The development of new cooperation instruments for Africa-EU cooperation

7-8 March, 2013 - Brussels, Belgium. High-level conference on 'Promoting Africa-EU Research Infrastructure Partnerships'. Organised by Sigma Orionis (France) with the support of DST (South Africa), ISC (Belgium) and all project partners, this conference was a side event to the "EU Science: Global Challenges, Global Collaboration" conference, taking place in Brussels on March 4-8, 2013.

Over the past two years PAERIP undertook an extensive analysis of Africa-EU research infrastructure partnerships, including best practices which could be identified from current cooperation and the formulation of recommendations to enhance collaboration. In this context PAERIP considered, for example, cooperation activities such as how to enhance transnational access to research infrastructures for African and European researchers, and the promotion of networks integrating African and European research infrastructures.

Presentation of the UNEP report by Mark Radka

Mark Radka, head of the energy branch of UNEP, told SciDev.Net that intellectual property issues were “a persistent source of friction” in climate change negotiations because of fears that excessive control over clean technologies was being wielded by patent holders.

“There is a lack of analysis and data, and this is a real barrier to agreement in the technology area,” Radka said. “The lack of progress on intellectual property issues has contributed to the general sclerosis in the negotiations, and the inability of governments to come to an agreement”.

Radka said that this demonstrated the need for a better understanding of the role of patents in promoting clean technologies. The new EPO/UNEP report is intended to contribute to that end.
The full report is available at here.

Background:

The conference took place at a crucial time for the development of new cooperation instruments for Africa-EU cooperation including for collaboration in science, technology and innovation. These instruments include the new EU Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, the EU Development Cooperation Instrument and the European Development Fund. 

Like all of the other commission’s programmes, the budget for Horizon 2020 is less than had been hoped. Originally the commission had asked for €80 billion ($104 billion); last month’s decision – made under pressure from the United Kingdom and others to keep down costs, and still needing approval by the European Parliament – only approved just over €70 billion.

But that is still a substantial amount of money. And a significant amount will be spent on research projects outside Europe, based on the idea that not only can European science benefit directly from working with non-European collaborators, but also that joint research can promote other objectives – including providing assistance to developing countries.

Now that the green light has been given, science policymakers, scientists and industry representatives from 100 different countries, including many from the developing world, met in Brussels this week to hear about the new funding opportunities under Horizon 2020, and to prepare their bids for a slice of the action.

But ES:GC2 was not just a talking shop. There were training sessions on topics from preparing project proposals for Horizon 2020 funding proposals, to the use patent data. And there were many opportunities for those attending to network with potential partners.

See also SciDev.Net’s coverage of EU Science: Global Challenges & Global Collaboration which took place 4-8 March 2013, in Brussels, Belgium. To read further news and analysis please visit their website.

 

Africa Adaptation Knowledge Network (AAKNET) Workshop

5 - 6 February 2013. UNEP headquarters , Nairobi. Africa Adaptation Knowledge Network (AAKNET) Workshop. This workshop was convened under the theme "Convening Adaptation Knowledge Networks and Platforms in Africa".

The Africa Adaptation Knowledge Network is facilitated by UNEP under the umbrella of the Global Adaptation Network (GAN).

Around 70 representatives from some 20 regional adaptation knowledge platforms and others organizations together endorsed the Africa Adaptation Knowledge Network (AAKNet) as the continental network to be responsible for coordinating, facilitating, harnessing and strengthening the exchange of information and knowledge and fostering and supporting strategic planning and policy processes.

The Network functions as a knowledge hub on adaptation, promoting cooperation and collaboration in seeking robust solutions to climate change impacts using experiences and lessons learnt from the implementation of independent actions in different locations. It also seeks to convene existing adaptation knowledge networks and platforms in Africa to open a window of opportunity for taking stock of the state of adaptation knowledge mobilization on the continent.

The AAKNet website is available at: www.africa.ganadapt.org

PARTNERS

                        

Related:

The AfriCAN Climate Project

AfriCAN Climate is a project co-funded by the European Commission within the 7th FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME. The project was set up by a team of 5 African and 5 European organisations, including research institutes and networks, and runs from October 2011 to September 2014.

The AfriCAN Climate Portal

The AfriCAN Climate Portal is an innovative web-based knowledge platform for the sharing of climate change research and good practices. The portal employs innovative and creative web functionalities to harmonise multilingual, interdisciplinary and pan-continental climate change knowledge and to encourage project developers and stakeholders to learn and benefit from Africa’s challenges and success stories.

