Training of the communication experts of the Regional Farmer Organisations

Johnson Bungu (SACAU), Chris Addison (CTA), 

Mahamadou Ouedraogo (ROPPA), Michel Tchoungui (PROPAC)

4-5 March 2013. CTA Brussels. CTA organised a training to establish the portal of the Pan African Farmers' Organisation (PAFO).

CTA is one of the key actors to facilitate EC partnerships with regional farmers' organisations offering training and expertise; consultations and communication.
Related:
Since CTA held its first Web2.0 training event in Nairobi, Kenya in 2009, demand has simply exploded. Between 2009 and 2012, 1,684 people from around the ACP regions were trained. In 2012 alone, 695 people from 32 countries took part in 31 learning events, branded as “Web 2.0 and Social Media Learning Opportunities”, two of which were offered online through a partnership with UNITAR and FAO.

Mame Saye Ndour Dembele (PAFO)

A recent study commissioned by CTA indicated that women displayed a higher rate of adoption than men for almost every Web2.0 application. The study found that women use tags and bookmarks, social networks and internet-based voice communication more readily than men.

Popularity of the learning opportunities continues to be strongest among civil society organisations and government organisations and extension services. Recent years have, however, seen a substantial increase in demand by farmers’ organisations and private enterprise. This demonstrates how Web2.0 and social media as communication and networking environments have permeated all levels of society in ACP countries and again mirrors the focus of CTA’s strategy.

Read more about CTA’s impact study including examples of how participants are applying their new skills.

Related PAEPARD Blog post:

8 - 11 January 2013. Yaoundé, Cameroon. During four days a PAEPARD communication workshop brought together representatives of the four regional farmer organisations -ROPPA, EAFF, PROPAC and FANRPAN/SACAU and a private sector representative collaborating with ColeACP.

2012 CAADP Africa Forum

12 to 16 November 2012, Tunis, Tunisian Republic. 2012 CAADP Africa Forum. Farmer Organisations as the Vital Link to Equitable and Sustainable Agriculture Growth in Africa.

This 2012 Africa Forum was under the coordination of UMAGRI, as the  Regional Farmer Organisation (RFO) in charge of the Northern African region. For the 2012 forum, RFOs decided upon the following theme: 

The forum has the following objectives: 

1. Create awareness on the critical role of FOs in the development of agriculture in Africa; 
2. Identify how to strengthen linkages between Regional and National Farmer Organisations and from Farmer Organisations to farmers and other relevant actors (decision makers, traders, consumers);
3. Identify ways to ensure a representative inclusion of women at all levels of farm organisation and representation; 
4. Advance countries’ agricultural agendas in support of strengthening FO capacity and role in efficiently linking farmers to the wider network of relevant actors in the sector.

Sub-themes:

• Farmer Organisation Dynamics: Structure, membership, objectives
• Governance in Farmer Organisations and its impact on performance
• Women participation in Farmer Organisations
• Farmer Organisations and the CAADP process
• Sustainability of Farmer Organisations
• FO engagement in Value Chains

RFOs brought together their members (National Farmer Unions, Farmer Organisations and others) in a
workshop that has five main objectives:

1. Raise awareness on the CAADP process and the CAADP Africa Forum; 
2. Identify the critical issues from FOs and farmers in the region in relation to implementation of the action plans developed at the previous continental forum;
3. Assess what kind of support is needed and available to help FOs and farmers implement action planned at the previous continental forum; 
4. Ascertain what FOs and farmers in the region expect from the upcoming continental forum; 
5. Discuss a strategy for FOs to identify potential contributions from their country to be shared at the forum, in line with the continental forum’s theme and objectives

Backgound

The CAADP Africa Forum is part of the CAADP framework, and is coordinated by the Regional Farmer Organisations together with the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA). The forum is an important platform for harnessing the voice and the influence of non-state actors in CAADP processes at country level. The platform is meant mostly for farmers and farmer representatives, but also for policy makers, manufacturers, traders, retailers, financiers, development workers and others who work in, with or for African agriculture.

