CGIAR Strengthens its Partnership with NEPAD

CGIAR and the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) have signed a memorandum of understanding to better harness agricultural science and technology, and global knowledge systems for the benefit of Africa's farming populations.

"The memorandum is an expression of common interest by NEPAD and CGIAR Centers," said Kanayo Nwanze, Chairman, CGIAR Center Directors Committee (CDC) and Director General, WARDA-The Africa Rice Center. "It is an umbrella that sets the stage for our mutual working together in Africa."

The memorandum was cosigned by Professor Wiseman Nkuhlu, Chairman of the NEPAD Steering Committee.

In addition, the agreement was endorsed by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) which has been has been recognized by NEPAD as the technical coordinating mechanism for agricultural research for development (AR4D) activities in Africa.

NEPAD is fully engaged in the implementation of the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Program (CAADP) and has identified some key crops and policy related issues including governance of agriculture as specific to the CAADP priorities and pillars.

Launching of joint work programs, conducting analytical work, seminars, and forging of public-private partnerships are covered in the agreement which bodes well for the increasing the productivity and profitability of the agricultural sector as an engine of economic growth.

For more information, www.nepad.org, www.fara-africa.org