FARA is the continental apex body for agricultural research and innovation in Africa and a technical organisation of the African Union Commission and the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD on matters concerning agricultural research and innovation. Its mission is to contribute to generating high, broad-based and sustainable agricultural growth by catalyzing improvements to the productivity and competiveness of the sector through increased and effective application of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI). FARA executes its mission by performing the following functions: (i) advocacy for increased and more effective deployment of STI in agriculture which is a necessary condition for achieving national and continental development goals; (ii) facilitating partnerships among research, innovation and agribusiness actors within Africa as well as between Africa and external regional or national entities to enhance the generation and scaling of technologies; (iii) convening stakeholders; (iv) facilitating the development and implementation of continental initiatives and programmes that respond to the continent’s priorities; (v) strengthening the institutional and systemic capacities for agricultural innovation; and (vi) facilitating the exchange of information, knowledge and learning in STI for agriculture. The Secretariat of FARA is based in Accra, Ghana.
The effectiveness of FARA in executing its mission strongly relies on the communication function. FARA is seeking an innovative, dynamic, multi-skilled and experienced Communication Expert.
2 Purpose
The primary responsibility of the communication expert is to coordinate actions aimed at enhancing understanding of organisation’s mission as well as its impact, visibility and voice by providing technical leadership of the update and implementation of the organization’s communication and visibility strategy.
Reporting in the interim to the Executive Director, the successful candidate shall inter-alia perform the following duties and responsibilities:
3 Duties and Responsibilities
Strategy update and implementation
Conduct an assessment of FARA’s communication needs and use the findings to update its communication, visibility and social media strategy to ensure it responds to FARA’s mission and objectives and includes a clear dissemination, exploitation and communication (DEC) plan.
Develop branding guidelines
Identify key messaging and communication channels to effectively reach the intended stakeholders.
Coordinate the implementation of the DEC plan to ensure consistent and timely delivery of messages.
Monitor performance of the communication function and make the necessary adjustments to the communication plan.
Content Creation, Management and Quality Assurance
Create engaging and informative content for various communication channels, including website, social media, newsletters, roller stands, posters, reports and presentations.
Conduct research and gather relevant information to develop accurate and compelling content. Translate research and reports into visual materials
Contribute to visual and digital communications, including photo gathering and editing, graphic creation and presentation, and other multi-media editing, including video and audio.
Serve as editor of FARA’s website and social media channels, providing quality assurance, tone, and consistency of online materials, core messaging, and web-enabled stakeholder engagement.
Manage and update corporate (e.g. annual report) and project communication materials, ensuring consistency and adherence to branding guidelines.
Oversee quality assurance for all editorial output and content creation of all communication materials of FARA intended for publication.
Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Building
Build and maintain relationships with media outlets, partners, and key stakeholders.
Coordinate publicity campaigns for major events convened by FARA. This may include the mobilization and training of social media reporters.
Engage with stakeholders to gather feedback, address inquiries, and ensure effective communication flow.
Any other duties within the scope of communication and media relations as assigned by Management.
4 Education and Experience
At least a master’s degree in applied communication, journalism, public relations, or related field and experience.
Proven experience in conducting corporate communication audits/ assessments and crafting communication and branding strategies and plans
A good knowledge and understanding of African Agricultural development issues.
A minimum of five years’ experience in a related communications, marketing or journalist role and/or science writing and editing.
Demonstrable experience of representing an organisation in public or/and media relations, advocacy or marketing campaigns and excellent public-speaking skills.
Hands-on experience in writing speeches, resolutions, bulletins, reports, scientific papers and presentations. Proven writing and editing skills in English.
Knowledge and applied work experience in social media, specifically in the design and execution of plans for assuring that online communication and audience engagement tools and channels are fully leveraged. Strong ICT skills are essential.
Knowledge and experience in the monitoring and evaluation of the communication function.
Experience with TV/video production, including scriptwriting and/or camera work is an advantage.
5 Languages
Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of French is an advantage.
6 Duration of Assignment
This assignment is for an initial period of one year and is renewable upon availability of funds and effective delivery of outputs.
7 Location of the Assignment
The consultant will work physically from the office of FARA, located at 7 Flower Avenue, Achimota Mile 7, Accra, Ghana.
8 Application
Candidates that meet the requirements are invited to submit via email their comprehensive Curriculum Vitae together with a motivation letter and names/contact details of three referees to: Dr. Aggrey Agumya, Executive Director, FARA, PMB CT 173, Cantonments, Accra, Ghana.
Email: [[email protected]] Applications will be accepted up to Friday, 19th July 2024. Please use the job title and reference in the subject line of your email.
Due to anticipated high volume of applicants, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Applications which do not meet the stated criteria will be rejected.
