By Benjamin Abugri, Abdulrazak Ibrahim, Israel Fugah & Shaquille Pennaneach

Following the successful TAAT Wheat Compact planning meeting, partners from across Africa convened in Adama, Ethiopia, from 25–27 February for an implementation-focused workshop aimed at translating research outputs into practical, farmer-ready guidance. Hosted by the Government of Ethiopia through the Ethiopian Institute for Agricultural Research (EIAR), the meeting underscored Ethiopia’s leadership in advancing wheat self-sufficiency and regional knowledge exchange.

The workshop marked a decisive shift from planning to delivery. The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) led the development of structured outreach and extension materials designed to accelerate the adoption of improved wheat technologies across national systems.

Organised under the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) programme, the Wheat Toolkit Finalisation Workshop focused on harmonising Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) messaging and producing standardised, farmer-friendly extension tools for deployment through national extension services. The initiative responds to the urgent imperative to boost domestic wheat production through improved agronomy, strengthened seed systems, and coordinated value chain partnerships.

Transforming research into knowledge that farmers find accessible

The workshop brought together national focal persons, agronomists, researchers, and technical partners from Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Sudan, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe, as well as ICARDA, national research institutions, and TAAT technical teams. While ICARDA continues to lead wheat research and technology development, FARA, through the TAAT Capacity Development and Technology Outreach (CDTO) Compact, concentrates on ensuring that these innovations are effectively translated into accessible, scalable solutions for farmers.

Dr. Abdulrazak Ibrahim presented the mandate of the CDTO Compact and its role in expanding agricultural innovation through structured capacity development and outreach systems. Mr. Benjamin Abugri facilitated sessions on designing high-quality extension materials, emphasising clarity, farmer-centred messaging, climate-smart practices, incentive structures, and practical, actionable guidance. Discussions also explored tools for scaling technologies, standardised frameworks for outreach manuals, and harmonised communication formats to ensure cross-country consistency.

Working in country clusters, participants analysed production constraints, communication bottlenecks, and institutional support gaps. The exercise culminated in consolidated recommendations on technical backstopping, coordination mechanisms, and strategic communication approaches required to sustain and expand wheat productivity gains across participating countries.

From Innovation to Impact: Field Learning at the Lume Innovation Platforms

A major highlight of the workshop was a field visit on 26 February to the Lume Innovation Platform in the East Shewa Zone of the Oromia Region. The site offers a compelling demonstration of how coordinated research, extension systems, and farmer-led adoption can translate scientific advances into measurable production gains.

Since 2018, wheat cultivation in the area has expanded from approximately 150 hectares to about 7,200 hectares by 2025. Participants cited this rapid transformation as a practical illustration of how science-based innovations, when effectively disseminated and supported by robust extension systems, can directly contribute to national food security objectives.

During the visit, participants interacted directly with farmers and extension agents, observing improved wheat varieties, irrigation practices, and enhanced agronomic management techniques. The field experience reinforced a central message of the workshop: technology alone does not drive agricultural transformation—systematic adoption, supported by coordinated outreach and institutional alignment, makes the difference.

Developing the wheat extension toolkit

The final day of the workshop focused on transforming technical research into practical communication tools that farmers can readily apply. Participants worked on developing clear, farmer-friendly materials—including flyers, leaflets, and pictorial guides—that translate research findings into straightforward field instructions.

Draft national Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) guides were reviewed, covering the full wheat production cycle: land preparation, seed selection, fertilisation, pest and disease management, harvesting, and post-harvest handling. Emphasis was placed on clarity, sequencing, and usability.

Country teams then developed prototype extension leaflets designed to:

• provide clear, step-by-step farming guidance
• Use minimal text and clear visuals.
• support national extension officers, and
• enable translation into local languages.

The workshop concluded with a clear continental action plan: FARA will coordinate the harmonisation and finalisation of wheat outreach and extension materials to guide large-scale adoption of improved technologies across participating countries. These materials will be prepared for printing, translation, and digital dissemination through national agricultural advisory systems.