The AfriCAN Consortium

The European-African project consortium brings in high profile expertise to cover all thematic climate change research and action areas: Adaption and mitigation research, future climate scenarios, climate policy, applied research in good practices and climate project financing. The consortium gathers the following 10 organisations:

Project coordinator:
WIP Renewable Energies Munich, Germany

Project partners:
Africa: 

1. ENDA Tiers Monde Dakar, Senegal
2. FANRPAN - The Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network of Southern Africa Pretoria, South Africa
3. University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg, South Africa
4. World Agroforestry Centre Nairobi, Kenya
5. ICPAC - IGAD Climate Prediction and Application Centre Nairobi, Kenya

Europe:

1. Imperial College London, United Kingdom
2. P.A.U. Education Barcelona, Spain
3. Technical University of Denmark / UNEP Risoe Centre Roskilde, Denmark
4. Practical Action Rugby, United Kingdom

Training workshop on the FP7

22nd -23rd October 2012. Accra, FARA Secretariat. The training workshop targeted senior research scientists from universities and research institutes from Southern-African, East-African and West-African Sub-regions and some FARA administrative staff directly involved in funds and consortium agreement management.

The workshop aimed at creating awareness of participants to the FP7 (FAFB) funding mechanisms by using theoretical information but also using some practical cases of FP7 projects (example: AFTER project). The procedures of other EC funding mechanisms were also explained such as the FSTP through PAEPARD and the current ongoing call of ACP-UE S&T.

The exercise was made with the current Work Programme KBBE 2013 in which participants tried to choose the themes of their interest. Two themes were revealed of interest to some participants who teamed to respond to:

1. KBBE.2013.1.2-04: Control of pests and pathogens affecting fruit. The lead institution is University of Ghana, College of Agriculture and Consumer Science. Collison Brentu is responsible of building the partnership (including find a European partner). 
2. KBBE.2013.1.3-03: Sustainable animal production: an integrated and multi-factorial approach. Prof Charles Okoli from Federal University of Technology, Owerri State, Nigeria will initiate the partnership.

Down load here the full report of the training.

Participants (FARA staff not included):

1. Gaspard Uwimana, Southern Agricultural Zone, Rwanda Agricultural Board (RAB) 
2. Charles Okoli Ifeanyi, Federal University of Technology, Owerri State, Nigeria 
3. Wales Singini, Mzuzu University, Lilongwe, Malawi 
4. Venancio Edward Imbayarwo-Chikosi, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zimbabwe 
5. Karin Dyason, Project Manager Capacity Building and Professionalization, Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA) 
6. Kiros Meles Ayimut (PhD), College of Dryland Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mekele University, Ethiopia 
7. George N. Chemining'wa, Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection
8. University of Nairobi 
9. Samuel-Adjei Nsiah, Forest and Horticultural Crops Research Center-Kade, Institute of Agricultural Research, College of Agriculture and Consumer Science, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra. 
10. Francis Collison Brentu, Forest and Horticultural Crops Research Center-Kade
11. Institute of Agricultural Research, College of Agriculture and Consumer Science
12. University of Ghana, Legon, Accra. 
13. Wisdom Amoa-Awuah, Food Research Institute, Accra, Ghana. 
14. Ismaila Mbenga, NARI Gambia, Banjul, Gambia 
15. Valentine Aletor, Federal University of Akure, Nigeria, Representative WARIMA 
16. Thomas Lyimo, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, representative EARIMA

Facilitators : 

1. Ms Chaiara Pacoterra (APRE, Roma, Italy) 
2. Jonas Mugabe (FARA, Africa co-manager of the Platform for African European Partnerships on Agricultural Research for Development - PAEPARD).

Background of SARIMA, EARIMA, WARIMA

The West African Research and Innovation Management Association (WARIMA) is the professional body for research management in the West Africa sub-region with the core objective of advancing research and innovation through advocacy of national and institutional policies by ensuring professional development and capacity buildingof individual members. The association promotes best practice, increase the awareness of research and innovation issues in academic and public institutions, as well as promote advancement of science, technology and innovation and thus facilitate access to, and diffusion of knowledge between the West Africa sub-region for socio-economic development.

