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From February 12 to 14, 2024, CORAF took part in the CEA-FIRST project kick-off meeting organized by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) in Tema, Ghana. The CEA-FIRST kick-off meeting coincides with the International Research Consortium (IRC) signatories' meeting and marks CEA-FIRST's first general assembly.

Under Horizon Europe funding, the International Research Consortium (IRC) will be implemented through a coordination support action called the Europe-Africa Consortium on Research and Innovation for Food Systems Transformation (CEA-FIRST). The CEA-FIRST project officially began on December 1, 2023. The project brings together partners from Europe and Africa, including CORAF, and covers a wide range of expertise and actors (research, NGOs, donors, extension agents, etc.) It is involved in food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture. 

The main objectives of CEA-FIRST are as follows: 

- Provide the public with access to a broad platform of knowledge on food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture (ASPN);

- Provide a sound approach to analyzing research and innovation (R&I) activities and priorities;

- Support the updating of the AU-EU partnership roadmap for research and innovation (R&I) on ASPN

- Establish operational and thematic research working groups;

- Support liaison between the IRC and the AU-EU High-Level Political Dialogue (HLPD).

CEA-FIRST aims to operationalize the International Research Consortium (IRC) as a long-term platform on food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture (FNSSA), in line with the AU-EU High-Level Policy Dialogue's FNSSA roadmap. 

The International Research Consortium, a multi-stakeholder platform, aims to increase synergies and coherence while reducing the fragmentation of research efforts. Its aim is to promote greater return on investment and impact on business development in Africa and Europe, by connecting players, research and innovation projects, initiatives and funding programs.

In a context of transition for agri-food systems, marked by the challenges of climate change and demographic change, the international research consortium is an essential tool for fostering an equitable and sustainable research and innovation partnership between Africa and Europe. This partnership aims to strengthen agriculture as a key driver of economic development.