AU SAFGRAD

28/11/2025

6-days intensive Training on the Use of Climate Smart Agricultural Technologies for Agri-food systems transformation in Africa’s drylands. Baghdad, Iraq, 21-28th November 2025.

AU-SAFGRAD organizes a 6-days intensive Training on the Use of Climate Smart Agricultural Technologies for Agri-food systems transformation in Africa’s drylands. The African Union Semi-Arid Food Grains research and development (AU-SAFGRAD) office, one of the specialized technical Offices (STOs) in the department of Agriculture, Rural development blue economy and sustainable environment (ARBE), in collaboration with the League of Arab States’ Arab fund for technical assistance to African countries (AFTAAC) organized an intensive six (6) days training on the design, operations and maintenance (DOM) of climate smart agricultural technologies in Africa dry land agriculture. The training was organized to bridge the technical capacity gaps that exist in the continent in implementing optimal technology solutions as adaptation measures to climate related shocks that negatively impact African agriculture and rural livelihoods. A total of 14 young and early career agricultural experts nominated from 8 Member States benefitted from the training. The fully residential and intensive 6 days training adopted the mixed mode of experts’ presentations and practical (field visits) delivery method. Sessions were held on greenhouse, hydroponics, aquaponics, irrigation, conservation agriculture, precision farming design, operations and maintenance as well as the policy and institutional supports to encourage scaling of the technologies. The training took place at the Al Mansour Hotel, Baghdad with supports from the Iraq Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of planning. The closing and certification ceremony was attended by the Coordinator of AU-SAFGRAD, Dr Ahmed Elmekass. Ambassador Mohad Ladjouzi, the Assistant Secretary-General of the League of Arab States and Director General of AFTAAC and representatives of the Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Planning of government of Iraq. In his remarks, Dr Elmekass stressed the need to build capacity of technical actors in Africa through strengthening strategic partnership, promoting south-south cooperation and to re-focus attention on African dryland economies considering their high vulnerability to climate shocks and the low adaptation capacity, high incidence of natural resources conflicts, limited livelihood options and high out-migration of the economically active population.

13/11/2025

SIDE EVENT
Participation of AU-SAFGRAD in the 16th Commemoration of Africa Day for Food and Nutrition Security (ADFNS) and 21st CAADP Partnership Platform held in Kigali, Rwanda, 29-31 October 2025.
"Driving Africa’s Agricultural Transformation through Inclusive Value Chains and Agro-Processing"
According to the African Union Commodity Strategy, effective management of agricultural commodities could become a reliable driver of economic growth and development. Developing robust agro-processing industries would:

- Increase farm-level productivity and reduce post-harvest losses;
Boost intra-African trade and strengthen Africa’s share in global agricultural markets;
- Generate employment and stimulate rural industrialization;
- Enhance food and nutritional security through diversified products; and
- Encourage investment in logistics, storage, and service provision.

The event formed part of the domestication process of the AU Guidelines for Inclusive Agricultural Value Chains Development (iAVCD). The goal is to help countries translate continental frameworks into actionable national strategies that foster competitive agro-processing.

11/08/2025

10th African Agribusiness Incubation and Acceleration Investment Summit. AAICE, 5-8th August 2025, Sousse, Tunisia
UA-SAFGRAD participated in the African Agribusiness Incubation and Acceleration Conference 2025 and organized a panel event at the plenary on the topic “Competitive food grains transformation: overcoming challenges associated with youth inclusion in Agro-food systems development”.
The event was organized as part of the domestication process of the African Union’s Guidelines for Inclusive Agricultural Value Chains Development (iAVCD). To encourage and facilitate youth inclusion in agro-processing, there is a need to identify and address the policy and institutional challenges that limit youth entry and profitable performance as a business. The Guideline recognizes that solutions from best practices and lessons learned in implementing similar interventions across the continent have a greater chance of success. This is based on the fact that most African countries have somewhat similar development and market challenges. The 5-man Panel was drawn from youth/women agribusiness processors and industrialists with over 5years of experience in food grains processing and products markets in Africa. The event specifically targets the processing/value addition segment of the food grains value chains.
The intervention spotlighted challenges that limit inclusivity, especially among youth and women food grains processors in input sourcing, processing as well as in the products marketing and distribution nodes along the food grains value chains. The Panel discussion highlighted key challenges ranging from seasonality of input, pricing, storage and quality challenges. The high transaction costs associated with processing were linked to energy cost, cost of skilled labours, multiple taxes, cost of imported inputs and machine parts. Competition from low-cost imported products, high transport costs and general apathy of retailers/supermarket chains and consumers to accept local produce. The Panel further discussed measures adopted to overcome these challenges and calls for policy realignment to target support to youth and women food grain processors.

