Periodic Reporting for period 3 - LEAP4FNSSA (Support to the implementation of the Long-term EU-AU Research and Innovation Partnership for Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture)
Période du rapport: 2021-11-01 au 2022-10-31
The LEAP4FNSSA Project was premised on the overall objective of establishing a sustainable structure, or Platform, for the efficient and coherent implementation and functioning of the AU-EU High Level Policy Dialogue (HLPD) Roadmap towards a Research and Innovation Partnership on Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA). The FNSSA network is differentiated across actors, initiatives, strategies and programmes at national, sub-regional and continental level making it's actions highly fragmented. The Platform to be established is therefore intended to address this fragmentation.
The specific objectives of the LEAP4FNSSA Project were to work towards ways of:
1: Increasing the synergies and coherence between actors, research and innovation projects, initiatives and programmes, through the development of institutional alliances and clusters of projects
2: Developing a learning environment and a large knowledge base, including monitoring and evaluation activities, creating communication and links between different initiatives to improve STI cooperation
3: Establishing a long term and sustainable governance and funding mechanism for the Platform
4: Supporting to the HLPD Bureau in particular to the work of the HLPD FNSSA Working Group (WG)
At the end of 48 months, the Project has established and launched the Africa-Europe International Research Consortium on Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (AU-EU IRC-FNSSA) as the foundation towards the operationalisation of the envisaged Platform. The establishment of the IRC within the stipulated Project period paves the way towards implementing the Horizon Europe funded CSA to operationalise the AU-EU IRC-FNSSA by the end of 2023.
The specific objectives of the LEAP4FNSSA Project were to work towards ways of:
1: Increasing the synergies and coherence between actors, research and innovation projects, initiatives and programmes, through the development of institutional alliances and clusters of projects
2: Developing a learning environment and a large knowledge base, including monitoring and evaluation activities, creating communication and links between different initiatives to improve STI cooperation
3: Establishing a long term and sustainable governance and funding mechanism for the Platform
4: Supporting to the HLPD Bureau in particular to the work of the HLPD FNSSA Working Group (WG)
At the end of 48 months, the Project has established and launched the Africa-Europe International Research Consortium on Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (AU-EU IRC-FNSSA) as the foundation towards the operationalisation of the envisaged Platform. The establishment of the IRC within the stipulated Project period paves the way towards implementing the Horizon Europe funded CSA to operationalise the AU-EU IRC-FNSSA by the end of 2023.
Increasing the synergies and coherence between actors, Research and Innovation (R&I) projects, initiatives and programmes, through the development of institutional alliances and clusters of projects:
Two regional alliances were piloted; the West Africa-Europe Alliance and the North Africa-EU Alliances that piloted a private sector cluster of African and European farmers, private sector, start-ups and their funders. The elements of the PIMC meta-governance have been tested. These experiences contributed to the design of a Cluster Mechanism. Emerging lessons and documents including; Situation Analysis, Roadmaps, TCIP are expected to inform the envisaged Platform.
Implementation of the Project Dissemination and Communication Strategy, led to a wide FNSSA audience reach. The website, Agora and social network accounts achieved KPIs multiple fold beyond Project targets. 8 newsletters and 8 studies were published with 19 citations on google scholar. These channels together with a large number of engagements reaching 2000+ stakeholders, led to a high publicity and growing interest in the AU-EU IRC-FNSSA.
Developing a learning environment and a knowledge base, including monitoring and evaluation activities, creating communication and links between different initiatives to improve STI cooperation:
A database containing 447 FNSSA projects, was created and is publicly available and being updated. An associated database of organisations participating in the projects was also created for navigating active organisations at national and regional levels. The knowledge management tool KEOPS was developed with an enhanced Knowledge Visualisation module exploitable by FNSSA actors. These KM tools are to be tailored to IRC stakeholder needs. A large network beyond the Project consortium was created including decision makers, researchers, funding institutions, international organisations, farmers’ organisations, industry and agribusinesses, women and youth leading to a learning environment and added value in raising awareness and disseminating the IRC.
Establishing a long-term and sustainable governance and funding mechanism for the Platform:
A roadmap and action plan to guide the establishment of the AU-EU IRC-FNSSA was developed and implemented. The roadmap and the Project Theory of change guided an effective transition towards developing the structures of the IRC. The IRC draft manuscript benefited from wide global discussion including 300+ entities that had expressed their interest to join it. After a successful final write-shop, the final Project General Assembly endorsed the IRC leading to its launch under the aegis of the HLPD Working Group of the FNSSA in September 2022. The IRC is the main “long-term AU-EU bicontinental sustainable platform for FNSSA from partnership project to a Sustainable Platform”. The AU-EU IRC-FNSSA, currently with 46 signatories (40% European and 60% African legal entities), within the R&I space and managed on LEAP4FNSSA D-group.
Supporting to the HLPD Bureau in particular to the work of the HLPD FNSSA WG:
Six studies were completed to advance the work of the HLPD FNSSA WG and the FNSSA Partnership. Systems and processes for undertaking the M&E have been established. Significant data collection was undertaken and the FNSSA Partnership M&E framework developed by the Project. Through these actions and the secretariat services provided to the FNSSA WG and other HLPD policy structures (Bureau, SOM, Ministerial meetings), the Project established a viable mechanism for linking the science and policy communities to advance the Partnership on R&I. LEAP4FNSSA has extended its presence at global events and strengthened strategic linkages to other networks.
