AREE Strategic Workshop – Delivering the Kampala Strategy for Agricultural R&D in Africa

Venue: Cairo, Egypt
Organizers: FARA in collaboration with ASARECA, CORAF, CCARDESA, RUFORUM, AFAAS, ARC Egypt, Cairo University, AGERI, FAO, AUC, WUR, and CGIAR centers

Overview

The AREE Strategic Workshop in Cairo brought together over 50 stakeholders from regional and international organizations to operationalize the CAADP Kampala Strategy. The four-day consultation focused on aligning Africa’s agricultural research, extension, and education (AREE) agenda with continental transformation priorities.

Key Activities

• Thematic panel discussions on governance, inclusivity, and innovation ecosystems.
• Participatory design sessions to co-create strategic outputs.
• Field visits to ARC’s Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute (AGERI), Cotton Research Institute, and the Regional Food and Feed Center.

Outcomes

• Nine-Chapter Action Plan outlining the core priorities of the Kampala Strategy.
• Vision and Theory of Change to guide agricultural R&D transformation.
• Roadmap (2026–2035) with two phases of implementation.
• Institutional roles and responsibilities clarified for effective coordination.
• Advocacy and communications plan to strengthen outreach and engagement.

Significance

The workshop reinforced FARA’s role in coordinating continental agricultural R&D and established a unified framework for research, extension, and education transformation. By embedding youth and gender inclusion, institutional alignment, and resource mobilization, the strategy aims to accelerate sustainable agrifood system change in Africa.

‍