Strengthening the FARA–ICARDA partnership

The back-to-back workshops reaffirmed the complementary roles of ICARDA and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA). ICARDA leads the development of improved wheat technologies and generates the underlying research evidence, while FARA ensures that this knowledge is effectively translated, communicated, and embedded within national agricultural innovation systems.

In the coming months, the two organisations will work closely with participating countries to finalise and package the wheat technology toolkits, producing a range of extension and outreach materials to support scaling, adoption, and long-term sustainability. These efforts will also contribute to the rollout of TAAT III, further strengthening the link between scientific discovery and farmer uptake across the continent.

As part of the development of the country-specific Wheat GAP Toolkits, participants identified five priority areas that should be clearly emphasised in the outreach and extension materials to be produced. Across all countries, representatives agreed that farmers and extension agents particularly require practical guidance on seed varieties and recommended seeding rates, fertilizer application, irrigation timing, planting calendars, and appropriate storage technologies. These priority themes will shape the key messages to be communicated through the various training and dissemination platforms.

By aligning research, capacity development, and communication, the TAAT Wheat Compact is supporting countries in advancing toward wheat self-sufficiency, reducing dependence on imports, and strengthening food security. The Adama meetings demonstrated a fundamental principle: agricultural transformation is not achieved solely through improved seeds, but through improved systems that ensure knowledge reaches and is adopted by the farmers who feed the continent.

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By Benjamin Abugri, Abdulrazak Ibrahim, Israel Fugah [1], Bishaw Zewdie & Muhammad Imtiaz [2]

The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), working closely with the International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) and national agricultural institutions, has finalised a two-day regional planning workshop to boost wheat production and productivity across Africa. The meeting, held from 23 to 24 February in Adama, Ethiopia, is part of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) Wheat Compact, an African Development Bank–supported initiative designed to scale up proven agricultural technologies and lessen the continent’s heavy reliance on wheat imports.

Wheat remains a strategic crop for food security, income generation, and import substitution across many African countries. Rising demand, climate variability, and rising import bills have made it urgent to expand domestic production through improved varieties, better agronomic practices, and stronger seed-delivery systems.

The annual planning meeting, therefore, functioned as a coordination and learning platform to review implementation progress, share experiences, and collectively define priority actions for the upcoming year.

Broad Regional Participation

The workshop brought together technical experts and national focal persons from six participating countries, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Sudan, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe, alongside TAAT technical teams, CGIAR researchers, and implementation partners. Country presentations examined production trends, seed systems performance, farmer reach, and lessons learned in scaling climate-resilient wheat technologies.

Dr Zewdie Bishaw, ICARDA

In the opening session, ICARDA TAAT Wheat Compact team coordinator, Dr Zewdie Bishaw, introduced the overall objective of the meeting: to review progress and jointly plan priority activities for the effective implementation of the Compact in the coming year. He also emphasised the importance of documenting the success stories of the Compact in target countries. The TAAT Wheat Compact partner, the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), presented Ethiopia’s wheat self-sufficiency initiatives and the importance of science-based research in transforming national wheat systems. Plenary discussions also examined cross-cutting issues, including extension delivery, policy support, data reporting, and climate resilience.

Dr Abdulrazak Ibrahim, FARA

FARA participated in the workshop as part of the TAAT Capacity Development and Technology Outreach (CDTO) Compact, represented by Dr Abdulrazak Ibrahim, Cluster Leader for Capacity Development and Future Scenarios and TAAT-CDTO Compact Leader; Mr Benjamin Abugri, Cluster Leader for Knowledge Management, Digitalisation and Learning; and Mr Israel Fugah, Data and Outreach Consultant. Their involvement focused particularly on enhancing knowledge exchange, monitoring and learning, and ensuring that lessons from participating countries are documented and shared across the continent.

FARA–ICARDA Partnership for a Food-Secure Africa

The workshop emphasised the complementary roles of ICARDA and FARA in progressing wheat productivity. ICARDA conducts research and develops technologies, including improved varieties and agronomic practices. At the same time, FARA focuses on capacity building, knowledge sharing, learning systems, and scaling across national agricultural research and extension systems.

