Senegal: fifteen organizations join forces for a sustainable agricultural research partnership

04/02/2010 - Article

CIRAD and ISRA have long been partners, and in December 2009, they organized the first meeting with all their Senegalese partners working in the fields of research, higher education or development: CNRA, universities, development organizations, professional organizations, regional organizations, the private sector, etc.

Now is the time to remove the barriers between organizations, open up and integrate. The aim of this as yet experimental mode of consultation is to help build sustainable partnerships centring on global research issues. It should enable the participants to take stock of the existing cooperation agreements between the various organizations, present the scientific strategies of each of the partners, and identify topics of common interest. To this end, fifteen partners met in December 2009 on the initiative of CIRAD and ISRA (Institut sénégalais de recherches agricoles).

Over two days, the participants worked in groups, on the one hand on research, innovation and extension systems, and on the other hand on teaching and training. They were able to identify ideas for programmes and/or projects that will in future be expanded on by the various stakeholders. These ideas for programmes and/or projects fit in with both CIRAD's priorities and those of the national agro-silvo-pastoral research system. They will be the first test of CIRAD's new partnership approach as regards its Senegalese partners.

The event was sponsored by the Senegalese Ministers of Agriculture, Higher Education and Research. CIRAD's Director General was also present, accompanied by a large delegation. The number of participants and organizations present was proof of the interest each and every stakeholder has in the consultation approach.