The Eastern Africa Research and Innovation Management Association (EARIMA) is the  rofessional body for research management in the Eastern Africa region. It is anetwork of regional research and innovation management practitioners. The Eastern African Research and Innovation Management Association (EARIMA) is one of the results of the participation of the University of Dar es Salaam, as an African University partner, in the project “The Improvement of Research & Innovation Management Capacity in Africa and the Caribbean (RIMI4AC).” TheRIMI4AC project is funded by the European Union and the Secretariat of the ,Caribbean & Pacific States and has nine partners across southern, eastern, central and western Africa as well as in the Caribbean.

The Southern African Research and Innovation Management Association (SARIMA) operates at an institutional, national and international level, as well as across the research and innovation value chain, from research management to intellectual property management and the commercialization of research output. SARIMA interacts, liaises and forms strategic alliances and partnerships with other organizations as required. The objectives of SARIMA are: (i) Professional development and capacity building of those involved in managing research and/or innovation. (ii) Promotion of best practice in the management, administration and support of research and innovation to create value for education, public benefit and economic development. (iii) Creation of awareness in academic and public forums of the value of a stronger research and innovation system and the contribution it can make to economic and social development. (iv) Advocacy of appropriate national and institutional policy in support of research and innovation and participation in the development and testing of policy. (v) Taking the lead in research and innovation management improvement within Southern Africa, incorporating guidelines for the various components of the research and innovation cycle. (vi) Advancement of science, technology and innovation, including addressing the asymmetries in access to, and diffusion of, knowledge between 'North and 'South'.

Bridging Africa and Europe through the scientific diaspora

Impact of Climate Change and Globalisation on Safety of Fresh Produce Governing a Supply Chain of Uncompromised Food Sovereignty

Interview with Dr. Kofitsyo Cudjoe, Head of section, Food bacteriology and GMO, National Veterinary Institute, Oslo, Norway, during the Diaspora Expert Meeting in Uppsala on 28/09/2012. 

He explains how he got involved in the: Veg-i-Trade FP7 consortium which is funded by the seventh Framework programme for research of the European Commission. The project seeks to assess the impact of anticipated climate change and globalisation on the safety issues concerning fresh produce and derived food products. Research will be performed concerning the economic structure of the fresh produce chain, and control measures to minimise microbiological and chemical risks will be developed.

Veg-i-Trade unifies 23 international partners from universities, research institutes, SMEs and large industrial partners. Recommendations concerning good practices and quality assurance in the fresh produce supply chain will be developed and exchanged via international collaborations and capacity building. In parallel, Veg-i-Trade will organise discussion fora concerning particular aspects of food sovereignty related to the safety of fresh produce.

Dr. Kofitsyo Cudjoe explains how he got involved in the FP7 Veg-i-Trade - project and the ethical issues of the export of fruit from countries where they don't have enough to eat. 

He answers a number of questions: 

• How do you relate to your Ghanaian colleagues out of Norway?
• Do you feel a member of the Diaspora or a Norwegian researcher?
• Which role you feel you can play for bridging the two continents?

EU wants to enhance research cooperation with third countries

18 September 2012. Paula Park for SciDev. EU unveils plan for global science partnerships.

The European Union needs to strengthen its dialogues with international partners to build critical mass for tackling key challenges of today’s world, says Commission's Communication «Enhancing and focusing EU international cooperation in research and innovation: A strategic approach».

The Communication proposes a concept for EU strategy in research and innovation cooperation with third countries in the near future published on 17 September. “To remain a major global player, the Union must promote itself as an attractive location for carrying out research and innovation and be successful in the global competition for talent, while at the same time preserving its economic interests, for instance as regards the protection of intellectual property”, the Communication says.

Regarding developing countries, the emphasis will be on "building partnerships - in particular bi-regional partnerships - to contribute to the sustainable development of these regions and address challenges such as the green economy, climate action, improved agriculture, food security and health," the report says.

The main funding instrument for this new vision will be the EU's new €80 billion (around US$105 billion) six-year research framework, Horizon 2020, which begins in 2014 and will be open to participants from "all over the world".

"We are working full time to develop this international cooperation," Thierry Devars, an international relations officer for the Commission's directorate-general for research and innovation, told SciDev.Net.

The Horizon 2020 research goals will be aligned with the EU's development goals by a newly created internal Commission working group, comprising research and international development directorate staff members "to try and better coordinate the capacity-building initiative," Devars said.

The resulting grants and programmes will be marketed with EU partners throughout the developing world, Devars added.

"In each region of the world we have a kind of a platform, a gathering of researchers from Europe and the region," Devars told SciDev.Net. "The role of these platforms is to promote research opportunities, advertise the calls [for research proposals], publicise subjects and topics, and organise workshops."

