IITA co-organizes side event at CFS 52: Pathways to zero hunger through policy, innovation, and partnerships for food security in Africa

15 November 2024

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and IITA co-organized a side event under the Zero Hunger Project at the 52nd Committee on World Food Security (CFS) session on 25 October at FAO headquarters in Rome. This event highlighted the crucial role of policy frameworks in facilitating technology trials, scaling innovations, and building cross-sector partnerships to address food security. Speakers included representatives from diverse stakeholder groups, such as government agencies from Nigeria and Togo, research institutions like the Conseil Ouest et Centre Africain pour la Recherche et le Développement Agricoles (CORAF) and the Institut Togolais de Recherche Agronomique (ITRA), civil society organizations like the Mazingira Institute in Nairobi, and private-sector entities. Together, they shared insights into advancing agricultural policy and accelerating technology adoption across Africa.

The event, themed "Pathways for achieving zero hunger through policy, innovation, and partnership," was facilitated by Dr Viviane Fillipi, IFAD Program Officer, and it offered a comprehensive overview of strategies to bridge the science-policy divide. It underscored the importance of strong collaboration among government bodies, research institutions, and the private sector. Adebowale Akande, the project lead, highlighted ongoing initiatives in Nigeria and Togo under the Zero Hunger Project, focusing on the sustainable boost of agricultural productivity through technology adoption and evidence-based policy initiatives aimed at empowering decision-makers.

Oyewale Abioye, an IITA Project Management Specialist who leads the project's Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL), outlined the project's theory of change, which began with policy mapping to identify existing gaps, followed by technical assessments to capitalize on the expertise and technological resources provided by IITA and AfricaRice. These efforts laid the groundwork for developing policy options aligned with government strategies. Abioye noted that findings identified key areas for improvement, including seed system enhancements and strengthening of extension services through digital tools to empower farmers and extension agents.

Panelists from the project's two focal countries of Nigeria and Togo include Dr Tighankoumi Gmakouba Zero Hunger Togo Cassava Focal Point; Dr Abraham Shaibu, Rice Seed System Specialist, AfricaRice; and Regina Okore, Director of Extension, Ebonyi State Ministry of Agriculture, Abakaliki, shared project insights by highlighting the impact of the project on extension services, which include the use of digital use and development of seed protocols for staple crops such as cassava, yam, and sweet potato in Togo and promoting increased productivity and sustainability. Their presentations underscored the transformative potential of targeted training and technology adoption in advancing local agricultural development.

The event also offered an opportunity to explore the challenges and potential of collaborative approaches to food security as outlined by Akande and CORAF Director of Research Dr Emmanuel Njukwe when they emphasized significant obstacles such as limited access to mechanization and the need for adaptable, context-specific technology solutions. They further stressed the importance of gender-sensitive, inclusive approaches and harmonized data collection to foster effective policy integration and broader adoption.

A recurring theme was the importance of grassroots involvement in integrating traditional knowledge and supporting smallholder farmers with accessible, practical solutions. Panelists advocated for grassroots engagement as essential to developing affordable and culturally relevant technologies that meet the needs of smallholder farmers, ensuring that agricultural innovation remains accessible and impactful at all levels.

Contributed by Oyewale Abioye