Institutional Capacity & Future Scenarios (ICF)

The Institutional Capacity & Future Scenarios (ICF) Cluster within FARA is integral to fulfilling FARA’s mission of contributing to achieving CAADP-Malabo 2025 targets. This cluster focuses on enhancing the capacity of Africa’s Agricultural Research for Development (AR4D) institutions in Science, Technology, & Innovation (STI) and foresight, with a keen emphasis on gender mainstreaming. The ICF’s programs are structured around four main strategic thrusts:

    1. Identify institutional capacity needs and develop relevant tools to bridge capacity gaps.
    2. Addressing priority capacity needs in science, research management, outreach, agribusiness, foresight, gender mainstreaming, and leadership.
    3. Strengthening institutional capacities for future scenario analysis to enhance long-term planning.
    4. Building institutional capacity for the effective integration of gender considerations.

The cluster aims to achieve the following outputs:

    1. Development of needs assessment and capacity action plans and tools for 47 African countries, focusing on at least five priority value chains.
    2. Strengthening the capacity of 5,000 professionals from 60 African AR4D institutions and the private sector in various areas, including science, research management, outreach, agribusiness, foresight, gender mainstreaming, and leadership.
    3. Enhancing the institutional capacities of 60 African AR4D institutions in future scenario analysis and long-term planning.
    4. Facilitating the integration of gender considerations in the operations of 60 AR4D institutions.

    The cluster is supported by dedicated program managers and assistants under the leadership of a cluster leader, who reports directly to the director of research and innovation.