Support the establishment of the Postharvest Incubation Program and Agribusiness Accelerator in Mali aimed at promoting technologies and innovations in postharvest management of indigenous fruits and vegetables under the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture project
Name of Project:
Enhancing the production and consumption of African Indigenous Fruits and Vegetables to improve diets in Ghana and Mali (Eco-Inveg)
Lead Institution:
Partner Institutions:
University of Ghana
Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa; University of Science, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako (USTT-B); Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Food Research Institute (FRI)
The overall goal of the project is to increase the production and access to nutrient-dense indigenous fruits and vegetables in Ghana and Mali through diet diversification; by valorizing indigenous fruits and vegetables and promoting their consumption. In order to ensure effective implementation, monitoring and evaluation the project has been organized into five (5) work packages which include:
Work Package 1 – Profiling of four indigenous fruits and vegetables
Work package 2 – Value chain analysis
Work package 3: Improving postharvest handling and preservation of indigenous fruits and vegetables.
Work Package 4 – Creation of an Innovation Centre or Incubator
Work Package 5 – Dissemination of technologies, methods, and processes
This assignment is with reference to sub-theme 4.
The incubation program targets businesses led by young people and women in the 20 regions of Mali, during their first three (3) years of creation.
To achieve the above, FARA and the Université des Sciences, des Techniques et des Technologies de Bamako (USTT-B) and the University of Ghana propose engaging a suitable firm to support the process in Mali.
2. This request for proposals aims at engaging a consulting firm (hereafter referred to as Consultant) to carry out the following functions:
The Consultant will coordinate activities and collaborate with all relevant stakeholders to conduct interviews and plan training using appropriate training materials.
The Consultant will liaise with the Eco-InVeg team in Mali and Ghana to obtain the assistance and clarifications necessary to carry out this mission.
The Consultant will present the initial strategy and also advise the team on the incubation program strategy before the call for applications is launched.
The Consultant will be responsible for selecting applications (establishing selection criteria).
The Consultant will be responsible for coordinating the development of training manuals for participants (competency-based).
The Consultant will need to conduct pre- and post-training evaluations to assess the impact of the training.
The Consultant will provide monthly reports and timely feedback on the progress of the incubation program and recommend strategies for continuous improvement.
The Consultant will recruit trainers and facilitators for the training.
The Consultant will be responsible for planning all training sessions, seminars, workshops and mentoring sessions for the pre-selected participants.
The Consultant will be responsible for supervising the finalists in the management of their businesses after the grants are awarded.
The Consultant will be responsible for monitoring and evaluating the Incubation Program.
3. The Executive Director of FARA invites interested firms to express interest in carrying out this assignment.
4. Your proposal including a technical and financial proposal based on the Terms of Reference outlined above must be submitted. The proposal must outline your firm’s proposed methodologies, references related to the execution of similar contracts, experience in similar areas, or evidence of knowledge and a proposed timeline. The proposals must also include the CVs of the proposed team.
5. The anticipated period of performance for this consultancy is 13 months.
6. The firm shall be selected based on the Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS) procedures defined in the Procurement Guidelines of FARA.
8. Proposals should be submitted electronically to [[email protected]] and addressed to Dr. Aggrey Agumya, Executive Director of FARA, No 7 Flower Avenue, New Achimota, Mile 7, Accra, Ghana, no later than Tuesday, December 03, 2024, at 16h00 GMT. Tel: +233 302 772823/744888.
9. FARA-UG Affirmative Action Statement on Recruitment: there is no discrimination based on gender race, religion, ethnic orientation, disability, or health status.
The President of China, Xi Jinping, once said, “If the world enjoys reasonable development, then the two big populations in the world must experience development.” This is true for China, which has succeeded in reducing poverty to the barest minimum, and ensuring industrial and infrastructural development over the last 40 years. Africa, on the other hand, seems to be struggling with its growth, trying to craft a pathway out of poverty, lack of infrastructure, youth unemployment, leadership crises, and social and political upheavals.
Africa has the opportunity to learn and find inspiration from China’s development pathways in many areas, including its agriculture. While there are apparent differences in the natural resource base of the two continents and the socio-political structures, the place of science and technology in orchestrating development is a unifying point. This underscores the development and operations of the China-Africa Innovation Cooperation and Development Forum. The forum has fostered cooperation in numerous areas including agriculture. Today, China is the largest trading partner of 55 countries in Africa and the biggest supplier of industrial equipment and machinery.
At the aegis of the 2024 China-Africa Innovation Cooperation and Development Forum in Wuhan City, China. The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) and the Africa Academy of Sciences (AAS) launched a significant initiative, tagged “China-Africa Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Alliance (CAASTIA). The CAASTIA vision is to enhance modern agricultural development to reduce hunger and poverty in Africa. The alliance aims to deliver innovations, integrate agricultural research and industry resources from the two continents for mutual benefits, build cooperation on the value chain development of major commodities, and focus on common concerns of food security, biosecurity, green growth, and climate change.
