The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), in collaboration with key African Agricultural Research, Innovation and Education Institutions (AARIEI), has been at the forefront of strengthening the continent's Agricultural Knowledge ecosystem. This initiative aims to foster synergies, enhance institutional mandates, and sustain progress in Knowledge sharing, learning and management.

As part of this broader collaboration, the institutions jointly implement the Africa Agriculture Space (AASpace)- A Digital knowledge repository powered by Dspace. This robust and scalable platform enables the seamless integration and management of library resources across institutions, extending its reach to the country and institutional levels. The initiative seeks to enhance Agricultural knowledge management across Africa by leveraging ILRI's Leadership and experience in developing and maintaining CGSpace, a CGIAR-wide Dspace platform. The collaboration will drive experience sharing-sharing, inform best practices, and establish a sustainable roadmap for widespread Dspace adoption within the CAADP-XP4 consortium, ensuring last-mile knowledge accessibility.

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Recent Submissions

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Validated Terms of Reference for the Pan-African Network for the Analysis of Economic Policies (PANAP)
(FARA, 2026-05) FARA, JRC, PANAP, AUC, EU
This publication presents the validated Terms of Reference (TOR) for the Pan-African Network for the Analysis of Economic Policies (PANAP), developed under Work Package 7 of the StEPPFoS project. The TOR establishes the governance framework, operational principles, membership structures, and coordination mechanisms guiding the PANAP network in advancing evidence-based economic policy analysis for sustainable agri-food systems across Africa. The document defines PANAP’s mission, objectives, priority thematic areas, membership categories, governance arrangements, collaboration principles, and operational procedures. It provides institutional guidance for strengthening cooperation between African and European research institutions, policymakers, regional organisations, and development partners engaged in economic analysis of agricultural and food system policies. Developed through a consultative validation process led by FARA and the European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC), the TOR reflects contributions from PANAP members, AU and EU institutions, and regional organizations. It aligns PANAP’s activities with major continental and international policy frameworks, including Agenda 2063, the Malabo Declaration, the AU-EU Innovation Agenda, the FNSSA Partnership Roadmap, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The TOR establishes PANAP as a collaborative platform for policy modelling, knowledge sharing, capacity strengthening, and research-policy engagement, thereby enhancing Africa’s institutional capacity for data-driven and evidence-informed policymaking.
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Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services Policy-Oriented Proceedings: Discussions and Recommendations – Enabling Private Sector-Led Agricultural Extension and Sustainable Last-Mile Service Delivery in Uganda
(AFAAS, 2026) AFAAS, UFAAS
This publication documents the proceedings, discussions, and policy recommendations emerging from the Uganda National Agricultural Extension Week 2026 (UGNAEW2026), held under the theme “Unlocking Uganda’s Agricultural Potential: Multi-actor Extension and Advisory Services for Resilient, Digital and Market-Oriented Food Systems.” The proceedings focus on strengthening Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services (AEAS) in Uganda through private sector-led approaches, digital transformation, agroecology, professionalization, and market-oriented service delivery. The report synthesizes keynote presentations, policy dialogues, thematic sessions, case studies, workshops, and stakeholder consultations involving government institutions, research organizations, extension practitioners, farmer organizations, development partners, and private sector actors. It identifies systemic challenges affecting Uganda’s extension ecosystem, including fragmented coordination, weak regulatory frameworks, inadequate professionalization, limited digital integration, insufficient market orientation, and low private sector incentives. The proceedings conclude with comprehensive policy recommendations aimed at repositioning extension systems as market-driven, digitally enabled, professionalized, and partnership-based systems capable of supporting resilient and competitive agrifood systems in Uganda.
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Socratic Playground for Learning (SPL): An AI-Powered Personal Tutor Based on Guided Dialogue with Self-Discovery
(FARA, 2026-03-26) Eric Tsui
This presentation introduces the Socratic Playground for Learning (SPL), an AI-powered personal tutoring system designed to enhance learning through guided dialogue and self-discovery. Drawing on the principles of Socratic learning, the system leverages artificial intelligence to promote critical thinking, metacognition, and personalized learning experiences. The presentation explores how generative AI can transform traditional instructor-led training into learner-centered education by enabling adaptive learning pathways, real-time feedback, and interactive knowledge construction. It highlights key features such as scaffolded responses, personalized support, and knowledge checks, while emphasizing responsible AI use within knowledge management frameworks. The work situates AI-enabled learning within broader concepts such as human-centered AI and responsible knowledge management in the context of Society
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Responsible AI in Agroecology: Transforming Knowledge Into Impact
(FARA, 2026-03-26) Ines Amamou
This presentation explores the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in transforming knowledge management (KM) within agroecology systems in Africa. Delivered within the context of the Knowledge Centre for Organic Agriculture and Agroecology in Africa (KCOA), it highlights how AI can bridge the gap between complex scientific knowledge and practical application for farmers and stakeholders. The presentation introduces a paradigm shift from traditional information retrieval methods to interactive AI-driven knowledge systems, emphasizing natural language interaction, intelligent synthesis, and actionable insights. It outlines practical applications of AI in content creation, communication, and digital knowledge dissemination, while promoting responsible and ethical use of AI tools. The work underscores AI’s potential to enhance agricultural productivity, support digital inclusion, and strengthen sustainable agroecological practices across Africa.
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