Second meeting to outline PAFO Continental Briefing

As of October 6 and in view of World Food 

Day (October 16), the president of ROPPA, 

Djibo Bagna will be in Italy, to attend 

the FAO Committee on World Food Security

28 September 2012. African farmers’ organizations feel that they need to re-strategize the debate concerning African agriculture and maximize the benefits for smallholders. There is also an urgent need to create incentives, encourage farming as an economic activity, and integrate young farmers into agricultural policies. 

Following a first meeting in June, 2012, a second meeting has been held in Brussels to outline the structure of the next Pan-African Farmers Organization (PAFO) Continental Briefing, which will focus on defining the future of African agriculture and the renewed role of farmers’ organizations with the support of CTA and the African Union Commission. 

The PAFO Continental Briefing will aim to expand knowledge on key areas; promote the exchange of expertise and experience; facilitate networking; provide a platform for policy dialogue and strengthen the PAFO as the continental farmers’ platform. 

Around 150 participants representing the five African regions are expected to attend the Continental Briefing, one-third of which will be representing farmers’ organizations. Other stakeholders will include: decentralized local communities, policy makers, researchers, agri-business sector representatives, financial institutions and insurance providers, as well as international organizations and RECs. 

Updates will follow on the Continental Briefing to be held in January 2013.

PAFO’s second General Assembly elects new president

23rd to 25th of August 2012. PAFO’s second General Assembly was held in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

The elections The new President is Mr. Bagna Djibo of Niger was elected to the position of Vice President of the Pan-African Farmers’ Organization (PAFO). He represents the Network of Farmers’ and Agricultural Producers’ Organisations of West Africa (ROPPA) and took over from Mrs Elizabeth Atangana of Cameroon representing Central African Regional Farmers’ Organization (PROPAC).

The following is the full PAFO executive board for the next two years:

1. President: Mr. Bagna Djibo (ROPPA)
2. Vice President: Mr. Felix E. Jumbe (President of SACAU)
3. Treasurer: Mr. Phillip Kiriro (EAFF)
4. Women Representative: Mrs. Elizabeth Atangana (PROPAC)
5. Youth Representative: Mr. Ahmed Jarallah (UMAGRI)

Among other items, the assembly discussed the PAFO Constitution and Strategic Plan.

Related:

More and Better at the PAFO congress

PAFO had invited the closest cooperating partners to attend the congress as guests. Because of the short notice – and vacation time in many European countries, only the More and Better Network was present. The good and important cooperation between PAFO and More and Better was also underlined in the report of PAFO’s work since the founding congress. Here is their story.

The congress was called on a very short notice, less than three weeks. The reason was that the PAFO board had not been aware of one condition on the main funding: the money had to be spent before the end of August – or be returned to the donor. The small staff of PROPAC and the national farmers organization in Cameroun, CNOP-Cameroun, had done an amazing job to organize the congress. They got the government to make exceptions for visa rules so visa could be issued on the border for all delegates, background paper were prepared, banners, bags, pens etc. for the congress had been made, translation and technical equipment functioned perfectly, and all delegates stayed in a nice hotel where the meeting also took place.

The last evening, after the congress had finished, became a wonderful and memorable evening at a training center where the outgoing president, Elisabeth Atangana, started for farmers more than 15 years ago. The center, located in the Mfou village in the outskirt of Yaounde, runs an agricultural school of two years for 70 student, runs other short time courses, organizes conferences. The center has also farming activities with plant nursery, raising chicken and pigs. When the delegates and guests arrived at the center, we were met by African music and dance , and the entrance and outdoor area had been turned into a beautifully decorated restaurant where we were served wonderful locally produced food.

The day after the congress a national seminar for leaders of cooperatives and initiatives for new cooperatives took place at the center – with Elisabeth Atangana as the facilitator! She had been working day and night the last three weeks to organize the congress, and the first morning and the full day she headed the work of about 40 farmers from Cameroun. “We had planned this meeting before we planned the congress,” told Elisabeth, “I could not turn these people down and cancel the meeting because I had worked hard for the congress.”