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Plans to involve the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC) were approved. Meeting in N'djamena, Chad, for its 13th General Assembly, delegates heard and validated a new strategy that aims to broadly engage most of the central players in research and development in Central Africa.

CORAF is the largest sub-regional research coordination body in Africa. It is mandated by its members to work in Central and West Africa. And while it has historically supported national agricultural research systems in Central Africa, evidence shows that CORAF has invested more in West Africa. As a result, CORAF has taken steps in recent years to increase its footprint in Central Africa, not only to demonstrate its commitment to meeting the needs of its members, but above all because science is essential to unlocking the agricultural economy.

"Leaders of Central African countries and institutions have repeatedly asked CORAF to increase its presence in the region," said Dr. Abdou Tenkouano.

"What you have seen in the discussions and approval of this document is a sign of CORAF's ability to be responsive to the demands of its key constituents. Today therefore marks a turning point in our history with the Central African region."

So, what's in the strategy?

The new strategy summarizes CORAF's activities in Central Africa up to recent years, provides information on the state of research and development in Central Africa, and reports on the region's agricultural policies. The strategy suggests potential areas of collaboration between Central African actors and CORAF, and concludes with recommendations to both CORAF and the regional economic communities.

What are the actions to be undertaken by CORAF?

Short-term :

• Meet the new team of the ECCAS Commission to learn about its new vision and strategy, but also to present CORAF, its achievements, its strategic, scientific and operational vision, and its willingness to resume cooperation with ECCAS;
• Appoint a CORAF Focal Point within each CORAF member institution who will act as a relay in the promotion and dissemination of the technologies developed for better visibility of its actions and better communication;
• Organize regular missions to countries to meet not only the DGs and Ministers in charge of Research, but also those in charge of Agriculture and Livestock, Economy and Finance to integrate their concerns for the development of the sector and take into account the need to finance the activities of NARS and CORAF;
• Based on the 2018 Memorandum of Understanding between ECOWAS and ECCAS, organize on an annual basis, in a capital city of an ECCAS country, a major Fair of technologies generated in the two sub-regions, technologies that can be adopted by these countries, in order to demonstrate CORAF's added value in terms of facilitating the development, transfer and exchange of technologies. The contribution of the private sector and TFPs can be solicited for this purpose.

Medium-term :

• Support ECCAS and the Department of Environment, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Rural Development (DERNADR) in the revision of the CAP, NAFNSIP, and in the development of strategies to create an enabling environment to accelerate the transformation of agriculture, link production to markets (national, sub-regional and international) and strengthen regional integration institutions (PRASAC, CARBAP); 
• Strengthen ECCAS' capacity to tackle barriers to cross-border trade in agricultural inputs and technologies. This includes: (i) harmonized regional policies and regulations, (ii) regional market development for targeted products, and (iii) regional and national institutional capacity building;
• Support CARBAP to avoid its collapse by organizing, in partnership with Cameroon (host country), a meeting to bail out this fine tool for regional research and scientific cooperation, involving member countries, CEMAC, CEEAC, PRASAC, traditional PTFs (EU, WB, ADB, IITA and CIRAD), PROPAC and the private sector (Plantations des Hauts Penja);
• Develop forward-looking research themes and produce policy briefs to inform and influence policy on current and future priorities and issues in Central Africa.

What recommendations have been made to ECCAS?

Short-term :

• Revise and sign a new partnership agreement to replace the 2008 version, taking into account the new challenges and current priorities of ECCAS: Covid-19, Climate Change, Youth Employment, Agricultural Transformation, Livestock and Aquaculture, Sustainable Management of Natural Resources, Water Management, among others;
• Set up a technical group to monitor implementation of the ECCAS-CORAF Partnership Agreement, involving the governments of ECCAS, CEMAC, PRASAC and CARBAP. This group could have a virtual meeting at a frequency to be determined, and a physical meeting once a year when the security and health situation (post-COVID) so permits;

Medium-term :

• Initiate the development and implementation of large-scale regional projects involving countries, CORAF and potential PTFs, on current priorities such as: climate change, water management, youth employment, agricultural productivity in a context of physical and biological risks, notably COVID-19 and possible pandemics;
• Analyze with CORAF, INRA, PRASAC, CARBAP, the private sector, APOs and BDEAC, strategies for mobilizing political decision-makers and TFPs to secure funding from internal and external resources in order to develop important programs for the sustainable agricultural transformation of Central African countries.

The CORAF Secretariat has now been tasked with implementing the strategy and taking all necessary steps to ensure that it is transformed into action.

Read more : 

• In pictures: CORAF's 13th General Assembly
• CORAF honors R&D champions
• CORAF Chairman calls for increased R&D investment
• Researchers challenged to find solutions to climate change and COVID-19
• 13th CORAF General Assembly opens in Chad
• CORAF's 13th General Assembly to discuss plans for accelerating food security