Through this collaboration, research outputs are converted into practical knowledge for farmers, extension services, and policymakers. The method ensures that innovations progress from pilot projects to widespread adoption, thereby increasing yields and strengthening national food systems. Participants stressed that coordinated action among research institutions, governments, and regional organisations is vital for achieving sustainable wheat self-sufficiency in Africa.

By the end of the meeting, partners agreed on priority interventions, country-specific action plans, and follow-up mechanisms for the 2025/2026 crop season. The outcomes are expected to strengthen coordination and speed up the expansion of improved wheat technologies across participating countries.

 Next Step: From Planning to Packaging

Following the planning workshop, participants will immediately move on to a second regional workshop from 25 to 27 February, where FARA will facilitate the packaging and dissemination of wheat Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) developed by the TAAT Wheat Compact by the TAAT-CDTO Compact. The upcoming sessions will focus on translating research knowledge into practical extension materials and farmer-friendly guidance to support widespread adoption.

Together, the two consecutive workshops exemplify a deliberate shift from planning to implementation, connecting science, capacity development, and knowledge dissemination, and strengthening the expanding partnership among NARS, ICARDA and FARA to improve wheat productivity, reduce import dependence, and bring Africa closer to a food-secure future.

[1] Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)

[2] International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)

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TECHNOLOGIES FOR AFRICAN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION (TAAT) PHASE II

CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT TECHNOLOGY OUTREACH (CDTO) COMPACT

FORUM FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH IN AFRICA (FARA)

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT SERVICES

SECTOR: Agriculture

CONSULTANCY SERVICES: To facilitate writeshop on harmonization of IP training manuals, develop knowledge products and support the uploading of TAAT knowledge products on e-library

 Grant No.: 2100155041681

Project ID No.: P-Z1-AZ0-0139

This Request for Expression of Interest (REOI) follows the General Procurement Notice for this Project that appeared on the African Development Bank Group’s Internet Website (www.afdb.org) 12^th August 2022.

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has received financing from the African Development Bank toward the cost of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) and intends to apply part of the agreed amount for this grant to payments under the contract for the Consultant to facilitate writeshop on harmonization of IP training manuals, develop knowledge products and support the uploading of TAAT knowledge products on e-library.

IITA signed a sub-agreement with the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) as implementing partner for the CDTO Compact.

The assignment is to engage a consultant to: Review existing training manuals, extension messages, and digital assets related to TAAT technologies and IPs; Engage with stakeholders (FARA, CGIAR Centers, SROs, NARES) to understand needs and priorities; Design the writeshop agenda and participatory methodology; Lead sessions on harmonizing manuals, extension messages, and digital assets in line with TAAT II and CSA principles; Guide participants in developing standardized training materials for dissemination; Support the creation and refinement of digital assets for knowledge transfer and scaling; Compile a comprehensive report summarizing outcomes, including finalized manuals, messages, and digital tools; Provide recommendations for sustaining harmonization across TAAT countries; Compile a comprehensive report summarizing outcomes, including finalized manuals, messages, and digital tools; and Provide recommendations for sustaining harmonization across TAAT countries.

The duration of the assignment is 60-man days; the selected consultant will report to the CDTO Compact Coordinator/Leader. The assignment is expected to commence in February, 2026.

The selected consultant should possess: Advanced degree in agricultural economics, agricultural extension, agronomy, or business management with at least five years’ post-qualification experience; Familiarity with the TAAT ecosystem and the Africa Emergency Food Production Facility (AEFPF) / Dakar II Goals; Knowledge of contemporary issues in African agriculture and demonstrated experience in stakeholder engagement, capacity development, and knowledge packaging; Familiarity with commodity compacts, country IPs, and mechanisms for private sector engagement; A track record of writing reports evidenced by publication records as books and chapters in books, conference papers, and journal articles; Ability to travel to TAAT IPs and facilitate multi-stakeholder processes; and Demonstrated integrity, professionalism, and confidentiality.

