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30 March 2023, Accra – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has today signed a five-year partnership agreement with the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA). The deal renews and formalizes the two organizations’ long collaboration.

Working closely with each other for more than 20 years, FAO and FARA are now pursuing a more strategic and sustainable partnership to facilitate greater collaboration for improved production and productivity in Africa.

“I am proud of what we have achieved so far but we also recognize that there is still room for stronger cooperation,” FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa Abebe Haile-Gabriel said at today’s ceremony at the FAO Regional Office for Africa in Accra, Ghana. “This Memorandum of Understanding will enable us to leverage our each other’s strengths, align our actions with national and regional priorities, and deliver tangible results, creating greater impact on the ground,” he said.  

“The complex challenges facing Africa’s food security and agriculture call for more effective partnerships and an holistic approach,” said FARA Executive Director Yemi Akinbamijo. “This partnership will help us to jointly identify constraints and co-create solutions. Such a model will bring coherence in actions, enhance coordination and prevent duplication of efforts,” he said.

Working together to advance agricultural research and innovation

FAO and FARA have collaborated on various activities and initiatives since 2003. The new partnership is expected to facilitate greater collaboration, focusing on capacity development for agricultural innovation systems, agriculture policy and advocacy including the domestication of the Common Africa Agroparks (CAAPs), agrifood systems transformation at the country and regional level, climate-smart agriculture and agroecology-based production system, youth empowerment, response to crises, among others.

The partnership  aims to contribute to achieving the Malabo Commitment on food security and agricultural transformation through leveraging science and innovation in the framework of the AU Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP).

This partnership will also support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 2063 Agenda of Africa Union through the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems for better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life, leaving no one behind.

The six key areas under this renewed cooperation include capacity development for agricultural research and innovation systems, agriculture policy and advocacy, youth empowerment, response to crises, knowledge co-creation, exchange and data sharing, and joint resource mobilization and partnerships development.

FARA is the apex technical institution of the Africa Union responsible for coordinating and advocating for agricultural research for development (AR4D), and promotes the exchange of information, technology, and human resources at the pan-Africa level. FAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations aiming to achieve food security for all and make sure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives.