AKADEMIYA2063, in partnership with AUC, is convening the 2022 ReSAKSS Annual Conference to promote review and dialogue on the contribution of the agri-food processing sector to productive, sustainable food systems that support livelihoods and food security. The conference will take place as a hybrid physical-virtual event on 25–27 October 2022 under the theme of “Agrifood processing strategies for successful food systems transformation in Africa.”
About the Conference
Learn more about the conference
About
Africa’s food systems are changing rapidly, with value chains becoming more complex and high-value food products accounting for larger shares of consumers’ diets. The midstream segments of agricultural value chains are increasingly important in response to demand from urban markets for more significant volumes of food and value-added. Africa’s agrifood processing sector is central to these changes. The growth and development of the sector will help determine whether the burgeoning demand of urban food markets will be met through local production or increases in Africa’s already high levels of imports from outside the continent. The processing sector is increasingly the conduit through which smallholder farmers reach consumers, and as such, plays an important role in increasing farmer income opportunities and creating employment opportunities along the value chain. To enhance the sector’s contribution to employment and poverty reduction, policymakers should help agrifood processing firms overcome the multiple constraints facing them through better access to finance, skills development, high-quality infrastructure, and technologies.
The 2022 ReSAKSS Annual Conference will bring together state and non-state actors to deliberate on the key findings and policy recommendations of the ReSAKSS 2022 ATOR. The report 1) discusses the role of agrifood processing in food systems transformation, 2) reviews the patterns, structure, and performance of key agrifood processing subsectors, and 3) examines required policies, public services, and investments for robust and efficient agri-food processing sectors. The report also reviews progress in CAADP implementation and examines the status of key CAADP Results Framework and Biennial Review indicators.
Objectives
The objectives of the conference are to allow participants to:
- Discuss the research evidence and recommendations presented in the 2022 ATOR on the contribution of Africa’s agrifood processing sectors to employment, poverty reduction, and food systems transformation;
- Examine dynamics and trends in key processing subsectors and value chains;
- Identify required actions to allow agrifood processing firms to overcome constraints to growth and productivity;
- Assess progress in implementing national agriculture investment plans (NAIPs) and promoting mutual accountability through the CAADP Biennial Review (BR) process; and
- Evaluate the status of CAADP implementation and progress toward achieving key goals and targets.
Expected outcomes
Expected outcomes of the conference are:
- Shared understanding of:
- Required investments and policies to strengthen the contribution of agrifood processing sectors to sustainable food systems transformation;
- Potential solutions to constraints to growth and productivity of agrifood processing firms;
- Progress and required next steps in advancing the CAADP BR and NAIP implementation processes;
- Actions needed to accelerate the implementation of CAADP and ensure its goals and objectives are achieved.
- Shared lessons and experiences on:
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- Dynamics of agrifood processing sectors across the continent and policy actions to advance the development of the sector and enhance its contribution to livelihoods and food systems transformation;
- Promoting mutual accountability and ensuring that the BR process triggers required actions and policy change to advance NAIP implementation and the achievement of Malabo Declaration goals and targets.
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STRUCTURE
Day 1, Tuesday, October 25: The day will begin with side events, followed by the official opening of the conference. The first sessions of the conference will feature an overview presentation of the 2022 ATOR, a keynote presentation on trends and outlook for Africa’s agrifood processing sector, presentations of ATOR chapters, and panel and plenary discussions on the conference theme.
Day 2, Wednesday, October 26: Presentations and panel and plenary discussions on the chapters of the 2022 ATOR and the conference theme will continue on Day 2.
Day 3, Thursday, October 27: Day 3 will conclude the conference with presentations and panel and plenary discussions on progress in achieving CAADP goals and progress and next steps in the CAADP Biennial Review process and NAIP implementation.