From 25 to 28 June 2025, FARA and IDOS, through the INTERFACES Project, had the privilege of attending the 10th European Conference on African Studies (ECAS) in the vibrant city of Prague, Czech Republic. Hosted for the first time in Central Europe, ECAS 2025 was a historic gathering that marked the 10th anniversary of this prestigious forum. Under the theme “African, Afropolitan, and Afropean Belongings and Identities”, the conference brought together a rich diversity of scholars, practitioners and policy makers from around the globe to present and discuss possible solutions to crucial issues. The conference offered a dynamic platform to explore the evolving complexities of African identities across geographic, cultural and political spaces.
The opening ceremony which saw the participation of over 400 participants, was graced by the presence of a representative of the Minister of foreign affairs, Czech Republic, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts of Charles University, the outgoing and incoming presidents of the African Studies in Europe (AEGIS) and many other representatives from universities, development partners and research institutes in Europe, Africa and from across the other continents. The Dean expressed utmost gratitude to the organising team and acknowledged the curiosity and eagerness of participants in deepening their knowledge and exploring growth opportunities. “Our curiosity and drive to understand the world have never been deterred by distance,” he stated. The representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs underscored the value of participation from African-based scholars in contributing to collectively understanding African, Afropean and Afropolitan realities. “Issues cannot be tackled if we misunderstand their true complexities and substance”, he highlighted.
Summary of Conference Events and Presentations
The preliminary list of panels for the ECAS 2025 side events revealed a vibrant and diverse programme, comprising 116 thematic panels and more than 900 individual presentations. These presentations were delivered by a wide range of contributors, including scholars, researchers, and practitioners from over 40 countries across Africa, Europe, North America, and Asia. The programme reflected a strong interdisciplinary orientation and an inclusive academic culture that bridges continents, perspectives, and generations.
A significant number of presentations explored issues related to identity, belonging, and mobility. These discussions engaged deeply with the complexities of African, Afropolitan, and Afropean identities as constructed through migration, diaspora experiences, digital engagement, and generational memory. The notion of belonging—whether physical, cultural, or emotional—is interrogated through various lenses, including student mobilities, gendered narratives, and intergenerational transitions.
Decolonization and epistemic justice emerged as central themes across many panels. Presenters delved into efforts to decolonize African studies by challenging Eurocentric curricula and advocating for the recognition and integration of indigenous knowledge systems. These conversations were coupled with critical reflections on research methodologies and positionality, especially in complex or conflict, prone field contexts.
Environmental justice and climate change were also dominant concerns. Presenters highlighted the intersection of ecological degradation, resource conflicts, indigenous environmental governance, and climate, induced migration. Discussions ranged from the politics of green energy and extractivism to local conservation practices and community, based adaptations to climate stress.
Health and care systems were widely addressed, with sessions focusing on traditional medicine, cancer care, reproductive health, mental wellbeing, and health technologies such as drones. These topics were examined both in terms of access and the social dynamics of caregiving, often linking healthcare to broader cultural and political frameworks.
Political cultures, governance, and conflict, related issues also featured prominently. Panels investigated African political systems, state fragility, populist movements, and responses to global geopolitical shifts. Other presentations explored militarization, peacebuilding, African sovereignty, and citizen engagement, offering nuanced insights into how power is contested and negotiated in diverse African settings.
Digitalization and technology, related themes are gaining increasing scholarly attention, as evident in presentations on digital economies, social media, artificial intelligence, and digital activism. These conversations reflected on how Africans are using technology not only to build livelihoods and identities but also to resist exclusion and articulate alternative futures.
Ms. Cecile Poitevin of Center for Development Research (ZEF)
Gender and feminist perspectives cut across multiple panels, bringing attention to the lived experiences of African women, constructions of masculinity, LGBTQ+ identities, and the gendered dimensions of migration, care, and cultural production. These themes were analyzed in relation to social norms, political agency, and structural inequality.
