1. The Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture is funding a collaborative project in Ghana and Mali involving academia, research institutions and the private sector from the two countries. The collaboration involves the University of Ghana, Université des Sciences, des Techniques et des Technologies de Bamako (USTT-B), Food Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Ghana, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) and Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD).
2. The overall goal of the project is to increase the production and access to nutrient-dense indigenous fruits and vegetables in Ghana and Mali through diet diversification by valorizing indigenous fruits and vegetables and promoting their consumption. To ensure effective implementation, monitoring and evaluation, the project has been organized into five (5) work packages, which include:

• Work Package 1 – Profiling of four Indigenous fruits and vegetables
• Work package 2 – Value chain analysis
• Work package 3: Improving postharvest handling and preservation of indigenous fruits and vegetables.
• Work Package 4 – Creation of an Innovation Centre or Incubator 
• Work Package 5 – Dissemination of technologies, methods, and processes

      This assignment is with reference to sub-theme 4.

The objective of the incubation program is to establish an incubator/innovation hub for women and youth entrepreneurs and key stakeholders in all 16 regions of Ghana to connect, increase knowledge sharing, and co-create solutions to spur innovations and business opportunities for selected indigenous fruits and vegetables.

To achieve the above, FARA and the University of Ghana propose engaging a suitable firm to support the process.

3. This request for proposals aims at engaging a consulting firm (hereafter referred to as Consultant) to carry out the following functions:

• The Consultant shall liaise with the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for the Horticulture team for the necessary assistance and clarifications to undertake this assignment.
• The consultant shall coordinate activities and engage with all relevant stakeholders to conduct interviews and schedule training using appropriate training materials.
• The Consultant shall present the initial strategy and advise the team on the strategy for the incubation program before the launch of the call for applications.
• The Consultant shall be responsible for the Screening of applications (establishing selection criteria)
• The Consultant shall be responsible for coordinating the development of training manuals for participants (competency-based)
• The Consultant shall recruit trainers and facilitators for the training
• The Consultant shall be responsible for scheduling all training sessions, seminars, workshops and mentorship sessions of pre-selected participants
• The Consultant shall conduct pre and post-training evaluations to assess the impact of the training.
• The Consultant shall provide quarterly monthly reports and timely feedback on the progress of the incubation program and recommend strategies for continuous improvement.
• The Consultant shall be responsible for coaching finalists in managing their enterprises after the award of grants.
• The Consultant shall be responsible for monitoring and Evaluation of the Incubation Program.

Interested firms may obtain further information from the Project Lead, [gessilfie@ug.edu.gh]; [baddoorosalyne@gmail.com] and copy the Procurement Expert, FARA, [cachaab@faraafrica.org] during the following hours: 9h00 to 16h00 GMT.

Please download the Terms of Reference below for further information on this opportunity.

Download TOR

Proposals should be submitted electronically to [recruitment@faraafrica.org] and addressed to Dr. Aggrey Agumya, Executive Director of FARA, No 7 Flower Avenue, New Achimota, Mile 7, Accra, Ghana, no later than Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at 16h00 GMT. Tel: +233 302 772823/744888.

FARA-UG 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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From 25 to 29 September 2023, a CORAF delegation, consisting of the Head of Knowledge Management, Ms Poko Alida Nadinga and the Head of IT Mr Ababacar Diouf, embarked on a benchmarking mission to learn about FARA’s knowledge management system. The team was welcomed to the FARA Secretariat in Accra, Ghana, by the Head of Human Resources and Administration, Ms Ama Pokuah Asenso, on behalf of the Executive Director, Dr Aggrey Agumya.

Mr Ababacar DIOUF and Ms Poko Alida NADINGA

The FARA team, consisting of the Lead specialist from the Knowledge, Learning and Communication Management Unit, Mr Benjamin Abugri, the IT Manager, Mr Francis Kpodo and the Web Designer, Mr Gabriel Quansah, provided an overview of FARA and its role as a continental institution. The technical sessions focused on the operational infrastructure and products of the FARA knowledge management system, including the virtual knowledge hub christened FARADataInformS, the directory of experts, the digital archiving system, and the community of practice. The team also seized the opportunity to examine the technological architecture supporting these different knowledge management platforms.

It is important to note that as part of the implementation of the CAADP XP4 programme, FARA is responsible for developing the continental Agricultural Research for Development (AR4D) directory of experts and transferring the West and Central Africa’s management of experts to CORAF and the lead Sub-Regional Agricultural Organization. In addition, FARA intends to work with CORAF to revitalize its knowledge management system through experience sharing and technical assistance.

