In a landmark moment for African agricultural research and knowledge management, Dr. Silim Nahdy, Executive Director of the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS), delivered the opening remarks at the ARIESpace launch held as a side event during Science Week at the United Nations Campus in Nairobi. The event, attended by key stakeholders across the continent, marks a significant step toward digital transformation and integration of Africa’s agricultural knowledge systems.
Speaking on behalf of the collective institutions under the CADDP XP4 umbrella – which includes FARA, AFAAS, CARDESA, ASERECA, CORAF, and the newly joined RUFORUM – Dr. Silim expressed his appreciation for the collaborative spirit driving the initiative. He also introduced the evolution of this group into the emerging ARIESpace platform, signalling a new era of synergy in Africa’s research and advisory landscape.
“We are gathered here today with a shared commitment to harness the power of knowledge co-creation and collaborative partnership for digital empowerment and cultural revolution,” Dr. Nahdy emphasized. “This launch is not just about conversation, but about collaborative innovation that responds to the needs of our continent.”
ARIES, which stands for African Agricultural Research Innovation and Education Space, is a product of extensive collaboration between African Union stakeholders, CGIAR, AFAAS, FARA, and other partners. It follows the formal endorsement of a broader CGIAR collaboration during the 8th African Science Week held in Durban, South Africa in 2023.
ARIESpace serves as a centralized digital repository and a one-stop platform to strengthen Research for Development (R4D) knowledge systems. It connects communities of practice under the National Agricultural Systems (NAS), Sub-Regional Organizations (SROs), and continental platforms, enhancing access to agricultural research, education, and extension knowledge.
“This is a defining moment,” Dr. Nahdy noted, “as we move from fragmented knowledge silos to an African-led, digitally enabled, and user-cantered approach. This new model will empower researchers, extension workers, farmers, and policymakers alike.”
Importantly, the ARIESpace platform will complement existing efforts such as the AFAAS repository and the Agro-Support initiative, both of which focus on curating farming system-specific content and making it readily available to extension workers and researchers.
Dr. Nahdy concluded his remarks by acknowledging the tireless efforts of the Knowledge Management Working Group and the invaluable support from key development partners, including the European Commission, IFAD, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, CGIAR, and AGRA.
“To the KM Working Group – thank you. You have done an outstanding job and your resilience in this journey is commendable. Let us clap for them in advance,” he said to a round of applause.
With that, Dr. Nahdy officially declared the ARIESpace launch open, marking a pivotal step toward a more integrated and responsive agricultural knowledge ecosystem across Africa.