Two regional alliances were piloted; the West Africa-Europe Alliance and the North Africa-EU Alliances that piloted a private sector cluster of African and European farmers, private sector, start-ups and their funders. The elements of the PIMC meta-governance have been tested. These experiences contributed to the design of a Cluster Mechanism. Emerging lessons and documents including; Situation Analysis, Roadmaps, TCIP are expected to inform the envisaged Platform.
Implementation of the Project Dissemination and Communication Strategy, led to a wide FNSSA audience reach. The website, Agora and social network accounts achieved KPIs multiple fold beyond Project targets. 8 newsletters and 8 studies were published with 19 citations on google scholar. These channels together with a large number of engagements reaching 2000+ stakeholders, led to a high publicity and growing interest in the AU-EU IRC-FNSSA.
Developing a learning environment and a knowledge base, including monitoring and evaluation activities, creating communication and links between different initiatives to improve STI cooperation:
A database containing 447 FNSSA projects, was created and is publicly available and being updated. An associated database of organisations participating in the projects was also created for navigating active organisations at national and regional levels. The knowledge management tool KEOPS was developed with an enhanced Knowledge Visualisation module exploitable by FNSSA actors. These KM tools are to be tailored to IRC stakeholder needs. A large network beyond the Project consortium was created including decision makers, researchers, funding institutions, international organisations, farmers’ organisations, industry and agribusinesses, women and youth leading to a learning environment and added value in raising awareness and disseminating the IRC.
Establishing a long-term and sustainable governance and funding mechanism for the Platform:
A roadmap and action plan to guide the establishment of the AU-EU IRC-FNSSA was developed and implemented. The roadmap and the Project Theory of change guided an effective transition towards developing the structures of the IRC. The IRC draft manuscript benefited from wide global discussion including 300+ entities that had expressed their interest to join it. After a successful final write-shop, the final Project General Assembly endorsed the IRC leading to its launch under the aegis of the HLPD Working Group of the FNSSA in September 2022. The IRC is the main “long-term AU-EU bicontinental sustainable platform for FNSSA from partnership project to a Sustainable Platform”. The AU-EU IRC-FNSSA, currently with 46 signatories (40% European and 60% African legal entities), within the R&I space and managed on LEAP4FNSSA D-group.
Supporting to the HLPD Bureau in particular to the work of the HLPD FNSSA WG:
Six studies were completed to advance the work of the HLPD FNSSA WG and the FNSSA Partnership. Systems and processes for undertaking the M&E have been established. Significant data collection was undertaken and the FNSSA Partnership M&E framework developed by the Project. Through these actions and the secretariat services provided to the FNSSA WG and other HLPD policy structures (Bureau, SOM, Ministerial meetings), the Project established a viable mechanism for linking the science and policy communities to advance the Partnership on R&I. LEAP4FNSSA has extended its presence at global events and strengthened strategic linkages to other networks.
After 48 months of implementation of all 57 deliverables were delivered including the delivery of the final policy output. The LEAP4FNSSA Project was successfully closed within the stipulated time as per Grant Agreement (31 October 2022).
Thanks to the work by all 35 consortium partners, advice from the External Advisory Committee and Ethics Advisory Board and guidance from our REA Project Officer and DG AGRI Policy Officer.
The launch of the AU-EU IRC-FNSSA was significant because not only did it mark the final deliverable of the LEAP4FNSSA project, but it also presented three key success factors, critical for the operationalization of the AU-EU long-term sustainable Platform for FNSSA in the coming years. The 3 success factors include: a) a document describing the structures of the AU-EU IRC-FNSSA and guidelines for its establishment, b) a growing number of institutions (legal entities) that have signed Declarations of Intent by their highest authority, to join the AU-EU IRC-FNSSA, and c) the development of tangible structures, processes for kickstarting the establishment of the IRC. Within the one-year bridging period between the closure of the Project to the start of the operationalisation of the AU-EU IRC-FNSSA expected through Horizon Europe-funded CSA project (October, 2024). Follow-on actions are being put in place to support these critical success factors, consolidate the gains of the LEAP4FNSSA project and sustain the momentum generated at the time of the AU-EU IRC-FNSSA launch, engage and federate the IRC membership and ensure a seamless start-up of the operationalization CSA project in the context of the EU Farm-to-Fork strategy and the AfCTA.
Thanks to the work by all 35 consortium partners, advice from the External Advisory Committee and Ethics Advisory Board and guidance from our REA Project Officer and DG AGRI Policy Officer.
The launch of the AU-EU IRC-FNSSA was significant because not only did it mark the final deliverable of the LEAP4FNSSA project, but it also presented three key success factors, critical for the operationalization of the AU-EU long-term sustainable Platform for FNSSA in the coming years. The 3 success factors include: a) a document describing the structures of the AU-EU IRC-FNSSA and guidelines for its establishment, b) a growing number of institutions (legal entities) that have signed Declarations of Intent by their highest authority, to join the AU-EU IRC-FNSSA, and c) the development of tangible structures, processes for kickstarting the establishment of the IRC. Within the one-year bridging period between the closure of the Project to the start of the operationalisation of the AU-EU IRC-FNSSA expected through Horizon Europe-funded CSA project (October, 2024). Follow-on actions are being put in place to support these critical success factors, consolidate the gains of the LEAP4FNSSA project and sustain the momentum generated at the time of the AU-EU IRC-FNSSA launch, engage and federate the IRC membership and ensure a seamless start-up of the operationalization CSA project in the context of the EU Farm-to-Fork strategy and the AfCTA.