The arts, culture, and literature panels offered rich engagements with African and diasporic storytelling, creative expression, and the politics of memory. Presenters employed innovative formats such as autoethnography, performance, and visual art to examine cultural production and resistance. These sessions demonstrated how artistic practices serve as powerful tools for narrating identity, contesting colonial legacies, and reimagining belonging.
Urbanization and development were explored through discussions on informality, infrastructure, city, and the evolving dynamics of African urban life. Presentations reflected on how people navigate, contest, and shape their urban environments in the context of global development narratives and local aspirations.
Science to Policy Communication Session
Sometimes, as researchers, we find it challenging to share or communicate our research with policymakers. The use of complex and technical language (jargon), the absence of actionable recommendations and the long and dense formats of research findings sometimes hinder the uptake of research in decision, making. The ability to bridge the gap between research and policy and between researchers and policymakers is crucial in addressing some of the global challenges confronting the world. This session, organised by the Nordic Africa Institute, delved into the Whys and Hows of Science to Policy Communication, providing practical tips for researchers and communicators on how to impact policymakers. It threw more light on issues such as mapping your target groups, combining texts and visuals and choosing the right channels. This session was a great eye-opener as it laid emphasis on the need to ‘wear the shoes’ of the policy makers and understand that there is a dire need to design publications in formats that are suited to fast paced policy environments where decisions are made quickly.
FARA & IDOS Event on the theme “From agricultural knowledge to innovation and adoption: Empowering smallholder farmers”
Organized by the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) and moderated by Benjamin Abugri and Theodore Asimeng, this session sought to discuss measures for strengthening innovation systems and adoption among African smallholder farmers. It focused on three main challenges:
Mainstreaming indigenous knowledge through participatory processes
Promoting gender, responsive innovations
Fostering youth, specific solutions
Dr. Theodore Asimeng of German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS)
As one of the lead papers, Mabel Shu from the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) and Coordinator of the KM4AgD CoP presented on ‘Bridging the gap between research, policy, and practice through Indigenous Knowledge (IK) in African agriculture’. Her presentation highlighted the growing value of IK in addressing climate, biodiversity, and land management challenges, while noting its continued marginalisation. Findings from a Knowledge Café revealed key pitfalls, such as the exclusion of Indigenous Communities from research and policymaking, and the undervaluing of their contributions. Good practices included inclusive policymaking, community participation, and scientific validation of IK. A case study on the Zai pit system illustrated IK’s practical value. Mabel recommended respectful engagement, legal protections, and stronger partnerships to ensure IK is recognised, protected, and integrated into development efforts.
Mabel Shu from the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) and Coordinator of the KM4AgD CoP
Other most intriguing presentations were those specifically addressing gender power dynamics and gender-responsive innovations in agriculture. One of them was the session on Gender Power Dynamics and Farmers’ Decision, Making in Sustainable Farm Management in Northern Ghana, that offered great insight into some of the everyday inequalities shaping agricultural practices. The presentation revealed that in many rural Ghanaian communities, gender is not just a social identity but a determinant of access to agricultural resources and authority from childhood through adulthood.
It traced how gendered roles begin early where boys typically inherit agricultural knowledge from their fathers, gaining hands-on experience and eventual decision-making authority over land and resources while girls on the other hand, are often socialized into supporting roles, with limited access to land, fewer agricultural options and constrained mobility. As women grow older, their challenges compound. Access to capacity, building opportunities remains unequal due to sex, segregated training programs and time constraints from household duties. Even in adulthood, men are more likely to control financial resources, prioritize the family farm, and move freely between markets, further reinforcing their dominance in sustainable decision, making.
The session on Gender, Responsive Innovations in Agriculture: Bridging North and Sub-Saharan Africa for Smallholder Empowerment spotlighted the urgent need to realign agricultural innovation with the lived realities of women farmers. Drawing on case studies from Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia, the discussion exposed how entrenched barriers such as insecure land tenure, gender, biased extension systems, and a disconnect between formal knowledge systems and local practices continue to limit women’s agricultural potential. Yet, amidst these challenges, local innovations are emerging with global relevance.
