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Capacity building for managers and scientists and the renewal of scientific human capital in West and Central Africa is a priority for CORAF. It is in this context that CORAF organized a regional workshop in Saly, Senegal, from August 19 to 21, 2024, aimed at strengthening the research project proposal writing skills of nearly 25 young researchers from 10 West African countries. These young people, representing National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS), come from agricultural research institutes, agronomy schools and universities. By the end of the project, they will be able to draw up relevant and attractive research proposals, capable of securing much-needed funding for innovative projects.

"Capacity building for young researchers is essential to building resilient agriculture in West Africa," said Prof. Niéyidouba LAMIEN, Program Manager at CORAF and Coordinator of Component 2 of the FSRP program. "Through this workshop, we are giving our young researchers the means to transform innovative ideas into bankable projects for our food systems," he added.

Consultant trainer Prof. AGBOKA Komi stressed the importance of well-structured proposals: "A well-developed research proposal is the key to turning an idea into a funded project and concrete solutions." With over 15 years' experience in the field, Prof. Agboka has trained many generations of researchers.

Among the participants, Dr. Dianda Oumarou, a researcher from Burkina Faso, expressed his gratitude to CORAF for this training: "This training is a real added value for my skills. Thanks to a previous CORAF training course on bio-information and biotechnology, I was able to develop a project and obtain funding of 40 million CFA francs. I'm convinced that this new training will enable me to go even further in my research."

The Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP) is an ambitious regional initiative aimed at strengthening food system resilience in West Africa. CORAF, mandated to implement component 2 of the program, plays a crucial role in this initiative, focusing on the sustainability and adaptability of the food system by strengthening national and regional research centers.

"The future of agriculture in West Africa depends on the ability of our researchers to mobilize resources and innovate to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow," concluded Prof. LAMIEN. concluded Prof. LAMIEN.

This workshop marks an important step in the region's commitment to solving its own problems. By training young researchers, CORAF is giving them the tools to become the architects of a more resilient and prosperous future for West Africa in agricultural research and development.