CORAF has affirmed its commitment to support FARA in strengthening data security and integrity to ensure the protection of key knowledge generated over the years. To this end, a FARA delegation will visit Dakar to inspect CORAF’s entire technological infrastructure, including the data centre and security platforms. This mission will also serve as a framework for presenting and validating the expert directory tool and training the CORAF team in its use.

A team of Knowledge Management and IT Experts from FARA and CORAF

The two teams have developed a joint action plan to ensure better follow-up of the actions and recommendations resulting from this knowledge-sharing mission.

The two organizations, through a letter of agreement signed, will continue to leverage each other’s strengths in Knowledge Management, Information technology and monitoring and evaluation to accelerate the achievement of the CAADP Malabo targets and support the African farmer and related actors, to realize their highest potentials.

Join the Continental Experts Directory 

This mission is made possible mainly through the vision of the two eminent leaders of FARA and CORAF, Dr Aggrey AGUMYA, Executive Director of FARA, and Dr Abdou TENKOUANO, Executive Director of CORAF, who are committed to improving knowledge management in the agricultural research sector for a better future for the people of Africa.

The EX-Pillar 4 project of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP-XP4) is funded by the European Union under the DeSIRA programme and managed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The programme is jointly implemented by the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS), the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA); Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA); West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF); and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)

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14th August, Kampala – Uganda – With the overarching goal of fostering sustainable agricultural research transformation and rural development across Africa, the importance of strategic alliances and effective resource mobilization cannot be overstated. To this end, the CAADP-XP4 Consortium comprising the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), the  African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS), the Association for  Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa ( ASARECA), the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA)   and the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF) organized a Comprehensive resource mobilization training in collaboration with the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN)  and the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) conducted an Intensive Resource Mobilization Training to equip stakeholders with the necessary skills and knowledge.

This training, conducted at the Fairway Hotel Kampala from 9th to 14th August 2023, aimed to address gaps in resource mobilization, crafting robust and sustainable fundraising strategies. Besides theoretical instruction, the training emphasized hands-on practice, targeting a diverse audience from Research and Extension institutions. The initiative focuses on fundamental principles, practical techniques, ethical considerations, and strategic evolution, hoping to revolutionize the way resources are mobilized.

Dr Aggrey Agumya, Executive Director of FARA

Dr. Aggrey Agumya, the Executive Director of FARA, highlighted the timeliness of this initiative, emphasizing the growing financial challenges faced by AR4D research organizations. He spotlighted the shrinking resources and increasing dependencies, urging the need for more innovative funding solutions, especially given the pandemic’s financial impact and changing donor priorities. Dr Agumya further intimated that Funders are showing a preference for interventions that yield tangible results in a short time, which has further put the supra-national AR4D organizations at a disadvantage because their results/outcomes are not readily tangible, and they are medium to long-term. “Under these circumstances, it is essential that these organizations and the national partners they support are compelled to find innovative ways of mobilizing resources and build the required capacities”, emphasized Dr Agumya.

Echoing this sentiment, Mr Max Olupot, the Director of Programmes from AFAAS, recognized Dr. Agumya’s leadership ascent and underscored the urgency of resource mobilization for the consortium’s continuity. He further noted that this period was critical for the CAADPXP4 Consortium as the CAADP-XP4 program is coming to an end and hence need to solicit more funds so that there is continuity and sustainability.

Dr Baisti Podisi, the CAADP-XP4 Coordinator from CCARDESA, indicated that the meeting was a progression of CCARDESA’s existing initiatives. “This meeting will help us build more partnerships, and Agroecology is a niche topic that all of us in the room could ride and benefit from. It is critical as SROs to catalyze our institutions to support our countries’ access to funding. We need to be more innovative in engaging the private partnership.” Re-echoed, Dr Podisi.

Ms Julian Barungi speaking on behalf of the ASARECA Executive Director emphasized their unwavering commitment to the consortium’s partnerships.

The Resource Mobilization training unfolded in two distinct phases, with the virtual Training, spanning five days; this phase deep-dived into resource mobilization, encompassing an array of topics, from fundraising strategies and the moral aspects of resource mobilization to monitoring, evaluation, and best practices.

Participants go through developing a problem tree for their projects during the physical training in Kampala-Uganda

Whereas the practical application and second segment focused on drafting effective proposals. It was tailored to address currently active calls for proposals, leveraging themes from the Horizon Europe Working Programme and the EC-INTPA calls.

