| Abstract |
During 19-23 March 2012, over 200 researchers, policy makers, donors, seed specialists, and NGO representatives from Africa and Australia gathered in Arusha, Tanzania, for the second SIMLESA Annual Regional Planning and Review Meeting (ARPRM). Representation from the Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR), which generously supports the work, included nine members of the organization’s Commission for International Agricultural Research. Participants shared lessons from the last two years and discussed better ways to design and implement future activities. Ten sessions addressed issues including project implementation, Australian-African partnerships, project and partner progress and lessons, and communications and knowledge management. The meeting also had a special dialogue session with donor partners present (International Livestock Research Institute, International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Association of Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and ACIAR) on enhancing cooperation among different projects and new initiatives on sustainable intensification of smallholder agriculture in Africa. Workshop participants were given an opportunity to ask questions related to sustainable livelihoods in Africa. The panelists were selected from these donor agencies. It was concluded that more needs to be done in as far as generating knowledge on the operational environment of smallholder farmers is concerned. |
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