The aims of the project is to contribute to build and to strength Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) capacities in the agricultural sector of Western and Eastern Africa countries to enable food security and socio-economic development in cereals, cocoa and coffee chains.
The specific objectives are:
- Establishment of working partnerships among the participating institutions.
- Establishment of 3 Centres for Innovation and Technology dissemination (CITED) in each ACP partner Country for sustainable agricultural production and food security at host universities established.
- Dissemination of successfully proven Appropriate Technologies (ATs).
The project is organized in four work packages
- WP1 Project management in which the lead partner will organize meetings, will prepare and submit internal progress reports and yearly progress reports to the EC. This includes interfacing with contracting authority, preparation of bilateral agreement and steering committee meetings, financial management, audit.
- WP2 Centres for Innovation and Technology dissemination (CITED) three CITED, one in each ACP participating countries will be set up and equipped, it includes also recruitment and training of CITED management team and personnel, linkage with innovators and researchers implementation of CITED, selection of potential technologies and innovation, field trials, selection of model farms, validation of selected technologies.
- WP3 Dissemination and promotion of the successfully proven (ATs)
- Farmer field school (35 participating farmer for each)
Training of trainers to amplify the effects of the dissemination of the application of ATs and to increase the absorptive capacity for new technology in the interested regions. - Selection of trainers amongst member of target groups (professors, researchers and post-graduate students of the African Universities involved in the project)
- Training and facilitation of artisan, mechanics and blacksmiths to support the ATs
- WP4 Dissemination and promotion that includes promotional material, preparation of manual of selected ATs, organization and delivery of dissemination events and realization of project website and web platform.