The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa FARA

The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) – An Overview By Aissetou Dramé Yayé

FARA- Background • FARA: established in 2002 by the three sub Saharan Africa sub Regional Organizations for Agricultural Research (SROs). • These SROs are : – CORAF/WECARD: West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development – ASARECA: Association for Strengthning Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa. – SADC/FANR: Southern African Development Councilfood and Natural Resources. – In 2005, AARINENA joined FARA

FARA- Background FARA’s mission is to enhance and add value to the effectiveness and efficiency of African agricultural research systems. • FARA is NEPAD’s technical arm for advancing the objectives of pillar IV of CAADP which embraces agricultural research, and technology development and dissemination.

FARA’s 2007 -2016 Strategic Plan Ø Based on Stakeholder consultation and the SRO strategies Ø Maximising FARA’s comparative advantage as a regional Forum Ø Principle of subsidiarity allowing SROs to fully benefit from regional interventions Ø Advocacy and policies to address sub-regional issues through regional activities

Networking support functions • Functions interact and support each other • Collectively will ensure delivery of Results • Each linked to a Result area but benefits not exclusive and will reinforce efforts • Current projects coherent with these networking support functions – and Results

1. Supportive environment for regional agricultural research SRO Part strat nerships egic allian & ces NARS 4. Human & institutional capacity for innovation developed Farmers str Ca en pa gt city he nin g e dg e wlle w kno giies kno es o s tto olog s o ces hn ces Ac & ttec A & ec 5. Platforms for agricultural innovation supported Advocacy & resource mobilisation d an ies lic po al rkets n gio ma Re 2. Broad-based stakeholders have access to the knowledge and technology necessary for innovation 3. Strategic decision making options for policy, institutions and markets developed

Current FARA initiatives Function 1. Advocacy and resource mobilisation 2. Access to knowledge and technologies 3. Regional policies and markets 4. Capacity strengthening 5. Partnerships and strategic alliances Initiative FAAP RAILS DONATA None as yet SCARDA BASIC SSA-CP PAEPARD

Some of FARA Important Donors • African Development Bank • Canadian International Devlopment Agency • Netherlands, United Kingdom (DFID), Italy, Ireland, France • Consultative Group on International A. R. (CGIAR) • Rockefeller Foundation • Bill and Mellinda Gat Foundation • World Bank • USAID • Etc.

http: //www. fara-africa. org FARA General Assembly, Johannesburg, June 2007

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