Rationale KM4AgD 2024 

As captured in the IFAD draft assessment report of the CAADP-XP4 intervention, Knowledge Management for Agricultural Development – as defined in the KM4AgD Challenge and the Accra Declaration stands out among the results and outputs of CAADP-XP4. It offers a systemic approach to searching, acquiring, creating, sharing, applying, capturing knowledge in a targeted, integrated, and participative way. It promotes methods and approaches to develop, disseminate, and apply knowledge in many ways, adjusting to the needs, addressing the current pressing questions, and mastering the latest challenges. The KM for Agricultural Development Challenge is an outstanding programme within CAADP-XP4 as it addresses the fundamental measures to be taken to advance the knowledge ecosystem following a strategic and integrated approach.

Figure 2: Knowledge ecosystems as a foundation for knowledge products and services

As the bodies that coordinates agricultural research for development in Africa, the CAADP-XP4 Partners are a one stop-shop for technology, knowledge generation, networking, and information. In recent years, FARA, AFAAS & SROs have received several requests to mobilize and strengthen the collaboration of international and regional partners to enhance linkages of science (extension & Research) with business.  We consider this an opportunity to effectively engage with the private sector, strengthen technology adoption through commercialization of research products, and track the cross-border trade prospects that may arise from the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA) agreement.

Operationalizing the Continental Data Capture Strategy (CDCS): FARA led the CAADP-XP4 institutions to develop and validate a CDCS for Africa Agriculture. The development of the CDCS was based on analysis of current strategies, documents, and systems, as well as interviews and workshops. The CDCS identified seven key recommendations to help ensure a sustainable knowledge capture programme. These are; (1) Continental Knowledge Development Goals, (2) Continental Knowledge Governance, Monitoring and Learning, (3) Continental Knowledge Products and Services, (4) Continental Knowledge Skills Programme, (5) Continental Knowledge Systems and Data Integration, (6) Continental Knowledge Communities (CoPs), and (7) Eight operational Knowledge Capturing processes.   While developing a CDCS in 2020, the CAADP-XP4 partners established a collective agenda christened the “Akosombo Integration Agenda”. The agenda (included in the CDCS document) also outlined seven key areas of integration, including the integration of (1) Knowledge Management Approaches, (2) KM Tools, (3) Knowledge Resource, (4) KM Processes, (5) Communities, (6) KM Capacity Development and (7) Knowledge Ecosystems for AR4D.

The KM4AgD Challenge is an integrated, strategic, educational and transformational long-term initiative to advance sustainable agricultural knowledge societies, linked with research to create scientific substance, evidence and outreach for Africa AR4D it is a lighthouse project for knowledge-based development in AR4D in Africa.

Again, it will result in continued operationalization of the AUC-CCADP-XP4-CGIAR MoU on KM Partnership signed during the AASW8 in Durban in June 2023.

Finally, the KM4AgD Challenge will contribute to accelerating the achievements of existing CAADP-XP4 initiatives on innovation, futures, extension and Capacities development including the Agricultural Research and Innovation Fellowship for Africa (ARIFA), the Africa Foresight Academy (AFA), the Research to Extension (R2E) Initiative, amongst others. It will further support knowledge capture and dissemination of outputs from projects including the INTERFACES, AIRTEA, etc.