The Brussels Development Briefing on “Global food systems, local impact: the role of agribusiness and development partnerships in advancing African agriculture” took place Tuesday 25th November 2014 (9h-13h) at the ACP Secretariat (451 Avenue Georges Henri, 1200 Brussels, room C).
The transformation of the African agri-business sector is a key challenge to achieve food security and economic development. A differentiated approach to partnerships, based on the development of competitive local private sectors, is essential to boosting agricultural development in Africa.
In this context, the objective of this Brussels Briefing is to discuss strategies and approaches for harnessing the potential of development partnerships with the private sector to catalyse market development and productivity in African countries.
The outcome of this meeting should be a better understanding of the needs and constraints of the local agricultural sector and strengthen linkages between private sector and development cooperation. At the European level, the meeting would contribute to the development of a framework for dialogue and effective joint action with the private sector.
Speakers will include the European Commisison (DG Agri and DG Devco), the Farmers organizations (SACAU), some EU agribusiness groups operating in Africa, European Investment Bank, BMZ, AUC.
New! “Small Farmers Big Business” side event at the 2015 European Development Days, 04 June 2015 [programme]
New! on the subject of ‘Agribusiness and development partnerships for African agriculture’
Reader: Agricultural Transformation in Africa | Value Chains Finance
Video recording of the Briefing
Introduction and Opening of the Briefing
Isolina Boto, Manager, CTA Brussels Office [Video]
Introductory remarks
Achille Bassilekin, Assistant Secretary-General Sustainable Economic Development, ACP Secretariat [Video]; Monique Pariat, Deputy Director-General, DG Agriculture & Rural Development, European Commission [Video]; Marc Nolting, Head of Division for Development Policy, Permanent Representation of the Federal Republic of Germany to the EU in Brussels [Video]; Michael Hailu Director of CTA [Video]
Panel 1: Setting the scene: agribusiness and PPPs in Africa
This panel will review sharing of experiences and lessons learned from public-private partnerships (PPPs) and multi-stakeholder alliances that aim at accelerating investments and transformative change in African agriculture based on national and regional agricultural and trade priorities.
Introduction: Isolina Boto [Video]
Chair: H.E. Ambassador Assomption Frédéric Korsaga, Burkina Faso [Video]
Panelists:
– Overview of agribusiness in Africa: trends, new opportunities & alternative investment models
Hafiz Mirza, Chief, Investment Issues Section, UNCTAD [Presentation|Executive Summary|Video]
– EU Development Cooperation models with the private sector: An overview
Wilhelm Elfring, Consultant to the EU-working group private sector development in agriculture [Presentation|Executive Summary|Video]
– Main financing mechanisms which strengthen local/regional production and trade
Heike Rüttgers, Head of Division Portfolio Management & Policy ACP, Investment Facility, European Investment Bank [Presentation|Video]
– Increased role for farmer’s organizations on agribusiness and PPPs
Theo de Jager, President, Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU) [Presentation|Video]
– Panel 1: Debate [ Video ]
Panel 2: Scaling up successes through transformative partnerships
This panel will look at specific examples of inclusive business models in specific sectors and value chains where significant successes have happened and analysis of drivers of success.
Chair: Professor Eric Tollens, Chair of the CTA Executive Board [ Video ]
Panelists:
– Inclusive partnerships to be scaled up in post-2015 agenda
Eugenia Serova, Director, Rural Infrastructure and Agro-Industries Division, FAO [Presentation|Executive Summary|Video]
– Innovative platform to advance agribusiness in the development of African agriculture
Henri A. Minnaar, Senior Programme Advisor: NEPAD Business Foundation, Agriculture & Food Security Programme [Presentation|Video]
– Successes from the African private sector in the development of agribusiness
Daniel Gad, Managing Director, Omega Farms & Ethiopian Horticulture Co-operative [Presentation|Video]
– Linking agribusiness and supporting sustainable development partnerships in Africa
Martin Märkl, Senior Sustainable Development Manager, BayerCropScience [Presentation|Video]
– PPPs: Upscaling agribusiness successes in Africa
Karl Schebesta. Chief, UNIDO Agri-busines Development Unit [Presentation|Executive Summary|Video]
– Panel 2: Debate [Video]
Conclusion
– Jean-Pierre Halkin, Head of Unit “Rural Development, Food Security, Nutrition”, EuropeAid, European Commission [Video]
– Michael Hailu, Director, CTA [Video]
I have read the message and it’s really encouraging to our farmers association (dream again farmers association)