FARA Publications

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14659/184

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    Report of the Regional Consultation on Opportunity Crops in Africa
    (FARA, 2026-08) FAO, FARA
    FAO and FARA convened a three-day hybrid consultation in Accra with researchers, policymakers, universities, development partners, farmer organizations, private-sector actors and regional institutions. The aim was a unified continental vision for indigenous and traditionally cultivated crops in Africa's agrifood systems. Participants agreed that "opportunity crops" conveys these species' strategic value better than "orphan" or "neglected". They also agreed that conservation alone is insufficient: benefits depend on coordinated investment across genetic resources, breeding, seed systems, value addition, markets, education, policy and finance. Sessions covered genetic resources, breeding for resilience, seed systems, market creation and the enabling environment. Working groups set seven strategic priorities: conserve and mobilize genetic resources; accelerate research and crop improvement; build inclusive seed systems; develop competitive value chains; mainstream the crops in policy and investment; strengthen human and institutional capacity; and establish coordinated continental implementation. The report closes with recommendations for governments, research institutions, universities, financing partners, the private sector, farmer organizations and regional bodies.
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    Proposed Roadmap for Integrating Opportunity Crops 2026–2035
    (FARA, 2026-08) FAO, FARA
    Africa's agrifood systems depend on a narrow range of staples, although the continent holds many indigenous crops with nutritional, climatic, cultural and economic value. Building on commitments from the 2003 Maputo and 2014 Malabo declarations, the 2013 Accra Statement, the Africa Manifesto on Forgotten Foods and the Kampala CAADP agenda, the roadmap aims to turn advocacy into coordinated, measurable action. Its vision is that, by 2035, identified opportunity crops are routinely conserved, improved, produced, traded, processed and consumed. Seven interlinked priorities run from conservation, research and seed delivery to value chains, policy and finance mainstreaming, capacity and coordinated delivery. Countries select crop portfolios against transparent criteria and review them every three years. Implementation runs in three phases: organize and prepare (2026–27), scale and validate (2028–30), and institutionalize and sustain (2031–35). A continental–regional–national coordination model uses existing mandates, with financing organized by portfolio rather than by isolated project. Progress is tracked through an annual continental scorecard and portfolio reviews in 2027, 2030 and 2035.
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    Stakeholder Mapping for Integration of Opportunity Crops into African Food Systems
    (FARA, 2026-08) FAO, FARA
    The report maps organizations working on opportunity crops, forgotten foods and neglected and underutilized species (NUS) to inform an Africa-wide directory and Community of Practice. A purposive online survey yielded 84 complete institutional responses: 73 from 15 African countries, led by Nigeria (33), and 11 from outside Africa. The ecosystem is research-heavy: 67 respondents (79.8%) identify with research and academia, while farmer organizations, financiers and market actors are under-represented. Most organizations do research (69), farmer training (60) and production support (47); far fewer do aggregation (11), trading (8) or financing (8). The most reported species are indigenous leafy vegetables, traditional fruits and nuts, sorghum, Bambara groundnut and cowpea. Lack of funding is the main constraint (94.0%), and 33 organizations report annual NUS budgets under USD 10,000. Support for a continental platform is strong: 79 respondents (94.0%) would join one. The report proposes a seven-point action matrix: a Community of Practice, a governed directory, a catalytic financing facility, crop and value-chain clusters, policy and procurement work, consumer demand building, and a shared evidence framework.
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    FARA's Strategic Plan - 2024 - 2028
    (2024-01-01) FARA
    Founded in July 2002 in Maputo, Mozambique, the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) is a non-profit international organization with a profound vision. FARA envisions the transformation of agriculture in Africa, aspiring to turn it into a productive and sustainable sector, driven by the goal to strengthen food security, promote sustainable livelihoods, and contribute to overall continental development. The organization achieves these objectives through the establishment of research partnerships that effectively bridge the gap between science and agriculture. FARA’s evolution places strategic focus on coordinating agricultural research and development initiatives, involving fostering partnerships, incubating solutions, advocating for policies, mobilizing resources, promoting foresight, facilitating capacity building, and encouraging information exchange at the Pan-African level. The renewed commitment centers on creating a dynamic ecosystem contributing to the advancement and sustainability of agriculture throughout the African continent. In 2017, an exhaustive process initiated the development of the current Strategic Plan (SP), spanning a decade from 2019 to 2028. Concurrently, a theory of change was devised, complemented with a fiveyear Business Plan (BP) detailing activities from 2019 to 2023. The ten-year SP delineated strategic objectives to enhance partnerships, promote access to knowledge, strengthen AR4D institutions, and promote research management.