In addition to these, other sessions addressed youth participation in agriculture, bridging the gap between research, policy and practice through indigenous knowledge and features of grassroots agricultural innovation in Africa. Panellists broke down complex issues into simpler ones with the aim of addressing the root causes rather than symptoms.
Local solutions, global lessons
Major takeaways from the session were the following:
Prioritise women’s land rights and access to agricultural resources
Tailor extension services to meet women’s unique needs and time constraints
Promote participatory innovation development that values local knowledge
Facilitate knowledge exchange between North and sub-Saharan Africa to bridge systems and strategies
Recognize women’s agency as central to driving sustainable agricultural change
Farmer gendered social position influences adoption of sustainable practices
Consider how conflict and insecurity impact gender roles in agriculture
These conversations offered a hopeful reminder that building resilient, inclusive agricultural systems demands more than technical solutions; it requires addressing the deeply embedded social and structural barriers that shape who gets to participate, lead and benefit from agricultural resources.
Overall, the ECAS 2025 demonstrated a robust commitment to interdisciplinary, decolonial, and participatory scholarship. There was a strong emphasis on intergenerational dialogue, community engagement, and the centrality of lived experiences in shaping research. The diversity of voices, themes, and methodological approaches reaffirms the conference’s relevance as a global platform for critical reflection and forward-looking conversations on Africa and its diaspora.
At the 3rd African Job Creation Forum (AJCF), held at the Adwa Victory Conference Centre in Addis Ababa, Mr. Anselme Vodounhessi, Coordinator of the Common African Agro-Parks (CAAPs) Programme and Monitoring & Evaluation Expert at FARA, delivered a compelling presentation that underscored Africa’s opportunity to transform its agrifood systems into engines of job creation through agro-industrialization and public-private partnerships.
Speaking during Parallel Session A, themed “Transforming Agrifood Systems into Engines of Job Creation: Advancing CAADP Youth Commitments and the African Agribusiness Youth Strategy (AAYS),” Mr. Vodounhessi spotlighted the CAAPs’ innovative hub-and-spoke model as a scalable solution to address Africa’s youth unemployment crisis. He emphasized that with 75% of the population under the age of 35, and 60% under 25, Africa possesses a vast demographic dividend that remains largely untapped.
Mr. Anselme Vodounhessi (far left) on the “Transforming Agrifood Systems into Engines of Job Creation: Advancing CAADP Youth Commitments and the African Agribusiness Youth Strategy (AAYS)” Parallel Session.
“The CAAPs initiative, now a Flagship Programme of the African Union’s Agenda 2063, aims to generate millions of jobs by integrating youth and women into inclusive, regional value chains powered by transboundary agro-industrial hubs,” said Mr. Vodounhessi.
His intervention drew attention to the pressing employment challenge: with 11 million young Africans entering the job market annually, only 3 million secure decent jobs. He presented CAAPs as a response mechanism that tackles infrastructure gaps, limited access to finance, and fragmented markets—challenges that have historically hindered youth participation in agriculture and agribusiness.
Facilitated by AUDA-NEPAD, the panel featured Mr. Vodounhessi alongside senior leaders from AGRA, ATI, AAIN, and the European Union Delegation. Together, they underscored the urgency of advancing policy coherence, mobilizing catalytic investments, and aligning trade systems with the AfCFTA to fully unlock the job creation potential of Africa’s agrifood sector.
The session concluded with a strong call to action for AU Member States, Regional Economic Communities, and development partners to scale up youth-responsive investments, strengthen inclusive financing instruments, and foster strategic partnerships for CAAPs implementation.
During the briefing, Mr. Vodounhessi provided an update on the CAAPs implementation process, highlighted the strategic role of the AU’s new leadership in steering CAAPs forward, and drew attention to the institutional and operational challenges faced by the CAAPs Secretariat hosted at FARA. The Commissioner reaffirmed his interest and support for enhanced coordination and investment alignment to ensure CAAPs’ success, in alignment with the Soil Initiative for Africa (SIA).