This endeavour by the CAADP-XP4 Consortium epitomizes hope for Africa’s sustainable agricultural evolution. It not only arms stakeholders with indispensable skills but also signifies the transformative power of unity and strategic collaborations in reshaping Africa’s agricultural horizon.

Visit the FARA Africa Flickr Page for all Pictures

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The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) was formally established in March 2018 at the 10th Extraordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Assembly in Kigali, Rwanda. It is one of the key priorities of the Africa Agenda 2063 and a major step towards African continental economic integration. It also featured highly in the political declaration of the fifth AU-EU Summit of Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. Recently, remarkable progress has been made. Fifty-four of the 55 AU Member States have now signed the Agreement. The Agreement went into force on May 30 and entered its operational phase on 7^th July 2019, following the 33rd Extraordinary Summit of the African Union. As of September 2021, 39 member states have ratified and deposited ratification instruments. Trading under the AfCFTA was launched on 1^st January 2021 “based on a single rule-book for trade and investment”.

The AfCFTA aims at providing a single continental market for goods and services, with free movement of people and investments. Its goal is to accelerate Intra-Africa trade through better harmonisation and coordination of trade liberalisation. A dramatic boost to economic growth and the attraction of investments from both within Africa and the world are among the expected outcomes. The potential gains from increased regional and economic integration are substantial, as the continent has the lowest percentage of intra-regional trade. Only 15% of exports take place within Africa, compared with 25% in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and over 60% in the EU. In addition, exports are often limited to natural resources with little added value from other sectors of the economies. The EU, with its extensive experience with creating an internal market, has been supporting the Africa Free Trade Area since its inception in 2015 and remains committed to supporting its ratification and implementation process.

The Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the African Union Commission (AUC) Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) are currently finalizing an assessment of economic effects of the AfCFTA on African countries with a focus on the agri-food system. The study analyses the economy-wide (continental, regional and national) and distributional impacts of policy and/or structural shocks, sectoral transmission of sector-specific policies for sectors and regions. The output of the study includes projections of GDP, employment, bilateral trade, capital flows, household consumption and welfare.  The results of the model will be presented to the Policy Organs including the 4^th Specialised Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment in December 2021.

Please download the full guidelines for applicants and call for proposal in both English & French:

English Version : JRC-Call for proposals and guidelines for Applicants – Impact Analysis of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)_Eng

French Version : JRC-Call for proposals and guidelines for Applicants – Impact Analysis of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)_FR

Deadline & Submission

Proposals developed must be submitted in English. To facilitate the evaluation procedure, proposals developed in French, Portuguese, and Arabic should be translated into English before submission.

FARA and JRC are available for further clarification and can be reached via email at the email listed below. Proposal submission should be done no later than 10^th November 2021. Proposals should be submitted to recruitment@faraafrica.org, kantwi@faraafrica.org and, JRC-PANAP@ec.europa.eu

Thank you

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Please find below a message on COVID-19 from the Executive Director of FARA, Dr Yemi Akinbamijo to you.

Click: FARA message to constituents regarding COVID 19

Thank you

The post COVID-19: FARA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE TO CONSTITUENTS AND PARTNERS appeared first on FARA Africa.

Prospective and eligible firms and Individuals interested in transacting business with FARA with sound technical know-how of the relevant field may apply on the prescribed application forms for pre-qualification to facilitate the compilation of the vendors’ database at no fee. In the case where relevant documents required in this advert are not provided by applicant, application may be rejected.

Interested Firms and Individual Consultants willing to apply can do so by downloading the respective forms (A or B) below or by physically picking up the application form at the Reception of FARA Secretariat, Accra.

Form A: Form A – Firms Only

Form B: Form B – Individual Consultants Only

You may also download the Pdf version of this advert HERE

The categories of goods, works and services required for registration includes, but not limited to, the following:

1. Goods and Equipment

2. Works and Maintenance

3. Consultancy Services

4. Technical Services

Applicants (Firms) are required to provide documents relating to the following:

1. An introductory letter clearly stating area of specialization/business lines, address, business location, reliable phone number(s), e-mail address (if any), and any contact or information that might be useful
2. Company Profile
3. Fully filled Registration form A (for all firms)
4. Fully filled Registration form B (for Individual Consultants only)
5. Current Business Registration and Commencement Certificate
6. VAT Registration Certificate (or if exempted, evidence of exemption)
7. Evidence of fulfillment of tax obligations (Current IRS Tax Clearance Certificate) as of 31^st December 2019
8. Copy of Valid SSNIT Clearance Certificate (evidence of exemption if any). As at 31^st December, 2019
9. Ministry of Works and Housing Clearance Certificate (Construction companies only)
10. Evidence of Financial Viability to offer credit facility.

