Preliminary Announcement Final Conference for the ERA-ARD II project

5th June 2013. Egmont Palace, Petit Sablon 8, Brussels, Belgium. Brussels. International Conference – Preliminary Announcement. Better linkages between Agricultural Research and Development for greater impact on Global Challenges.

In recent years, significant progress has been made in improving European coordination of Agricultural Research for Development through ERA-ARD, an EC funded project addressing national programmes for Agricultural Research for Development (ARD) in Europe, as well as EIARD (European Initiative for Agricultural Research for Development) targeting European support to global ARD initiatives like the CGIAR and SCAR (Standing Committee on Agricultural Research) targeting research programmes addressing primarily European concerns. 

Future coordination interventions are expected to focus on improved alignment of research and development policies, programmes and instruments both within Europe and between Europe and the South. This conference will bring together policy-makers, donors, programme managers, scientists, the private sector and other stakeholders from Europe and regions of the world concerned with the fields of agriculture, research and international cooperation.

Conference Objectives
This international conference will have a forward looking perspective building on achievements and existing mechanisms to identify concrete ways to improve coordination of agricultural research for development efforts in Europe, emphasising improved synergies between national and bilateral programmes, strengthened linkages between AR and ARD and stronger alignment between national and European programmes with global initiatives in order to address global challenges and to maximise the impact of European investments in AR and ARD, at national, continental and global level.

The outputs of the conference will include proposals for renewed linkages between European AR and ARD, further alignment between member state policies and instruments for a specific dialogue within Europe and between Europe and other regions of world.
Programme Topics

The programme is beginning to take shape, and will include elements of the following:

• The role of Europe in implementing the GCARD Road Map and addressing Global Challenges 
• Looking forward with lessons learnt and results from ERA-ARD 
• European Partnership with the South, including the South’s vision of collaboration with Europe 
• Linkages between agricultural research and research for development in Europe 
• The European ARD coordination set-up: possibilities for the future 

AGRINATURA: Building Capacities in Agriculture Based on Needs Taking stock of lessons learned and support bottom-up coordination

27 October 2012. GCARD 2 Pre-Conference Meeting Building Capacities in Agriculture Based on Needs Taking stock of lessons learned and support bottom-up coordination.

GCARD 2 was an important milestone to review the current state of the art and to organise stakeholders for an increased effort – and even more coordinated - to building capacities in agriculture, while reforming the institutions to increase the relevance and the impact of TAE with regard to the stakeholders’ economic needs on the ground.

1. The GCARD 1 Montpellier Capacity Action Plan : from initial ideas to actual achievements - Didier Pillot (EFARD/Agrinatura) 
2. Session 1 ; Organisation achieved and challenges ahead in Africa Building institutions : achievements up to date - Irene Annor Frempong (FARA), Aissetou Yaye (ANAFE) 
3. Session 2 ; Building new skills and adapted competences : the YPARD study and e conference By Courtney Paisley, Marina Cherbonnier, Myriam Perez (YPARD) 
4. Session 3 : The new extensionist - Is today's extension agent a superwoman (or superman)? - Skills and challenges for capacity building By Kristin Davis, Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS) 
5. Session 4 : Organisation and questions in Latin America with Fernando García, Red de Facultades de Agronomía de MERCOSUR, and Abel Mejía, Universidad Nacional Agraria de La Molina, Lima  
6. Session 5 : Wrapping up : roles and expectations for GCHERA, with Philippe Choquet (ICA) and Ian Maw (APLU)

FaRMAf - Innovative new project to improve food security in Africa

26 et 27 septembre. Ouagadougou. Le projet FARMAF financé par l'UE, qui porte sur la gestion des risques agricoles en Afrique, a été lancé. Le projet vise à améliorer la sécurité alimentaire et les moyens de subsistance des producteurs agricoles familiaux en Afrique, en renforçant leur accès aux outils de gestion des risques agricoles.

