Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa FARA’s evolution as a weaver of knowledge networks Prof. Monty P. Jones Executive Director, FARA Informal stakeholder consultation Improving the quality and effectiveness of development cooperation with African agricultural knowledge organisations EC, Brussels, March 2012

Presentation Outline 1. 1.Background 2. 2.FARA’s experience (one case particularly relevant for learning) 3. 3.What worked well and less well and why 4. 4.Funding ( ); sources, level and mechanisms 5. 5.Outlook for the future: challenges and opportunities

Background Growth of African economies is hugely dependent on performance of agriculture Productivity growth is a key driver for agric. performance & poverty reduction—accounts for ½ of 6% CAADP target

FARA’s Value Proposition a strategic platform for networking to reinforce capacities of Africa’s agricultural research system Improved performance of institutions & entire R&D system; better quality R&D plans, policies & program designs Improved productivity, competitiveness & Markets

FARA: single hub network ( ) FARA started as (single hub network) (i) (i)provide African vision of AR4D (ii) (ii)advocacy and resource mobilisation; (iii) (iii)promote exchange of info, tech & HR NARIS, FO, NGOs, PS SSA CP RAILS DONATA SCARDA Demanded greater understanding of constituents = NARS Assessment FAAP

FARA: facilitating multi-hubs ( ) Providing networking support functions 1. 1.advocacy and policy; 2. 2.access to knowledge and technologies; 3. 3.capacity strengthening; 4. 4.partnership and strategic alliances.

Testing & scaling out innovative approaches Institutional strengthening NARS Assessment SCARDA Piloting an innovative approach for institutional strengthening Evaluation & reflection Scale out approach via e.g. CAADP Process Enhancing R&D impact Stakeholder Consultations SSA CP Formulate IAR4D & assess its performance Evaluation Scale out approach via e.g. CAADP Processes, CRPs, GCARD

Testing & scaling out innovative approaches Knowledge & Technologies Consultations + scoping studies RAILS + DONATA Test innovative approaches for knowledge management & technology dissemination Co-creation & co-learning Scale out approach via e.g. CAADP Process Others Jean Jacques Andrianaivo farmer Leader from Madagascar ( Linking universities, agribusiness and research (UniBRAIN) Safe Stewardship of biotechnologies (SABIMA) Strategic alliances with other regions & countries (Europe, Brazil, China)—PAEPARD

Impacts Achieved jointly with partners (AUC, NPCA, RECs, SROs, CGIAR, actors in Research, Extension & Education; Farmer Organizations, private sector, DPs, etc) Impacts from pilots are to be replicated numerous times by scaling out SCARDA focal institutions: Positive changes outnumbered negative ones 4:1 RAILS (Initially ~3,000 stakeholders in 29 countries enhance capacity to communicate & access knowledge DONATA Farming communities expand livelihood sources by ~50-100% in 21 countries CAADP 21 IPs aligned with FAAP principles SSA CP Pilot site in Nigeria 120% ↑ in yield of soyabeans (0.9 – 2.0t/ha) Additional US$500/ha / season 150K farmer beneficiaries

What worked well (success factors) Focusing on major constraints cutting across the region A common framework for the continent (the FAAP) Strong buy-in by stakeholders across the value chain and at all geographical scales Partnerships for action Funding: availability + stability especially for core functions (MDTF)

Challenges & why Fragmentation (stakeholders, geog scale-- subsidiarity) Low absorption capacities of stakeholders Funding: shortfalls + competition among partner institutions High transaction costs of working thru partnerships Why Challenges reflect state of Africa’s science & innovation and are the focus of FARA interventions New approaches & partnerships require incubation period to build trust and accountability among partners

Expenditure ( ) Core funds managed through MDTF; TBAs: Bilateral agreements 11.5m 15.9m 19.3m 17.2m 68% 81% 75% 60%

MDTF2 Core (bilateral) MDTF1 TBAs MDTF1 TBAs Core (bilateral) FARA’s funding ( ): Expenditure, budgeted & projected Expenditure (actuals) Budget Projection

2012 and beyond: looking into the future with increase number of networks, knowledge hubs and stronger linkages among institutions

FARA Secretariat weaving knowledge networks (2012 and beyond)

Africa’s agriculture science and innovation landscape

Going forward …1/2 FARA set to develop a new MTOP (2014 – 2018) & refresh its strategic plan Envisaged roles  Connecting (including observatory & think tank)  Catalyzing &  Communicating Future networking support to focus on: 1.Advocacy + policy 2.Knowledge & innovation 3.Capacities & Institutions 4.Opportunities & Investments CAADP: deepen integration of PIV with other pillars;  Central Africa Education & Extension Agric. Science agenda (CGIAR--CAADP)

NSFFocusConnectCatalyzeCommunicate 1. Advocacy & Policy Sustained investments in CAADP Pillar IV Policy makers with science & devt community Investments in agricultural innovation Policy options for increased investment 2. Knowledge and innovation Competitiveness in a knowledge- based economy Knowledge resources with all innovation actors Effective innovation processes Knowledge & innovation to relevant actors 3. Capacities and Institutions Building Africa’s innovation capacity CS institutions with users and policy makers CS within CAADP Required changes and effective approaches 4. Oppor- tunities and investments Identify priority opportunities & risks for R&D attention Foresight actors, think tanks with investors Policy & innovation for emerging issues Required actions on emerging issues Going forward …2/2

Available funding in millions of US$ ( ) & Projected funding requirements for

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