing Expo and Africa Food Safety Summit – Western Africa

4–9 August 2024, Taizhou, Zhejiang Province, China. IPC 2024 | 17th International Peatland Congress

12 - 13 August 2024. Crawford Fund Conference - Nurturing global change from Australia: Fostering agricultural innovation for worldwide food security, Australia

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

2 - 6 September 2024. Kigali Rwanda. Africa Food Systems Forum 2024

8 to 12 of September 2024. Rimini, Italy. 22nd IUFoST World Congress 2024 of Food Science and Technology.

11-13 September TROPENTAG
16 -19 September 2024. 13th African Crop Science Society (ACSS) conference.
  • hosted by the Eduardo Mondlane University (EMU) in Maputo, Mozambique, 
  • under the theme, ‘Crop research and innovation for agricultural transformation, resilience and inclusion’, the Maputo meeting will also provide a platform for sharing and discussing research results that bring solutions towards enhancing agricultural development in Africa.
17 September 2024, Nairobi, Kenya, and online. GLF | GLF Africa 2024

22–23 September 2024, New York, USA. UN | Summit of the Future

25 –  28 September 2024. Global Symposium on Soil Information and Data
Join us in Nanjing, China

26 September 2024. Webinar 16 Innovative systems for sustainable technology development, and uptake or adoption. 
  • Lead by FARA and contributions by China Agricultural University (Li Hongwen), Murdoch University Bangladesh (Enamul Haque); CORAF, and the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS).
  • The Webinars and Discussion Forums are being organized by the interim F-SAMA steering committee,comprised of AUC, FAO &ACT Network: For more information, contact: • F-SAMA - AfricaMechanize Secretariat; Email: info@africamechanize.org

7 - 11 October 2024. The 9th Africa Nutrition Conference (ANC 2024/ANEC IX) 
  • Organised by the African Nutrition Society and Ghana Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Submission of abstracts: 1st March – 31st May, 2024

21 October–1 November, TBA, Colombia. UN | 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP16)

24 October 2024. Webinar 17 The role of smallholder farmers in agricultural development and food security in Africa. 
  • Introductory remarks by PAFO. Panel: ROPPA/EAFF; PASAE; University of Nairobi; CSIR-CRI Ghana; and Director of Mechanization, Nigeria.
  • The Webinars and Discussion Forums are being organized by the interim F-SAMA steering committee,comprised of AUC, FAO &ACT Network: For more information, contact: • F-SAMA - AfricaMechanize Secretariat; Email: info@africamechanize.org

November 2024 (Agro)pastoralism in Africa: Current Dynamics and Perspectives, in preparation for the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP 2026)

4–8 November 2024, TROPICAL SUMMIT

11–22 November 2024, Baku, Azerbaijan UN | 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29)

28 November 2024. Webinar 18 Concluding Webinar for 2024 Annual Summary Paper to be prepared by AfricaMechanize Secretariat. 

2–13 December 2024, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia UN | UNCCD COP16
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International Year of Millets (IYM 2023) Closing Event


29 March 2024.  The International Year of Millets (IYM 2023). The closing ceremony was an opportunity for stocktaking of the outputs of the year-long observance, for instance: the Background paper, Millets Recipe Book, the Chefs Challenge, Photo Contest, and Stories from Millet Champions. The lessons learned from the considerable co-creation and sharing of knowledge through partnerships and networks, such as the Millets Community of Practice, will also be shared.

Roundtable discussion: Research and development for the millets sector

  • Rebbie Harawa Director International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) Africa ProgrammeFatma Sarsu, Senior Plant Breeder, Joint FAO/IAEA Center of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, International Atomic Energy Agency
  • Tara Satyavathi, Director, ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research, India
  • Giovanni Dinelli, Researcher and coordinator of the EU GREAT LIFE project, University of Bologna, Italy
  • Fritjof Boerstler, Senior Natural Resources Officer and Global Coordinator of the GEF-7 Impact Programs, FAO

Panel discussion: How have millets had an impact on your life?

  • Makiko Taguchi Agricultural officer Plant Production and Protection Division FAO
  • Abderrahmane Benkhalifa, Researcher, Algeria 
  • Fatmata Binta, Chef and Founder, Fulani Kitchen Foundation, Sierra Leone and Ghana
  • Hannah Binge, Researcher, Indigenous Grasslands for Grain team, Australia
  • Naima Dhore, Farmer, Youth, United States of America and Somalia
  • Patrick Mutepeya, Farmer, Zimbabwe

Resources:

As part of the IYM2023 celebration, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) organized an “IYM Global Webinar Series” to shed light on the various environmental, social and economic benefits of millets, their rich heritage and their vast potential.
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Friday, March 29, 2024

The potential of entrepreneurial innovation, civil society and territorial dialogue

29 March 2024. Brussels Africa Political Outlook 2024. The Africa Political Outlook is a summit bringing together committed African, European and international experts, diplomats, political and economic decision-makers, with a view to discussing the major governance issues of the African continent.