The EU has a history of funding international research and capacity building through its framework programmes FP6 (2002-2006) and FP7 (2007-2012). The new international strategy in part reflects a 2011 evaluation of FP7, which called for an "intensification" of international cooperation in research, focused on "engaging with partners outside of Europe on equal terms and in programmes and activities of high mutual interest".

"EU collaboration with developing countries will continue," Daan du Toit, South Africa's science and technology representative to the EU, told SciDev.Net. "But there will be more specific focus areas for specific topics where there is shared interest between Europe and the country concerned".

"There's a number of processes where we [the African governments] discuss with the European Commission to try and identify what those priorities are."

Paolo Sarfatti, director of Agrinatura - an alliance of 35 European universities and research organisations working in agricultural research, education, training and capacity building for development - told SciDev.Net that Horizon 2020 offers a "golden opportunity" for ensuring research projects are designed to "really and truly address issues like poverty reduction". He said this is partly due to the fact that the commission is designing the new development aid programme concurrently with Horizon 2020.

Horizon 2020 still needs to be approved by the European Parliament and its member states. The priorities and approaches are being finalised over the next few months, for proposed adoption in early 2013, according to a published EU timeline. The first calls for proposals will be launched in January 2014.

Questions and answers

• What are the core principles of the new strategy?
• Why a new strategy?
• How will priority areas and partners be selected for targeted activities?
• What instruments will be used to implement the strategy?
• What will change for the growth economies?
• What are the next steps?

Supporting materials

• Press release and memo
• Factsheets on countries participating most in FP7
  Brazil   , Canada   , China   , India   , Russia   , South Africa   ,Ukraine   , USA  

High-level Conference on Innovation for Poverty Alleviation

South Africa's innovative edge will be sharpened 

through continued involvement in global scientific 

and technological advancement, said president Jacob Zuma.

Presentation by Daan du Toit: SA in the
Frame Work Programme Agriculture and
related research

18-19 September 2012. Sheraton Hotel Brussels. Organised by the South African Mission to the European Union. The conference on Innovation for Poverty Alleviation was organised as side event to the fifth South Africa – EU Summit. The Conference presented the European Union’s development cooperation programme on “Innovation for Poverty Alleviation” with the South African Department of Science Technology (DST).

The event, organised by the DST in partnership with the European Commission, included a keynote closing address by His Excellency, President Jacob Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa (see his speech) as well as contributions from the European Commissioner for Development, Commissioner Andris Piebalgs (see his speech) and South Africa’s Minister of Science and Technology, Her Excellency, Minister Naledi Pandor.

Within the framework of the South Africa -European Union Strategic Partnership, there is a shared policy conviction that science and technology are critical instruments for sustainable growth and development, which also play an essential role in poverty alleviation efforts. It is against this background that 'Innovation for Poverty Alleviation' programme has been developed. It is funded for an amount of €30 million by the EU and implemented by the DST, to complement and enhance the Department’s programmes to deploy science and technology and harness innovation to fight poverty in South Africa. ( See: 20/09: Tech innovation gets €30m).

The Conference included presentations of success stories implemented under the cooperation programme, for example related to support for innovative ICT platforms to bring connectivity to remote rural areas. In this regard the “wireless mesh network” project provides 185 schools and 60 000 citizens with connectivity, with the support of 17 new small enterprises established in these communities.

Other examples included technology transfer partnerships, including with industry, to foster the creation of sustainable community owned enterprises in poverty-stricken areas. These enterprises are for example active in sectors such as essential oils and medicinal plants.

Proceedings concluded with a panel discussion on how science and technology’s potential to contribute to poverty alleviation could best be leveraged under the South Africa – EU Strategic Partnership, as well as under the broader Joint Africa-EU Strategy. This discussion was especially relevant for the current consideration of the development of new cooperation instruments (of which Horizon 2020).

Impressions of the African participants to the Biocircle Infoday of FP7

18th July 2012, Brussels. Info Day and Brokerage Event on Call FP7-KBBE-2013-7.

