The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) ex-Pillar IV (CAADPXP4) partners, in collaboration with the Strengthening Agricultural Knowledge and the Innovation Ecosystem for Inclusive Rural Transformation and Livelihoods in Eastern Africa (AIRTEA) Consortium led by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), have commenced the Agribusiness Learning Alliances (ABLA) Proof of Concept Workshop in Accra, Ghana.
The two-day workshop brought together key stakeholders and experts to review and articulate the ABLA concept, develop a methodology for establishing the ABLA proof of concept, and explore its potential to enhance economic value derived from innovation platforms.
In his opening remarks, the Executive Director of FARA, Dr. Aggrey Agumya expressed his delight to see all partners reconnecting for this important concept. He emphasized that this engagement will lead to the formulation of approaches for enhancing outcomes and impact of research and innovation.
He added “We have a unique opportunity to make history by definitively formulating and framing the methodology for testing a concept that will revolutionize IPs and ultimately the livelihoods of farmers and other value chain actors, especially women and youth.
The Agribusiness Learning Alliances (ABLA) model, developed and tested under the Strengthening Agricultural Knowledge and the Innovation Ecosystem for Inclusive Rural Transformation and Livelihoods in Eastern Africa (AIRTEA) project with funding from the European Union Commission (EUC) and the African Development Bank (AfDB), presents a promising solution.
This innovative approach seeks to strengthen the business dimension of Innovation Platforms, ultimately improving the economic value derived from these platforms.
African agriculture has long grappled with challenges such as low technology adoption, limited resources, and insufficient institutional collaboration. To address these issues, Innovation Platforms (IPs) were established, aiming to foster collaboration between research, producers, the private sector, extension services, and policy. However, these platforms have not fully realized their potential for economic efficiency and increased profitability for farm enterprises.
This collaborative effort between CAADP-XP4 and AIRTEA Consortium led by FARA marks a significant step towards revolutionizing African agriculture, promoting economic growth, and enhancing the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