Panel #1 Autopsy of the Global Gateway: dynamics in relations between the EU and Africa

The European Commission has developed the “Global Gateway”, a new European strategy aiming to mobilize up to 300 billion euros of investments between 2021 and 2027 to finance sustainable and high value-added projects in the digital fields. , energy and transport. This strategy also aims to strengthen health, education and research systems throughout the world.

The first major step in this strategy was the allocation of an Africa-Europe investment envelope of around 150 billion euros, to strengthen cooperation with African partners. As the Commission's mandate comes to an end in a few months, what initial assessment can we draw from the implementation of this strategy?
  • Junior LODGE, Deputy Secretary General, Secretariat of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States - Initial feedback on the implementation of the Global Gateway
  • Bertin Mampaka MANKAMBA, Former Vice-President of the Belgian Parliament, Senator and Alderman - A new deal in Africa's European ambition
  • Salima YENBOU, Member of the European Parliament
  • Jean de WETTER, Director General, ENABEL (Belgian Cooperation Agency)
  • Stefano PALMIERI, Vice-President of the “Economic and Monetary Union and Economic and Social Cohesion” section of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) Member of the ACP-EU monitoring committee
  • Moderator: Priscilla Wolmer, Editor, Africa 54 States

Panel #2 Resurgence of coups in Africa: rethinking, reinventing and rebuilding democracies

Some countries, such as Mali and Burkina Faso, have experienced several coups in a short period of
time; both states spent a third of their postcolonial history under military rule. How can we explain this democratic slowdown? Does an African-style democracy appear as a new political paradigm? How to design or consolidate strong institutions?


Panel #3 Investing in Africa: the AfCFTA, the diaspora and impact investment as new catalysts for emergence

Africa receives only 3% of global investment, hampering progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is estimated that it will take $194 billion per year to close the financing gap by 2030. This session explores: (a) The transformative potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) – for a unified market of 1.3 billion people and a GDP of $3.4 trillion. (b) Engage the African diaspora – leveraging their new capital, expertise and “glocal” connections to fuel sustainable development. (c) The rise of impact investing – to attract investments that generate, in addition to financial returns, a positive social and environmental impact.
  • Cheikh Al-moustapha KOUYATEH Roving Ambassador, Special Envoy of the President of Liberia HE Mr. Joseph Boakai 
  • Paramita DASGUPTA National Advisor and Head of Economics, International Finance Corporation (IFC), representing Makhtar Diop, Managing Director and Executive Vice-President, IFC Pictures 
  • Richard MILLER Former Special Advisor to President Louis Michel Moderator Pictures 
  • Moderator: Viwanou GNASSOUNOU Former Deputy Secretary General of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States

Panel #4 Building on our commons: the potential of entrepreneurial innovation, civil society and territorial dialogue

How to connect European and African innovation ecosystems?
  • Moderator: Samuel VICKO, Co-Founder, BlackNetwork
  • Professor François GRUSSON, Founder & President of the La Fabrique Group, President of the National Council of Schools of Architecture of France - The future of urbanization in Africa 
  • Alhadji Allie BANGURA, Founder ADAN Impact and ADAN eVS - United Diasporas of Africa: beyond the remittance paradigm
  • Hon. Lydia Mutyebele NGOI, Deputy Mayor of the City of Brussels
  • Kalvin Soiresse NJALL, President, Brussels French-speaking Parliament
  • Peter BenHur NYEKO, CEO & Co-founder, Mandulis Energy
Mandulis Energy took  part of the UpLink - World Economic Forum delegation of Top Innovators
attending the World Economic Forum annual meeting WEF2024 in Davos.
  • Mandulis Energy develops, owns and operates renewable energy projects in Africa. WIt started in Uganda, where it pioneered private sector led deployment of on-grid and off-grid renewable energy infrastructure. Crucially, 
  • Mandulis Energy  is committed to creating and deploying new technologies and business models, to address the energy access "trilemma" by reconciling reliability, sustainability and affordability.
  • Mandulis Energy  is member of the Circular Accelerator of Accenture in partnership with UpLink, EcoLab, Anglo American and AWS.


See also:
  • Peter BenHur NYEKO, CEO & Co-founder, Mandulis Energy @ PAFO-COLEAD Innovations Series - Session 14 - August 30, 2023

Panel #5 Impact of the 2024 European elections on EU-Africa relations


The election results could lead to changes in key EU policies impacting Africa, including development cooperation, trade, migration and security. A rise of populist or Eurosceptic parties could potentially call into question long-standing commitments and partnerships. New faces at the head of the European Commission and Parliament could bring new perspectives and priorities.
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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Donors as investment catalysts in the agri-SME finance market

28 March 2024. Donors as investment catalysts 

Recording forthcoming

Session two of the ‘Backing the Middle’ series. This session hosted a discussion with donors to discuss where concessional capital is best utilized in the agri-SME finance market.

