About the conference

The AASW is the main continental platform of all stakeholders involved in agriculture and agribusiness research and innovation in Africa. This platform assembles over 1,500 stakeholders every three years to take stock of progress on research and innovation, share information, network, create business alliances, and map out priorities for joint action.

The 8th Africa Agribusiness and Science Week (AASW) will be held in Durban, South Africa from June 5th to 8th, 2023. It will focus on a topical issue on the continent, that is, strengthening linkages between agribusiness and science plus innovation to improve the continent’s productivity and competitiveness in the agro-industry.

The theme of the event is Linking Science, Innovation, and Agribusiness for Resilient Food Systems - structured into five sub-themes, namely: Climate Resilience, Natural Resources Management, and Farming Systems Transition Nutrition-Sensitive and Gender-Responsive Food Systems, Science – Business Nexus to Boost Intra-African.

FARA is co-organizing the event with the CAADP XP4 partners i.e., AFAAS, ASARECA, CCARDESA, and CORAF, in collaboration with numerous other partners including AUC, AUDA, GFAR, YPARD, PAFO, One CGIAR, FAO, AFDB, UNIDO, AFBC, Sappi, and Standard bank.

AICCRA’s participation at AASW 2023

AICCRA teams from Zambia, Ethiopia, Mali, Senegal and Kenya, and from our Gender and Social Inclusion team, will be participating in several side-events during the AASW.

Details below (will be updated with livestream links where available):

Empowering Africa’s Agricultural Transformation: Unleashing the Potential of Science, Innovation and Productivity

Tuesday 6 June, 11:00 – 13:00 CAT

This session aims to explore the critical role of science, innovation, and enhanced productivity in driving sustainable agricultural development across Africa. With a focus on harnessing the transformative power of cutting-edge technologies, research advancements, and innovative practices, this session will delve into the strategies and interventions necessary to propel the continent towards resilient and productive food systems. Through dynamic discussion, sharing best practices, and identifying key challenges and opportunities, the session will inspire actionable solutions that empower farmers, agribusinesses, researchers, policymakers, and other agri-sector value chain stakeholders to leverage science and innovation for increased agricultural productivity and long-term food security.

The overarching theme for this parallel session is “A Call to Action on Strengthening Science-Business Linkages to Promote the Relevance and Contribution of Research to Boost Intra- African Trade”.

AICCRA Speaker:

• John Recha

CGIAR Agribusiness Acceleration approaches for CSA innovation, resilience, gender and social inclusion

Tuesday 6 June, 14:00 – 16:00 CAT

Meeting Room: Cape Town

Can accelerator programs catalyse private investment in climate-smart agriculture?

Through the activities under Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) project and Ukama Ustawi: Initiative on Diversification in East and Southern Africa (UU), CGIAR has been actively promoting approaches that support the integration of agribusinesses with science and innovation to drive food systems transformation, fostering impact on mitigation, adaptation, productivity, and resilience.

The AICCRA and UU teams are hosting this joint event to create awareness on approaches to support agribusinesses in addressing climate change through different gender-responsive approaches and to share some case studies from our portfolio.

The session will explore the intersection of climate change, gender responsiveness, and agribusiness, fostering sustainable and inclusive agricultural transformations.

AICCRA Speakers:

• Mercy Zulu Hume
• Ena Derenoncourt
• Pedro Chilambe
• Stephanie Jaquet

Developing the Implementation Modalities for the Soil Initiative for Africa and AFSH Action Plan

Tuesday 6 June, 14:00 – 18:00 CAT

The Soil Initiative for Africa (SIA) is the African Union Commission’s (AU) framework to improve the health, sustainability and productivity of African soils. The framework works to guide action, activities, policy and programmes at the farm, landscape and government levels toward food systems transformation in Africa.

During the 8th Africa Agribusiness and Science Week (8AASW), the AU will officially launch the SIA and the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Action Plan (AFSH-AP), the implementation plan for the SIA between 2023 and 2033.

AICCRA Speaker:

On behalf of Coalition of Action 4 Soil Health and AICCRA, Sabrina Trautman will join a plenary discussion on the topic of “Coordination mechanism for Implementation of SIA and AFSH-AP

Register for the livestream

Fostering Agribusiness and Gender/Youth-Responsive Food Systems

Tuesday 6 June, 14:00 – 17:00 CAT

One of the roles of the CAADP-XP4 programme is to strengthen and support women and Youth in agribusiness for improved livelihood and increased income. As part of accomplishing this key activity, CCARDESA will, in collaboration with AFAAS, ASARECA, CORAF and FARA, facilitate a gender-focused side event. It is dedicated to promoting gender and celebrating the successes of women and youth in agribusiness including those using climate-smart initiatives ad technologies for empowerment in partnership with the private sector, and education fields. They will also discuss opportunities for long-term partnerships to strengthen women and youth participation in establishing sustainable and inclusive food systems in Africa. The CCARDESA Agribusiness and Gender/Youth-Responsive Food Systems side event will bring women and youths to showcase their innovations and agribusiness initiatives for better learning, exchange and transfer of knowledge from 16 SADC member states and beyond.

AICCRA Speakers:

• John Recha
• Sophia Huyer
• Therese Gondwe

Tackling the enabling environment challenges faced by women agribusiness in Southern and Central Africa

Tuesday 6 June, 14:00 - 16:00 CAT

AICCRA Speaker:

• Inga Jacobs-Mata will share from AICCRA's experience in Zambia

Women and Youth service-based agribusiness using digital apps in West and Central Africa

Wednesday 7 June, 16:30-18:30 CAT

Organized by Africa Rice, this event will include AICCRA Mali's lead Elliott Dossou-Yovo sharing on “E-learning and digital tools for enhancing access to CSA and CIS in Mali” based on our activities and experience in Mali.

Join the meeting on Zoom

If you have any questions about AICCRA's participation at FARA's AASW or would like to connect with the AICCRA team, please contact Silvia Kabita: s.kabita@cgiar.org