Interview with Dr I.Charles Okoli at Infoday FP7 Cooperation Theme 2: Food, Agriculture and Fisheries and Biotechnologies (FAFB), Brussels, 18th July. This event was organised by Biocircle. Dr I.Charles Okoli is a researcher with the Tropical Animal Health and Production Research Lab. Department of Animal Science and Technology in Nigeria. Dr I.Charles Okoli s a member of the PAEPARD supported consortium: Low cost and high quality livestock feed production knowledge delivery to Nigerian poultry industry (NIPOFERD)

   

Working visits to European researchers in Belgium

The preparation for the working visit resulted in scheduled meetings with two Belgium scientists in their laboratories. These were,

1. Prof. Patrick Van Damme, Department of plant production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering University of Ghent 
2. Dr. Didier Stilmant, Head, Production and Sector Department, Walloon Agricultural Research Center (CRA), Gembloux 

The visit to University of Ghent was very fruitful. We were able to explain our research needs and areas of possible collaboration with the host professor. We agreed to collaborate on the study of various aspects of the useful plants of West Africa, while laboratory needs that could not be met at Ghent will be linked to other institutions in Europe. Collaborative research on bio plastics was also discussed and highlighted as a viable field.

We also had discussions with Dr Simbarashe Samapundo an African Post doc scientist working at the Laboratory of Food Microbiology and Food Preservation, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of Ghent. The value of research collaborations between African scientists and their counterparts in Diaspora was discussed and it was agreed that there is the need to pursue such collaborations. Dr Simba showed interest in collaborative work on mycotoxin control in food products.

Scientific tour of Africa Museum, Tervuren, near Brussels, hosted by Dr Patricia Mergen, Head of Unit, Cybertaxonomy and Biodiversity Information of the Museum.

This visit was scheduled for the morning of 18th July. Dr Patricia Mergen gave us a tour of the museum and explained many interesting highlights of the museum. We were informed that the museum has a well equipped laboratory for genetic, molecular and biodiversity studies. The museum is willing to collaborate with African institutions on trainings and research in ornithology, mammalogy, genetics and biodiversity. The museum also serves as a reference center for taxonomic studies and trainings. We were informed about a forthcoming conference on biodiversity planned by the museum and were invited to participate.

Agricultural Research Center (CRA), Gembloux: The visit to CRA took place in the afternoon of 18th July and in my opinion was the most detailed and planned. Dr Stilmant invited two other scientists to the meeting and power point presentations were made on research activities and possible areas of collaboration.

It was agreed that collaborations between CRA and African institutions were possible in the study areas of alternative animal feeds resources, medicinal plants, African cane rat and development of nutritional supplements. CRA scientists were also interested in joint development of doctoral and masters’ degree research protocols and participation in the actual studies through provision of laboratory space, equipment and linkage with local universities in Belgium.

Even though Africa was not targeted in the current KBBE call, it is clear that the need to collaborate with African scientists as expressed by many European scientists during this trip was not properly captured by the policies of the concerned EU organs.

There is the need to create a forum for exchange between African scientists as exemplified by the activities of the EU. FARA could broker such a forum.
Interview with Dr. Samuel Adjei Nsiah from Ghana at Infoday FP7 Cooperation Theme 2: Food, Agriculture and Fisheries and Biotechnologies (FAFB), Brussels, 18th July. This event was organised by Biocircle. Dr. Samuel Adjei Nsiah is a Senior Research Fellow, Forest and Horticultural Crops Research Centre. Kade College of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences University of Ghana. He is a member of the PAEPARD supported consortium: Improving food security and income for smallholder farmers through improved post harvest technology and he was an agricultural innovation facilitator trained by PAEPARD for the consortium around Ghana - Control of Angular leaf spot disease of Citrus.

The participation of African researchers to FP7 comes under stress

Participation of two African researchers to the Biocircle Info Day of 16th of July (second row):
Dr I.Charles Okoli (Tropical Animal Health and Production Research Lab. Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Nigeria. PAEPARD supported consortium: Low cost and high quality livestock feed production knowledge delivery to Nigerian poultry industry (NIPOFERD)
Dr. Samuel Adjei Nsiah from Ghana. PAEPARD supported consortium: Improving food security and income for smallholder farmers through improved post harvest technology

16th July 2012. Brussels. Contrary to previous years none of the themes of the Work Programme 2013 - Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology (FAFB)  is mentioning as mandatory the participation of an ICPC (International Cooperation Partner Country) from Africa.

But African countries are free to join any consortium.

PAEPARD made an public intervention on this issue during the plenary of the FP7 Infoday. See the video sreaming of INFO DAY 2012 - FOOD AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES AND BIOTECHNOLOGY - CALL 7It starts at 27 minutes. 

