Tropical Agriculture Platform: progress report

1. 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

2. Tropical Agriculture Platform: progress report • Summary of the TAP concept • The progress made

3. 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.

4. The TAP objective Greater coherence of capacity development and knowledge sharing to improve agricultural production and productivity in the tropics, with a particular focus on smallholders.

5. 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

6. 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.

7. The TAP Outputs

8. 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

9. Tropical Agriculture Platform: progress report • Summary of the TAP concept • The progress made

10. 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

11. The initial steps • Constituency formed • 63 invited • 29 partners • More announced • Others support • Draft operational framework and workplan

12. TAP Partners as of 28 October 2012

13. TAP Partners as of 28 October 2012

14. 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

15. 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

16. Major challenges • Focus • Alignment with other initiatives • Commitment and engagement of the partners • Value for partners

17. Thank you for your attention