L'atelier de lancement a mis en évidence le fait que la capacité des agriculteurs à anticiper, éviter et répondre aux chocs naturels et économiques était cruciale pour la réduction de la pauvreté et de la sécurité alimentaire en milieu rural. Toutefois, les agriculteurs africains, et les producteurs familiaux en particulier, manquent souvent d'accès à des outils et sont donc directement confrontés aux risques pré- et post- récoltes. Le projet FARMAF vise à renforcer l'accès des producteurs agricoles familiaux à ces outils. Ce faisant, FARMAF contribue à améliorer de façon durable les moyens de subsistance des agriculteurs en Afrique.

Au cours de l'atelier de lancement du projet FARMAF, les expériences du Burkina Faso, de la Tanzanie et de la Zambie ont été présentées et discutées, ce qui a permis de mettre en lumière le fonctionnement de différents outils (assurance, systèmes d'information sur le marché, warrantage et action collective).

Des suggestions ont été faites sur la façon dont ceux-ci peuvent être améliorés et renforcés grâce à la participation des organisations régionales de producteurs agricoles (PAFO, ROPPA, EAFF, SACAU et PROPAC), et des organisations nationales de producteurs agricoles (MWIWATA, CPF et ZNFU) et à la collaboration des instituts de recherche Agrinatura (CIRAD, NRI et WUR).

Selon le représentant de la Plateforme continentale des organisations paysannes (PAFO), Kolyang Palébélé, ce projet vise « à améliorer l’accès des producteurs agricoles aux outils de gestion des risques de manière efficace contribuant ainsi à l’amélioration de la sécurité alimentaire familiale et des revenus des ménages ruraux les plus pauvres ». Comme outils de gestion, il s’agit principalement des systèmes d’assurance agricole, de warrantage et d’informations de marché, a indiqué M. Palébélé.

De son avis, ces outils ont été développés avec succès dans certains pays africains car ayant permis aux producteurs d’accéder à des mécanismes de crédit en milieu rural, à des systèmes de commercialisation plus efficace et d’obtenir des prix rémunérateurs.

Financé par l’union européenne, la FARMAF est mis en œuvre pour compenser les pertes liées aux conditions climatiques, a ajouté le président de la Confédération paysanne du Faso (CPF), Bassiaka Dao. Pour réaliser ses objectifs, le projet cherche à accroître l’éventail d’outils et d’instrument durables que les petits exploitants des pays africains peuvent utiliser pour gérer les risques agricoles.

Ceci devra réduire leur exposition aux chocs baissiers, améliorer leur accès au crédit et leurs capacités à investir dans une technologie améliorant le rendement et à mieux gérer la commercialisation des produits de la ferme, a précisé le représentant de Agrinatura, Paolo Sarfatti.

Lire l'article : La FARMAF, un projet de gestion des risques agricoles en Afrique - Burkinapmepmi.com - le portail des PME / PMI au Burkina Faso

 Flyer FaRMAF-GB

Agrinatura Strategic Thinking Workshop

September 12th, 2012. Paris. The main objective of the workshop was to provide the elements for a new three years Work Plan (2013-2015) for the Agrinatura Alliance.

The expected results were:

• a shared vision of the main results achieved by Agrinatura during its first two years of existence, and the main lessons learned;
• a shared update of the international and European Agricultural Research for Development context in which Agrinatura operates;
• an assessment of the relevance of the Agrinatura strategy as articulated in the following documents:

Related:

Capacity development for agricultural research for development_policy brief
This paper discusses issues related to support for capacity strengthening for agricultural research for development (ARD) by member countries of the European Initiative for Agricultural Research for Development.

Capacity development for agricultural research for development_study
This paper reviews the current policies and programmes of EIARD members in relation to capacity development and makes recommendations on future directions. The main issues and recommendations will be incorporated into a policy brief in which specific policy options or guidelines will be presented.

