Capacity strengthening for a transformed agricultural sector in Africa: The role of the Science Agenda for agriculture in Africa

Science is vital in the development of African agriculture. The role of science in enhancing agricultural productivity, competitiveness and market access in Africa is too important for it to be outsourced, and African leaders have to invest more of their own resources into research and development as well as human capacity building and Strengthening initiatives. The Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa (S3A) envisions that “By 2030 Africa is food and nutrition secure, a global scientific player, and the world’s food-basket”. This vision resonates with and contributes to the AU Agenda 2024 – Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA) and AU Agenda 2063. The key medium term goal for the Science Agenda is to build basic science capacity at national and regional levels with special attention to the youth and women. The key actions should include the mobilization of collective action to take advantage of science and technology in resolving common problems across member states and building the basic science capacities; the development and mainstreaming of a framework for human capital formation in science, technology and agriprenuership in schools, colleges, vocational institutions and universities and key support regional mobility programmes such as the ‘Regional Mobility for Capacity Strengthening’ (ReMoCaST) programme being championed by FARA. Operationalization of the Science Agenda requires commitment from African governments and supporting institutions/ organizations (e.g. AUC, NPCA, FARA, SROs, AFAAS, RUFORUM, ANAFE, NAIS institutions, PAFO, PanACC, PANGOG, etc.) to build and strengthen capacities for Agricultural transformation in Africa.