NEPAD TV schedule

The next NEPAD TV programmes on the SABC Africa channel (DSTV Channel 407) are :

African Views • 4 June, 8pm-9pm (SA time)

This phone-in discussion will be led by Guy M’Bengue, chairman of the NEPAD Business Group in Cote d’Ivoire and co-chairman of the NEPAD Business Group in West Africa, and Dr. Reuel Khoza, chairman of the NEPAD Business Foundation in South Africa.

The topic will be : “The role of the private sector in NEPAD implementation”.

The panelists will be the chairmen of the NEPAD Business Groups in Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Togo and Benin. Source : NEPAD, may 30, 2008

Competition for young professionals in science

A competition open to all young professionals (18-35 years) in sub-Saharan Africa seeks to promote scientific excellence and recognise and reward outstanding young professionals who are undertaking innovative research, technology development or agriculture-related activities and communicating their knowledge, technologies and approaches to improve agricultural performance in sub-Saharan Africa.

Who can participate ?

Young nationals of sub-Saharan countries are encouraged to participate. Individual and group entries will be accepted. Entries should demonstrate effective partnerships and combination of skills and/or engagement with peers and/or rural communities. The role and contribution of the young professional(s) must be clearly demonstrated in group submissions.

What is the scope ?

Entries can include any science, technology and innovation (ST&I) related activity undertaken within the last five years that shows measurable impact (potential or demonstrated) on agricultural development or rural livelihoods of African communities. Entries should include communication strategies and tools used to disseminate scientific findings, technologies, new knowledge or approaches.

Guidelines

Entrants must submit a two-page (A4) abstract (1500 – 2000 words) that clearly details the successful ST&I project including the objectives, methodology, results, conclusion, information and communication strategy, and impact on agricultural development and/or livelihoods of rural communities.

The deadline for submission is 15 August 2008. Abstracts received after the deadline will not be considered.

Evaluation and announcement of winners

Abstracts will be evaluated by a panel of experts including scientists, gender and information and communication technologies (ICT) experts.

Successful entrants will be invited to submit full papers of not more than 4–6 pages by 30 September 2008 in keeping with competition guidelines.

Only those young professionals who have submitted full papers by 30 September 2008 will be invited to attend the Ministerial Meeting on Higher Education which will be held in Lusaka, Zambia, from 23-31 October 2008. The winners will be announced and prizes awarded at the Ministerial Forum.

Competition organisers

The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (ACP-EU), the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS). Source : NEPAD, may 30, 2008

Looking for Africa’s Women in Science

Competition seeks winners with great impact on agriculture A Women in Science competition is now being held to identify and recognise women scientists in sub-Saharan Africa who are engaged in innovative and pioneering research and communicating the outputs — knowledge, technologies, approaches — for enhancing agricultural performance in sub-Saharan Africa.

It also targets women who are repackaging and communicating existing knowledge to improve agricultural productivity and livelihoods of rural communities.

Women scientists who are advocating for policy change to optimise the benefits of scientific and technological developments are also targeted.

The deadline for entries is 15 August 2008.

Who can participate ?

Women scientists, researchers, educators, extension workers, agro-entrepreneurs and farmers are encouraged to participate. Individual and group entries will be accepted.

Entries should demonstrate the pursuit, documentation and dissemination of scientific and technical knowledge including technologies and approaches and effective partnerships with peers and/or rural communities, policymakers, farmers and agro-entrepreneurs.

What is the scope ?

Entries can include existing or ongoing research work and projects or programmes undertaken within the last five years that show measurable impact (potential or demonstrated) on agricultural development and/or rural livelihoods of African communities, especially women farmers.

Entries should include gender responsive strategies that incorporate a strong element of communication and outreach.

Guidelines for entries

Entrants must submit a two page (A4) abstract (1500 – 2000 words) that clearly details the objectives, methodology, results and conclusion of the successful project/programme including the information and communication strategy and tools, and impact on agriculture and/or rural livelihoods.

Entries must include full contact details ; name, mailing address, telephone and fax numbers and e-mail address on submissions.

Abstracts should be emailed to info@atpsnet.org and copied to laduke@atpsnet.org. The deadline is 15 August 2008. Abstracts received after the deadline will not be considered.

Evaluation and announcement of winners

Abstracts will be evaluated by a panel of experts including scientists, gender specialists and information and communication technologies (ICT) experts.

Successful entrants will be invited to submit full papers of not more than 4 – 6 pages by 30 September 2008 in keeping with competition guidelines.

Women scientists whose full papers are received by 30 September 2008 and approved by the panel will be supported to attend the Ministerial Meeting on Higher Education, which will be held in Lusaka, Zambia from 22-31 October 2008. The top five winners will be announced and prizes awarded at the Ministerial Forum.

Competition organisers

The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (ACP-EU), the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and the African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS). Source : NEPAD, may 30, 2008

International presidency for Professor Nkuhlu

Prof. Wiseman Nkuhlu, chairman of the NEPAD Steering Committee, was unanimously elected president of the International Organisation of Employers at its General Council meeting in Geneva on 28 May 2008. He will serve for two years.

In welcoming him to the chair, the outgoing president, Ambassador Abraham Katz, said : “Professor Nkuhlu brings to the IOE, extensive experience both as an employer and through his involvement in the NEPAD Secretariat, as well as an indepth understanding of the needs and challenges of Africa.

“This perspective, which is relevant to other regions, builds on the IOE’s strong history of leadership from the developing world”, Ambassador Katz said.

In his role as president, Professor Nkuhlu will lead the IOE in helping to shape the employer response to the ongoing process of globalisation, both within the International Labour Office and the wider United Nations.