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    Coordination Mechanisms for the Implementation of the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan (AFSH-AP) and Soil Initiative for Africa (SIA)
    (African Union Development Agency–NEPAD, 2025-07) African Union Development Agency–NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD)
    This publication presents the institutional coordination mechanisms for implementing the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan (AFSH-AP) and the Soil Initiative for Africa (SIA). It establishes a multilevel framework for aligning leadership, technical assistance, partnerships, financing and implementation across continental, regional, national and sub-national structures. The document defines the respective responsibilities of the African Union Commission (AUC), African Union Development Agency–NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD), and Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), which is designated as the Technical Support Organization (TSO). It also outlines the functions of the AFSH-AP/SIA Steering Committee, Joint Development Partners Group, Regional Economic Communities, Sub-Regional Research Organizations, regional fertilizer and soil health hubs, national actors and thematic implementation-support coalitions. Particular attention is given to the domestication of continental commitments through Country Action Plans, coordinated resource mobilization, institutional capacity strengthening, knowledge exchange, soil information systems, monitoring and reporting, and alignment with the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). The framework seeks to promote coherent, African-led implementation, reduce duplication of institutional efforts and strengthen collaboration toward sustainable soil health and fertilizer management across Africa.
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    Toolkit for Supporting National Implementation of the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan (2024–2034) & the Soil Initiative for Africa (SIA)
    (FARA, 2025-09) FARA
    The Toolkit for Supporting National Implementation of the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan (2024–2034) & the Soil Initiative for Africa (SIA) provides practical guidance for translating Africa's continental commitments on soil health, soil fertility and fertilizer management into coordinated action at continental, regional, national, local and farm levels. The Toolkit complements the Nairobi Declaration, the ten-year Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan (AFSH-AP), and the Soil Initiative for Africa (SIA) Framework, providing implementers and partners with a practical roadmap for domestication and implementation. The Toolkit contains six principal tools covering stakeholder mapping; country engagement and domestication processes; summaries of the AFSH-AP and SIA Companion Document; coordination mechanisms; monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning (MEAL); and financing mechanisms. It addresses key systemic constraints to soil health in Africa, including soil degradation, inadequate soil information, limited human capital in soil science, weak extension capacity, low and imbalanced fertilizer use, insufficient financing, and fragmented implementation. It proposes multi-level institutional arrangements, digital data systems, capacity development, knowledge management, farmer-centred extension, sustainable financing and coordinated monitoring to support achievement of the AFSH-AP and SIA objectives.
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    Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan (2024–2034) & the Soil Initiative for Africa (SIA): Companion Document
    (FARA, 2025-09) FARA, Soil Initiative for Africa
    The Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan (2024–2034) & the Soil Initiative for Africa (SIA): Companion Document provides detailed technical and analytical guidance supporting implementation of Africa's continental soil-health agenda. It expands the strategic provisions of the SIA Framework and the AFSH-AP by examining the technical, institutional, financial and knowledge requirements for improving soil health, soil fertility, fertilizer efficiency and agricultural productivity across Africa. The document comprises eleven chapters covering soil information systems; economics of soil degradation and restoration; scaling soil health and integrated fertilizer management; agricultural extension and advisory services; human capital for soil science; soil health and climate change; soil and water management; fertilizer production, marketing and use; monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning; and financing mechanisms. The Companion Document identifies widespread soil degradation, limited accessible soil information, insufficient soil-science capacity, weak extension systems, low fertilizer use and inadequate investment as interconnected barriers to sustainable agricultural productivity. It provides evidence, implementation options and institutional recommendations for addressing these constraints through coordinated action at continental, regional, national and local levels.
