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From July 27 to August 03, 2022, CORAF's Executive Secretariat welcomed consultants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), who travelled to the region to clarify certain details regarding possible collaboration between CORAF and the BMGF.

With a view to stimulating agricultural research and development (R&D) and helping to improve the living conditions of people in Africa, the FBMG contacted regional organizations working in the sector, including CORAF, to explore potential avenues of collaboration for greater impact.

With this in mind, the foundation commissioned consultants to carry out a forward-looking study, in order to identify priority areas and, above all, intervention mechanisms.

Professor Achille ASSOGBADJO - an agricultural engineer and professor at the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences (FSA) of the University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC) in Benin - and Dr Valère SALAKO - also a research professor at the FSA (UAC-Benin) - are the two consultants responsible for carrying out the study in the CORAF zone, West and Central Africa.

"The prospective study revealed several entry points for collaboration between CORAF and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation," says Professor Achille ASSOGBADJO, while the final report is currently being compiled.

The entry points for collaboration constitute areas of intervention where CORAF would act in a targeted way within the framework of this potential partnership and in line with its mission and Strategic Plan, to contribute to ensuring food and nutritional security for populations, especially the most vulnerable strata. 

In fact, the areas of intervention identified are essentially focused on climate change and gender issues, which embody priorities shared by CORAF and FBMG.

"We look forward to working with you to the best of our ability as we develop and explore this potential new partnership," said CORAF Executive Director Dr Abdou TENKOUANO.

The study report is due to be submitted to the FBMG Board of Directors in November, with a strong chance of launching a collaborative project next year.

In addition to CORAF, the FBMG has contacted the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) and the Coordination Centre for Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA), for the Eastern and Southern African zones respectively.