Monthly Bulletin of the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development Number 02 FEBRUARY 2009 ❐ ❐ CORAF/WECARD-EU: Partnership Relaunched J anuary 22, 2009, Dakar. The headquarters of the Delegation of the European Commission (DEC) in Senegal has hosted an important meeting on the re- launching of the partnership between European Union and CORAF/-WECARD. The DEC comprised Mr. Stephane Halgand, Advisor, Head of the rural develop- ment department, and Mrs. Amparo Gonzalez Diez, his assistant, and that of CORAF/WECARD Mr. Paco Séréme, Executive Director, Jean-Rostand Kamga Jiadias, Administrative and Financial Director, and Vincent Joseph Mama, Moni- toring and Evaluation Officer. Mr. Stephane Halgand (at your left), Mrs. Amparo Gonzalez Diez, Mr. Jean-Rostang Kamga Jiadias, and Mr. Paco Sérémé ready to re-stard the EU-CORAF/WECARD partnership. First of all, Mr. Paco Séréme presented the Sub-regional Organization and insis- ted on the reforms, so as it complies not only with the commitments made to its development Partners, but also to contribute to effectively reduce the poverty in West and Central Africa. With regard to the reforms, we can name the new strategic and operational Plans, the institutional change Plan, the governance and procedure manuals, and the periodic audits. On his turn, Mr. Stephane Halgand welcomed these achievements that contri- bute to the strengthening of partners’ trust. He declared that, as the European Union’s Commission is concerned, 2009 will be the year of the relauching of the partnership with CORAF/WECARD. But why are we re-starting a partnership that well began? It is because relation- ships have been undermined by the management of the Programme d’appui à la recherche agricole en Afrique de l’Ouest (PARAO) (Agricultural Research Support Program in West and Central Africa). Since December 2008, things started to be in order and this meeting is one of the steps forward. Agricultural Sectors And Market Promotion on Agenda F rom 27 to 28 January, 2009, Ouagadougou. Theme 4, “Devel- oping agricultural sectors and promot- ing markets”, of the regional invest- ment Program (PRIA), was recently launched by a workshop, for the finali- zing of analysis tools, namely the agri- cultural value chain. Experts, coming from the six countries concerned—Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger, and Senegal—, and partners, including CORAF/ WECARD, recommended countries’ consultants selection, in charge of the realization of studies, and defined the framework of the session. The theme comes within the frame- work of the Conference of Ministers of Agriculture of West and Central Africa (CMA/WCA) and the International Fer- tilizer Development Center (IFDC). (Continued on page 2) ECOWAS: West Africa Component of PCD Launched F rom 30 to 31 January, 2009, Accra. The representatives of the member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the West African Economic and monetary Union (WAEMU), the Mano River Union, the Comité inter-Etats de lutte contre la secheresse au Sahel (CILSS), and CORAF/WECARD have proceeded to the launching of the West Africa com- ponent of the Community-based com- munautary based development Program. The transition from “the ECOWAS of States ” to “ the ECOWAS of people ”
Transcript
Monthly Bulletin of the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development Number 02 FEBRUARY 2009
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CORAF/WECARD-EU: Partnership Relaunched
January 22, 2009, Dakar. The headquarters of the Delegation of the EuropeanCommission (DEC) in Senegal has hosted an important meeting on the re-
launching of the partnership between European Union and CORAF/-WECARD. The DEC comprised Mr. Stephane Halgand, Advisor, Head of the rural develop-ment department, and Mrs. Amparo Gonzalez Diez, his assistant, and that ofCORAF/WECARD Mr. Paco Séréme, Executive Director, Jean-Rostand KamgaJiadias, Administrative and Financial Director, and Vincent Joseph Mama, Moni-toring and Evaluation Officer.
Mr. Stephane Halgand (at your left), Mrs. Amparo Gonzalez Diez, Mr. Jean-Rostang Kamga Jiadias, andMr. Paco Sérémé ready to re-stard the EU-CORAF/WECARD partnership.
