Partnership key to Africa?s food security ? CEO of CGIAR

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Strong and dynamic partnership is key to addressing the challenges of poverty and food security in Africa, Dr. Frank Rijsberman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), CGIAR Consortium, said on Friday.

Delivering a keynote address on ?The challenge of food security and the evolution of CGIAR?, Dr. Rijsberman highlighted the need for collaboration and coordination to ensure better alignment of research priorities, as well as to support uptake of new technologies.

He also highlighted the reformed CGIAR, which supports 16 cross-cutting research programmes, which are collaboration of the CGIAR Consortium?s 15 Research Centers, along with hundreds of other partners, all focused on achieving a food-secure future.

?The CGIAR Consortium is developing clear and standardized indicators for all of its research programmes, which will more clearly demonstrate the connection between our research and development outcomes.

But, he said, that would only be possible through strong partnerships with implementers as well as National Agriculture Research Systems (NARS), Sub-regional Organizations (SROs) and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA).

According to the statement, in 2012, CGIAR invested 53 per cent of its funding in Africa, a clear commitment to supporting our African partners to reduce poverty and improve food security in sustainable ways.

The statement mentioned that through their partnership with CAADP, and their Memorandum of Understanding MOU with the AUC, we were building stronger alliances with our African partners.

It explained that the process was helping CGIAR Research Programmes to better align their research with the priorities of development partners including CAADP National Investment Plans.

?By ensuring the alignment of priorities and taking a collaborative approach to achieving these, we will help meet the real needs of smallholder farmers and their families, and the African people whose future depends on them,? it added.

According to the statement, the same message was echoed the previous day by Dr. Jimmy Smith, Director General of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), one of the member Centers of the CGIAR Consortium, at a press conference comprised of key dignitaries.

?The panels with Dr. Smith were Dr. Tiemoko Yo, Chairman, of the Board of FARA, Ambassador Professor Monty Jones, Executive Director of FARA, Hon Clement Kofi Humado, Ghana?s Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Kanayo F. Nwanze, President of IFAD, Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, CEO, NEPAD and Her Excellency Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, Commissioner, AUC-DREA,? it added.

According to the statement, Dr. Smith said the CGIAR Consortium was committed to Africa indicating that three of their centres were based in Africa and all of their 15 global research programmes were working in Africa.

The statement said that Africa Agriculture Science Week, which was hosted by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) in collaboration with the Government of Ghana, would run until Saturday 20th July 2013 at the International Conference Centre, Accra, Ghana.

CGIAR is a global partnership that unites organizations engaged in research for a food secure future. CGIAR research is dedicated to reducing rural poverty, increasing food security, improving human health and nutrition, and ensuring more sustainable management of natural resources.

It is carried out by the 15 centres, who are members of the CGIAR Consortium in close collaboration with hundreds of partner organizations, including national and regional research institutes, civil society organizations, academia, and the private sector.

Source: GNA

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Source: http://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2013/07/19/partnership-key-to-africas-food-security-ceo-of-cgiar/

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