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The food system in West and Central Africa (WCA) is already facing the repercussions of COVID-19. Publication deadlines for essential innovations have been affected. The 2020 agricultural season is experiencing major disruptions. COVID-19-induced curfews mean that extension workers and researchers cannot make the trips needed for data collection or to interact with farmers.

Nevertheless, AOC's research managers see a huge opportunity to address some of the structural challenges facing the agricultural industry in the region.

At an online conference held on Wednesday, August 12, 2020, leaders of the National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) of West and Central Africa discussed and documented the impact of Coronavirus on laboratory work, fieldwork and access to research funding and collaboration.

The virtual exchange forum brought together nearly 30 participants - mostly NARS General Managers, Research Directors, some members of CORAF's Scientific and Technical Committee, and some staff from CORAF's Executive Secretariat.

Called the Research Leaders Conference Series, the main aim of this first iteration was to provide a networking opportunity for NARS leaders and to carefully document the impact of COVID-19 on agricultural research with a view to strengthening NARS post-COVID-19.

The impact of COVID-19 on AOC laboratory work

Removal measures put in place by governments to reduce the spread of the virus unintentionally delay the launch of planned research projects, prevent the collection of essential data and limit contact between farmers and extension workers.

"There have been delays in some field activities and in the launch of some research projects," said Dr Hamidou Traoré, Director General ofBurkina Faso's Institute of Environment and Agricultural Research (INERA).

"Most research activities are interrupted in Togo because of COVID-19. We're having difficulty obtaining reagents because the borders are closed", said Dr Yao Lombo, Director General of theInstitut Togolais de Recherche Agricole (ITRA).

"COVID-19 has further reduced the research resources available to us. At the moment, few people are attending the meetings we've organized because of the Coronavirus. So we have to use other means to reach farmers, including radio, television and brochures", said Dr. Ângela Maria Pereira Barreto da Veiga Moreno, Director General of theNational Research Institute for Agricultural Development (INIDA).

Dr Moreno is also President of the CORAF Board of Directors.

"We have been forced to postpone several activities due to movement restrictions. We are currently working with the Government to develop a social resilience policy and a national recovery strategy to strengthen economic resilience," said Dr. Alioune Fall, Director General of theInstitut Sénégalais de Recherche Agricole (ISRA).

The impact of COVID-19 on access to public budget allocations

With many countries now prioritizing healthcare, research establishments have seen their budgets cut even further. To date, research managers have indicated that they are unable to undertake planned trips abroad due to the reduced budgets.

"In Sierra Leone, the research budget has been cut from five to three million dollars because of COVID-19," said Dr Mathew Gboku, Director General of theSierra Leone Agricultural Research Institute (SLARI).

"There have been measures to be able to restrict the budget for the execution of the agricultural campaign. This has affected the production of researchers and all activities", said ITRA's Dr Lombo.

How COVID-19 affects research collaboration

The COVID-19 pandemic made collaboration between researchers extremely difficult. Directors of research institutions had to familiarize themselves with several available communication tools, such as virtual collaboration tools, to adapt to the situation. They also report that fieldwork has been difficult, particularly with illiterate farmers.

"Communication tools are not easy to use with certain partners. It's not easy to work with farmers. Our farmers are mostly illiterate and not familiar with communication tools," said SLARI's Dr Gboku.

Although it is becoming difficult to collaborate virtually, research managers in both regions see a new opportunity to strengthen partnership and collaboration.

"We need more cooperation, not distancing," said Dr Abdou Tenkouano, Executive Director of CORAF.

An opportunity to rebuild better

Participants agreed that it is important to have risk-centered strategies for research organizations. In their view, and based on a report published on August 11, 2020 by the Centre d'Etudes Stratégiques et Internationales, research, data and programming priorities should better reflect major risks and innovative approaches to managing them at farm, community, landscape and economic levels. The diversity of crop and livestock systems should be highlighted, as should the increased productivity and efficiency of individual products and value chains.

"We must prepare ourselves to rebuild better. The COVID-19 effect shows us that no one will make us happy in our place," said Dr Tenkouano, referring to regional research institutions taking more responsibility for their destiny.

According to CORAF's Executive Director, æCOVID-19 is neither the first nor the last health challenge to affect the WCA or the world.

"The only way out is to have a mechanism for anticipation and follow-up, so as not to be caught off guard when the problem arises".

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