GCARD 2 Pre-Conference Meeting
Punta del Este, Uruguay, 28 October 2012
Tropical Agriculture Platform:
progress report
Andrea Sonnino
Research and Extension Branch
FAO – Rome, Italy
Andrea.Sonnino@fao.org
Tropical Agriculture Platform:
progress report
• Summary of the TAP
concept
• The progress made
The Problems at Stake
 Numerous interventions addressing gaps in capacity and
knowledge in agricultural innovation in tropical areas
have:
• Insufficient alignment with country/regional policies &
needs
• Insufficient coordination and synergy between them
• Small-scale activities with high transaction costs and
limited impact
• Inadequate analysis of interdisciplinary needs and the
demands of agricultural markets.
The TAP objective
The TAP Approach
 Multilateral, multi-sectoral
facilitation mechanism
 Convening stakeholders at
global and national level
 Enabling actors to contribute
through partnerships
 Creating more coherent actions
with greater impact
 Aligning with national, regional
and global policy frameworks
 FAO acting as a global facilitator
and convenor
The TAP Target Groups
Target Groups (directly
affected):
• policymakers and
institutions in agricultural
innovation (research,
extension, education etc),
• the private sector and
civil society active in
innovation systems
• relevant development
agencies, fora etc.
The TAP Outputs
Assessment of current
Capacities and Needs
Strategic Action
Plan
Enhanced Policy
Dialogue
7
Common framework
and guidelines for
capacity development
Effective Capacity
Development
Partnerships
Enhanced knowledge
exchange in support
of capacity
development
The difference TAP will
make
• Partnerships and shared visions fostered to
promote:
– capacity development interventions more coherent and
aligned with national plans and demands
– national leadership and ownership acknowledged
• Capacity development solutions developed at
scale and with lower transaction costs
• Knowledge and experiences shared between
broad constituencies of stakeholders
Tropical Agriculture Platform:
progress report
• Summary of the TAP
concept
• The progress made
TAP genesis
• Concept approved by G20 Agriculture Ministers Declaration,
Paris, Jun 2011
• Discussed at G20 Conference on Ag. Research for
Development, Montpellier, Sep 2011
• Developed by Informal Stakeholder Consultation, Rome, Dec
2011
• Endorsed by G20 Agriculture & Development Working Groups,
Mar-May 2012, and by G20 Leaders’ Summit, Mexico, Jun
2012
• Recognized by the G-8 Summit, USA, May 2012
• Launch at G20 MACS, Mexico, Sep 201
The initial steps
• Constituency formed
–
–
–
–
63 invited
29 partners
More announced
Others support
• Draft operational
framework and
workplan
TAP Partners as of
28 October 2012
Global Fora
Regional Fora
International
Organizations
Others
GCHERA
AARINENA
IFAD
AGRA
GFRAS
APAARI
World Bank
Agrinatura
GFAR
CAACARI
IICA
ITPGRFA
YPARD
FARA
CTA
TAP Partners as of
28 October 2012
National Research Institutions
International Research
Institutes
AGREENIUM
France
IAARD
Indonesia
INTA
Argentina
CABI
UK
ICIMOD
Nepal
ARC
South Africa
INIA
Spain
JIRCAS
Japan
CATIE
Costa Rica
ICIPE
Kenya
CAAS and
CATAS
China
INIFAP
Mexico
Wageningen
University
Holland
ICBA
UAE
Initial steps (ctd)
• Initial funds raised
–
–
–
–
France 55,000 Euros
[FAO 300,000 USD]
[SSC Fund 75,000 USD]
[China (SSC) 200,000
USD]
• Outreach
– TAP Web site
– Brochure
Next steps
• Operational framework
finalized at GCARDII,
Uruguay, Oct 2012
• Continued resource
mobilization
• Inception phase (component
1 + institutional
arrangements)
From November 2012 to
March/April 2013
• Implementation
(components 2 to 4)
– From April/May 2013 on
Major challenges
• Focus
• Alignment with
other initiatives
• Commitment
and engagement
of the partners
• Value for
partners
Thank you for your
attention