With declining rates of official development assistance (ODA), donor countries have employed innovative ways to attract more investment from the private sector to agriculture, notably through blended finance instruments. 

Session two of our ‘Backing the Middle’ series hosted a discussion with donors to discuss where concessional capital is best utilized. 
  • Should development finance focus on investment funds, financial incentive models or technical assistance to move the needle in agri-SME finance? 
  • Is there a better way to use these funds for higher impact on the performance of small agricultural enterprises and the farmers they serve? 
  • What does the evidence from years of donor engagement in agricultural development tell us?
This second session was co-organized by SAFIN, the Global Donor Platform for Rural Development and Market Links, and is part of SAFIN and USAID’s ‘Backing the Middle’ webinar series.
  • Songbae Lee, Agriculture Finance Team lead, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) (Moderator)
  • Iris Krebber, Head of Civil Stabilisation Group Operations, UK Food Security and Land, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
  • Bernard Zaugg, Programme Officer, Economy and Education, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)

Shared resource:

OGL (2023) International development in a contested world: endingextreme poverty and
tacklingclimate change A White Paper on International Development November 2023, #155 p.

This White Paper sets out a re-energised international development agenda, for the UK, working with its partners, based on the following priorities: 
  • going further, faster to mobilise international finance to end extreme poverty, tackle climate change and biodiversity loss, power sustainable growth and increase private sector investment in development • strengthening and reforming the international system to improve action on trade, tax, debt, tackling dirty money and corruption, and delivering on global challenges like health, climate, nature and energy transition 
  • harnessing innovation and new technologies, science and research for the greatest and most cost-effective development impact 
  • ensuring opportunities for all, putting women and girls centre stage and investing in education and health systems that societies want 
  • championing action to address state fragility, and anticipate and prevent conflict, humanitarian crises, climate disasters and threats to global health 
  • building resilience and enabling adaptation for those affected by conflict, disasters and climate change, strengthening food security, social protection, disaster risk financing and building state capability 
  • standing up for its values, for open inclusive societies, for women and girls, and preventing roll-back of rights

Extract: Case Study 6: Financial Sector Deepening Africa (FSD Africa) 


(page 55) Established in Nairobi in 2012 by the UK, FSD Africa is a specialist development agency
working across more than 30 African countries to address challenges stopping finance getting to where it is most needed. 
  • FSD Africa has helped mobilise £2.7 billion of capital, increased access to financial services for 12 million people and to basic services for 4.7 million. It advises on policy and regulatory reform and supports innovative transactions like green and gender bonds. In 2019, FSD Africa worked with Acorn Holdings to issue the first green bond in Kenya, to finance environmentally sustainable student housing, which co-listed in Nairobi and London. 
  • FSD Africa strengthens financial systems by putting in place core market infrastructure such as its ongoing work to establish a new securities exchange in Ethiopia. FSD Africa and FCDO’s research supports high-risk high-impact projects like Cavex (
    Carbon Value Exchange    ) from initial idea to scalable platform. 

Cavex (Carbon Value Exchange)

Cavex has the potential to go to scale like mobile money did 15 years ago when M-PESA spearheaded a global wave of digital finance. 
  • Cavex is a highly innovative platform that utilises digital technologies to increase trust, equity, and transparency in the voluntary carbon markets. Cavex enables access to critical carbon financing for small-scale projects across the Global South, which currently struggle to participate given the high up-front cost and time required for carbon credit validation, issuance, and brokerage.
  • Cavex has been incubated by 4RDigital with support from FCDO, The Shell Foundation, and FSD Africa.
  • Cavex will connect companies in countries like the UK that want to offset their carbon emissions, with the innovators and rural households in Africa that want to switch from open fires to clean energy stoves. Embedded
    chips in the stoves enable auditors to confirm the stoves are being used and the carbon saved. Mobile money platforms, such as M-PESA, can then enable tens of thousands of households to directly benefit from these carbon credits, typically worth $40 a year. 
  • Cavex aims to channel $500m of climate finance to many organisations and individuals across Africa by 2030 and support the removal or avoidance of 100m+ tonnes of carbon offsets. 

FSD Africa is also pioneering nature finance on the continent through the launch of the African Natural Capital Alliance – as part of a strategy focused on driving investments which deliver for both people and planet
  • Its mission is to catalyse nature-positive African economies, enabled by a financial sector that recognises and acts on nature-related risks and opportunities.
  • Working across public and private sectors, the African Natural Capital Alliance supports approaches to policy, regulation, and investment that maximise the opportunities for sustainable growth from and for Africa’s natural capital.