“The world today faces many challenges and the employer community has a key role to play in developing the responses, both nationally and internationally, that will ensure the economic and social development we all desire. In this regard Professor Nkuhlu’s experience will be invaluable”, Ambassador Katz concluded. Source : NEPAD, may 30, 2008

NEPAD advisor to head regional office of the World Conservation Union

NEPAD’s science and technology advisor, Prof. John Mugabe, has been appointed Regional Director for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Eastern and Southern Africa and will assume his new duties on 1 July 2008.

Professor Mugabe is currently head of the NEPAD Office of Science and Technology in Pretoria, South Africa. Between 1995 and 2002 he was Executive Director of the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) in Kenya.

The appointment was announced by IUCN’s Director-General Prof. Julia Marton-Lefevre to the organisation’s government and non-governmental members in more than 160 countries.

IUCN supports scientific research ; manages field projects all over the world ; and brings governments, non-government organisations, United Nations agencies, companies and local communities together to develop and implement policy, laws and best practice. Headquarters are located in Gland, near Geneva, in Switzerland.

Professor Mugabe will direct IUCN’s activities in 23 countries by consolidating what have been two separate regional offices of eastern and southern Africa.

At NEPAD he was instrumental in the establishment of the African Ministerial Council on Science and Technology (AMCOST) and the development of Africa’s Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action (CPA) that has been endorsed by the G8 countries and the European Union Parliament.

Professor Mugabe is an associate professor at the Institute for Technological Innovation, University of Pretoria, South Africa and has published widely on science, technology, biodiversity and environmental policy.

He is a member of the World Academy of Art and Science and serves on the External Review Panel of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). Source : NEPAD, may 30, 2008

Partners urged to increase their role in Africa’s efforts against high food, fuel prices

A call to development partners “to increase and sustain” urgent financial and technical assistance to address the crisis caused by high food and fuel prices is made in the communique following the African Union/NEPAD investment workshop on food insecurity and CAADP implementation held in Centurion, South Africa, on 23-23 May 2008.

The countries participating in the workshop noted that they have already begun addressing the crisis using their national resources and acknowledged the assistance being provided by the development partners.

They urged the private sector, farmers organisations, NGOs, development partners, national and regional research organisations and Regional Economic Communities to play their part in the growth and development of the African agricultural sector.

The participants called for immediate action by member countries to implement the following priorities while seeking additional financial and technical assistance from development partners.

Immediate/short-term responses :

Help vulnerable groups through targeted food assistance and safety net measures including cash and/or food transfers and nutrition support ; Intensify agricultural production through the use of targeted input subsidies, particularly fertilizer and improved seed, enhanced access to water and small-scale irrigation ; Strengthen market infrastructure ; Improve post harvest management and minimize crop storage losses. Medium/long term responses :

Develop regional infrastructure ; Adhere to regional trade policy agreements ; Develop irrigation schemes ; Enhance sustainable land management practices including soil and water management and conservation ; Develop micro-finance capacity and access ; Improve agricultural and related risk management ; Enhance productive safety-net measures for small-scale and vulnerable farmers ; Enhance agricultural extension and research development ; Improve post harvest management and minimise crop storage losses ; Enhance institutional and human capacities of countries for agricultural development. Other points raised in the communique include :

Improved risk management and vulnerability analysis ; Increased supply of affordable commodities through increased production and improved market linkages ; Food access and increased economic opportunities for the vulnerable ; Increased quality of diets through diversification of food among the target groups (food utilisation) ; and Follow-up actions by African countries. A taskforce led by AU/NEPAD Secretariat supported by the FAO, the World Food Programme, World Bank and RECs will coordinate active and timely follow-up to the decisions taken at the workshop.

* Recommendations of the workshop will be submitted to the African Union Heads of State and Government Summit in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt in June 2008 and the FAO high-level conference on food security in Rome, also in June. Source : NEPAD, may 30, 2008

NEPAD CAADP progress briefing for key stakeholders at TICADIV

A seminar under the theme “Progress in the implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and emerging opportunities” was held by NEPAD on the sideline of the fourth session of the Tokyo International Conference for Africa’s Development (TICADIV) in Yokohama.

CAADP was highlighted as an Africa-led initiative and framework to rationalise and revitalise African agriculture for economic growth and lasting poverty reduction — and which seeks to increase agriculture productivity in Africa to 6% annually, in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The two-hour seminar was attended by a large number of participants, particularly Africa’s key stakeholders in the area of agriculture such as, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Forum for Agriculture Research in Africa (FARA), and the Alliance for the Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).

The Acting CEO of NEPAD, Ambassador Olukorede Willoughby opened the meeting by introducing NEPAD and its CAADP programme and underscoring the importance of partnerships in effectively implementing all the NEPAD priority areas and programmes, especially the CAADP programme.

He expressed his satisfaction with the level of collaboration between Africa and its partners around the CAADP agenda.

“Development partners need to join the CAADP family, otherwise they are going to miss a key strategic opportunity to really move agricultural growth in Africa in the coming decade”, Ambassador Willoughby noted.

Hirofumi Hoshi, of JICA emphasised in his presentation that “JICA’s effort to support agriculture development in Africa is in line with the NEPAD CAADP programme”.

Participants in the seminar highlighted the progress made in the CAADP process so far, in particular the fact that for the first time there is a coherent and solid framework as a basis on which partners can engage with African countries. This has enabled the partners to have a clear entry point for intervening in the sector in line with African countries’ own priorities.

Some of the challenges facing the implementation of CAADP were flagged, most notably the lack of the resources to address the constraints of project preparation and bankable projects to attract investments in the agriculture sector. “CAADP is alive and well, and we are thrilled that the initiative is moving full steam ahead” concluded Prof. Richard Mkandawire, Head of the Agriculture Unit at NEPAD, at the end of the session. Source : NEPAD, may 30, 2008

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