December 01, 2023 | No. 52 |
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| AAAE & AEASA Conference 2023 |
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The recently concluded joint AAAE & AEASA conference, from September 18-21, 2023, at the Southern Sun Elangeni & Maharani Hotel in Durban, South Africa, witnessed the participation of 362 delegates, including 165 AAAE and 197 AEASA registered delegates. Notably, 43 AAAE delegates, mostly from West Africa, faced some hiccups, such as delayed visa issuance, preventing their attendance.
A total of 353 out of 453 submitted papers were accepted, comprising 228 oral presentations and 125 posters. Among the key sponsors contributing to the success of the event were the Province of KwaZulu Natal & KZN-Durban Convention Bureau, the International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE), the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), Joint Research Centre-European Commission (JRC-EC), Program of Accompanying Research for Agricultural Innovation (PARI) with a cumulative sponsorship amount of $80,000.
The conference resulted in the election of a new board, led by President Joshua Ariga and Vice President Opeyemi Ayinde. Distinguished Fellows for 2023 were recognized, including Dr. Namanga Ngongi, Prof. Ruth Oniang'o, Prof. Edward Mabaya, Dr. Jonas Chianu, and Mr. Mamadou Biteye OBE. The oral paper category acknowledged Haji Athumani Msangi as the Best Paper presenter, with Janet Mwende Mutiso and Vincent Gadamba Misango as the 1st and 2nd Runners Up, respectively. In the poster category, Kandas Cloete secured the Best Poster, followed by Vida Mantey and Chrispin Kaphaika as the 1st and 2nd Runners Up.
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| 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE 2024): Call for Papers |
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32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE 2024)
The International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE) will hold its next triennial conference, the 32nd International Conference of Agricultural Economists (ICAE 2024), from 2-7 August 2024 in New Delhi, India, on the overall theme “Transformation Towards Sustainable Agri-Food Systems”. ICAE 2024 will feature invited and contributed papers and sessions on topics such as healthy and sustainable diets, technological and institutional innovations, agroecology, gender roles and social equity in agri-food systems, environmental and social externalities of value chains, the true cost of food, development of a sustainable bioeconomy, and novel approaches and methods in agri-food systems research and policy analysis, among others. Many top-notch speakers from all parts of the world have already confirmed their participation. ICAE 2024 invites submissions of Contributed papers (full paper), Contributed posters (extended abstract), Organized symposia (symposium overview), and Pre-conference workshops (workshop overview) by 15 January 2024. Details can be found on the ICAE 2024 website at: https://icae2024.in/home/. IAAE will support qualifying junior scholars from the Global South with accepted academic contributions through travel stipends to be allocated on a competitive basis. Read more
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| AfJARE Editorial Transition |
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Dear Readers,
We are excited to share a significant transition in the leadership of the African Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics (AfJARE). After a successful tenure, I, the outgoing Chief Editor and my Co-Editor have passed the baton to a new team to propel the journal to greater heights.
The new leadership, led by Chief Editor Prof. Jonathan Nzuma (University of Nairobi) and Co-editors Dr. Selma Karuaihe (University of Pretoria) and Dr. Camillus Abawiera Wongnaa (Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology), brings a wealth of experience. We will support this team in the coming months to facilitate a seamless transition. We extend our gratitude to the AfJARE core team, led by Jeffers Miruka and Henry Mwololo, for their invaluable support.
Throughout our tenure, we endeavored to enhance AfJARE's global recognition by implementing an accelerated review process, ensuring timely responses to publication requests, providing swift feedback to authors, and focusing on articles that address Africa's agriculture and resource economics needs. Despite challenges, we made strides in rebuilding the website, establishing gender inclusiveness on the editorial board, and fostering collaboration with the African Association of Environmental and Resource Economists (AFAERE), culminating in a Special Volume 18(1) Issue, March 2023.
We appreciate your continued support and eagerly anticipate the backing of the new AfJARE team as they embark on this exciting journey.
Sincerely,
Joshua Ariga, outgoing Chief Editor and New AAAE President
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| Call For Expressions of Interest African Development Bank Group Transition States Coordination Office |
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The African Development Bank, through the Transition States Coordination Office (RDTS), is interested in recruiting a consulting firm or association of consulting firms with expertise in conducting fragility assessments in Sahel countries, in conducting research/analysis with MDBs, in conducting economic and social surveys to conduct a full-fledged fragility assessment for Liptako-Gourma with a focus on Burkina Faso. This evaluation is a joint initiative of four institutions, namely the African Development Bank (AfDB), IFAD, UNDP, IsDB.