Related: 22 February 2024 Session 1 Highlights

Investors typically shy away from lending to smaller agricultural enterprises, because the financial costs and risks often don’t match the financial returns of these investments. The first session of the ‘Backing the Middle’ webinar series explored this notion, looked first at how some investors are using innovative tools to reduce the overall cost to serve small businesses in the sector and then discussed whether smaller enterprises can cumulatively generate more social returns than larger ones in terms of job creation, resilience and sustainable development.

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Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Financing Agriculture Sustainably Conference (Finas 2024)

27 - 28 March 2024. Financing Agriculture Sustainably Conference (Finas 2024)

Partners such as GIZ, FSD-Kenya, African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP), AGRA, National Research Fund, IFPRI, Tegemeo Institute, Association of Fintechs in Kenya, Association of Microfinance Institutions of Kenya, Fertilizer Association of Kenya, Apollo Agriculture, Kenya Union of Savings and Credit Co-operatives, SNBX Capital, contributed to this conference and transformation of the Agricultural sector in Kenya.

The financing ecosystem in most of sub-Sahara Africa has barely scratched the surface when it comes to the development of demand driven agricultural financing solutions. Subse- quently, there is a converse relationship between Agriculture finance investment and the sectors’ contribution to the GDP. The void comes along with some challenges that span managing risks, high transaction costs in dealing with large number of small farmers, and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), lack of expertise to backstop agricultural loan portfolios, amongst others.

Agri-FinTechs transform farmers’ access to rural credit, solve payment challenges in largely cash-based econo- mies, help improve commercial experiences for both agricultural enterprises and their customers, and scale the understanding and mitigation of the industry risks. 


Extracts of the program


Scaling financial access through Digitalization of the Agriculture Value Chain 

The aim is to highlight the need for AVC digitalization, to scale access to agriculture investment thereby enabling an inclusive digital economy. The discussion will focus on the current environment and existing frameworks for digitalization and articulate ideas on how we can make the agricultural digital economy more vibrant.

Positioning Research to better Support Decision-making on Sustainable Investments and Financing of the agricultural sector. 

Data is critical for supporting evidence-based decisions on performance management, monitoring and evaluation, research, and policy. Poor access to useable and shareable data is the biggest drawbacks to ensuring better decision making on prioritizing funding of agricultural research. The remarks will seek to highlight the role research and data in making sound investment decisions.

Sustainably Funding Agriculture Research. 

The session seeks to prescribe mechanisms to fund agricultural research adequately and sustainably. Considerations will include support for basic and fundamental research, upscaling and outscaling research outcomes and commercializing research outputs as a funding mechanism.

The Hidden Middle: Financing agricultural MSME’s 

 This session aspires to bring out the role of the private sector in the achievement of a financial system that delivers value for need and takes into consideration gender inclusivity. Examples of ongoing initiatives aimed at increasing private sector participation will also be highlighted.

Financing Infrastructure for Agribusiness Progression 

The session will look into approaches and benefits of supporting infrastructural development as a key driver of agribusiness in Africa. It will provide examples of success stories primarily facilitating trade in Kenya and within the EAC region. 
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Post COP28 Priorities for Advancing Food Systems Transformation

27 March 2024. Post COP28 Priorities for Advancing Food Systems Transformation
Co-organized by IFPRI, CGIAR, and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

As the fifth policy seminar in the CGIAR series on Strengthening Food Systems Resilience, this virtual event took stock of food systems–related outcomes from COP28 and outline priorities for advancing them at both the international and country level in a concrete and meaningful manner.
  • Felicitas Röhrig, Senior Policy Officer, German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) - Taking Stock of COP28 Outcomes 
  • Aditi Mukerji, Director, Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Impact Action Platform of the CGIAR
  • Kristofer Hamel, Head, Food Systems, COP28 Presidency; UAE Climate Change Special Envoy
  • Geeta Sethi, Advisor and Global Lead for Food Systems, World Bank - Advancing on Climate Change Finance
  • Johan Swinnen, Managing Director, Systems Transformation, CGIAR; Director General, IFPRI
  • Boaz B. Keizire, Head of Policy and Food Systems, AGRA - Country level Policy Priorities and Needs
  • Qingfeng Zhang, Senior Director, Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Sector Office, Asian Development Bank
  • Nigar Arpadarai, UN Climate Change High Level Champion for COP29 Azerbaijan; Member of Parliament of the Republic of Azerbaijan - Preparing for COP29 and COP30
  • Eduardo Brito Bastos, Agronomic Engineer (ESALQ/USP)
  • Juan Lucas Restrepo, Global Director of Partnerships & Advocacy, CGIAR; Director General of the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
  • Moderator Roula Majdalani, Climate Change Advisor, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)
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