fara strategy and mtop 2014-2018

Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa

FARA’s Strategic Plan and MTOP for 2014-2018

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5/9/2013 2Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa

1. Why a new strategy & MTOP

1. Timing: current MTOP ends Dec 2013• New MTOP (2014-2018)• Strategic plan (2007- 2016) revision/overhaul needed

2. Changes in operating environment call for FARA to reposition itself to:

• respond to emerging challenges and opportunities

• take advantage of lessons learned and build upon achievements

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2. Strategic DirectionsProblem tree analysis concluded that FARA’s strategic priorities should be focussed on:

1. Visioning the kind of agriculture Africa wants and the collective actions needed to achieve it

2. Developing the capacities needed to achieve it

3. Developing the policy environment to enable effective implementation of the needed actions

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Strategic Statements

Goal:To contribute to the sustainable reduction of food insecurity and poverty in Africa while enhancing the environment.

Purpose:To contribute to generating high broad-based and sustainable agricultural growth in Africa Value Proposition Strengthening Africa’s capacity for innovation and transformation, by visioning its strategic directions, integrating capacities for change and creating the enabling policy environment for implementation.

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Core functions of FARA

1. Facilitating Collective Action around the promotion of innovations in Africa

2. Capacity strengthening to enhance the functionality of agricultural innovation systems in Africa

3. Intellectual leadership for ARD in Africa

4. Partnerships to enhance broad-based productivity, competitiveness and markets in Africa

5. Advocacy and communication for improved ARD in Africa

6. Tracking of progress in Africa’s agricultural development

Generic Services of FARA

Figure 1. Strategic Priorities and Generic services of FARA

The Strategic Priorities are Mutually Reinforcing

Visioning Africa's Agricultural

Transformation

Enabling environment for Implementation

Integrating Capacities for

Change

Emerging thematic areas• Climate Change• Bioenergy• Nutrition

Cross cutting issue• Gender

Networking Support functions

Services supported

1. Visioning Africa’s agric Transformation

2. Integrating capacities for change

3. Enabling environment for implementation

Business

Research

ExtensionEducation

Policy

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The Results to be Delivered

Key Result 1: African agricultural stakeholders determining how the sector should be transformed and establishing the needed collective actions in a gender sensitive manner

R1.1. High level stakeholder ownership of gender-disaggregated evidence-based information and policy recommendations derived from strategic analysis and foresight studies.

R1.2. Functional partnerships and platforms for agricultural innovation and trade among African stakeholders (intra-continental) and between them and northern and southern partners (Africa-South, Africa-North and Africa-South-North)

R1.3. Wide high level stakeholder ownership and commitment to a common African science and innovation agenda.

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Key Result 2: Strengthened and integrated continental capacity responding to stakeholder demands within the agricultural innovation system in a gender sensitive manner

R2.1. Functional interactions and partnerships for creating capacity among farmers, research, education, extension, trade and agri-business organizations

R2.2. Adopted mechanisms for articulating demand and strengthened capacity to respond to demand

R2.3. Communities of Practice addressing identified capacity deficits (in the design & implementation of R&D programs) in a gender-sensitive manner

R2.4. Strengthened human, organizational and institutional capacities for gender sensitive agricultural innovation.

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Key Result 3: Enabling environment for increased ARD investment and implementation of agricultural innovation systems in a gender sensitive manner

R3.1. Evidence-based policy formulation, decision making and investment

R3.2. FAAP principles and guidelines embedded in all aspects of CAADP planning and implementation

R3.3. Information and knowledge for learning exchange in agricultural innovation knowledge systems available and used

R3.4. Critical mass of policy makers and advocacy agents avoiding duplication and filling critical gaps at the continental level

R3.5. Effective communication strategies and systems, including ICTs, for disseminating and building constituencies for policy changes.

5. Overall Outcomes

African agric. innovation systems functioning

effectively in creating jobs, building wealth on

sustainable basis

SP1African agric. stakeholders

determining how the sector should be transformed & establishing the needed

collective actions in a gender sensitive manner

SP3Enabling environment for increased ARD investment

and implementation of agricultural innovation

systems in a gender sensitive manner

SP2Strengthened and

integrated continental capacity responding to stakeholder demands within the agricultural innovation system in a

gender sensitive manner

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Assumptions and risks

1. Political and socio-economic conditions are enabling

2. Complementary and enabling policies and legal frameworks exist, and are implemented

3. Sufficient or adequate incentives exist to convince the private sector and youth to engage in agriculture

4. Farmers have access to adequate financial and natural resources (in particular, land and water)

5. Effective partnerships with the CGIAR, advanced research institutions and south-south cooperation

6. Potential for market expansion is realised, and gains are accessible and of benefit to the poor and disadvantaged

7. Strengthened human capacity is retained in Africa

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How the results will be delivered

Mobilising Forum Members– Pool of Experts: – Core Research and Development

Support team: – FARA Fellows network:– Youth and Women: – Resource Persons with Special

Expertise: – Africa Agricultural Science Week: – Africa Agricultural Science Week: – Internships– Post-Doctoral Fellowship: Visiting

Scientists: – Diaspora:

Core principles

- The subsidiarity principle

- Maintaining the Integrity of the environment

- Inclusiveness of all categories of stakeholders

- Partnerships

- Shared responsibility, Sublimity and Responsiveness

Performing Core functions & services

Organogram

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Conclusion

• Strategy and MTOP lay out a clear direction for FARA to respond to challenges and take advantage of opportunities

• Informed by a problem and objective tree analysis and extensive stakeholder consultations

• FARA is well positioned to make its mark in transforming African livelihoods

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Thank you