West Africa Forum on Agroecology and Organic Agriculture
Theme:
Financing the Transformation of Sustainable Food and Nutrition Systems for Food Sovereignty in West Africa through Organic Agriculture and Agroecology: What Policies, Mechanisms, and Instruments?
Date:
October 21 – 24, 2024
Location:
Abuja, Nigeria
Hybrid Format (In-Person & Virtual Participation)
About the Forum
The West Africa Forum on Agroecology and Organic Agriculture is a high-level event that brings together stakeholders from across Africa to deliberate on advancing sustainable food systems through agroecology and organic agriculture. This special edition focuses on financing mechanisms, policies, and instruments that promote food sovereignty in the region through the scaling up of agroecology and organic agricultural practices.
This special edition is a collaborative event organized by ECOWAS, 3AO, AFroNet and CORAF as part of the efforts to push and solidify Organic agriculture and agroecology. The event will also provide a platform for political dialogue, knowledge exchange, and discussions on the strategic directions necessary to enhance agroecology and organic agriculture. It also seeks to evaluate the sustainability of ongoing projects and identify innovative ways to secure financing for future initiatives.
Key Objectives
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Establish strategic orientations to strengthen agroecology and organic farming in West Africa.
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Analyze available financing mechanisms for scaling up agroecology and organic agriculture.
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Foster public-private synergies to promote organic and agroecological practices.
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Organize political dialogues with regional institutions such as ECOWAS and ICDC.
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Launch the 3AO Digital Knowledge Management Platform for knowledge sharing on agroecology and organic agriculture.
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Share success stories from previous organic agriculture and agroecology projects across Africa.
Call for Abstracts and Papers
Abstract Submission Deadline: September 30, 2024
Full Paper Submission Deadline: October 4, 2024
Participants are invited to submit abstracts and full papers that align with the forum’s themes and sub-themes. Accepted papers will be presented during the forum, and authors will have the opportunity to engage with a network of practitioners, policymakers, and financial institutions.
Submission Guidelines:
All papers are to be submitted via email to agroecologyorganicconference24@gmail.com. Please adhere to the submission deadlines.
Conference Sub-Themes
The forum will explore the following critical topics and sub-themes, which aim to promote a holistic approach to agroecology and organic agriculture:
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Policy Development and Advocacy: Addressing the development and implementation of policies supporting Agroecology (AE) and Organic Agriculture (OA) in West Africa.
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Public-Private Partnerships: Enhancing private-public synergy for the sustenance of organic agriculture and agroecology through investment and collaboration.
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Success Stories and Sustainability: Highlighting the sustainability of sponsored OA and AE projects in African countries and sharing best practices.
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Financing Mechanisms: Exploring regional and national financing mechanisms that can support the scaling up of agroecology and organic agriculture across the continent.
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Agroecological Value Chains: Strengthening value chains within agroecology to improve market access, sustainability, and inclusivity.
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Capacity Building and Technical Assistance: Providing training and technical assistance to farmers and agricultural practitioners to enhance organic farming techniques.
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Market Access and Financial Inclusion: Increasing access to markets and promoting financial inclusion for smallholder farmers involved in organic agriculture.
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Gender Inclusion: Fostering gender equality within organic agriculture and agroecology, with a focus on financing opportunities for women.
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Sustainability of Organic Agriculture and Agroecology: Promoting long-term sustainability of organic agricultural practices for food sovereignty and climate resilience.
Tentative Forum Program Outline
| Day | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1: October 21, 2024 | 08:00 AM – 09:00 AM | Participant Registration |
| 09:00 AM – 10:00 AM | Official Opening Ceremony | |
| 10:30 AM – 01:30 PM | Plenary Sessions on Agroecology and Organic Agriculture | |
| 02:30 PM – 06:00 PM | Discussions on Financing Mechanisms for Agroecology | |
| Day 2: October 22, 2024 | 08:45 AM – 01:30 PM | Working Group Sessions on Institutional Collaboration and Financing Mechanisms |
| 02:30 PM – 04:30 PM | Panels on Sustainable Management of Land, Forests, and Fisheries | |
| Day 3: October 23, 2024 | 08:30 AM – 01:30 PM | Public Policy Dialogue Sessions |
| 02:30 PM Onwards | Field Visits and Evening Celebrations | |
| Day 4: October 24, 2024 | 08:30 AM – 04:30 PM | Evaluation of Forum Outcomes and Closing Ceremony |
Expected Participants
The forum anticipates the participation of 350 individuals from a wide range of sectors and institutions, including but not limited to:
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Farmers’ organizations (FOs) and civil society organizations (CSOs)
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Regional and continental institutions (e.g., ECOWAS, ICDC)
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International financial institutions and development partners
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Research institutions and NGOs
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Policymakers and government representatives
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Private sector players engaged in sustainable agriculture
Registration Information
Interested participants are encouraged to register early. Both in-person and virtual participation are available. To register, please email @gmail.com to receive the registration form and further instructions.
Conference Registration Details
| Fee | Account Name | Account Number | Bank | Swift Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $200 | Association of Organic Agriculture Practitioners of Nigeria | 3872034796 | Ecobank Nigeria Limited | ECOCNGLA |
Contact Information
For further inquiries or assistance regarding abstract submissions, registration, or payment details, please contact the forum secretariat via:Phone: +2289 3239 310 | +2267 8145 353 | +23480 3349 7933 | +2299 6691 096