First of all, Mr. Paco Séréme presented the Sub-regional Organization and insis-ted on the reforms, so as it complies not only with the commitments made to itsdevelopment Partners, but also to contribute to effectively reduce the poverty inWest and Central Africa. With regard to the reforms, we can name the new strategic and operationalPlans, the institutional change Plan, the governance and procedure manuals,and the periodic audits. On his turn, Mr. Stephane Halgand welcomed these achievements that contri-bute to the strengthening of partners’ trust. He declared that, as the EuropeanUnion’s Commission is concerned, 2009 will be the year of the relauching of thepartnership with CORAF/WECARD. But why are we re-starting a partnership that well began? It is because relation-ships have been undermined by the management of the Programme d’appui àla recherche agricole en Afrique de l’Ouest (PARAO) (Agricultural ResearchSupport Program in West and Central Africa). Since December 2008, things started to be in order and this meeting is one ofthe steps forward.
Agricultural Sectors And Market Promotion
on Agenda
From 27 to 28 January, 2009,Ouagadougou. Theme 4, “Devel-
oping agricultural sectors and promot-ing markets”, of the regional invest-ment Program (PRIA), was recentlylaunched by a workshop, for the finali-zing of analysis tools, namely the agri-cultural value chain.Experts, coming from the six countriesconcerned—Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire,Ghana, Mali, Niger, and Senegal—, andpartners, including CORAF/ WECARD,recommended countries’ consultantsselection, in charge of the realizationof studies, and defined the frameworkof the session.The theme comes within the frame-work of the Conference of Ministers ofAgriculture of West and Central Africa(CMA/WCA) and the International Fer-tilizer Development Center (IFDC).
(Continued on page 2)
ECOWAS: West Africa Component
of PCD Launched
From 30 to 31 January, 2009, Accra.The representatives of the member
countries of the Economic Communityof West African States (ECOWAS), theWest African Economic and monetaryUnion (WAEMU), the Mano River Union,the Comité inter-Etats de lutte contre lasecheresse au Sahel (CILSS), andCORAF/WECARD have proceeded tothe launching of the West Africa com-ponent of the Community-based com-munautary based development Program.The transition from “the ECOWAS ofStates ” to “ the ECOWAS of people ”
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ECHO IN BRIEVE
WAAPP Senegal: How to Become Eligible to
January 27, 2009, Dakar. To informabout the eligible research themes
and to present the different executionand management manuals of projects,such were the key objectives of thenational workshop on information shar-
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PSAOP 2: SharedBaseline Case Analysis
From 13 to 15 January, 2009, SalyPortudal, Senegal. Thirty partici-
pants from agricultural ministries andagricultural research and develop-ment institutions as well as scientificand technical Partners have held aworkshop on the study of the baselinecase of phase 2 of the Programmedes services agricoles et des organi-sations des producteurs (PSAOP 2)(agricultural services and producersorganizations Program).Over two days, the attending specialistsreviewed the content of the baselinestudy report, developed the communi-cation strategy of the Program, strate-
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Agricultural Science And Technology:
for New Indicators
From 20 to 21 January, 2009, Ente-bbe, Uganda. Mr. George Achu
Muluh, CORAF/WECARD’s PlanningOfficer, participated in the regional work-
The participants hardworking for new agricultural development indicators.
ECHO FROM NARS
has now come into effect. But this isthanks to the initiative of the Heads ofState and Government conference ofJune 2007 that adopted its vision for2020. For that, the conference has ins-tructed the Community’s commissionto elaborate this Program targettingthe achievement of this vision.The workshop has allowed the partici-pants to set up the regional committeeof the Program, validate the nationalstudies projects, the methodology forelaborating an assistance program ontrade as well as the roadmap for set-ting up.The Union and Community met to har-monize their views, in order to take owner-ship of member States’ contributions.As for these latters, they focused onthe national studies projects.The CORAF/WECARD representatives,at their side, seized the opportunity ofthe event to exchange views withCommunity and Union’s officials on stra-tegic issues, who are keen on them.