CAASTIA will be hosted in Africa and China by its two co-founders, the AAS with the secretariat in Nairobi Kenya and CAAS with its headquarters in Beijing China. The supervising authorities in China are the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA); Ministry of Science and Technologies (MOST) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). In turn, the Department of Agriculture, Rural Economy (DARBE) of the Africa Union Commission (AUC) will be the Africa supervisor.
The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) will be the key implementing partner of CAASTIA in Africa. The core activities of CAASTIA will commence in 2025, starting with the engagement of willing partner organizations and the enactment of its charter.
In an engagement with the president of CAAS, Prof Wu Kongning, during a visit to the CAAS campus in Beijing, Prof Wole Fatunbi, the Ag Director of Research and Innovation in FARA, emphasized the need for research collaboration to develop and or adapt small machinery equipped with robotics functions for smart tillage, weeding and other operations on the farm in Africa.
Prof Wole Fatunbi, Ag. Director of Research and Innovation, FARA
This will align with the continental craving to modernize Africa’s smallholder agriculture in alignment with the nature-based approaches that ensure soil health, biodiversity conservation, and the maintenance of Africa’s natural resource base.
The implementation of the China-Africa Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Alliance (CAASTIA) will kick-off in the first quarter of 2025.
Kampala, Uganda – 11 November 2024: The African Union (AU) has launched the Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Common African Agro-Park (CIG CAAP) under its Agenda 2063, in a bold and strategic initiative aimed at transforming Africa’s cocoa industry. Senior representatives from Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, the AU, and other key stakeholders convened in Kampala to inaugurate this collaborative milestone, designed to tackle pressing challenges and optimise opportunities in Africa’s cocoa sector through an innovative agro-industrial framework.
Dr. Dejene Tezera of FAO
The CIG CAAP is part of the broader Common African Agro-Parks (CAAPs) initiative, a flagship AU program envisioned to reshape Africa’s agricultural landscape by establishing integrated agro-industrial hubs throughout the continent. As two of the world’s top cocoa producers, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana jointly supply nearly 60% of the global cocoa market (World Cocoa Foundation). This partnership aims to strengthen both nations by shifting their focus towards value-added production, enhancing competitive market positioning, and promoting sustainable practices while driving forward the AU’s objectives of regional industrialisation and self-sufficiency.
Dr Janet Edeme, Head of the AU’s Rural Development Division, described the CIG Cocoa CAAP as “a powerful statement of our determination to convert Africa’s natural wealth into value-added products that elevate our economies, empower our youth, and transform our societies.”
The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) is actively supporting the initiative through a dedicated and specialised research agenda targeting ten specific areas of study. FARA will engage leading academic and cocoa research institutions across Africa to recruit PhD candidates focused on advancing critical studies in cocoa production and processing, thereby fostering the next generation of African scientists. This focus reinforces FARA’s commitment to the long-term sustainability and competitiveness of the cocoa sector.
The AU, FARA, Afreximbank, and AfCFTA have united efforts to support the CIG CAAP through substantial investments in research, technical guidance, and innovative financing models. Anselme Vodounhessi, CAAPs Coordinator at FARA, emphasised the project’s commitment to a circular economy by repurposing cocoa byproducts such as husks and shells into environmentally friendly products like fertilisers, animal feed, and biofuels, setting new standards for sustainable industrial practices across Africa.
The meeting included a dedicated session on finalising the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the Pre-feasibility Study and Regional Value Chain Study, two pivotal steps in establishing the CIG CAAP. Under the guidance of UNIDO, with technical support from UNECA, IFPRI, and FAO, the ToR will enable detailed project planning, strategic resource mobilisation, and robust stakeholder engagement, paving the way for regional economic growth.
Paul Ntim of the Ghana Cocoa Board
The Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative (CIGCI) and representatives from both countries endorsed the CIG CAAP, recognising it as a transformative strategy to address their shared strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) in the cocoa sector. Despite challenges like price volatility and limited local processing capabilities, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana are leveraging this partnership to promote local value addition, enhance sustainability, and build resilience against global market fluctuations.
Leading experts emphasised collaborative efforts towards a sustainable, value-oriented cocoa industry, working in coordination with AU, AUDA-NEPAD, AfCFTA, FARA, FAO, and other significant partners to develop a Common African Agro-Parks Cocoa Industrial Zone. Technical experts, including Paul Ntim from the Ghana Cocoa Board, Whatami Vamoussa Coulibaly from Côte d’Ivoire’s Le Conseil du Café-Cacao, and Tawiah Agyarko-Kwarteng, CIGCI Technical Manager, emphasised the importance of cooperative efforts in achieving a sustainable and value-driven cocoa sector.