From IAASTD and the WDR 2008 to the GCARD process: rethinking the role of Agricultural research for development_POLICY BRIEF
The objective of this policy brief is to explore the implications of the 2008 International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD) for the policies and investments in Agricultural Research for Development (ARD) of the European Commission and the European countries members of EIARD.

Impact assessment policies and practices of EIARD members_study
The overall aim of this study was to ‘review and compare the policies and practices of different EIARD members in impact assessment to increase relevance, uptake and coordination of efforts by and for EIARD members, stakeholders and policy-makers’. The report discusses current methodological advances and debates in impact assessment and the current practices of EIARD members, using information provided by their national contact points, data base and literature searches and selected case studies, in order to develop practical recommendations for improvement and greater coordination and alignment.

Impact Assessment Policies and Practices of EIARD members_policy brief
The overall aim of this study is to ‘review and compare the policies and practices of different EIARD members in impact assessment to increase relevance, uptake and coordination of efforts by and for EIARD members, stakeholders and policy-makers’. This policy brief is based on a study which explored current methodological advances and debates in impact assessment and analysed the current impact assessment practices of EIARD members. The purpose of this brief is to suggest practical recommendations for improvement and greater coordination among EIARD members in this area.

Making ARD more pro_poor, improving the accessibility and relevance of ARD results to the poorest_policy brief
This policy brief addresses the challenge of using the founds that European Union (EU) member states and the European Commission support Agricultural Research for Development (ARD) in sub-Saharan Africa (estimated US$470million per annum) effectively to alleviate poverty and hunger in the developing world by explicitly identifying the poor, involving them in the research process and making research results accessible to them.

Making ARD more PRO-POOR_Improving Accessibility and Relevance of Results to the Poorest_STUDY
This study contributes to strengthening EU policies towards the MDGs in general, and food security issues in particular. The study pays particular attention to two aspects of pro-poor ARD: a) involvement of the poor in ARD, and b) access of the poor to ARD results.

Agenda for Change
At a critical juncture - facing new global challenges, close to the 2015 target for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and in the midst of preparations for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) - the EU must choose the right mix of policies, tools and resources to be effective and efficient in the fight against poverty in the context of sustainable development. The Commission is proposing an Agenda for Change to strengthen Europe’s solidarity with the world’s developing nations in this fight.

Announcement: La plateforme belge: agriculture et sécurité alimentaire

13 septembre 2012. Brussels. La plateforme belge agriculture et sécurité alimentaire.

Ordre du jour 

1) Prendre connaissance des membres
2) Etats des lieux

• La reforme de la DGD
• Après RIO+20: résultats, commentaire, influence sur la CD
• FAO-CFS: Etats des lieux, les perspectives, les thèmes for 2014 
• KLIMOS & GRAP3A: Etats des lieux, les perspectives pour le trimestre 4, 2012 – jusque août 2013. Le soutien belge à l’FAO, au FIDA & au CGIAR   

3) Une discussion et concertation concernant le rôle de la plateforme, les participants, de l'organisation et de l'objectif, du timing 

4) Les réunions suivantes, des nouveaux défis et des questions prioritaires, comme par ex. 

• Land issues: mainstreaming in rural development, agriculture & food security policies and strategies
• Food security; food wastage, nutrition – biofortification; food insecurity
• Agriculture resilience
• Climate smart agriculture, 
• Relationships with CAADP
• Agriculture: risks versus insurances
• Arid lands

Steering Committee Meeting of EFARD

12th – 13th June 2012. Brussels. Steering Committee Meeting of EFARD (the European Forum on Agricultural Research for Development). EFARD’s strategic objectives are to encourage dialogue between European ARD stakeholder groups promoting awareness, innovative approaches, and partnerships in order to build a more efficient and impact focused ARD; to support global ARD initiatives within the framework of GFAR and the GCARD process; and to to promote inter-regional partnerships and collaborative ARD activities for joint research initiatives, capacity strengthening and greater impact, particularly in developing countries.

