EUROPEAN CONTRIBUTION TO AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT (ARD) IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

1. EUROPEAN CONTRIBUTION TO AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT (ARD) IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Christian Hoste, Cirad, France Coordinator ERA-ARD Director ECART-EEIG

2. PART I ARD DEFINITION AND COORDINATION MECHANISMS IN EUROPE

3. WHAT IS ARD? • ARD is research which addresses the agricultural challenges and issues faced by developing countries, emerging countries and countries in transition. • « Agriculture » is used in its broad sense.

4. WHAT IS ARD? • Three major specificities of ARD: • The agenda and priorities are set by the beneficiaries • Knowledge is not only generated but also shared • Capacity development is an integral component of the research

5. Coordination of Agricultural Research for Development in Europe Mécanismes de coordination de la recherche agricole pour le développement POLITIQUE POLICY EFARD Forum EUROPE EFARD Forum EUROPE Europe PROGRAMME PROGRAMME ECART- GEIE PROJET ECART- EEIG PROJECT

6. The European Initiative for Agricultural Research for Development (EIARD) is an informal European policy coordination platform, in the area of Agricultural Research for Development (ARD). • Created in 1997 by the European Commission, following an initiative of the French Presidency of the EU in 1995, and recognised by the Council and European Parliament. • EIARD Members are : • The EU Member States plus Norway & Switzerland. • The European Commission (DGs Development, Research and Aidco) • The Goal of EIARD is: To promote coherent European policies on ARD, expressed and  implemented in a coordinated manner at the international, regional and sub-regional levels, in order to increase the impact of ARD on poverty reduction, food security and sustainable management of natural resources in developing countries.

7. WHAT IS ERA-ARD? ERA-ARD is a “Coordination Action” funded by the European Commission under the ERA-NET Scheme of the 6th FP OBJECTIVE OF AN ERA-NET To step up the cooperation and coordination of national or regional research activities through networking of programmesincluding their mutual opening and the development and implementation of joint activities.

8. THE ERA-ARD OBJECTIVES • increase the effectiveness and efficiency of European research planning, organization and funding to fight poverty and hunger and support a more rapid and sustainable development of the poorest countries in the world. • Strengthen the European position and contribution to the regional and global ARD systems.

9. THE ERA-ARD PROJECT • Starting date: 1 April 2005 • Duration: 4 years • Total budget: 3.5 M € • 15 Consortium members representing 14 European countries

10. MEMBER STATES PROGRAMMES SUPPORTING ARD

11. MEMBERS • CIRAD: Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement, France • IAO: Istituto Agronomico per l’Oltremare, Italy • IICT: Instituto de Investigaçao Cientifica Tropical, Portugal • IRD: Institut de recherche pour le développement, France • NRI: Natural Resources Institute, United Kingdom • Wageningen UR: Wageningen University and Research Centre, The Netherlands • INIA: Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria, Spain A pool of over 2,000 research scientists and technical officers

12. Network of European Agricultural (Tropically and Sub-tropically oriented) Universities and Scientific Complexes Related with Agricultural Development • NATURA was established in 1988 and involves 26 members from 16 European countries. NATURA is a non-profit organization that aims at developing concerted actions towards poverty reduction and sustainable rural development. • NATURA functions through a networking mechanism that promotes: • institutional reinforcement of universities, national research centers and partners in developing countries, • partnerships between the European member organizations and partners in developing countries, • alignment of the scientific and technical potential among the NATURA members, • policy dialogue and research for development advocacy.

13. Network of European Agricultural (Tropically and Sub-tropically oriented) Universities and Scientific Complexes Related with Agricultural Development A EUROPEAN ALLIANCE IN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION FOR DEVELOPMENT • To play a proactive policy advocacy role for agricultural research for development (ARD) in Europe and worldwide • To develop and strengthen strategic alliances and partnerships with the different ARD stakeholders, both in the North and the South • To organise, facilitate and implement joint participation in European and international programmes and projects

14. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES • To play a proactive policy advocacy role for agricultural research for development (ARD) in Europe and worldwide • To develop and strengthen strategic alliances and partnerships with the different ARD stakeholders, both in the North and the South • To organise, facilitate and implement joint participation in European and international programmes and projects

15. PART II EUROPEAN POLICIES AND PROGRAMMES SUPPORTING ARD

16. EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENT POLICIES • The European Consensus on Development. November 2005. • European Union Strategy for Africa. October 2005. • Advancing African Agriculture. July 2007. • Joint Africa-EU Strategyadopted in Lisbon in December 2007. • In preparation: Communication « Strategy on Research for Development » 2009.

17. EUROPEAN RESEARCH POLICIES • Building the “European Research Area” of knowledge for growth. 2005 • In preparation: Communication « Strategy on S&T International Cooperation ». 2008 • In preparation: Communication « Strategy on Agricultural Research ». 2008 (SCAR)

18. EC PROGRAMMES SUPPORTING ARD • Development Programmes  Food Security Thematic Programme (FSTP) 233 millions (2007 – 2010) Support R&D and capacity development at the global level (CGIAR), regional/continental level (e.g. FARA), and sub-regional level (e.g. CORAF). European Development Fund (EDF10) (2007 – 2010) Support capacity development and R&D at national level in ACP countries. • Research Programmes  Framework Programme (FP7)  Environment (2007 – 2010)  Food, Agriculture and Biotechnologies (FAB) (2007 – 2010)  Support research projects.

19. PART III ECART ON-GOING & PLANNED PROJECTS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA

20. ECART ON-GOING PROJECTS • PAEPARD (Platform for African – European Partnership on ARD) • Coordination by FARA • ESFIM (Empowering Smallholder Farmers in the access to market) • Phase I: 1 year; 300,000 US$ • Phase II: 3 years; 4 M US$

21. ECART PROJECTS SUBMITTED TO FSTP • Strengthening the capacity of smallholder farmers in Africa to manage farm risks • Ecological agriculture to combat land degradation in dry land areas (desertification) • Using the potential of inland valley lowlands in Sub-Saharan Africa • Coordinated regional platforms for advocacy, capacity building and strategic networking in horticulture • Developing regional capacity for the application of safe agricultural biotechnology in West and Central Africa

22. CONCLUSION • ARD is part and parcel of ERA • ARD in Europe may be considered as a « model » of coordination with mechanisms at the policy, programme and project levels • The « Alliance »  in construction between ECART and NATURA will significantly contribute to: • Improving coordination and cooperation between European ARD institutions • Facilitating access to European skills and expertise in ARD to research and development institutions in countries of the South and the emerging countries

23. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION