Building Inclusive and Resilient Agri-Food Systems in Africa requires investments in strengthening the Human and Institutional Capacity in Africa, noted Prof Urama, senior director of the African Development Institute of the African Development Bank, in his 2021 Ndizotheka Eminent Speaker Series lecture, hosted by MwAPATA Institute in partnership with the National Planning Commission (NPC) and the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR).
Developing knowledge and capacity for resilient agri-food systems in Africa involves a simultaneous development of sustainable policies and sustainable institutions. These involve a lot of interlinked issues that include sustainable financing for capacity development at individual, organizational and institutional levels which are all pre-conditions for agricultural transformation in Africa. Touching on the evolution of knowledge and institutional capacity development in Africa from 1960 to 2021, Prof Urama noted the need for a shift from increasing the share of support going into food aid and humanitarian support to a special focus on strengthening Agricultural institutions to build Africa’s capacity to feed itself. The capacity needs to be developed at a scale that can make the necessary positive dent on Africa’s agri-food systems. African Governments to also take ownership and prioritize investments in building regional and national institutions to address regional and national development needs.
In case you missed it, you can watch full event here
You can also watch question and answer here