Title: Africa Regional Centres of Excellence - ArcX: Agroecology Component.
Main Objective: Strengthen Regional Centres of Excellence (RCoEs) in agroecology across sub-Saharan Africa to accelerate the transition towards productive, resilient, and sustainable food systems by integrating agroecological principles with scientific and local knowledge.
Specific Objectives:
Strengthen the scientific, technological, and institutional capacities of sub-regional organisations (SROs) and RMRNs/RCoEs in agroecology;
Enhance the contribution of RMRNs/RCoEs to transformative, high-quality agroecological research;
Improve cross-sectoral and inter-regional coordination to tackle science, technology, and innovation challenges in Africa’s green transition.
Data collection & sharing: Document and disseminate agroecological practices through open-source platforms;
Decision-support: Produce scientific and policy analyses for informed strategic planning;
Capacity development: Deliver targeted training and strengthen professional networks;
Innovation support: Develop and scale up innovative agroecological solutions;
Global engagement: Integrate African agroecology into international frameworks and global fora.
Target Groups: Scientific community (economists, agronomists, food-system experts, etc.), data and information managers, international organisations, private sector, universities, local communities, regional economic communities, continental bodies, African farmers, and citizens.
Component Coordinator: Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) and Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM).
Leading Regional Centre of Excellence (RCoE): Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA), International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF)
Scientific and Technical Support from EC - DG JRC:DG-JRC Directorate D (Sustainable Resources) Unit D5 (Food Security) and Unit D4 (Economics of the Food System).
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