A consortium consisting of FARA, ASARECA, and EAFF1 is implementing the project Strengthening Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Ecosystem for Inclusive Rural Transformation and Livelihoods in Eastern Africa (AIRTEA) sponsored by the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) through the ACPInnovation Fund which itself is funded by the European Union (EU) through the 11th European Development Fund (EDF). The OACPS is supported by a Technical Assistance Unit (TAU) – who is in charge of the management of the OACPS Research and Innovation Programme (https://oacps-ri.eu).
The consortium, through the AIRTEA Project, will technically and financially support multistakeholder partnerships (MSPs) from Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda to develop proposals and implement projects that promote demand-driven agricultural research and innovation. The consortium believes that science, technology, and innovation in agriculture in Africa in general, and Eastern Africa in particular, constitute the major driver for economic development. This is because the agricultural sector is still the main employer providing jobs to the largest proportion of the population of Eastern Africa and contributes to over 35% of the GDP in the three selected countries.
The theory of change of the AIRTEA Project is that the research-policy interface will create a conducive policy ecosystem in the three countries that will, inter alia, enable knowledge generation, exchange, and learning; technology transfer, uptake, and scale-up; and business development through capacity building. These will lead to innovations with socio-economic benefits and impacts.
The overall objective of the AIRTEA Project is to contribute to achieving sustainable agrarian livelihoods and rural transformation by fostering an inclusive innovation environment. The three specific objectives are:
- To strengthen the capacities of youth and women in East Africa’s multi-stakeholder innovation platforms and link to solutions within national, regional, and global food systems;
- To facilitate technology, transfer and uptake through learning routes and multistakeholder engagement; and
- To improve profitability and employment opportunities along agricultural commodity value chains by establishing national and regional Agricultural Business Learning Alliance (ABLA) platforms, business development services, and mentorship.
To achieve these objectives, the consortium will technically and financially support MSP projects in agricultural research for development (ARD) that address challenges and/or opportunities at the local, national or regional level from Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.
Please find below details of the call for proposals for your downloads:
- AIRTEA-Call and guidelines for Applicants_Final_16June2021
- AIRTEA-Call and guidelines for Applicants_Final_16June2021
- Copy of Budget template for AIRTEA IF_Version 16th June 2021
Please note that the deadline for submission of proposals is August 9th 2021 at 17:00 GMT.
3 Comments
Thanks for this initiative. It. would also obe good to share the results those who succeeded.
Thank you
Great initiative!. It would be also good to share the results of the recent AIRTEA Project.
Thank
Dear Sir / madam
If such activities and even technologies realized would be extended to Tanzania would be wonderful!!