In the context of FARA’s South-South and Triangular Cooperation Strategy (SSTC), FARA and the Brazilian Agency for Capacity Development CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior) have begun discussing how the two institutions can work together to strengthen postgraduate capacity in Africa.
FARA’s Executive Director, Dr Yemi Akinbamijo, was received by Prof Rui Opperman, Director of International Cooperation of CAPES in Brasilia. Dr Akinbamijo briefed Dr Opperman on the collaboration between FARA and the Brazilian Association for International Education (FAUBAI), which seeks to strengthen institutional and human capacities in Agricultural Research and Innovation in Africa through ARIFA.
The FARA-FAUBAI partnership is built on scaling, co-sharing, demand-driven approaches, and capacity-building principles. This partnership takes advantage of the agroecological similarities between Africa and Brazil and Brazil’s competitive advantage to contribute to the goal of the AU Agenda 2063.
The discussions between FARA and CAPES explored new collaboration areas to strengthen postgraduate capacity in Africa, focusing on agriculture, agribusiness and related fields while tapping into Brazil’s Innovation and entrepreneurial capabilities. The partnership will leverage Brazil’s experience and expertise in postgraduate education and scientific research, including the Programa de Estudantes-Convenio de Pós-Graduação (PEC-PG), and commercialization of research outputs to support the development of a new generation of highly skilled researchers, innovators, and science-based entrepreneurs in Africa.
The initiative is expected to complement ongoing programs to further create opportunities for Africans pursue higher degrees in Brazilian universities and research institutions, where they can benefit from contemporary teaching methods and pedagogy, the latest technologies and research methods in agriculture and related fields, and exposure to innovation-driven agribusiness. This will enable Africa to build a critical mass of highly skilled professionals who can catalytically drive the continent’s agricultural transformation and contribute to its economic development.
The FARA-CAPES partnership is a concrete example of how South-South cooperation can be harnessed to promote sustainable development in the global South.
The partnership is expected to inspire other countries and regions to collaborate and work together to promote sustainable development and poverty alleviation in the global South.
One Comment
This is really a good development!
Cogratulations to FARA Team!
Congratulations to Africa!