FARA, now invites eligible individual consultants to indicate their interest in providing these services. Consultants interested in this call must provide an Expression of Interest no longer than 10 pages, outlining proposed methodologies, references related to the execution of similar assignments, experience in similar areas, or evidence of knowledge and a proposed timeline. Brochures, CVs, and other supplementary materials submitted shall not be accounted for as part of the 10-page limit.

Interested consultants may obtain further information via Terms of Reference or at the address below during office hours (0800-1630hrs).

Eligibility criteria, establishment of the short-list and the selection procedure shall be in accordance with the African Development Bank’s Procurement policy framework, October 2015, which is available on the Bank’s website at https://www.afdb.org/en/projects-and-operations/procurement/new-procurement-policy.

Expressions of interest should be completed and submitted at recruitment@faraafrica.org; and m.a.bakare@cgiar.org on or before 31^st December 2025.

Dr. Abdulrazak Ibrahim

TAAT-CDTO Compact Leader,

Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)

PMB CT 173, Cantonments, Accra, Ghana

Telephone: +233596912196; +2347034589199                                                                             

Email: recruitment@faraafrica.org; Copy: m.a.bakare@cgiar.org

FARA Affirmative Action Statement on Recruitment: there is no discrimination based on gender race, religion, ethnic orientation, disability, or health status.

Executive Director of FARA

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TECHNOLOGIES FOR AFRICAN AGRICULTURAL TRANSFORMATION (TAAT) PHASE II

CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT TECHNOLOGY OUTREACH (CDTO) COMPACT

FORUM FOR AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH IN AFRICA (FARA)

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANT SERVICES

SECTOR: Agriculture

CONSULTANCY SERVICES: To consolidate country success stories and packaging of gender-sensitive info-packs and audio-visual materials for TAAT II Agricultural Innovation Platforms.

Grant No.: 2100155041681

Project ID No.: P-Z1-AZ0-0139

This Request for Expression of Interest (REOI) follows the General Procurement Notice for this Project that appeared on the African Development Bank Group’s Internet Website (www.afdb.org) 12^th August 2022.

The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) has received financing from the African Development Bank toward the cost of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) and intends to apply part of the agreed amount for this grant to payments under the contract for the Consultant to consolidate country success stories and packaging of gender-sensitive info-packs and audio-visual materials for TAAT II Agricultural Innovation Platforms. IITA signed a sub-agreement with the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) as implementing partner for the CDTO Compact.

The assignment is to engage a consultant to: Audit and consolidate existing materials – Review inception outputs, draft messages, and templates already developed for West/Central and East Africa; Fill gaps – Address missing elements, particularly gender responsiveness, language accessibility, and practical last-mile usability; Package info packs and audiovisuals—Finalize materials (pamphlets, posters, videos, podcasts, radio jingles, animations, etc.) in user-friendly formats; Validation and refinement – Organize webinars and participatory review sessions with technology compacts, IPs, and selected users; and Dissemination and publicity – Support rollout of materials through FARA platforms, IPs, social/digital media, and during an African extension conference side event.

The duration of the assignment is 30-man days; the selected consultant will report to the CDTO Compact Coordinator/Leader. The assignment is expected to commence in February, 2026.

The selected consultant should possess: A minimum of M.Sc. degree in agriculture, agricultural extension, knowledge management, communications, or related field; At least 5 years’ experience in knowledge packaging, agricultural extension, or communication for development; Proven record in developing audio-visual and print KM products; Strong background in gender-responsive extension communication; ability to simplify technical information for diverse audiences; A track record of writing reports evidenced by publication records as books and chapters in books, conference papers, and journal articles; Fluency in English or French (proficiency in both is a major asset); and Familiarity with TAAT program and FARA KM platforms.

FARA, now invites eligible individual consultants to indicate their interest in providing these services. Consultants interested in this call must provide an Expression of Interest no longer than 10 pages, outlining proposed methodologies, references related to the execution of similar assignments, experience in similar areas, or evidence of knowledge and a proposed timeline. Brochures, CVs, and other supplementary materials submitted shall not be accounted for as part of the 10-page limit.