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    Regional Consultation on Opportunity Crops in Africa: Book of Extended Abstracts
    (FAO, FARA, 2026-08) FAO, FARA
    The Regional Consultation on Opportunity Crops in Africa: Book of Extended Abstracts brings together scientific, technical, policy, institutional, and market-oriented contributions presented during the Regional Consultation on Opportunity Crops in Africa, convened by FAO and FARA in Accra, Ghana, from 9 to 11 June 2026. The consultation focused on repositioning indigenous, traditional, neglected, and underutilized crops as strategic assets for Africa's agrifood systems transformation. The volume examines practical pathways for integrating opportunity crops into research, breeding, seed systems, production, mechanization, markets, nutrition, education, policy, and public investment. It highlights the potential of these crops to contribute to dietary diversity, nutrition security, climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihoods, cultural preservation, and inclusive economic development. Organized into four thematic sections, the publication presents evidence and perspectives on strategic framing and institutional transformation; conservation, genetic resources, seed systems and breeding; production systems, agronomy and mechanization; and nutrition, markets, value addition and consumer uptake. Collectively, the contributions provide a multidisciplinary evidence base for translating continental commitments on opportunity crops into coordinated research, policy, investment, and scaling actions.
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    Reimagining Agricultural Research in Africa: Demand, Innovation and Transformation
    (FARA, 2026-07) Fatunbi A. O., Odeke M., Njukwe E., Munoko K., Mabuza M.
    Reimagining Agricultural Research in Africa: Demand, Innovation and Transformation examines the current state, challenges, opportunities, and future trajectory of agricultural research systems across Africa. The publication argues that strong, well-funded, and competitive agricultural research systems are fundamental to achieving food security, economic growth, climate resilience, environmental sustainability, and agricultural transformation across the continent. The book situates agricultural research at the center of Africa’s development agenda and explores how investments in science, innovation, education, and technology can drive the transformation of agrifood systems. It reviews the evolution of National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS), regional research organizations, universities, innovation platforms, and continental initiatives such as CAADP, Agenda 2063, STISA-2034, the Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa, the Soil Initiative for Africa, and the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan. The publication introduces forward-looking concepts including Agricultural Research Sovereignty, the Agricultural Research Transformation Index, and the Africa Agricultural Research Transformation Framework, offering practical pathways for strengthening African-led research systems that are globally competitive, digitally enabled, and capable of accelerating innovation and development outcomes.
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    2026–2030 Knowledge Management Partnership Framework for Agricultural Research for Development in Africa
    (FARA, 2026-07) CAADP-XP4 Consortium, CGIAR, KM4AgD CoP, & African Union Commission
    The Knowledge Management Partnership Framework for AR4D in Africa (2026–2030) provides a continental strategic framework for strengthening collaboration on knowledge management among the African Union Commission, CAADP-XP4 consortium institutions, CGIAR, and related African agricultural research and innovation partners. The framework repositions knowledge management from a narrow focus on repositories and dissemination toward a broader system of adaptive learning, implementation intelligence, institutional change, and impact-oriented knowledge ecosystems that support the transformation of Africa’s agrifood systems. FARA African Union Building on the 2023–2025 framework, the document responds to evolving continental priorities under the Kampala CAADP Declaration and the CAADP Strategy and Action Plan 2026–2035, which emphasize science, technology, innovation, learning, foresight, and implementation. It establishes a shared vision of an African agricultural research and innovation ecosystem in which knowledge is intentionally governed, shared, co-created, and applied to accelerate resilient, inclusive, and sustainable agrifood transformation. FARA African Union The framework defines strategic objectives covering KM governance, adaptive learning, digital knowledge infrastructure, AI readiness, indigenous knowledge integration, coordinated dissemination, and evidence of KM contribution to transformation outcomes. It outlines governance arrangements, implementation mechanisms, monitoring and learning processes, and expected results by 2030, including stronger institutionalization of KM, more coherent continental collaboration, enhanced African agricultural knowledge infrastructure, improved capacity sharing, and greater recognition of indigenous knowledge systems.