The webinar opened with warm remarks from the moderator, Mabel Lum Shu, who welcomed participants and set the tone for a highly interactive learning experience. She underscored the importance of creating collaborative spaces where practitioners can co-create, share, and reflect on what works in knowledge partnerships. In her words, “the vibrancy of our community depends on how well we listen, adapt, and innovate together.”
One of the session’s highlights was a presentation by Benjamin Abugri, KM, Digitalisation and Learning Lead at the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) and Facilitator of the KM4AgD CoP. Drawing from field experiences and community engagements, Benjamin presented six practical ingredients for building and sustaining successful Communities of Practice. These included: setting clear goals, establishing a learning plan, assigning a moderator or facilitator, using social media and forums for communication, equipping members with collaboration tools, and supporting emerging communities to maintain momentum. He illustrated how these components have been applied within the KM4AgD CoP to strengthen participation and impact. “By nurturing emerging communities,” he noted, “we spread innovation and sustain momentum within our knowledge ecosystem.”
The keynote address was delivered by Krishan Bheenick, a globally respected Knowledge Management consultant. In a deeply reflective and engaging presentation, Krishan traced the evolution of KM in agricultural development from early institutional frameworks to present-day knowledge ecosystems. Using the “KM Tree” model and an ecosystem-based approach, he emphasised the need for strategic alignment, capacity building, and modular planning within KM networks. Krishan encouraged participants to shift from seeing KM as a support service to recognising it as a strategic driver of transformation. He proposed the development of SMART, modular work packages within CoPs that can be celebrated as collective achievements and used to attract new members and partners.
His presentation also introduced the idea of Information, Communication, and Knowledge Management (ICKM) outputs, categorised as communication products, information products, and knowledge products. These, he argued, should be tailored to different levels of stakeholder engagement: global, regional, national, community, and organisational. This approach, rooted in the principle of subsidiarity, allows for more meaningful engagement and storytelling across the agricultural research and development landscape.
The webinar further benefited from insights shared by several eminent guests, including Professor Andreas Brandner, Executive Director of the Knowledge for Development Partnership (K4DP) and Professor Annette Nabatanzi of the Knowledge for Development Centre at Makerere University Business School. Their reflections highlighted both the global relevance and local nuances of KM practice in Africa, emphasising the need for trust-building, shared learning, and institutional ownership.
A significant milestone during the webinar was the launch of the 2025 KM4AgD CoP Survey Report, presented by Bebel Nguepi of YPARD Cameroon. The report captured emerging trends in KM practice, revealing that while the tools and technologies have evolved, core challenges such as engagement, capacity gaps, and institutional integration remain persistent. Upile Faith Muhariwa (Malawi) served as rapporteur for the session, ensuring that the learning points were well documented.
The technical smoothness of the event was made possible through the expert support of Allan Shaquille Pennaneach and Prince Owusu, who handled the digital logistics and participant engagement with professionalism and precision.
In closing, the session reaffirmed the role of KM4AgD as a dynamic platform for collective learning, innovation, and policy influence. As Africa continues to navigate complex development challenges, the importance of well-structured, inclusive, and collaborative KM partnerships cannot be overstated. By drawing on best practices and adapting to context, the KM4AgD CoP continues to offer a blueprint for how knowledge can be mobilised to transform agriculture and livelihoods across the continent. With FARA, CAADP-XP4 partners (CORAF, ASARECA, CCARDESA, AFAAS), INTERFACES and the CGIAR, the CoP remains committed to inclusive, evidence-based, and sustainable KM practices.
The Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (Ghana), Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, has emphasised the need for science-driven solutions and innovation in combating land degradation and building climate resilience.
Speaking at the INTERFACES Status Seminar in Accra , Dr Muhammed highlighted the pressing issue of sustainable land and natural resource management, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where soil erosion, erratic rainfall and diminishing soil fertility threaten ecosystems and livelihoods.
Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (Ghana), Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed
The Minister stressed that “science and innovation must drive efforts to address land degradation and promote sustainable development”. He also affirmed the need for scientific research to inform decision-making, implementation and empowerment, rather than remaining confined to academic circles.
Commitment
Dr Muhammed reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening research and development, citing initiatives that support sustainable enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
He called on government agencies to enhance communication and collaborative partnerships to unlock private capital and advance the scientific community.
He commended the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) for its continental leadership in agricultural innovation and policy support and assured the government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for FARA’s work.
“I commend the five projects that have come together here today for their transdisciplinary approaches that bring together science, policy and community action. By integrating local knowledge with advanced tools such as drone technology, and engaging all stakeholders—from traditional authorities to academia—these projects set a benchmark in participatory land governance,” the Minister said.
Seminar
The seminar, funded by the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), and the Centre for Development Research (ZEF) at the University of Bonn, was attended by over 120 leading researchers, policymakers and practitioners.
It aimed to foster transdisciplinary exchange on sustainable land management, climate resilience and agricultural innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa.
A section of stakeholders and participants during a research presentation workshop session at the Sustainable Land Management in Sub Saharan Africa Status Seminar 2025
It highlighted four major research projects—COINS, DecLaRe, Minodu and InfoRange—as well as the INTERFACES initiative, which fosters collaboration between institutions in Germany and several African countries.
The seminar also offered a platform to showcase research outcomes and foster dialogue among diverse stakeholders, from scientists to traditional authorities, youth representatives and development partners.
Participants explored how collaborative knowledge development and innovation can bridge the gap between research and real-world impact, building stronger connections between Africa and Europe.
Government plans
Speaking at the event, the Social Sector Policy Advisor to the Vice President, Dr Miriam R. Iddrisu, said the government had outlined a holistic strategy to enhance agriculture and encourage sustainable land use.
She indicated that, aligning with national development priorities and international climate responsibilities, the government’s efforts focus on empowerment, resilience and inclusive economic growth.
Dr Iddrisu noted that the government was dedicated to making agriculture appealing to young people and women through skills training, financial access and technology-driven opportunities.
Social Sector Policy Advisor to the Vice President, Dr Miriam R. Iddrisu
“Government is instituting Women in Agriculture, a dedicated initiative aimed at improving women’s access to land, finance and business development opportunities, advancing gender equity and structural inclusion,” she said.
She emphasised that the government had also placed strong emphasis on empowering small-scale and vulnerable farmers through inclusive planning and targeted assistance, such as the “Nkoko Nkitinkiti” poultry project under the Feed Ghana Programme, to boost local poultry production and reduce import dependence, with a focus on supporting smallholder and youth farmers.
INTERFACES Project and leadership
For his part, the Executive Director of FARA, Dr Aggrey Agumya, highlighted the significant progress made by the INTERFACES project in promoting sustainable land management and addressing critical issues related to land degradation, soil health and inclusivity.
Dr Agumya explained that the project, financed by the German Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space, aims to connect individual projects focusing on specific aspects of sustainable land management.
He stressed the importance of bringing issues of soil health, land degradation and erosion to the attention of policymakers and the general public.
Executive Director of FARA, Dr Aggrey Agumya
Highlighting Ghana-specific initiatives, Dr Agumya said, “The project is mainly based in Ghana’s Northern Region, focusing on outreach, knowledge management and capacity development.”
“The project addresses issues of soil fertility management, inclusivity and land tenure, particularly regarding women’s access to land. It also focuses on youth engagement and gender issues related to land management,” he said.
Dr Agumya added that the project’s engagement with traditional leadership was a novel aspect, particularly in the context of land governance. He said the project also partners with local institutions, universities and traditional authorities, recognising the crucial role traditional leaders play in land management.
The Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, has disclosed that government is engaging development partners and evaluating proposals aimed at reclaiming lands devastated by illegal mining activities, popularly known as ‘galamsey’.
Speaking at the INTERFACES Status Seminar held in Accra, Dr. Muhammed emphasised that reclaiming degraded lands is not a one-off event but a long-term process that requires scientific input, stakeholder collaboration, and sustained investment.