Interested consultants may obtain further information via Terms of Reference or at the address below during office hours (0800-1630hrs).

Eligibility criteria, establishment of the short-list and the selection procedure shall be in accordance with the African Development Bank’s Procurement policy framework, October 2015, which is available on the Bank’s website at https://www.afdb.org/en/projects-and-operations/procurement/new-procurement-policy.

Expressions of interest should be completed and submitted at recruitment@faraafrica.org; and m.a.bakare@cgiar.org on or before 31^st December 2025.

Dr. Abdulrazak Ibrahim

TAAT-CDTO Compact Leader,

Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)

PMB CT 173, Cantonments, Accra, Ghana

Telephone: +233596912196; +2347034589199                                           

Email: recruitment@faraafrica.org; Copy: m.a.bakare@cgiar.org

FARA Affirmative Action Statement on Recruitment: there is no discrimination based on gender race, religion, ethnic orientation, disability, or health status.

Executive Director of FARA

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The Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA) attended a pivotal Stakeholders’ Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop from October 28 to 31, aimed at enhancing agricultural value chains and strengthening Innovation Platforms (IPs) under the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) initiative. The workshop brought together about 60 participants from various sectors of the agricultural community in Madagascar.

The event was officially opened by Mr. Randrianaivomanana Andritiana Luc, Director General of La Coordination Générale des Projets et Partenariats (CGPP), who underscored the Madagascan government’s commitment to promote agriculture, food security, and nutrition. He acknowledged the collaborative efforts by regional and continental partners such as CCARDESA, the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), the African Development Bank (AfDB), and CGIAR Centers to strengthen the agricultural sector.

In her address, Ms. Futhi Magagula, CCARDESA Programmes Officer, highlighted CCARDESA’s crucial role in the SADC region in coordinating collaborative research to develop and disseminate improved agricultural technologies. She discussed CCARDESA’s leadership in the regional implementation of the Food Systems Resilience Programme (FSRP), which includes Madagascar along with Malawi, Tanzania, and Comoros.

The workshop was facilitated by FARA, as the organization that has been commissioned by the AfDB to lead the Capacity Development and Technology Outreach (CDTO) compact of the TAAT initiative. CDTO’s mission is to enhance capacities within the TAAT ecosystem by deploying an IP approach to meet the objectives of the AfDB’s Feed Africa Initiative.

TAAT aims to double productivity for crops, livestock, and fish, targeting over 40 million smallholder farmers by 2025. The initiative seeks to generate an additional 120 million metric tons of food and lift 130 million people out of poverty across the continent.

Dr. Abdulrazak Ibrahim, FARA’s Institutional Capacity & Future Scenarios Cluster Lead Specialist, emphasized the importance of collaboration among TAAT partners and stakeholders.“TAAT is all about taking technologies from the shelf and delivering them to the last mile,” he remarked. This collaborative approach aims to ensure the rapid dissemination of knowledge and technology in agricultural practices across Africa.

During the workshop, participants established around 12 IPs focusing on key commodities such as cassava, maize, rice, sorghum, beans, peanut, sweat potato, irish potato, cocoa, bio fertilizer, and dairy milk. These platforms were encouraged to register on the FARA portal to access small grant support from TAAT, enabling them to implement activities and seek additional funding opportunities.

The successful hosting of this workshop marks a significant step towards improving food systems in Madagascar and underscores the commitment of stakeholders working together to create lasting change in the agricultural landscape of Africa.

source: CCARDESA

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In Africa, the agriculture sector contributes to the economic development and livelihood improvement of a majority of the population. In 2022, this sector contributed 17% of sub-Saharan Africa’s GDP.  As a continent with a vibrant youth population and productive land, Africa possesses the potential to provide sufficient and nutritious food for its people, thereby mitigating hunger and poverty. However, challenges such as insufficient resources, climate change, inability to leverage and implement technological innovations, limited access to knowledge and many others continue to hinder advancement within the sector.

