News

The former Chairman of CORAF's Board of Directors, Dr Alioune Fall, has been appointed interim Chairman of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA).

FARA coordinates agricultural research for development in Africa.

Until his appointment, Dr Fall, of Senegalese origin, was FARA's vice-president for three years (June 2016 - June 2019). He succeeds Dr. Ephraim A. Mukisira from Kenya.

Spearheading CORAF's reforms

Mr. Fall served as Chairman of CORAF's Board of Directors from 2014 to 2018. These were also some of the most challenging years for CORAF. Faced with financial difficulties and an inadequate strategic plan, CORAF had to undertake substantial reforms.

Under Dr Fall's leadership, CORAF mobilized its diverse membership to define a new strategic direction. The 2018-2027 Strategic Plan and 2018-2022 Operational Plan were unanimously approved at the 12th General Assembly held in Dakar, Senegal, in April 2018.

The new strategic documents outline the ways in which CORAF can become more results- and impact-oriented, to the benefit of the people and communities of West and Central Africa.

"CORAF couldn't be prouder of the appointment of Dr. Alioune Fall as FARA's new president. Under his leadership, CORAF has come through some of its most challenging years. This experience and his decades of experience in agricultural research in Africa will be extremely relevant to FARA," said Dr Abdou Tenkouano, Executive Director of CORAF.

"We congratulate him and wish him all the best in his new mission", he added.

Angela Maria P. Barreto da vega Moreno took over the Presidency of the CORAF Board of Directors in April 2018. She is the first woman to chair the Board since CORAF's creation in 1987. The fight against growing poverty in West and Central Africa has been at the heart of Dr. Moreno's vision since he took over the chairmanship of CORAF's Board of Directors.

Based in Accra, Ghana, FARA is the technical arm of the African Union Commission on agricultural science, technology and innovation. FARA was created in 2001 by CORAF, the Agricultural Research and Development Coordination Centre for Southern Africa, theAssociation for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa and the North African Research Organization.