The overall objective is to establish sustainable conditions for an effective transformation of the region and the country with a view to stable development at the political, economic, environmental, security and socio-cultural levels. The specific objectives consist of (i) assessing the structural weaknesses of fragility, the constraints on the region and country's resilience capacities; (ii) assess the state of the priorities of the institutions strategies for addressing fragility and building resilience, and (iii) propose a strategic and operational engagement framework for institutions (improve institutional capacities, promote resilience at community level and promote private sector). The analysis must be sufficiently robust to reflect as faithfully as possible the current national and regional context, and to inform both strategic interventions and its contribution to the policy dialogue for peace security with the governments. Read more
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| Why Small-Scale Irrigation Makes for Good Nutrition Policy |
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The Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Irrigation and Mechanization Systems (ILIMS), led by the University of Nebraska’s Daugherty Water for Food Global Institute (DWFI) (Nebraska-ILIMS), was fittingly launched at this year’s World Food Day with the theme “Water is Life, Water is Food. Leave No One Behind.”
The research program’s five areas of inquiry will develop socio-technical bundles that support uptake of mechanization and irrigation, strengthen institutions for natural resource governance and climate resilience, enable scaling of suitable technologies and support development of human resources. The fifth area of inquiry makes a leap from technology to nutrition and health, with the specific aim to “formulate strategies for nutrition-sensitive mechanization and irrigation that safeguard and enhance health and inclusivity.” Read more
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| Trade Matters for Global Food Security |
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The U.S. Government’s Global Food Security Strategy (GFSS) notes trade more than 80 times as contributing to inclusive and sustainable agriculture-led economic growth, resilience and nutrition. Trade isn’t just about big ships and ports; it’s also the rural smallholder producer trying to get better prices for their products in higher-value markets in the city or increasing access to, and the availability of, safer and more nutritious food products for marginalized groups.
The global events of the past few years have highlighted this connection between trade and food security more than ever. Starting with countries’ trade-restrictive measures taken during the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s unprovoked war on Ukraine and the ongoing impacts of climate change, food systems are under strain. Improving productivity is important, but alone, it is insufficient for enhanced resilience to these shocks. Food systems resilience is rooted in the diversification of supply. This means taking steps to help safe and nutritious food move from areas of plenty to areas of hunger, whether or not it crosses a border. Read more
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| Request For Applications (RFA) Pro-Wash & Scale Small Grants Program Applied Research Award |
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The PRO-WASH & SCALE Award is excited to announce its first applied research request for applications (RFA)! We are soliciting applications to explore sustainability in the domains of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH), agriculture, natural resource management (NRM), water resources management (WRM), livelihoods, markets, cash-for-work (CFW), vouchers-for-work, and food-for-work interventions on closed USAID Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance (BHA)-funded development/resilience food security activities (DFSAs/RFSAs) as well as legacy Food for Peace-funded development food assistance projects (DFAPs).
Successful applicants will have the opportunity to generate robust evidence around under-studied thematic areas. The results from the sustainability review will expand the evidence base of interventions and approaches that foster lasting outcomes and contribute to the improved design, implementation, and overall effectiveness of programming by BHA implementing partners. Read more
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| Empowering Women Cooperatives in Benin through Cassava Processing |
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In Benin, cassava plays a crucial role as a staple food among low-income consumers, causing a high regional demand for gari and other cassava products like tapioca. The Union Communale des Coopératives des Femmes Transformatrices de Manioc de Glazoué (COOP-CA), also known as UCCFTM-Glazoué, is a union composed of 15 women's village cooperatives with a total of 234 active members in the Glazoué commune, of which 218 are women.
This union primarily consists of women producers with limited technical skills who transform cassava into various products, including gari, tapioca, and atchèkè, using traditional equipment. They sell their products individually, which hinders their ability to secure competitive market prices and access structured markets. Furthermore, union members lack the financial means to raise funds from banks. Read more
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Becoming an AAAE member: The African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE) is a nonprofit association serving the professional interests of those working in agricultural and broadly related fields of development economics. Becoming a member of AAAE brings together people who work in the same industry and/or share common interests and goals. Please subscribe today and become a member to help in advocating for our shared purpose. |
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African Association of Agricultural Economists c/o University of Nairobi, C.A.V.S, Upper Kabete Campus Loresho Ridge Road, Nairobi, Kenya |
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