FARA Affirmative Action Statement on Employment
There is no discrimination based on gender race, religion, ethnic orientation, disability or health status.
Today, Dr. Henry Musa Kpaka, the Minister of Agriculture for Sierra Leone, hosted a high-level delegation from the African Union (AU) and the People’s Republic of China. This significant meeting marks a pivotal step in advancing agricultural development in West Africa, focusing on the integration of Perennial Rice (PR) into large-scale rice production under the Common African Agro-Parks (CAAPs) initiative.
The delegation, comprising esteemed representatives from the African Union Commission (AUC), the CAAPs-Secretariat (FARA), and Chinese agronomists, convened to explore collaborative opportunities to boost rice production in the region. This initiative aligns with the AU’s Agenda 2063, emphasizing sustainable agricultural practices and enhanced food security. Key attendees included Mr. Anselme Vodounhessi, CAAPs Coordinator at FARA, along with ZHANG Zihua, First Secretary of the Mission of China to the African Union.
The primary goal of this mission is to foster dialogue and collaboration between Sierra Leone, the AU, and China. Key discussions revolved around introducing and cultivating Perennial Rice (PR) in Sierra Leone and beyond, exploring China’s involvement in establishing a rice CAAPs for West Africa, assessing the potential benefits of PR adoption for enhancing agricultural productivity and food security, and developing a strategic partnership roadmap for implementing the rice CAAPs and mainstreaming PR initiatives in Sierra Leone. Dr. Kpaka emphasized the significance of this collaboration, stating, “The integration of Perennial Rice into our agricultural framework holds immense promise for enhancing food security and economic prosperity in Sierra Leone and West Africa. We are committed to leveraging innovative technologies and strategic partnerships to position our nation at the forefront of sustainable agricultural development.”
Dr. Musa Kpaka also expressed Sierra Leone’s commitment to engage with neighboring countries such as Guinea, Liberia, and others to establish Rice-CAAPs, aiming for a sustainable rice value chain across West Africa as part of the next ten-year implementation of the AU Agenda 2063. This regional collaboration is expected to strengthen agricultural practices and enhance food security in the region.
The agenda for the meeting included courtesy visits to government officials and relevant stakeholders, working sessions on understanding CAAPs, the introduction of a rice-CAAP in Sierra Leone, and the benefits of PR, as well as roundtable discussions to explore collaboration opportunities. On the second day, the delegation visited potential PR demonstration plots and consulted with local agricultural experts, researchers, and farmers. The discussions culminated in the development of a joint action plan for initiating the rice-CAAPs and mainstreaming PR initiatives.
The delegation’s visit underscores the commitment of the AU, China, and Sierra Leone to enhance agricultural productivity through innovative solutions like Perennial Rice. This initiative is poised to significantly contribute to the overarching goals of the AU’s Agenda 2063, promoting sustainable agricultural development and food security across the continent.
For more information, please contact:
CAAPs-Secretariat (FARA)
African Union Commission
Ministry of Agriculture, Sierra Leone
About CAAPs: The Common African Agro-Parks (CAAPs) initiative is a flagship program of the AU’s Agenda 2063, aimed at integrating modern agricultural practices, technology, and partnerships across Africa to foster sustainable agricultural development and food security.
About Perennial Rice (PR): Developed by Chinese agronomists, Perennial Rice offers significant advantages, including reduced replanting requirements, improved soil health, and heightened climate resilience, making it a strategic investment for enhancing agricultural productivity in Africa.
Date: July 8, 2024 Venue: African Union Commission (AUC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – July 8, 2024: In a pivotal moment for Africa’s agriculture research and innovation, H.E. Amb. Josefa Sacko, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) at the African Union Commission (AUC), hosted Dr. Aggrey Agumya, the Executive Director of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), for a high-level meeting on July 8th, 2024. This crucial engagement took place at the AUC headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where the future of Africa’s agricultural research and development was at the forefront of discussions.
Commissioner Sacko warmly welcomed Dr. Agumya to the AUC, expressing her commitment to reinforcing the strategic partnership between the AUC and FARA. The meeting was a platform to highlight the progress and achievements of FARA-hosted programmes of the African Union and align on key areas for future collaboration.
From left to right, CAAPs and FARA M&E Coordinator Anselme Vodounhessi, FARA Executive Director Dr. Aggrey Agumya, AUC DARBE Commissioner H.E Amb. Josefa Sacko and FARA Ag. Director for Research and Innovation, Dr. Wole Fatunbi.
Significant updates included (i) the Soil Initiative for Africa (SIA), the Africa fertilizer and Soil health Action Plan (AFSH-AP) and the Nairobi Declaration of May 2024, with detailed discussions on preparations for implementation, funding, and roadmap development; (ii) the Common Africa Agro Parks (CAAPs) Programme, where discussions focused on recent progress, ongoing consultations, and engagements with funders. The strategic importance of CAAPs for agricultural transformation in Africa was underscored as a critical initiative.
