Around 50 PARI partners from various African countries, India and Germany gathered in Ghana for the PARI Research & Partnership meeting to present and discuss PARI research findings and identify research and policy priorities for the future. In particular, the question of how the food system can create jobs and income for Africa’s youth was a recurring theme throughout the discussions. The participants represent the institutional diversity of research partners in PARI, including national agricultural research institutes, leading universities and pan-African and regional research organizations. In addition, future priorities for Africa’s food systems were discussed in an open hybrid session with around 130 participants from politics, civil society and the private sector.

Agenda

Opening Session

Facilitator: Dorothy Okello, Makerere University

Welcome / Opening remarks
Paul Bosu, Director General of CSIR Ghana
Moumini Savadogo, Managing Director, AKADEMIYA2063
Joachim von Braun, Distinguished Professor, ZEF and PARI Director
Aggrey Agumya, Executive Director, FARA

Keynote address
Simeon Ehui, CGIAR Regional Director and Director General, IITA

Mobilizing innovations and investments for food systems transformation
Hamadi Boga, Vice President, Program Delivery, AGRA

Germany’s engagement in support of African food systems
Yvonne Franke, German Federal Ministry for Development and Economic Cooperation (BMZ)

Progress report on PARI research activities
Oluwole Fatunbi, FARA and Heike Baumüller, ZEF

PARI 2014-2023: A forward-looking review
Assefa Admassie, University of Addis Ababa

Session 1: Sharing insights from Africa and India

Facilitator: Felister Makini, KALRO

Development and implications of government spending on the agrifood systems in Africa and India
Ashok Gulati, ICRIER and Bezawit Chichaibelu, ZEF

Session 2: Enhancing sustainability and climate resilience of African agriculture

Introductory remarks and panel discussion:
Assane Beye, UCAD
Cheikh Mbow, CSE
Miriam Romero, ZEF
Regina Birner, University of Hohenheim

High-level panel: The Future of the Malabo Declaration beyond 2025 – What next?

Facilitator: Joachim von Braun, ZEF

Setting the scene: Financing progress towards achieving the CAADP targets
Getaw Tadesse, AKADEMIYA2063

Reflections by
Simeon Ehui, Director General, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), and CGIAR Regional Director
Ousmane Badiane, Executive Chairperson, AKADEMIYA2063
Aggrey Agumya, Director General, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)
Wilhelmina Quaye, Director, Science and Technology Policy Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-STEPRI), Ghana

Session 3: Empowering women and youth in African food systems

Facilitator: Sundus Saleemi, ZEF

Keynote address
Dorothy Okello, Makerere University

Introductory remarks and panel discussion:
Patrice Adegbola, Benin
Martha Adimabuno Awo, ISSER
Rosemary Isoto, Makarere University
Mark Korir, AERC
Tigabu Getahun, PSI

Session 4: Sustainably scaling Africa’s livestock sector

Facilitator: Regina Birner, University of Hohenheim

Introductory remarks and panel discussion:
Viviane Y. Guesbeogo, University of Hohenheim
Alpha Kergna, IER
Mary Lubungu, IAPRI
Amy Faye, ZEF

Session 5: Strengthening the enabling environment for equitable food systems transformation

Facilitator: Idowu Oladele, University of Kwazulu Nathal

Introductory remarks and panel discussion:
Regina Birner, University of Hohenheim
Jalloh Abdulahi, SLARI
Wellington Mulinge, KALRO
Mahamadou Tankari, AKADEMIYA 2063
Heike Baumüller, ZEF

High-level panel: Future research priorities for Africa’s food systems transformation

Facilitator: Moumini Savadogo, AKADEMIYA2063

Setting the scene: Food systems research, policy processes and related priorities beyond 2024
Matin Qaim, ZEF

Reflections by
Felix Asante, University of Ghana
Ashok Gulati, ICRIER
Rosemary Isoto, Makerere University

Wrap-up by Joachim von Braun and Aggrey Agumya