In the previous years (2010, 2011, 2012) a number of themes related to the FP7-FAFB call had as requirement: mandatory ICPC  (International Cooperation Partner Country)/ with at least 1 African country or  SICA (Specific International Cooperation Actions) with at least 1 African country .  SICA means that non EU members are mandatory.


Past experience with the mobilisation of African researchers to participate in FP7, has demonstrated that when themes do not mention specifically the participation of an African ICPC (International Cooperation Partner Country) European consortia are less inclined to involve African research groups. For the FP7-FAFB call of 2013, not a single theme mentions ICPC or SICA Africa. 


This concern was already raised in the response of PAPEARD to the Public consultation of the EC on the Green Paper: From Challenges to Opportunities: Towards a Common Strategic, Framework for EU Research and Innovation Funding [COM (2011) 48 ]. This response was submitted on behalf of the partner organizations in the EC-funded ‘PAEPARD’ initiative. PAEPARD was supported in the first phase through the 7th Framework Programme, and is currently supported by the Food Security Programme (FSTP) of DevCo. The project is led by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa with support from the European Alliance on Agricultural Knowledge for Development (Agrinatura) and several other research and development organizations in Africa and Europe.

We recommend that international cooperation, including partnership with developing countries, is systematically integrated into all funding instruments in the Common Strategic Framework. (page 3) 

The green paper on development convincingly shows that inclusive, demand-led approaches are essential if agricultural research is to deliver benefits for rural households. Therefore, it is crucial that EU research and development policy are suitably aligned. During the early stages of the project, PAEPARD partners made a significant input to a workshop that was organized jointly by the EU Research and Development Directorates. The results of the workshop helped to shape a special ‘Africa’ Call for Proposals under the 7th Framework programme by identifying and describing a set of priority research topics. We recommend that mechanisms to facilitate the convergence between the development and research strands of EU policy are built into the Common Strategic Framework. (page 4) 

The ‘Africa’ Call for proposals under the 7th Framework programme generated considerable interest and over one hundred proposals were submitted. However, only a small number of proposals were funded and the role of African organizations in the partnership teams tended to be quite limited. This reflects the findings from the early stages of PAEPARD which showed that there are serious barriers to the participation of African organizations in the framework programmes. (page 4)

On the other hand it has to be noted that the last two years has seen a remarkable increase of interest for collaborative research projects with Africa in the field of agriculture, namely with countries like (in alphabetic order) Australia; BRICS countries; China; Canada, Japan, and the United Sates.

Background:

14-16 April 2008.  DGDEV Headquarters, Brussels, Belgium. FARA & EFARD Consultation on Agricultural Research Programming for FP7-FAB and FSTP.

Organised by European Commission in collaboration with CTA, forty experts from African and European institutions including the European Commission met during 3 days, to decide on and define ARD priority research topics and activities for enhancing S&T cooperation between Africa and Europe within the framework of 10 broad priority areas under two EU instruments; FP7-FAB and FSTP.

The objective was to increase the impact of agricultural research and knowledge systems on rural productivity, poverty reduction, food security and sustainable management of natural resources through the delivery of global public goods. The face to face meeting was preceded by an e-consultation which provided a wealth of information on targeted research areas and identified modalities and policies for ensuring synergy, coherence between FP7-FAB and FSTP.

The experts produced a 26 page document which provides a brief description of 2-3 research priorities and related activities for each of the 10 broad priority areas including climate change, bioenergy and traditional knowledge.

10th July 2009. The FP7-KBBE-2010 CALL [AFRICA CALL] launched in July 2009 was a targeted research effort of the European Commission to meet the challenges for Water, Food Security and Better Health for Africa. A cross-thematic call brought together three funding Themes under FP7: (a) Health; (b) Food, Agriculture, Fisheries and Biotechnology; (c) Environment (including climate change).

The topics of the call under Theme 2: Food, Agriculture, Fisheries and Biotechnology were:

• KBBE.-2010.1.-2-03: Sustainable water resources management (WRM) and Soil fertility conservation for food production in Africa - SICA  (Specific International Cooperation Actions) Africa
• KBBE.2010.2.2-03: Identifying research needs on malnutrition in Africa – Mandatory Africa 
• KBBE.2010.3.5-02: Coping with water scarcity in developing countries: Role of biotechnology in water treatment – Mandatory ICPC Africa
• KBBE.2010.4-02: Networking of non-governmental organisations involved in agricultural research for development

10th July 2010.  The FP7-KBBE-2011 CALL launched in July 2010. Following themes targeted more explicitely the African continent:

• KBBE.2011.2.5-02 Reducing post-harvest losses for increased food security — SICA, Mandatory 3 different ICPC
• KBBE.2011.1.3-01 New/next generation of researchers for Neglected Zoonoses at the animal-human interface – Mandatory 3 different ICPC (of which at least 2 from Africa) 
• KBBE.2011.1.4-08 Role of aquaculture in improving food security and eradicating poverty worldwide - Mandatory 3 different ICPC

10th July 2011.  The FP7-KBBE-2012 CALL  launched in July 2011. 