Registration Criteria

All applicants would be assessed on a merit-point basis using a criteria based on the indicators identified from (a-j) above. Applicants must score up to 50% or above, overall to qualify for acceptance.

All duly completed application form, introduction letter together with the relevant supporting documents enclosed and marked “Registration of Suppliers/Contractors/Service Providers” should be delivered or email to the address recruitment@faraafrica.org.

The deadline for submission of application is Friday, March 27, 2020.

Interested firms, suppliers, contractors and service providers seeking clarification, should kindly contact FARA’s Procurement Unit – Monday to Friday between 9.00am to 4.00pm.

Contact/ Pick up/Submission of Application Forms Address:

Procurement Unit,

Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)

PMB CT 173 Cantonments, Accra

12 Anmeda Street, Roman Ridge, Accra

+233 302 774838 | 302 744888

recruitment@faraafrica.org

www.faraafrica.org

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To effectively play its coordination role, FARA has instituted a Programme Coordination Panel (PC Panel) to provide technical advice, quality assurance and relevance of its Programmes and Projects in line with its mandate of deepening and coordinating Integrated Agricultural Research for Development in Africa.

The PC Panel aims to build the capacity and readiness of FARA to coordinate, take advantage of opportunities, enhance synergies and accountability and reduce duplications in the implementation of the CAADP XP4. The PC Panel is currently FARA’s main instrument for peer reviewing and joint planning, which is used to provide direct advisory support to the forum’s Directorate of Research and Innovation for ensuring programme quality, and alignment of FARA’s programmes to other AR4D interventions in Africa.

The two-day PC Panel engagement seeks among other things:

• to take stock of the highlights of the implementation of FARA’s Strategy (2019- 2028), to guide reflection on strategic direction to the AR4D interventions on the continent;
• identify areas of alignment of FARA’s Strategy to respective strategies of SROs and AFAAS to jointly support AR4D institutions in Africa;
• refine areas of planning to strengthen partnership and cooperation among partner-member institutions of the PC panel;
• the update specifically the joint planning and portfolio review mechanisms within the CAADP-XP4 Project

Addressing the participants, the Executive Director of FARA, Dr Yemi Akinbamijo, underscored the need for open and frank deliberations as that is the surest way of creating the needed synergy for alignment for implementing the CAADP XP4.

 “The PC Panel is instituted to help build our preparedness to work together in the area of AR4D in Africa. It is a peer review mechanism, where we are encouraged to open our books to one another, having a frank conversation and drawing on the experiences of everyone in the room”

Dr Akinbamijo also indicated that

“as a part of keeping our eyes on the ball, and to take stock of the highlights of the implementation of our strategy, we hope that this forum will help us to reflect on our strategic directions for our AR4D interventions on the continent”.

Dr Malu Ndavi, Programme Manager for the CAADP XP4 at the International Fund for Agricultural Development, IFAD, used the occasion to reiterate the expectations of the European Commission who are the funders of the CAADP XP4 Programme and also suggested the expansion of the PC Panel to accommodate views from other actors in the agricultural science research value chain such as farmers.

“There are very specific achievements that the EC expects from the CAADXP4 implementing institutions. We want the partners to be more external-looking as opposed to internal-looking, to enhance collaboration. There should be the possibility to include representatives of farmer organizations on the PC Panel, to provide inputs to the strategic thrust of the CAADP XP4”

On his part, Dr. Kwesi Attah-Krah, Director, Advocacy and Country Alignment, Office of the Director-General, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, reminded the participants of the need for collaboration and alignment as the success of FARA is vital to the overall success of Agricultural Research for Development in Africa.

The PC Panel is constituted by Directors of Research and Innovation of AR4D institutions in Africa, notably, FARA, AFAAS, ASARECA, CCARDESA, CORAF and NAASRO. Other members include Directors, Advisors and Lead Specialists in FARA.

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Dr Aggrey Agumya, Director of Corporate Partnerships & Communications and Acting Executive Director, FARA (2nd from Left), Dr. Almany Konte (1st Left), Senior Expert Innovation, AOSTI; Dr Vroh Bi Irie (Middle), Senior Expert Science and Technology Policy, AOSTI; Dr Jonas Mugabe (2nd from right), Senior Manager, PAEPARD, FARA and Mr. Benjamin Abugri (1st Right), Knowledge Management Officer, FARA during the visit of the AOSTI Delegation.

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