(iii) the African Seed and Biotechnology Partnership Platform (ASBPP), where discussions focussed on the Partnership for Integrated Seed Systems in Africa (PISSA) and the platform efforts to mobilise investments in PISSA; (iv) the involvement of FARA in the process of crafting the Post-Malabo agenda and in its implementation including the CAADP research and innovation strategy; (v) the Africa climate smart agriculture initiative which is currently in early stages of conceptualisation.
The high-level dialogue included H.E. Commissioner Sacko and senior advisors from AUC, key personnel from FARA, including Dr. Aggrey Agumya, and Dr. Wole Fatunbi and Mr. Anselme Vodounhessi from FARA. Both parties reaffirmed their dedication to driving strategic initiatives that will lead to sustainable agricultural transformation across Africa. HE Commissioner Sacko, emphasized her determination to strengthen Africa organizations to lead the realization of the vision for Africa agricultural development, i.e., CAADP.
Commissioner Sacko emphasized, “This meeting marks a significant step forward in our collaborative efforts with FARA. Together, we are committed to addressing the critical challenges and leveraging opportunities to transform agriculture in Africa.”
This engagement underscores the AUC and FARA’s unwavering commitment to enhancing African agricultural research and development. It signifies a strengthened partnership to foster sustainable agricultural practices and promote economic growth across the continent.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)
About FARA:
The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) is the apex organization for agricultural research and innovation in Africa. It is a technical organisation of the African Union Commission and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) on matters concerning agriculture research and innovation. It provides a continental platform for advancing the deployment of science, technology and innovation towards achievement of the national, regional and continental food systems and agriculture transformation targets. FARA’s mission is to contribute to the sustainable improvement of food security, incomes, resilience and environmental management in Africa through the improvement of agricultural systems’ productivity, competitiveness, markets and agricultural ecosystems.
About AUC-DARBE:
The Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) at the African Union Commission (AUC) is responsible for driving the African Union’s agricultural and rural development agenda. The department focuses on enhancing food security, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and fostering economic growth through agriculture and rural development.
The Africa Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) mark a significant milestone as the Common African Agro-Parks (CAAPs) Project Agreement is officially endorsed at the Tunisia Africa Business Meetings.
This groundbreaking collaboration between the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), Afreximbank and FARA, supports the visionary CAAPs Programme.
“Together, we’re set to transform agricultural productivity across Africa by creating innovative agro-industrial parks that promote cutting-edge technology transfer and drive economic development.”
Signatories were Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Afreximbank and Chair of the AATB Executive Committee Eng. Hani Salem Sonbol, CEO of International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) and the Arab Africa Trade Bridge (AATB) Secretary General.
Support the establishment of the Postharvest Incubation Program and Agribusiness Accelerator 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: Lead Institution: Partner Institutions
Enhancing the production and consumption of African Indigenous Fruits and Vegetables to improve diets in Ghana and Mali (Eco-Inveg) the University of Ghana Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa; the University of Science, Techniques and Technologies of Bamako (USTT-B); Council for Scientific and Industrial Research – Food Research Institute (FRI)
Procurement Ref:
FARA/UG/FeedTheFutureInnovLABS/CS/QCBS/2024/01
Issue Date:
Tuesday, July 03, 2024
Submission Deadline:
Wednesday, July 17, 2024
The Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture is funding a collaborative project in Ghana and Mali involving academia, research institutions and the private sector from the two countries. The collaboration involves the University of Ghana, Université des Sciences, des Techniques et des Technologies de Bamako (USTT-B), Food Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Ghana, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) and Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD).
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. 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 objective of the incubation program is to establish an incubator/innovation hub for women and youth entrepreneurs and key stakeholders in all 16 regions of Ghana to connect, increase knowledge sharing, and co-create solutions to spur innovations and business opportunities for selected indigenous fruits and vegetables.
To achieve the above, FARA and the University of Ghana propose engaging a suitable firm to support the process.
3. This request for proposals aims at engaging a consulting firm (hereafter referred to as Consultant) to carry out the following functions:
The Consultant shall liaise with the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for the Horticulture team for the necessary assistance and clarifications to undertake this assignment.
The consultant shall coordinate activities and engage with all relevant stakeholders to conduct interviews and schedule training using appropriate training materials.
The Consultant shall present the initial strategy and advise the team on the strategy for the incubation program before the launch of the call for applications.