(Continued from page 1) The workshop was organized by the Ag-ricultural Science and Technology Ini-tiative (ASTI).At the end of the meeting, the 18 par-ticipants have, above all, recommend-ed ASTI should improve the use ofexisting indicators, by promoting them,before suggesting the collection andadoption of new crop varieties, the
shop for the identification of new deci-sion-making indicators for development.
management of human resources,etc.
gies for adopting technologies, and, fi-nally, validated the strategies taking intoaccount environmental issues relatingto its implementation.Our delegation, which comprised Mr. Vincent Joseph Mama, CORAF/WECARD Planning Officer, and Ms. Julienne Kuiseu, Program Assistant,successfully got the audience takeinto account the environmental con-cerns, a critical issue in the CORAF/WECARD’s natural resource mana-gement Program. p
ing about the West African agriculturalproductivity Program (WAAPP).Coming from National Agricultural Re-search and Development Institutions,Producer’s Professional Organizations,the Private Sector, Universities, and in-ternational institutions, the participantshave exchanged widely views, in orderto understand how this Program func-tions in Senegal. Mr. Dogo Seck, director of the Centred’étude regional pour l’amélioration del’adaptation à la sécheresse (CERAAS)(Regional Study Center for Adaptationto Drought), and Mr. Pape Sall, Direc-tor of the Fonds national pour larecherche agricole et agroalimentaire(FNRAA) (National Fund for Agricultu-ral and Food Research) have broughtthe necessary clarifications. As for Mr. Vincent Joseph Mama, Moni-toring and Evaluation Officer of CORAF/WECARD, he has explained the originof WAAPP, indicated the choice of spec-ulations by the three countries, and
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gave information about the mobility ofresearchers, transfer of technology andthe partnership between researchactors.
Relaunching rice farmingin Sub-Saharan Africa
From 20 to 30 January, 2009.Senegal, Mali, Ghana, and Nigeria
have hosted inception workshops onthe emergency Initiative for relaunchingrice production in sub-Saharan Africa.The Initiative aims at providing solutionsto major constraints facing rice produc-
Food Crisis: Producers Bring
their Stones
From 21 to 23 January, 2009, Dakar.The Conseil national de la coordi-
nation des ruraux (CNCR) (NationalCouncil for the Rural Coordination) ofSenegal has organized a workshop onfood crisis and the rural stakeholders’solutions.There was the chance to enable theproducers’ organizations to reflect on it,in order to have their voice heard and toachieve a food sovereignity strategy.They first searched to understand theroot causes of such a crisis, beforecoming up with ways and means ofprevention. Ms. Julienne Kuiseu, CORAF/WECARDProgram Assistant, helped to betterknow the institution by these produc-ers and users at the core of its con-cerns.
Endemic RuminantLivestock as a Theme of a Regional Project
From 20 to 23 January, 2009, Banjul.The Projet régional de gestion dura-
ble du bétail ruminant endémique enAfrique (PROGEBE), (regional Projecton sustainable endemic ruminant live-stock management in Africa) has beenlaunched, during a workshop groupingexperts and partners on livestock issuesin Africa.
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CORAF/WECARD,Henceforth
KKM Project Leader
From 15 to 17 January, 2009, Ibadan,Nigeria. The management transfer
process of the Kano-Katsina-Maradilearning site Project (PKKM), startedin 2008, has ended by the handoverbetween the International Institute forTropical Agriculture (IITA) and CORAF/WECARD, which is hence-forth theleading Institution.However, the applicants at the posi-tion of Project Coordinator, left vacantby Mr. Abdoulaye Tahirou, being notable to meet the placement require-ments call, this latter has been re-quested to take it on to the end of therenewed application process.
The Project targets four pilots countrieswhich are Mali, Senegal, Gambia, andGuinea, where the sector will be en-hanced through the training of livestockbreeders and the capacity building ofresearchers.Mr. Marcel Nwalozie, CORAF/WECARDProgram Director, has said his fully sa-tisfaction to see such Project come intoaction for the benefit of livestock breed-ers in the West and Central Africa. More importantly, it is worth noting thatCORAF/WECARD is a member ofPROGEBE steering committee.
Researchers and Producers marshaled for the relaunching of rice production in sub-saharian Africa.
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tion, through a technological packagecomprising quality seeds, well-used mi-neral fertilizers, and the capacity build-ing of farmers and their organizationsstrenghtened on good crop manage-ment practices.