The 3 major agenda points were the role of ARD in Horizon 2020, the EFARD communication strategy and the contribution of EFARD to the GCARD 2 conference in Uruguay (October 2012).

• In order to continue with efforts to ensure ARD is more prominent in the awareness of policy makers and funders, the EFARD Steering Committee decided that more efforts are needed on Horizon 2020 (the successor of FP7). A letter will be addressed by EFARD to Paolo De Castro, Chairman of the Commission on Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Parliament on food security. 
• In order to implement the GFAR’s agricultural information and communication management programme which sets out to enhance stakeholders’ access to agricultural knowledge, a desk study was led by CIRAD. The objective of this study was 1) To review and map the major European information and communication system: portals and websites dealing with Agricultural Research for Development (AR4D); 2) To provide some suggestions on how to integrate European agricultural information resources into the existing global agricultural information and communication management systems. 
•  The EFARD lead activities in support of GCARD Road Map are Foresight; the role of the ARI’s; Capacity Strengthening and coordination with CSOs and NGOs. 

Participants:Alessandra Giuliani (SFIAR, Switzerland, Vice Chair) Arno Maatman (ICRA) Observer Catherine Guichard (COLEACP, France, Chair) Christian Hoste (AGREENIUM/ France) Codrin Paveliuc-Olariu (YPARD – Europe representative) Caroline Sidi (ACF, France) substitute for Myriam Ait-Aissa Didier Pillot (AGRINATURA) David Radcliffe (EC/DEVCO; Executive Secretary) Frédéric Lapeyrie (CRAI, France) Francois Stepman (European Co-manager, PAEPARD) Observer George Rothschild (UK Forum) Judith Francis (CTA, Netherlands) Observer Jennie van der Mheen (WUR, Netherlands) Nicoliene Oudwater (ETC) substitute for Ann Waters-Bayer Paolo Sarfatti (AGRINATURA/ IAO, Italy) Philippe Petithuguenin (EC, DG RTD, representing EIARD) Sander van Opstal (ERA-ARD representative) Observer Wim Andriesse (WUR, Netherlands) Alex Percy-Smith (Consultant to Secretariat) Francoise de Chevigny (ICRA), VAN OPSTAL, Sander Senior Officer, Directorate for Knowledge, Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Ede, The Netherlands

Related: EFARD Joint meeting with EIARD 
As a new point at the end of the EFARD SC meeting and at the beginning of the 54th EIARD Working Group meeting a joint session was held with the following agenda:

• Presentations of EIARD and of EFARD 
• Discussion on linkages (incl. governance and communication) 
• GCARD 2 preparation and participation 
• Bi-continental platforms with Africa (PAEPARD), ASIA and Latin America: PAEPARD presentation on re-thinking funding mechanisms for multi stakeholder ARD consortia
• Participation of ARIs in the CGIAR CRPs 

Participants:

• EFARD Steering Committee (see above)
• KALDERS, Joseph NCP WG Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, DGOS, Brussels, Belgium 
• THEVENOUX, Philippe European Commission, DG DEVCO, Brussels, Belgium 
• PETITHUGUENIN, Philippe ExSec European Commission, DG Research, Brussels, Belgium
• RADCLIFFE, David European Commission, DG Development, Brussels, Belgium 
• LAPEYRIE, Frederic NCP Ministry of National Education, Higher Education and Research, Paris France 
• FLOOD, Frank Irish Aid, Department of Foreign Affairs, Limerick, Ireland 
• VAN GILST, Daniel M Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD), Oslo, Norway 
• CHIVERTON, Philip NCP Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden 
• THOENNISSEN, Carmen NCP WG Senior Advisor, CGIAR, Global Program Food Security, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Berne, Switzerland 
• TOLLERVEY, Alan NCP Agriculture Team Leader, Research and Evidence Division DFID,  London, UK
• Wofgang Kasten Germany, German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), Eschborn, Germany
• HAUG Ruth, Norway 
• DOBAO Maria Teresa, Spain