Ekaya, Wellington N.

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BecA-ILRI Hub Capacity Building ProgrammeEmpowering African scientists and institutions to solve Africa’s agricultural challengesWellington EkayaOn behalf ofBecA-ILRI HubILRI Capacity Development Week, 14-17 December 2015Presentation outline Introduction What the BecA-ILRI Hub capacity Building Program is responding to Capacity Building Objectives The Africa Biosciences Challenge Fund Outputs and Emerging outcomes (highlights) Programme Growth  / Scale-out Strategy AcknowledgementsAU/NEPADEstablishing biosciences centres for excellence in AfricaAU/NEPAD => Africa Biosciences Initiative (ABI): Creation of four centers for excellence (with regional networks) BecA (Biosciences eastern and central Africa) for countries in eastern and central Africa  SANBio (Southern African Network for Biosciences) for southern African countries WABNet (West African Biosciences Network) consisting of ECOWAS countries NABNet (North African Biosciences Network) for Northern African countries.• Low critical mass of NARS scientists in biosciencesresearch• Weak / ineffective links and partnerships• Weak research infrastructure• NARS opportunities to effectively leverage advances inbiosciences for AR4D• CAADP AGENDA• S3AWhat  the BecA-ILRI Hub Capacity Building Program is responding toBecA-ILRI Hub: capacity building objectives• Strengthen capacity of NARS to harness the latest biosciences technologies to improve agriculture in Africa• Support NARS scientists efforts to lead and sustain biosciences research for development in Africa• Promote access to world-class research facilities at the BecA–ILRI Hub and others• Mobilize capacities in African NARS and beyond for joint actions for improving agriculture in AfricaCapacity building at BecA-ILRI HubBrand: The Africa Biosciences Challenge FundCapacity building is conducted via four streams:1. ABCF Research Fellowships• Competitive but with in-built strategies: consideration  for less resourced NARS, Women representation, PAPA/sustainability,2. Training workshops3. Institutional capacity building4. Providing a platform for joint actions by NARSCapacity Building Implementation ApproachSupervision and Mentorship of Research Fellows• Full time BecA Hub Scientists and Research Associates• BecA Hub Extended Faculty• Visiting Scientists: NARS & I R Institutes• ABCF Fellows (Senior Research Scientists)• ILRI Biosciences, +• Weekly and Invited Guest Seminars• Emphasis on hands-on and skills/knowledge transfer• Return to home-institution preparation•Key skills areas with large demand1. Introduction to Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics2. Advanced Bioinformatics and Genomics3. Laboratory Management and Equipment Operations 4. Scientific Research Paper Writing5. Animal Quantitative Genetics and Genomics• Taking the workshops to the region• Tailor-made coursesBecA Annual WorkshopsInstitutional capacity building: key aspects Photo: © Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation/Kate Holt• Technical assistance (lab design and management, equipment installation and commissioning, training of equipment engineers)• Transfer of technologies following training of scientists from the BecA-ILRI Hub to the NARS (e.g. diagnostic assays and techniques)• Resource mobilization for capacity building and research infrastructural development• Connections to networks and key influencers (e.g. suppliers of reagents and lab equipment).Mobilizing capacities for joint action• Agricultural Research Connections Workshops Encouraging Scientific Research Collaborations to Benefit African Farmers• PAPA (Participant Action Plan Approach) Mechanism• Communities of Practice• Resource Mobilization e.g. ACE IIMain achievements - highlights• Outputs• Emerging Outcomes• Total No: 226 (by end 2015)• Drawn from:  21 African Countries• Research focus:• Livestock Improvement• Crop Improvement• Nutrition and Food Safety• Climate Change• Underutilized Species of Crops and Livestock• Wide scope within – project topicsMain achievements: ABCF research Fellows Contribution of ABCF projects to BecA Hub and ILRI missionLivestock Research / Improvement(32%)Crops Research / Improvement(44%)Food Safety and Nutrition (11%)Under-utilized Species (6%)Climate Change (4%)Others (e.g. Medicinal Plants, Bush Meat, Bees…)(2%)• Total No. Trained: 556 • Drawn from: 27 African Countries• Female Proportion: >50%Main achievements: Training workshops• Papers in peer-reviewed Journals: • Total journal papers: 156• Papers published by ABCF Fellows: 61• Manuscripts: over 50Main achievements: Publications • 4 CoPs at nascent stages• Taro improvement (4 countries)• Chicken genetics (3 countries)• Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease (4 countries)• Striga resistance (3 countries)Main achievements: Nascent CoPsMain achievements - highlights• Emerging outcomesHow we got to know..• External Review by DalbergConsultants -2014• Testimonies  by BecA-ILRI Hub alumni• What our partners are saying• BecA-ILRI Hub experiencesMain achievements: Emerging outcomes Very strong endorsement by stakeholders of the ABCFMain achievements: emerging outcomes• ABCF contribution to downstream impact (Examples)• Gulu University, Ugandao Impact Statement• Central Veterinary Research Laboratories, Kenyao Capacity of the laboratory• Sudano Striga-resistant Sorghum varieties released• Increased awareness about the BecA-ILRI HubProgramme Growth/Scale out strategy BecA-ILRI Hub Alumni have a central role to playCatalyzing and facilitating CoPs :o Creating research leadersExtending BecA-ILRI Hub’s influence beyond research boundarieso University curricula; PolicyEntrenching sustainabilityo Engage National Councils for Science and TechnologyStrengthening the linkages with intermediary organizations – e.g. ISAAAAcknowledgement: Partners…and many moreNARS2002 – 2007 Establishment phase2007 – 2012 Implementation phase2012 –Innovation phaseBusiness Plan 2013-2018Acknowledgement :BecA Investorshub.africabiosciences.org/aboutbeca

BecA-ILRI Hub capacity building program: Empowering African scientists and institutions to solve Africa’s agricultural challenges

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BecA-ILRI Hub capacity building program: Empowering African scientists and institutions to solve Africa’s agricultural challenges

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