With the rise in innovation technologies, it is inherent for the sector to leverage some of these to improve agricultural yield. Innovation platforms (IPs) serve as a space for learning, experience sharing, collaboration, identification of challenges, and provision of possible solutions. These platforms bring together different stakeholders from every level of the agricultural value chain to discuss issues towards attaining a common objective. Based on data from the Observatory for Africa Agriculture Knowledge Hub,  FARADataInformS, there are more than 400 agricultural Innovation Platforms established across Africa. Some countries with the highest number of IPs include Nigeria (93), Kenya (43), DRC (40) and Ghana (31). However, some of the stakeholders within these IPs lack the required capacity and resources to maintain and support the scaling of technologies and good practices for which they were formed in the first place. This is often due to low engagement among stakeholders at different levels of the value chain, discordant views and understanding of the IPs and their visions, as well as paucity of up-to-date information to allow them to thrive.

There is therefore a need to provide these stakeholders with the required capacity and opportunity to network and collaborate to ensure synergy amongst these actors. This will contribute to providing them with a better understanding of the IP model, address working in silos, and provide a close link between technology providers and those who will take up and upscale these technologies.

In a stakeholders’ training of trainers’ workshop held at the Pioneer Hotel in Tamale, Ghana, the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) through its Capacity Development and Technology Outreach (CDTO) compact and partners, including IITA, AATF, World Vegetables, FARA and CSIR-SARI, sought to address some of these IP challenges. The workshop, which was held between September 2nd and 6th, 2024, brought together over 120 stakeholders of the maize, rice, soybean, and vegetable value chains to strengthen their capacities in the establishment and management of IPs to facilitate the adoption of proven technologies for sustainable impact in the agricultural sector.

“There is a need for capacity strengthening of farmers on access to technology, knowledge building, and the creation of more learning platforms to increase reach to the wider audience.” – Dr Issah Sugri, Deputy Director, CSIR-SARI.

In their welcome and introductory remarks, the speakers commended the participants for their commitment and admonished them to be ambassadors in promoting good agricultural practices in Ghana.

The highly interactive sessions were filled with discussions, teamwork, case studies, and presentations, and aimed at fostering a culture of experience sharing and peer learning among participants. The modules covered included setting up an IP, governance of an IP, and resource mobilization in an IP, amongst others. Through these sessions, participants were able to understand the fundamentals of an IP, including key concepts and principles, setting up, functioning, facilitation, governance, monitoring, evaluation, and learning, conflict management, negotiation, and contracting.

Group of Maize IP Members pose for Picture during the Training workshop

Despite their significance, Innovation Platforms (IPs) cannot operate effectively without stakeholders’ ability to mobilize and manage resources. To address this, participants engaged in sessions on resource mobilization, financial models within IPs, and business plan development. Through value chain analysis exercises, participants identified key activities and stakeholders at each stage of the value chain, mapped the relationships and functions between them, and highlighted the challenges faced by each stakeholder. This practical exercise allowed participants to apply the theoretical knowledge they gained during the sessions, bridging the gap between theory and practice.

The module on conflict management sparked very interesting discussions and diverse perspectives from participants who shared their experiences on some conflicts they had been involved in and how they tackled them.

‘A difference in perception is at the heart of conflicts.’ – Dr Latifou Idrissou, Lead IP Trainer and Facilitator, University of Parakou, Benin.

The discussion on innovation versus invention brought thought-provoking examples and explanations for participants’ understanding of the two concepts.

An important workshop highlight was a session during which various Commodity Compacts (maize, soybean, rice, and vegetables) collaborated in teams to develop work plans, applying the concepts learned throughout the five-day program. These work plans enabled each group to identify key stakeholders, outline objectives, define indicators, plan activities, assign roles and responsibilities, estimate costs, set timelines, and project expected results.

Several actions common to all compacts focused on strengthening the capacity of seed producers and enhancing partnerships and collaboration across all levels of the value chain to boost yields and reduce post-harvest losses. These efforts align with the primary objectives of the training.

“If Africa is an agrarian community, we can’t rely on the West to feed us. The jobs that most of us are looking for are within our reach. All we need to do is to adopt the strategies and knowledge we have gained and within the next 12 months, we will have improved.” – Omikunle Oluwaseun Ayoola, Soybean compact representative, IITA.