To achieve this, at least 10,000 riceproducers per country will be suppor-ted, over two years, thanks to a 2,550billions CFA francs budget, granted bythe United States Agency for Interna-tional Development (USAID), and tothe technical support from the WestAfrican Rice Development Association(WARDA), the Catholic Relief Services
(CRS), and the International FertilizerDevelopment Center (IFDC).Mr. Ernest Assa Asiedu, CORAF/WECARD food crops Program Coor-dinator, has ensured the effectivemoderation of the workshops.
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Monthly Bulletin of the West and Central African Council
From January 29 to February 6, 2009,Niamey. CORAF/WECARD is invitedto participate in the regional forum onthe future development of the livestocksector in the Sahel and West Africa.
From 2 to 3 February, 2009, Bissau.The second meeting of the steeringand monitoring committee of the Pro-gramme regional de biosécurité (regio-nal biosafety Program) of the Econo-mic and Monetary Union of WestAfrica has invited too the CORAF/WECARD biotechnology and biotech-nology Program Coordinator.
From 2 to 6 February, 2009, Dakar.Mrs. Irene Annor-Frempong, RegionalCoordinator of the SCARDA of FARAhas paid a work visit to the headquar-ters of CORAF/WECARD.
ECHO FROM HEADQARTERS
PRIA: Eight CountriesLaunched Theme 2
From 15 to 16 January, 2009, Dakar."Sustainable development farming",
the theme 2 of the Programme regionald’investissement agricole (PRIA) (re-gional agricultural investment Program)has right been launched by 22 partici-pants of a workshop, held in the Sene-galese capital city. Dependent on CORAF/WECARD andthe International Center for Soil Fertil-ity and Agricultural Development (IFDC),the Program is part of the implemen-tation of the common agriculturalPolicy of ECOWAS, adopted in Janua-ry 2005. In the presence of Mr. Ernest Aubee,Senior Program Coordinator for the a-griculture committee of ECOWAS andof Mr. Paco Sérémé, Executive Direc-
tor of CORAF/WECARD, Mr. VincentJoseph Mama, Monitoring and Eva-luation Officer of CORAF/WECARD,presented the Program and its six the-mes, which are improvement of watermanagement, the sustainable develop-ment farming, the improved manage-ment of other natural resources, thedevelopment of the agricultural sectorsand market promotion, the preventionand management of food crises andother natural disasters, and, finally, theinstitutional strengthening. With light of this, the participants haveexamined and adopted the updatedterms of reference, set out the specifi-cations, including a workplan, and themethod for monitoring the study to belaunched soon.They have also selected sixteen natio-nal consultants, 2 in each of the eightcountries which are Benin, BurkinaFaso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea,Niger, Sierra Leone, and Togo. The final report will be validated by aregional workshop to be held, from 19to 20 March, 2009, in Togo.
From 10 to 11 February, 2009, Dakar.CORAF/WECARD takes part in the thirdmeeting of the scientific and administra-tive council of the Cheikh Anta Diop Uni-versity research unit, organized inpartnership with the dryland pastoralpole.
From 12 to 13 February, 2009, Accra.FARA gathers its Sub-regional Organi-zations (SROs), so as to prepare themid-term review of the SCARDAProgram.
From 16 to 20 February, 2009, Accra.CORAF/WECARD attends the mid-term review of the SCARDA Program,with the team of consultants from theDepartment for International Develop-ment (DFID).
From 16 to 19 February 2009, Dakar.CORAF/WECARD is represented atthe information and program develop-ment meeting gathering the represen-tatives from 15 countries and 16 themegroup leaders of the joint agriculturalpolicy of the Economic Community ofWest African States (ECOWAS).
From 26 to 27 February, 2009, Abuja.CORAF/WECARD will participate inthe information and mobilization meet-ing of Development Partners in theimplementation of the joint-agriculturalpolicy of the Economic Community ofWest African States (ECOWAS). p
AnnouncementRecruitment of a Coordinator for theKano/Katsina/Maradi (KKM) pilotlearning Site (PLS) of the sub-Saharan Africa Challenge Program-me (SSA CP).Opening date: January 27, 2009Closing date: February 26, 2009For further information, please go toour Website: www.coraf.org
