PROCASUR and IFAD, working together to learn from practice and promote South-to-South cooperation
In the framework of the Cross-Regional Programme “Strengthening Capacities and Tools to scale up and disseminate Innovations”, approved by IFAD in October 2015 and effectively on-going since February 2016, Procasur and IFAD have jointly organized the second Programme Steering Committee (PSC) as well as the learning event Learning from practice. Connecting Innovative Solutions for the Global South, both held at IFAD HQ in Rome, on February 9, 2017.
The PSC meeting was aimed at discussing the progress, the relevant thematic areas, and the way forward for the IFAD-Procasur Programme. It was Chaired by Ms. Margarita Mateu, Director of Agricultural Development at AGRORURAL, Ministry of Agriculture of Peru, and was attended by several IFAD project directors from different countries where the Programme is operating, mainly: Senegal, Mozambique, Kenya, Peru and Bolivia; as well as by representatives of IFAD and PROCASUR’s regional and technical teams involved in the directory of the Programme (Here the agenda with the participants and the program).
Many were the issues raised and discussed during the meeting, some of those were: the importance of systematically fostering the cross regional exchanges as part of the several learning opportunities envisaged during the second year of the Programme; the importance of strengthening the policy dialogue and collaboration with policy makers — local governments and institutions — (at all levels) and their involvement/implication in the whole process; as per the impact of the programme, it was highlighted how it should be pursued the integration of the action plans in the AWPB (Annual Work Plan and Budget) of IFAD’s projects in order to ensure ownership and scaling up of innovations by IFAD funded projects and main actors involved.
As per thematic areas of interest, it was highlighted the importance of enhancing the “dialogue” among the themes analyzed in the three regions (East and Southern Africa, West and Central Africa and Latin america and the Caribbean) and maintain a focus on gender and youth as cross cutting issue, also while approaching other thematic areas.
The PSC meeting was also the opportunity to discuss about the key role of KM within IFAD’s projects and how the Large IFAD-Procasur regional programme can further support the improvement of KM tools and approaches within IFAD funded projects.
In the afternoon, the learning event “Learning from practice — Connecting Innovative Solutions for the Global South” represented the opportunity to capitalize on the experience gained by each region in the framework of the Programme and on the good practices developed by key actors and partners of the Programme. A cross regional panel has taken place aimed at fostering knowledge exchange on innovative solutions for rural development within IFAD funded projects in Latin America and the Caribbean, East and Southern Africa, and West and Central Africa regions. The learning event was also aimed at raising the attention on different approaches for local champions effective inclusion as knowledge service providers applied by specific programme and policy experiences in the different regions of interest for the programme.
As per the Latin American panellists, Ms. Margarita Mateu (AGRORURAL) and Mr Luis Saez (Highlands and High Rainforest Project, IFAD funded project in Peru) have introduced the adoption of local champions in the national policies in Peru as knowledge services providers; Mr. José Antonio Carvajal — Project Director of ACCESOS, IFAD supported Project in the Plurinational State of BOLIVIA, has presented main characteristics of IFAD programmes in Bolivia and future perspective of work in the frame of climate change adaptation and natural resource management envisaged for 2017.
As per the African panellists, Mr. Daniel Ozias Mate, the Project Director of the PROSUL IFAD funded project in Mozambique and Ms. Faith Muthoni Project Director of Upper Tana Natural Resources Management Project, IFAD supported Project, Kenya have presented innovations in the frame of their respective projects, especially as related to the important issue of climate change and adaptation strategies. Finally, Mr. Semou Diouf, the Project Director of PAFA –ext. has presented innovations developed in Senegal in the frame of the Agricultural Value Chain Development project as related to the strategy of inclusion of youth local champions in inclusive value chain.
The event was attended by a group of approximately 25 IFAD staff representatives from different divisions and it was the opportunity to capitalize on the sharing of knowledge and experiences at cross regional level to enhance south-south cooperation.
Viviana Sacco, PROCASUR Liaison Officer at IFAD HQ
