Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa

Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa
Name	Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa
Abbreviation	FARA
Formation	1990s
Type	Regional research and advisory organization
Headquarters	Accra, Ghana
Region served	Africa
Languages	English, French
Leader title	Executive Director

Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa

The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa is a pan-African organization that coordinates agricultural research and innovation across the continent. It engages with international bodies such as the African Union, regional economic communities like the Economic Community of West African States, and multilateral donors including the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme. FARA serves as a platform linking national research systems such as the Nigeria Agricultural Research Institute, regional centers like the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, and global institutions including the Food and Agriculture Organization and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research.

History

FARA was established in the context of reforms following reports by entities such as the World Bank and the International Food Policy Research Institute that examined the performance of national agricultural research systems in the 1990s. Its founding involved consultations with organizations including the African Development Bank, the European Union, and the Commonwealth Secretariat, and drew on models from the Rockefeller Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation philanthropic initiatives. Early engagement featured partnerships with the International Livestock Research Institute, the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, and national ministries from countries such as Ghana, Kenya, and Ethiopia.

Mission and Objectives

FARA’s mission emphasizes strengthening agricultural innovation systems to boost productivity across regions like the Sahel, the Horn of Africa, and the Great Lakes Region. Its objectives include coordinating continental strategies aligned with the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme, supporting capacity building at institutions such as the University of Nairobi and the University of Ghana, and promoting evidence-based policy dialogues with actors like the African Union Commission and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. FARA seeks to catalyze innovation platforms involving stakeholders such as the World Agroforestry Centre, the African Development Bank, and civil society organizations linked to the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

Organizational Structure and Governance

FARA’s governance draws on models used by entities like the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research and regional bodies such as the Southern African Development Community. The organization is overseen by a board that includes representatives from national agricultural research organizations like the Ghanaian Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, regional research networks such as the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development, and international partners including the European Commission and the United States Agency for International Development. Operational units interact with research centers like the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, universities such as Makerere University, and policy bodies like the Africa Union Development Agency.

Programs and Initiatives

FARA implements programs modeled after successful interventions by the Green Revolution-era institutions and contemporary initiatives supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation. Notable initiatives include support for agricultural innovation platforms similar to those promoted by the International Food Policy Research Institute, capacity development programs partnering with the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation and demonstration projects linked to the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center. FARA also runs continent-wide information services inspired by the Global Open Data for Agriculture and Nutrition movement, and chairs thematic networks that engage research centers such as the International Center for Tropical Agriculture and universities like University of Ibadan.

Partnerships and Collaborations

FARA maintains strategic partnerships with the African Union, regional economic communities such as the Economic Community of Central African States, multilateral financiers like the International Monetary Fund (in policy dialogues), and technical partners including the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Bank. It collaborates with research consortia such as the CGIAR centers, national systems like the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, and philanthropic actors including the Masters of Code Foundation and the Ford Foundation. FARA’s collaborative networks extend to development agencies such as Agence Française de Développement, the German Agency for International Cooperation, and academic partners like Stellenbosch University.

Funding and Financial Support

FARA’s funding portfolio mirrors multilateral funding patterns seen at institutions like the International Development Association and the Global Environment Facility. Core support has historically come from donors such as the European Commission, bilateral agencies including USAID, and development banks like the African Development Bank. Project funding is often co-financed with research programs operated by the CGIAR consortium and national ministries of agriculture in countries including Nigeria, Uganda, and Mozambique, while philanthropic grants have been provided by foundations such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and corporate partners involved with the African Seed Trade Association.

Impact and Criticism

FARA has been credited with facilitating continental dialogues that influenced policy platforms like the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme and with supporting innovation hubs linked to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture and the International Livestock Research Institute. Independent assessments reference outcomes comparable to those reported by the International Food Policy Research Institute and cite capacity gains in institutions such as Makerere University and the University of Ghana. Criticisms echo broader debates addressed in analyses by the World Bank and advocacy groups such as Oxfam regarding donor dependence, alignment with smallholder farmer priorities represented by organizations like the Pan African Farmers’ Organization, and measurable impacts on food security metrics used by the Food and Agriculture Organization and the United Nations.

Category:Agricultural organizations Category:International development organizations Category:Organizations based in Ghana