Building on the momentum of earlier discussions, the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), in collaboration with CORAF, CCARDESA, RUFORUM, JRC-ISPRA, AE-TPP, and IFAD, held a follow-up session on the theme “Reflections on Agroecology as a Pathway to Climate Adaptation and Mitigation” during the ongoing Tropical Summit. Held in a hybrid format, the session brought together high-level stakeholders, including FARA Board Chair Ms. Bongiwe Njobe, Prof. Majaliwa Majalolo of RUFORUM, with expert panelists Alex Awiti (CIFOR-ICRAF), Felix Rembold (EC-JRC), Khamis Fathiya (ICiPE), and Irene Kadzere-Forichi (FiBL). The session was moderated by David Amudavi of Biovision Africa Trust.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Majalolo recognized agroecology’s potential in strengthening the resilience of African food systems amid escalating climate challenges. However, he also highlighted resource limitations and the lack of consensus on agroecology’s comparative advantages over conventional agriculture. According to Majalolo, achieving a food system transformation will require a coalition of diverse stakeholders and a focus on educating future agronomists to adopt agroecological principles.
The expert panellists, each with vast experience in agroecology, delved into several critical issues facing agroecological practice in Africa. Key topics included:
Challenges in Agroecological Research and Practice: The panellists discussed the difficulties of balancing the interests of policymakers, researchers, and farmers, adapting research and policies to specific local contexts, and the lack of subsidies or compensation for farmers engaged in agroecological practices that support climate change mitigation.
Technological Advances in Agroecology: Panelists emphasized moving beyond outdated input-driven models and promoting a focus on the socio-ecological aspects of agroecology. They stressed the need to empower farmers to play a central role in transforming agroecosystems and highlighted the multi-functional benefits of agroecology.
Need for Communication and Dissemination: The session underscored the importance of effectively communicating agroecology’s principles and successes to key stakeholders, including policymakers, farmers, and consumers, to foster broader understanding and support for agroecological practices.
Closing the session, Baitsi Podisi of CCARDESA emphasized the importance of engaging all key players in implementing agroecology. He urged greater collective action to address the varied needs of these stakeholders, ensuring a more integrated and effective approach to agroecological transitions.
FARA and its partners expressed gratitude to all participants and panellists for their valuable contributions to the session, which marked another step forward in defining agroecology’s role in climate adaptation and food system resilience across Africa.
The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), in partnership with CORAF, CCARDESA, RUFORUM, JRC-ISPRA, AE-TPP, and IFAD, co-organized a pivotal session on “Catalyzing Agroecological Transitions in the Tropics in the Context of Climate Change” at the maiden Tropical Summit. This event brought together leading voices in agroecology, including the FARA Board Chair, Ms. Bongiwe Njobe, and FARA’s Executive Director, Dr. Aggrey Agumya, along with other notable participants.
In his welcome remarks, Dr. Aggrey Agumya emphasised the urgency of advancing agroecological practices, noting that while agroecology holds significant potential, it lacks substantial representation in the new Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) strategy. “The scientific community must work harder, faster, and louder to champion agroecological transitions,” Dr. Agumya urged.
Dr. Guy Faure of the European Commission’s International Partnerships (EC/INTPA) echoed this sentiment in his opening address, highlighting robust evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of agroecology. He outlined the European Commission’s commitment to three regional multi-actor networks across Eastern, Western, and Southern Africa. These networks aim to bolster agroecological practices by providing evidence-based technologies, building capacity, and driving policy advocacy.
The hybrid session featured presentations from two distinguished researchers: Professor Rachel Wynberg and Dr. Marc Corbeels, both experts in agroecology. Professor Wynberg discussed the importance of supporting agroecology in tropical regions, touching on research, policy, and practical applications. Dr. Corbeels followed with a presentation on agroecology as a vital approach to enhancing climate resilience, exploring policy and institutional support mechanisms essential for scaling agroecological practices.
The presenters defined key components of agroecology, underscoring its potential to address pressing societal challenges. They also highlighted the main barriers to economic and policy support, sharing insights based on their extensive work in various African contexts.
Interactive discussions and a lively question-and-answer session followed the presentations, with both in-person and online participants. Key questions emerged, including “Can we scale agroecology?” and “What is the return on investment for agroecology?” These questions underscored the audience’s keen interest in understanding both the scalability and economic viability of agroecological practices in Africa and beyond.
The session at the Tropical Summit spotlighted agroecology’s role in climate resilience and sustainable agriculture, paving the way for a deeper commitment from the global community toward supporting agroecological transitions in the tropics.
