By Benjamin Abugri & Shaquille Pennaneach

The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) and the The Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) alongside the Agroecology Consortium, EC-Joint Research Centre (EC-JRC) and the EC Directorate General’s Department for International Partnerships (DG INTPA) have launched the Regional Multi-actor Research Network  #RMRN_agroecology Project to support the Regional Centres of Excellence (RCoEs) related to Green Transition, as part of the FARA and RUFORUM component on agroecology. The project’s main aim is to increase Science Technology and Innovation capacities of RCoEs in agroecology to efficiently contribute to a green transition in Sub Saharan Africa. The 36-month project officially started on January 1, 2024. 

The RMRN Project is funded by the European Union (EU) as part of its Regional Multi-year Indicative Programme (MIP) for Africa. The MIP will support strengthening the consortia of Africa based institutions to lead interventions in Africa in several domains including multi-stakeholder partnerships to bring agroecological innovations to scale, using co-learning, co-creation, and multi-stakeholder approach. The Africa-based and Africa-led research organisations include FARA, CORAF, ASARECA, CCARDESA, universities under the RUFORUM Network and Africa in general and other research institutions. The proposed actions will promote partnership with relevant institutions such as Farmer organizations under the Pan African Farmers Organization (PAFO), extension institutions under the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory services (AFAAS), NGOs, CSOs, the private sector, and financial institutions. The project targets countries in Eastern, Western, Southern and Central Africa. The initiative fits within the EU’s alignment to the  2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity to help eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities, and achieve sustainable development. The proposed action is also highly relevant to the AU-EU partnership on agriculture and food systems development priorities. 

Group photo of Partner representatives and participating organizations

Agroecology has been suggested as a promising concept for reconciling agricultural production and environmental sustainability by optimizing ecological processes that deliver ecosystem services (ES) to replace external inputs. Agroecology, defined as the application of ecological concepts and principals in farming is one of the holistic approaches that has been identified to enable understanding agriculture within the context of various interacting economic, environmental, and social systems and contribute to food security and improved livelihood among the rural communities. The transition towards agroecological food systems and the development of both productive and resilient farming systems and value chains are complex processes and requires new knowledge, competencies, and policies to address complex problems, co-create solution based on agroecological principles and integrate scientific and local knowledge. 

Dr. Aggrey Agumya, Executive Director (FARA) addressing partners and participants during Day 1 of the RMRN Inception Meetings and Field visits to NaCORI and RUFORUM

All institutions in the project pledged commitment and synergies to ensure that the initiative contributes to a sustainable food system for Africa. On their part, Prof. Patrick Okori, Executive Secretary of RUFORUM and Dr. Aggrey Agumya, both leaders of the continental implementing institutions emphasized how this initiative will further strengthening and existing collaboration and synergies among the Africa Agricultural Research, Education, and Innovations Institutions (AAREII). On behalf of the African Union Commission, Mr. Ibrahim Gariba, a Senior Communications Specialist representing the AUC, pledged the full commitment of the Commission to the realization of the project’s objectives.  

Dr. Aggrey Agumya, Executive Director (FARA) shaking hand with Prof. Patrick Okori following the project MoU signing.

To officially launch the Project, the Minister of State for Animal Industry of the Republic of Uganda, Hon. Bright Kanyontore Rwamirama, stated that, “we are no longer talking about production but productivity due to the challenges faced by increased population. Science is the way to go and where renowned scientists are gathered like this, it is an opportunity to think differently and do things differently to achieve and sustain Africa’s prosperity.”   Also present at the inception meeting were the Executive Directors and/or representatives of AFAAS, CCARDESA, CORAF, ASARECA, PAFO/EAFF, NARO and delegation from the EU including EC-JRC, EC-INTPA and the EC-Delegation to Uganda.  

Hon. Bright Kanyontore Rwamirama, Minister of State for Animal Industry of the Republic of Uganda

As outlined by the Coordinator of the Project, Dr. Kwaku Antwi, the project has three main objectives :  

1. Strengthened scientific and technological capacities of RMRNs in Agroecology to produce, collect, access, process, share data / information and carry out research activities using a gender-sensitive approach.  
2. Increased RMRNs contribution in agroecology through transformative quality research and scientific knowledge generation and dissemination. 
3. Enhanced gender-sensitive support to agroecology practitioners, scientists, and policymakers.  

Dr. Kwaku Antwi addressing the congregation of partners and participants

At the end of the three years of the project, technical capacities and skill of researchers and scientists would have been built to carry out scientific studies in agroecology; improved infrastructural access by the RMRNs to carry out quality research and studies in Agroecology; available and accessible quality agroecology knowledge products and information; platform for knowledge exchange and information sharing/exchange would have been established; improved research-policy linkage; strengthened collaboration between the RMRNs and the Pan-African Network for economic Analysis of Policies (PANAP), and increased Advocacy for agroecology principles and practices; he concluded.   

#RMRN_agroecology 

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