“I came as a trainee and I can say that I am well equipped on how to establish, run, and govern an IP and I believe the stakeholders are also well equipped.” – Joyce Njuguna, Maize compact representative, AATF.

In his concluding remarks, Dr Abdulrazak Baba Ibrahim, Lead Specialist for Capacity Development and Future Scenarios, and the TAAT-CDTO Coordinator assured participants of the commitment of all compacts to the activities and sustainability of the IPs. To close the event, Chief Mohammed Rashad Abdulai, Secretary to the Paramount Chief of the Gukpegu Traditional Council, Tamale, commended the participants and organizers for their active participation. He emphasized the need to think outside the box to support the advancement and sustainability of Ghana’s agricultural transformation agenda.

“We must put into practice all that we have learned from here and bear in mind that there is more room to learn. To realize our full potential, we need to start self-organizing and avoid relying solely on donor agencies for support”, Chief Rashad concluded.

Author Affiliations

[1] Mabel Shu Lum is KM4AgD Fellow, Certified KM Manager for Sustainable Development and the Knowledge Management Assistant at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI)

[2] Benjamin Abugri is a KM and Project Management Practitioner and the KM, Digitalization and Learning Cluster Lead Specialist at the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)

[3] Abdulrazak Ibrahim is a Scientist and Capacity Development and Futures Cluster Lead Specialist at the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)

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September 2, 2024: Tamale, Ghana, West Africa

From 2^nd to 6^th September 2024, the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI), Crop Research Institute (CRI), together with some Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) compacts, including the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Africa Rice, the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) and the World Vegetable Centre (WorldVeg), are organizing a stakeholders’ training of trainers (TOT) workshop in Tamale, Ghana, to strengthen the capacity of Ghanaian stakeholders and enterprises to adopt and scale proven agricultural technologies within the context of Innovation Platforms (IP). TAAT which was launched by the African Development Bank (AfDB) is a major continent-wide initiative designed to boost agricultural productivity across the continent by rapidly delivering proven technologies to millions of farmers. It aims to double crop, livestock, and fish productivity by expanding access to productivity-increasing technologies to more than 40 million smallholder farmers across Africa by 2025.

The workshop aims at enhancing rice, vegetable, soybean and maize production through the strengthening of Innovation Platforms (IP) within the country by bringing together strategic stakeholders who will be trained on IP setting-up and running for downstream dissemination.

Innovation platforms which serve as a space for learning, experience sharing, co-creation, business relationship building, problem solving and decision making also facilitate the promotion of innovations, interactions, and collaboration among multiple actors such as agricultural producers, researchers, extensionists, and policymakers. They are therefore critical in promoting interactions among stakeholders to generate, test, and disseminate innovations that will provide solutions to constraints that hinder the performance of agricultural value chains.

The target audience for the workshop includes rice, vegetables, soybean, and maize value farmers and producers, agricultural extension workers, research institutions, academia, government agencies involved in agriculture, private sector actors and traditional authorities. These stakeholders will be taken through sessions on setting up innovation platforms, monitoring, evaluation and learning, governance, knowledge management and resource mobilization on innovation platforms.

The 5-day workshop which will include presentations, discussions, teamwork, and role playing based on practical cases seeks to achieve the following:

• Empower a network of farmers and stakeholders with the necessary skills in setting-up and running innovation platforms for enhancing the rice, maize, soybean and vegetable value chains in Ghana.
• Establish/support and strengthen rice, soybean, maize, and vegetable Innovation Platforms in Ghana.
• Strengthen the agribusiness capacity of stakeholders within the rice, soybean, maize, and vegetable value chains, especially women and youth, for improved profitability.
• Promote collaboration, knowledge exchange, and innovation within the rice, soybean, maize, and vegetable value chains

The secretary to the Paramount Chief of Gukpegu (Tamale Traditional Council) and Kpalung Zobogu Naa, Mohamed Rashad Abdulai

The secretary to the Paramount Chief of Gukpegu (Tamale Traditional Council) and Kpalung Zobogu Naa, Mohamed Rashad Abdulai welcomed all participants to the Northern regional capital and assured them of the Traditional Council’s support for the event and the promotion of improved agricultural practices in the Northern region.

