Future Agricultures Consortium overview Sept 2011

Future Agricultures ConsortiumA Learning Alliance on African Agricultural Policy

An Overview of the Consortium’s Research, Communications and

Policy Engagement Activities

September 2011

www.future-agricultures.org

Future Agricultures Consortium

Established in 2005….“to encourage dialogue and the sharing of good practice by policy makers and opinion formers in Africa on the role of agriculture in broad based growth”

Future Agricultures Consortium Focus on…• Producing cutting-edge, policy relevant research

linking national debates to wider regional discussions on the new agricultural agenda in Africa

• Building on solid long-term partnerships adding value through synergies and collaboration

• Fostering critical debate on agricultural policy in Africa serving as a communications and networking ‘hub’

• Why now? Lack of focus on the political economy of agricultural policy processes

X-cutting policy questions

Assuming that effectiveness of policy is a major determinant of agricultural performance…

• Which agricultural policies get implemented (in a particular country ) – and why?

• Why might implementation of a similar policy prescription lead to very different outcomes across and within countries?

• How does the political economy of agricultural policy affect processes and outcomes?

Partners and countries• UK: IDS, ODI, SOAS• Africa: multiple

partners across the continent

• Original focal countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi

• East & Southern Africa: Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe

• West & Central Africa: Burkina Faso, Congo, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal

New phase – 2010-2013 • DFID grant – 3 years to April 2013 – £1.5 mil/yr• Extending research activities into West Africa

• Expanding communications and networking activities• Convening high-profile, policy-relevant events• Strengthening the capacity of young researchers• Transferring FAC’s Secretariat to Africa• Deepening and broadening core thematic research:

(1) Policy Processes; (2) Growth & Social Protection; (3) Commercialisations; (4) Science, Technology & Innovation(5) Climate Change & Agriculture; (6) Land; (7) Pastoralism; (8) Young People and Agri-Food Systems

Policy processesFocus

• What determines which policies and investments for agricultural development are ‘politically feasible’ in different contexts?

• How might political economy factors influence how donors can engage most usefully in agricultural policy?

• How might political economy factors influence the outcome of CAADP processes?

• How do political economy factors constrain/support the policy options to promote smallholder commercialisation?

42%22%

12% 17%

CommercialisationsFocus

• What pathways to which types of commercialisation are open to smallholder producers?

• What market and institutional innovation in supply chains might help smallholder producers?

• How do labour markets and institutions affect agricultural growth and poverty reduction?

• How can coordination failures in finance, input and output supply be remedied?

• How can agri-business be developed and regulated?

42%22%

12% 17%

Social ProtectionFocus

• Can synergies be identified between welfare-protecting and growth-promoting social protection and agricultural policies?

• Are there combinations of growth and social protection strategies and instruments that can promote both agricultural and non-agricultural growth and social protection?

• What does ‘graduation’ mean in such intrinsically vulnerable and unpredictable livelihood contexts?

42%22%

12% 17%

Science & TechnologyFocus

• How does the political economy of innovation processes shape agricultural R&D in different settings?

• What public and private actors and interests are influencing debates and policy decisions on Africa’s new Green Revolution agenda – and whose voices are excluded?

• How can the agricultural R&D process be governed so that it works for poor African producers?

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12% 17%

LandFocus

• What international and national policy processes influence transnational commercial land deals in Africa?

• What competing discourses, interests and power relations define struggles over transnational land deals in different places?

• Who wins and who loses from such land deals, in terms of gender, class, ethnicity?

42%22%

12% 17%

Climate changeFocus

• What are the key policy processes, at national and international levels, that shape the links between climate change and agriculture?

• How are international climate change policy goals on mitigation and adaptation negotiated in the agricultural sector at the national level?

• How do government adaptation and mitigation policies manifest themselves in agricultural sector strategies?

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12% 17%

PastoralismFocus

• What are the key issues influencing the future of pastoralists in sub-Saharan Africa?

• What mechanisms are pastoralists developing to spread innovation and what are the opportunities and constraints to promoting their uptake?

42%22%

12% 17%

Young People and Agri-FoodFocus

• How is demographic change affecting the availability of farmers in the future?

• Is de-agrarianisation inevitable?

• What are changing perceptions, expectations and aspirations among youth about the future of agriculture in different contexts?

• How can agriculture across the whole value chain be made attractive as a livelihood option for rural youth in Africa?

42%22%

12% 17%

Convening policy events• Farmer First Revisited: Innovation for Agricultural

Research and Development – IDS, Dec 2007• Towards an African Green Revolution? – Salzburg Global

Seminar, Austria, Apr-May 2008• African Agricultural Policy Seminar Series 1 + 2 – ODI,

2008 & 2010• Awakening Africa’s Sleeping Giant: Agricultural

Development in the Guinea Savannah – SOAS, Jun 2010

• Seasonality Revisited International Conference - IDS, Jul 2009

• University of the Bush – Malka Bisan Adi, Kenya, Nov 2010

• Future of Pastoralism Conference – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Mar 2011

• International Conference on Global Land Grabbing – IDS, UK, Apr 2011

• International Conference on Young People, Farming and Food – Accra, Ghana, Mar 2012

Communications for change

• FAC Publications reaching different audiences Policy Briefs Working Papers Journals, Books, Reports Electronic bulletin English & French

• FAC Website a key communications portal Research Publications News and Events E-debates, Hot topics…

http://www.future-agricultures.org/

• ‘Communications Alliance’ Comms Coordinator (Beatrice Ouma) Food & Ag Convenor (Liz Adams) MK4D – Mobilising Knowledge for

Development/IDS WRENmedia Communications capacity building

Coordination & governance• Secretariat – IDS Joint Coordinators (John Thompson and Ian

Scoones); W Africa (Jim Sumberg); admin and budgets (Oliver Burch)

• Research Coordination - decentralised Theme Convenors oversee all 8 research themes - each follows a detailed annual workplan

• Country Coordination selected focal countries• Annual General Meeting the key decision-making forum• Regular reporting to DFID meetings; formal reports against logframe• CAADP Engagement CAADP Coordinator (Sam Asuming Brempong) +

Consultant (Kate Wellard Dyer)• Gender and Social Analysis x-cutting focus (Christine Okali)• Development of FAC Africa Plan Institutionalisation Commission (6

person team; Ephraim Chirwa, Chair)

Why FAC Africa?• In April 2013, Future Agricultures is aiming to transfer

its Secretariat to an African base• A detailed review of possible locations, governance

arrangements and partnership options is under way• Our vision is to create…

a vibrant, African-led research consortium capable of providing high-quality, independent advice and information based on solid evidence and cutting-edge, comparative analysis to inform and influence the design and implementation of national and regional policy processes which will enhance growth, reduce poverty and regenerate agriculture

Further information:

Beatrice Ouma [email protected]

Communications and Networking Coordinator, Future Agricultures Consortium

http://www.future-agricultures.org/

Thank you