Topics of particular interest for Africa were:

• KBBE.2012.1.4-03 Advocacy and informational material for different media targeting decision makers at different levels and end-users in Africa in the fight against neglected zoonotic diseases 
• KBBE.2012.3.4-01 Conversion of bio-waste in developing countries - SICA, 3 different ICPC from African, ACP and Mediterranean Partner Countries

Other topics in areas of mutual interest between Africa and Europe included: 

• KBBE.2012.1.4-05 Volatility of agricultural commodity markets 
• KBBE.2012.2.3-05 Insects as a novel source of proteins - SICA, 3 different ICPC.
• KBBE.2012.1.3-0 Development and evaluation of scientific methodologies for costeffective risk-based animal health surveillance
• KBBE.2012.3.3-02 Support to standardisation for bio-based products

10th July 2012.  The FP7-KBBE-2013 CALL  launched in July 2012. 

Only 1 theme mentions as mandatory the inclusion of ICPC countries.

• KBBE.2013.3.1-02: EU-Latin America Partnering Initiative on sustainable biodiversity in agriculture. 3 different ICPC countries from Latin America.

The FP7-KBBE-2013 CALL has no SICA  (Specific International Cooperation Actions) nor a Mandatory ICPC from Africa.


Topics in areas of mutual interest between Africa and Europe may be: 

• KBBE.2013.2.3-02: Network for the transfer of knowledge on traditional foods to SMEs
• KBBE.2013.1.2-02: Legume breeding and management for sustainable agriculture as well as protein supply for food and feed 
• KBBE.2013.1.2-04: Control of pests and pathogens affecting fruit crops 
• KBBE.2013.1.2-05: Biological control agents in agriculture and forestry for effective pest and pathogen control 
• KBBE.2013.1.3-02: Sustainable apiculture and conservation of honey bee genetic diversity 

Related:

The FP7-KBBE-2010 CALL [AFRICA CALL] launched in July 2009 resulted in following consortia which have been highlighted in the past on the PAEPARD and FARA blog:

EAU4Food    European Union and African Union cooperative research to increase Food production in irrigated farming systems in Africa
Start date:2011-07-01 

End date:2015-06-30 
Duration:48 months 
Total cost:4,943,245 EURO 
EU contribution: 3,994,856 EURO 
Subprogramme Area:Sustainable water resources management (WRM) and Soil fertility conservation for food production in Africa - SICA (Africa) 
Abstract:

EAU4Food seeks to address the need for new approaches to increase food production in irrigated areas in Africa, while ensuring healthy and resilient environments. Potential pitfalls of introducing innovations in local farming systems, like limited adoption by farmers and trade-off effects to other (environmental) systems are overcome by, respectively, i) utilizing a true trans-disciplinary approach, which involves the active participation of all stakeholders in all relevant disciplines, and ii) by determining and respecting so called sustainable production thresholds. EAU4Food is executed in four irrigated areas in Africa, viz. Southern Africa (Mozambique and South-Africa), Tunisia, Mali and Ethiopia to fully benefit from the potential of cross distributing promising strategies and innovations.


SUNRAY  Sustainable Nutrition Research for Africa in the Years to come 
Start date: 2011-01-01 

End date: 2012-12-31 
Duration: 24 months 
Total cost: 1,088,201 EURO 
EU contribution: 968,463 EURO 
Subprogramme Area:Identifying research needs on malnutrition in Africa - Mandatory Africa 

Abstract:

SUNRAY has seven work packages: WP1 optimises communication and coordination within the Consortium. WP2 maps current nutrition research activities in sub-Saharan Africa, and examines the operating environment. WP3 analyses the views of stakeholders. WP4 examines the impact of environmental changes on nutrition. WP5 builds consensus on research priorities through workshops in three African regions. WP6 develops a strategic framework for future research in the form of a roadmap. WP7 disseminates project outputs. The SUNRAY Consortium has four African and five European institutions and an Advisory Group of six external experts with complementary expertise. 