Dr Issah Sugri, Deputy Director at the CSIR-SARI

In his opening speech, Dr Issah Sugri, Deputy Director at the CSIR-SARI, speaking on behalf of the Director, expressed his gratitude to donors for contributing to food security across all levels and stressed the need for training on access to technology and knowledge building for capacity development and the creation of more learning platforms to increase reach. He also encouraged participants to adapt and implement these technologies to increase productivity for more sustainable livelihoods.

This workshop hosted at the Pioneer Hotel in Tamale, is set to produce a strengthened network of digitally connected farmers empowered with IP thinking through capacity building, knowledge, and experience sharing, enabling farmers to adopt best practices and improve their productivity.

Media Contact: Benjamin Abugri – babugri@faraafrica.org; Tel: 0243513773

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May 10, 2024: Juba, South Sudan: 

In the vibrant city of Juba, at the Landmark Hotel, an auspicious gathering unfolded—a Three-Day Training of Trainers Workshop aimed at catalysing sorghum production through establishing Innovation Platforms (IPs), a multi-stakeholder approach to scaling agricultural technologies across South Sudan. 

This pivotal event, from May 7 to 9, 2024, was not merely a workshop; it symbolised a collective step towards realising the region’s ambitious vision of agricultural transformation. 

With funding and commitment by the African Development Bank’s Feed Africa initiative, through its Transition Support Facility (TSF) and the Africa Emergency Food Production Facility (AEPF), South Sudan’s agricultural landscape brimmed with promise and possibility. 

The atmosphere crackled with enthusiasm as participants, predominantly researchers, seed specialists, private sector representatives, women and youth groups, and government officials—delved into the teachings of the multistakeholder Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) program. TAAT’s ecosystem, comprising various value chain actors and stakeholders, emerged as a guiding force, empowering local expertise and fostering sustainable agricultural solutions tailored to South Sudan’s unique challenges. 

The workshop sought to also establish at least ten innovation platforms across South Sudan. Envisioned as collaborative hubs, these multi-stakeholder platforms would serve as nuclei for scaling technologies and innovations in sorghum production and beyond. They would facilitate knowledge co-creation and exchange, resource sharing, and coordinated efforts among diverse stakeholders, paving the way for improved decision making at all levels within the value chain resulting in a holistic agricultural development. 

Through practical and interactive sessions, participants exchanged ideas, experiences, and aspirations.  They also discussed the strategies of Feed Africa, the dynamic interventions of TAAT, and the pivotal role of TSF and AEPF spurred new perspectives, all aimed at ensuring that they are adapted within the local context. 

The culmination of the workshop heralded a new phase in South Sudan’s agricultural landscape. Equipped as trainers, participants dispersed to train and empower more partners within the country—a ripple effect of knowledge and innovation catalyzed by the workshop. Armed with newfound insights and strategies, they were poised to drive change at the grassroots level, inspiring communities to embrace modern agricultural practices and maximize productivity. 

TAAT Coordinator Dr. Abdulrazak Ibrahim with Gender, Youth and Agribusiness expert Karen Musikoyo Munoko.

In the aftermath, reflections soared—a vision unified by the principles of Feed Africa, powered by the tools of TAAT, and supported by the transformative capabilities of TSF and AEPF. The journey ahead held the promise of vibrant innovation platforms sprouting across the nation, each a testament to the collaborative spirit driving South Sudan’s agricultural transformation. 

The story of the Three-Day Training of Trainers Workshop was just the beginning—a prologue to a narrative of resilience, progress, and collective prosperity in sorghum and beyond. It was a story of hope cultivated through unity, innovation, and unwavering dedication to feed Africa and nourish its people.  

For all enthusiasts of the Sorghum value chain, please register and contribute through the Sorghum Community of Practice at https://faraafrica.community/taat_cdto/taat_sorghum-millet 

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