Accra-Ghana: The African forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS) on the 16th September signed a Memorandum of Understanding with The European Alliance on Agricultural Knowledge for Development (AGRINATURA) during the Science and Partnerships for Agriculture Conference held in Accra Ghana.
The objective of the Memorandum of Understanding is to foster collaboration and strengthen working relationship between AFAAS and AGRINATURA to enhance the quality of agricultural higher education and research in Africa and Europe.
According to Mr. Max Olupot, the Director of Programmes AFAAS, the MoU with AGRINATURA will among others strengthen the collaboration through Jointly organizing regular strategic events to discuss emerging issues and identify solutions for Agricultural higher education and research in African and beyond; Exchange of scholars and students from AFAAS and AGRINATURA Member Universities and staff from their secretariat in the course of academic development in order to address the issue of scientific progress and relevance of higher education in agriculture to social and economic needs; Conduct research of interest of both parties and their members as well as provide support and advice for evidence-based policy making, in particular at the European level.
According to Dr. Stephen Onakuse, President AGRINATURA, the two institutions have recognized that agricultural research and education will underpin the innovations needed to increase production and productivity to feed rapidly expanding populations, protect the natural resource base for future generations, and catalyze wider economic growth, poverty reduction and food security.
The MoU is inspired by the International and continental frameworks such as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Africa’s Agenda 2063, Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA 2024), Policy Framework on Revitalizing Higher Education in Africa and other African Continental frameworks. AFAAS and AGRINATURA also agreed to cooperate with each other and as appropriate, with relevant national, regional, and international institutions operating within Africa and Europe in the operationalization of the MoU.