The West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF) is currently hosting a crucial training in Dakar for approximately 50 stakeholders involved in the Agroecology Network for the Sustainability of Food Systems in West and Central Africa (RADiUS) project.
The workshop, running from July 21 to 25, focuses on instilling rigorous, transparent, and ethical resource management practices to effectively support the agroecological transition in the region.
The RADiUS project, funded by the European Union, aims to promote agroecology for sustainable food systems across West and Central Africa. Coordinated by CORAF, it brings together various scientific institutions, including universities, research centers, and NGOs. Its core objective is to support the agroecological transition on farms through the dissemination of innovative technologies, capacity building, and knowledge transfer.
“This workshop is not just a technical meeting. It is an important moment in the implementation of the RADiUS project,” stated Dr. Moumini Savadogo, Executive Director of CORAF, during the official opening.
The RADiUS project relies on multi-stakeholder coordination across five participating countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, and Senegal. A key aspect is a shared resource management strategy. Dr. Savadogo emphasized that the training’s goal is to “ensure that all key project stakeholders have the procedures and standards that govern all aspects of financial management, purchasing, communication, and knowledge management.” He added that this framework will form the basis for effective management of human and financial resources, and the products generated.
The CORAF head underscored the critical need for aligned practices, enhanced transparency, and robust project governance, stressing principles of “probity, integrity in resource management, and ethics.”
Professor Ismaïla Diouf, representing the Rector of University Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD) in Dakar – a member of the consortium – reaffirmed the university’s commitment to CORAF. He advocated for greater university involvement, stating, “I believe that the university, as a CORAF partner, could make a vital contribution. We have the internal expertise, particularly through our Cooperation Management division, to support the financial and technical aspects of the project.” He further emphasized that “strengthening administrative, scientific, and operational skills is essential to successfully achieve the agroecological transition in our country,” calling for improved coordination between research institutions and local communities.
RADiUS is integrated into the DeSIRA+ (Development Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture) initiative, led by the European Union, which seeks to better connect research and innovation with user needs. The project aims to structure a regional agroecological innovation network through shared tools, an effective communication strategy, and harmonized knowledge management.
ARD/Sf/ac/fss/abj/APA