“We are engaging partners to come up with means by which we can reclaim those lands. It needs scientific work and substantial investment. Even if you reclaim the land and do not do it well, they cannot use it for farming because the topsoil—which contains the nutrients—would have been destroyed,” he stated ,referencing farmlands used for illegal mining.
He revealed that several proposals had been received and were currently under evaluation.
Sustainable land management
Dr. Muhammed called for a shift towards sustainable land management and climate-smart agriculture, warning that land degradation has severe economic implications.
Alternative funding sources
He linked the rise in Ghana’s import bill for rice and poultry—from US$500 million in 2016 to over US$3 billion by 2025—to poor agricultural productivity due in part to degraded lands.
“When we spend billions importing what we can produce, it affects the economy, job creation, and livelihoods,” he noted.
He highlighted the role of research in reversing land degradation and promoting responsible agricultural practices. To that end, he announced the launch of Ghana’s first Science and Technology Forum, to be held bi-annually, bringing together academia, research institutions, and the private sector to translate research findings into actionable solutions across sectors including agriculture.
The Minister also applauded the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), based in Ghana, for its leadership in agricultural innovation, capacity building, and knowledge management across the continent.
Commitment
He reiterated government’s commitment to creating an enabling policy environment for the mainstreaming of research-based solutions and building local capacity through partnerships that prioritise knowledge transfer over mere financial aid.
Status Seminar
The Status Seminar 2025, funded by the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS), FARA and the Centre for Development Research (ZEF) at the University of Bonn, convened over 120 experts from across Africa and Europe to exchange knowledge on inclusive and climate-resilient land management in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Organised under the INTERFACES project, the event highlighted FARA’s role in advancing sustainable land use through capacity building, knowledge management and policy engagement.
It featured key outcomes from projects such as COINS, DecLaRe, Minodu, and InfoRange, showcasing how locally adapted solutions—driven by collaboration among researchers, communities, and policymakers—are helping address critical challenges like soil degradation, gender inequality, and food insecurity.
Gender disparities in land governance
Delivering an address on behalf of the Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Dr. Miriam Iddrisu highlighted the urgency of addressing gender disparities in land governance across Sub-Saharan Africa.
She stressed that sustainable land management and climate resilience are unattainable if women remain excluded from foundational systems such as land governance.
She said while women constitute nearly half of the agricultural workforce, their access to land, credit, and decision-making remains severely constrained.
“This gender gap is not only unfair, it is inefficient and detrimental to economic and environmental sustainability,” she emphasised.
Alternative funding sources
Legal and cultural barriers, she noted, continue to prevent women from owning or inheriting land, with their voices largely absent in land-related policymaking.
As such, called for deeper collaboration among traditional authorities, researchers, civil society, and policymakers to advance inclusive reforms, while reiterating the government’s commitment to ensuring that every woman has the opportunity to thrive in agriculture, with land as a platform for empowerment, productivity and resilience.
Strategic partnerships and FARA’s role
For his part, Executive Director of FARA, Dr. Aggrey Agumya, reiterated the importance of strategic partnerships in turning agricultural research into real-world impact.
“We stand at a crossroads. Our agricultural systems, particularly those led by smallholder farmers, are facing serious threats—from degraded soils and low productivity to climate-related shocks and weak institutional support. Strategic collaboration is no longer optional; it is essential,” he noted, underscoring the power of collaboration in addressing degraded soils, climate change, and food insecurity.
He highlighted FARA’s leadership role in the INTERFACES initiative—driving knowledge management, science communication, and capacity strengthening across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Dr. Agumya also celebrated the achievements of INTERFACES Knowledge Management Fellows and reaffirmed FARA’s commitment to building resilient agricultural systems through inclusive innovation, institutional support and youth engagement.
He also expressed gratitude to the Government of Ghana for its sustained support to FARA, including hosting its Secretariat within the CSIR enclave and the recent commitment to provide a dedicated office space to enhance FARA’s operations.
