Two Days of Dialogue between AGRA and Civil Society Lays Groundwork for Collaboration toward a Food-Secure Africa

For more information, contact:

Stella Kihara: +254 735 380 199

Skihara@agra-alliance.org

NAIROBI (16 July 2010) – The first-of-its-kind forum between the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and civil society organizations (CSOs) from across Africa concluded today in Nairobi. The two days of dialogue were convened by AGRA to consider how to reach a common agenda for achieving an African Green Revolution when the ultimate goal is the same for all parties—food security for a continent where too many people suffer from hunger and malnutrition.

“Everyone present for the dialogue this week is accountable to one group only—the African smallholder farmer,” said Namanga Ngongi, president of AGRA. “Open consultation and active collaboration with CSOs going forward expands all of our ability to achieve a Green Revolution and ultimately, improve the lives of Africans across the continent.”

The “Dialogue with Civil Society Organisations on the African Green Revolution” brought together groups representing smallholder farmers, women and youth, scientists, ngo’s, academics and agra-businesses. These initial two days of consultation set the stage for developing an approach to strengthen civil society’s work with smallholder farmers and between AGRA and CSOs.

“Civil society organizations are the foot soldiers, the “bare foot doctors”, who live and work in local communities. They have insights external players might not fully understand. They have the flexibility in dealing with local level development challenges which government bureaucracies are not able to.” Said Professor Richard Mkandawire, head CAADP.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Chief O.J. Shobowale, Executive Director of the National Agricultural Seeds Council, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and water Resources, Nigeria, expressed thanks on behalf of the CSO participants, “we appreciate the efforts made to reduce our ignorance and increase our knowledge of what AGRA is and we have to do to make gains for our smallholder farmers. These are good things we are taking home.”

“I appreciated the open discussion on these issues which are very complex and the ability to work on gender issues. I sincerely expect AGRA will have to push women farmers’ issues and accelerate the Green revolution. It can’t be done without women,” said Kafui Adjamagbo-Johnson, West African coordinator Women in Law and Development in Africa (WiLDAF).

Recognizing this meeting is only a starting point, AGRA has declared it will continue the dialogue at a pan-African and country level. This will ensure an increasingly integrated approach towards all stakeholders working to achieve food security in Africa.

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About the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
AGRA is a dynamic partnership working across the African continent to help millions of small-scale farmers and their families lift themselves out of poverty and hunger. AGRA programmes develop practical solutions to significantly boost farm productivity and incomes for the poor while safeguarding the environment. AGRA advocates for policies that support its work across all key aspects of the African agricultural value chain ­from seeds, soil health and water to markets and agricultural education.

AGRA's Board of Directors is chaired by Kofi A Annan, former Secretary-General of the United Nations. Dr Namanga Ngongi, former Deputy Executive Director of the World Food Programme, is AGRA's president. With support from The Rockefeller Foundation, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the UK's Department for International Development and other donors, AGRA works across sub-Saharan Africa and maintains offices in Nairobi, Kenya, and Accra, Ghana.