The Consultant shall be responsible for the Screening of applications (establishing selection criteria)
The Consultant shall be responsible for coordinating the development of training manuals for participants (competency-based)
The Consultant shall recruit trainers and facilitators for the training
The Consultant shall be responsible for scheduling all training sessions, seminars, workshops and mentorship sessions of pre-selected participants
The Consultant shall conduct pre and post-training evaluations to assess the impact of the training.
The Consultant shall provide quarterly monthly reports and timely feedback on the progress of the incubation program and recommend strategies for continuous improvement.
The Consultant shall be responsible for coaching finalists in managing their enterprises after the award of grants.
The Consultant shall be responsible for monitoring and Evaluation of the Incubation Program.
The Executive Director of FARA invites interested firms to express interest in carrying out this assignment.
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, evidence of knowledge and a proposed timeline. The proposals must also include the CVs of the proposed team.
The anticipated period of performance for this consultancy is 18 months.
The firm shall be selected based on the Quality and Cost-Based Selection (QCBS) procedures defined in the FARA procurement Guidelines.
Interested firms may obtain further information from the Project Lead,[[email protected]]; [[email protected]] and copy the Procurement Expert, FARA, [[email protected]] during the following hours: 9h00 to 16h00 GMT.
Please download the Terms of Reference below for further information on this opportunity.
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 Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at 16h00 GMT. Tel: +233 302 772823/744888.
FARA-UG Affirmative Action Statement on Recruitment: there is no discrimination based on gender race, religion, ethnic orientation, disability, or health status.
A conference of about 100 high-level scientists and leaders of thought in Africa and China was held between the 12th and 13th of June 2024 at the Hilton Hotel Conference Room in Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City, China. The two-day conference organized by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the FAO South-South and Triangular Cooperation Division deliberated on the status of African agricultural research and innovation and how to optimize the partnership between China as a large country and the African continent with its 55 independent countries.
Africa and China have the largest populations in the world, recent estimates place the two continents as having about 1.4 billion inhabitants each, erstwhile both continents have the debilitating problem of extreme poverty and food insecurity. But China seems to have overcome its challenge with over 40 years of effort to become an industrial economy with a mere 0.7% poverty rate representing an unprecedented fall from 88% in 1981. Today China is a major player in the production and export of agricultural commodities and a key source of industrial machinery and lots of domestic products sold across the globe. While China keeps growing, Africa is yet to gain strong traction in implementing its growth pathways or rather yet to bring poverty and food insecurity down to a reasonably low level. Available statistics indicated that the poverty level in Africa was 56% in 1990, it came down to 43% in 2012 and in 2019 33.8%, indicating a consistent reduction and suggesting the need to increase technical and political efforts on the key drivers of poverty reduction.
China certainly got it right and has a lot of lessons to share with Africa on how it navigates its economic and industrial growth. Its investment into science, technology generation, infrastructural development, right policies, great leadership, and cultivation of loyalty and civility with its citizens contributed to its success. The deep-seated Asian-like politeness and the act of showing regard for others is at the base of China’s willingness to share its scientific breakthroughs with Africa. This is evident in its different cooperation with African countries in the last decade; the most obvious is its finance of different structural projects across African countries; the development of trade treaties with countries and the growing exchanges of technologies in agriculture.
The central question is “How do we optimize the cooperation to deliver the development outcomes we need in Africa?
Discussion in the conference pointed out the need for Africa to craft its pathway to development. Africa is unique in many ways and cannot outrightly be compared with any other continent in the world; it cannot copy the pathways of other continents with success. However, it could learn key lessons from the successes of others and adapt it to its socio-economic, political, cultural and natural resource base. The introduced Chinese technologies need to be adapted to the local context in Africa, recent observations with introduced agricultural processing and industrial machineries from China on their serviceable years or how long they lasts showed the need to run strong adaptation of the machineries to general behaviors of users in Africa. An old slogan of the Peugeot automobile Nigeria limited is instructive, it said “Built for Nigerian Roads”. Machines that will serve Africa conditions must be built for Africa, it must be rugged, use multiple power sources, with less electronics and more electrical and mechanical components, more user serviceable parts etc.
The Chinese science and technology cooperation in Africa agriculture needs to be coordinated and the focus needs to be defined. A bilateral relationship of a specific laboratory in China with another laboratory in Africa could not be called the China-Africa cooperation. A truly continental effort needs to give cognizance to the existing agricultural research coordination architecture in Africa and uses it as its entry point. This will ensure effective coordination of the efforts, monitoring of progress, lesson learning, and scaling of lessons and proven technologies for broad-based continental impact.
The upcoming China-Africa Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Alliance (CAASTIA), which was initiated by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the African Academy of Sciences, has huge potential to promote effective partnerships and exchanges between African agricultural stakeholders and that of China. It was advised that FARA would play a constructive role in coordinating and implementing CAASTIA activities, to ensure its effective formation and operation.