Waterbiotech Biotechnology for Africa's sustainable water supply   
Start date: 2011-08-01 

End date: 2014-01-31 
Duration: 30 months 
Project cost: 1,264,465 EURO 
EU contribution:  999,528 EURO 
Subprogramme Area: Coping with water scarcity in developing countries: Role of biotechnology in water treatment - Mandatory ICPC (Africa) 

Abstract:
Natural biological treatment systems include lagooning, land treatment, phytodepuration, or constructed wetlands systems. They can be applied as secondary or tertiary purification treatment, allowing the removal of pathogenic microorganisms and the degradation of the organic pollutants, so that waste water can be recycled for irrigation and domestic use and hence reduce the pressure on the hydric resources. Other biotechnological techniques to be taken into account within this proposal are bio-filtration, membrane bioreactors and algae and other aquatic crops application for wastewater purification.

INSARD  Including Smallholders in Agricultural Research for Development
Start date: 2011-01-01 
End date: 2013-12-31 
Total cost: EUR 536,940
EU contribution: EUR 498,330 
Subprogramme area: 
KBBE.2010.4-02 Networking of non-governmental organisations involved in agricultural research for development 
Abstract:
The main aim of this project is to facilitate the participation of a broader range of European and African civil society organizations in the formulation and implementation of ARD. It will do so by:
1. Designing a structure for coordination and communication between European and African CSO’s involved in influencing policies and practices around ARD.
2. Define policy influencing strategies, including thematic priorities, target groups/individuals and tools.
3. Lobby key African and European research organizations and donors.
4. Working towards defining research priorities which draw on interaction between researchers and CSOs.

Highlight: Waterbiotech, a consortium of the Africa Call 2010

01.08.2011 – 01.02.2014.Biotechnology for Africa’s sustainable water supply: WATERBIOTECH is EU funded project under the European Framework (FP 7) with the theme: Coping with water scarcity in developing countries: Role of Biotechnology in water treatment – Mandatory ICPC (AFRICA). The project has 30 months duration started from 1 August, 2011 with a kick-off meeting in Tunis, Tunisia and a consortium of 20 partners from 17different African and European countries.

The purification and reuse of wastewater in combination with efficient use of water is the only sustainable way to solve the problem in water scarce region in Africa and all over the world. The high costs of conventional treatment processes have lead experts and authorities to search for creative, efficient and environmentally sound ways to control water pollution. The development of simple and cost effective Biotechnological water treatment technologies is particularly interesting for African countries.

The Biotechnological water treatment methods proposed in this project include Membrane bioreactor (MBR), Bio-desalination, neutralization and heavy metal removal, the nutrient film techniques and the tricking filter.

Announcement:

The First International WATERBIOTECH Conference

October 09-11, 2012 , National Research Center (NRC) Cairo, Egypt.
The Conference will provide an opportunity to bring environmentalist, water specialist, professors, scientists,engineers, and technicians’ from all the corners of Africa, Europe, Asia, and USA under one roof and discuss the major challenges of Water Biotechnology and sustainable water supply in Africa. This will also provide an opportunity for the international partners in the field to share their experiences and develop networking with regional scientists.

Partners

• Verein zur Förderung des Technologietransfers an der Hochschule Bremerhaven e.V. (TTZ) (Germany)
• Bioazul S.L. (BIOAZUL) (Spain)
• Center De Biotechnologie De SFAX – (CBS) (Tunisia)
• Universität Für Bodenkultur Wien (BOKU) (Austria)
• Institute of Membrane Technology (ITM) (Italy)
• University Of Bath (UoB) (United Kingdom)
• Centre International Des Technologies De L'Environnement De Tunis (CITET) (Tunisia)
• International Water Management Institute (IWMI) (Ghana)
• Universite Paul Cezanne Aix Marseille III (UPCAM) (France)
• Universitat Politecnica De Catalunya (UPC) (Spain)
• Centre Regional Pour L'eau Potable Et L'assainissement A Faible Cout (CREPA) (Burkina Faso)
• Universität Bremen (UNI Bremen) (Germany)
• National Research Center (NRC) (Egypt)
• Centre De Développent Des Energies Renouvelables (CDER) (Algeria)
• Université Cheikh Anta Diop De Dakar (UCAD) (Senegal)
• Université Cadi Ayyad (UCA) (Morocco)
• King Saud University (KSU) (Saudi Arabia)