AgriFoSe2030 consists of three hubs in sub-Saharan Africa and one network in Southeast Asia. To learn more about the hubs and their specific change projects, we asked the hub-leaders a few questions about their work.
Third out is Professor Cecilia M. Onyango, Department of Plant Science and Crop Protection, University of Nairobi talking about her three change projects for resilient and sustainable food systems.
Hi Cecilia! Please give us a brief description of your projects.
Our project will seek to consolidate and build on the successes of previous work by three sub-projects in the AgriFose2030 phase two: Governance of food systems for improved food and nutrition; Extension service structures and functions; and; Transformative Rangeland Management Practices project (on ecological restoration). We believe that for food systems to be sustainable and resilient, there needs to be a supportive policy environment, an effective extension system and a research ecosystem that addresses farmers’ challenges.
What key learnings do you take with you from the previous part of the phase?
The main lessons from the previous part of the phase include:
- Committed institutional leadership and cooperation is key in achieving national development objectives.
- It is important to have a critical mass of in-country researchers involved in implementing activities and tailoring solutions to national needs.
- Strengthening links between national and regional universities is essential for leveraging collective strengths, sharing resources, and fostering scientific excellence.
- Gradual migration of AgriFoSe2030 functions to partner institutions promotes local ownership, builds institutional capacity, and ensures the sustainability of programme outcomes.
What are your major expectations in this new phase?
The major expectations for this new phase include a significant strengthening of research capacity within our institutions, an enhanced influence of research on food systems and agricultural policy, and the establishment of robust and sustainable knowledge networks across the participating hubs and universities. This enhanced capacity is also expected to lead to a greater body of locally generated evidence that can directly inform policy decisions and address the specific challenges faced within the African context.
What do you aim to achieve in your project by the end of this new phase?
We aim to build a critical mass of scientists who are able to translate science to inform policy and practice that will result in sustainable and resilient food systems; and their active engagement in policy formulation and/or review that responds to the needs of smallholder farmers.
Cecilia Moraa Onyango, Associate professor
Selorm Kobla Kugbega, Dr