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The ^22nd ordinary session of the CORAF/WECARD Board of Directors, held from January 17 to 19, 2017 in Dakar, Senegal, addressed several important issues that challenge the progress of this African regional organization that brings together French- and English-speaking countries in West and Central Africa.  

The members of the Board of Directors, 13 of the 16 members of CORAF/WECARD who made the trip, discussed key issues relating to the achievement of the objectives set out in the regional institution's second strategic plan (2017-2026) and third operational plan (2017-2022). CORAF/WECARD directors also discussed the mobilization of funds from continental and international organizations.

In addition to these important concerns, other topical issues such as job and wealth creation for young people, migration and climate change were discussed during the ^22ndsession of the Board of Directors on Senegalese soil.

According to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Dr Aliou FALL, who chaired the meeting, there is a need to establish and strengthen technical partnerships with continental and global organizations such as the African Union, the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Development Bank, the World Bank, USAID and others. These institutions all support structural transformation and agricultural innovation on the African continent.

Dr Aliou FALL, who welcomed the meeting, reminded members that CORAF/WECARD is a not-for-profit sub-regional scientific organization covering French- and English-speaking countries, with enormous responsibilities for making a positive impact on agricultural transformation and achieving socio-economic development for the region's populations.

For him, "priority will be given to mobilizing funds for CORAF / WECARD, as most research projects such as the Multi-Donor Fund (MTDF) and the West African Agricultural Productivity Program (WAAPP) have reached or are nearing the end of their cycle".

In a more relaxed atmosphere, the Chairman informed the Board that CORAF / WECARD is celebrating thirty years of existence this year. The celebration of this thirtieth anniversary will be"an opportunity to magnify the achievements of the institution and to set a new agenda for the organization".

Efforts, he said, "will focus on advocacy and raising awareness among decision-makers in the sub-region's public and private sectors, with a view to maximum collaboration and support for achieving the objectives set by the organization's new management".

Concluding his speech, he paid a vibrant tribute to CORAF/WECARD's Executive Director, Dr. Abdou Tenkouano, for his tireless efforts and initiatives to reposition CORAF/WECARD as a global institution specialized in agriculture.

He also praised the staff who have made the working atmosphere favorable to Dr. Tenkouano since he took up his post a year ago.

Board members, development partners (USAID, World Bank), observers (ANAFE, CIRAD, FARA, STC), the management committee and CORAF / WECARD secretariat staff attended the Board meeting.