01/07/2025

Training of Young and Early Career Water and Irrigation Engineers from Twelve (12) Francophone Member States on “Design, Operation and Maintenance of Modern Irrigation Systems for Climate Adaptation in African Agriculture. 16-26th June, 2025, Medenine, Tunisia.

The Africa Union’ -Semi Arid Food Grains Research and Development (AU-SAFGRAD) in collaboration with the Arab League Fund for Technical Assistance to African Countries (AFTAAC) is organized a 10-day intensive training from 16-26th June, 2025, Medenine, Tunisia for young irrigation professionals from twelve African Union Member States. The training targeted young (less than 40years old) professionals, nominated and working in the irrigation Units of public Ministries/Departments of agriculture/water or research institutes.
The focus of the training was to develop the technical capacity of the early career Officers to design, operate and maintain small modern irrigation schemes to mitigate water scarcity in agricultural production. A total of 13 trainees from 12 countries participated in the training. The beneficiaries were drawn from Algeria, Benin, Cameroun, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinée Equatoriale, Morocco, Mauritania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Tchad, Togo and Tunisia.
The course module was designed to support knowledge delivery in participatory planning, infrastructure operation and maintenance (O&M), good water use about water scarcity and productivity, prevention or mitigation of environmental problems (e.g. salinity, water quality and small dams planning management), as well as related governance issues critical to scheme operation. The training also included knowledge sharing by subject matter experts, and field visits to model farms in different locations. Specifically, lectures/presentations addressed the understanding of the water situation in Tunisia. Water resource management plan, measures put in place to efficiently manage water: Desalination plants. modern Irrigation types with technical implementation challenges, irrigation and conveyance efficient such as canal lining and choice of pumps and laterals, and increased conveyance, reuse of drainage water for increased efficiency, use of unconventional water resources for irrigation, water quality management, underground water management and aquifers re-charges Management and participation of Water User Association (WUA) in operations and maintenance. In the closing session, the representative of the trainees thanked African Union Commission through AU-SAFGRAD for giving them this opportunity to be trained on the new irrigation systems which will facilitate their work and contribute in developing agriculture sector in their respective countries, In his side the Director General of the Tunisian Agency for Technical Cooperation appreciated this initiative from the Commission which encouraging the cooperation and sharing experiences among African Member states. Dr. Ahmed Elmekass, Coordinator of AU-SAFGRAD has highlighted the importance of irrigation sector in achieving the Kampala Declaration which emphasized that sustainable water management, particularly in water-scarce regions, is fundamental to the transformation of Africa’s agrifood systems. After the closing statements, the trainees received their certificates of attendance in a session moderated by Dr. Mure Agbonlahor - Senior Production and Marketing Officer at AU-SAFGRAD.

30/06/2025

Delivering the Kampala Strategy for Agricultural Research & Development (R&D) in Africa: From Commitment to Action

As part of the efforts to shape the implementation of Africa's CAADP Kampala agenda, the AU-SAFGRAD, in collaboration with continental , regional and national agricultural research, innovation and capacity development institutions (FARA, AFAAS, RUFORUM, ASARECA, CCARDESA and CORAF), the CGIAR Centres ( ILRI, Africa Rice, CIMMYT, CIAT), the National Agricultural Research Centre in Egypt and the Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University organized a 4-day workshop from 16-19 June 2025 in Cairo Egypt to deliberate on how the research, extension and education system should organize and position themselves to support the implementation of Kampala Strategy and Action Plan in a way that will assure achievement of the strategy’s outcomes.

07/01/2025

AU-SAFGRAD Participation in UNCCD COP16, Riyadh 2024

27/08/2024

Training of Young Professionals on the “Use of Efficient Small Irrigation Systems for Climate Adaptation in Africa”. 04 – 13 August, 2024, Cairo, Egypt

https://www.au-safgrad.org/happening-now-training-of-young-professionals-use-of-efficient-small-irrigation-systems-for-climate-adaptation-in-africa-cairo-egypt/

01/08/2024

Visite de S.E. Mme Selma Mansouri l’ambassadrice d’Algérie à Birkina fao auprès de l’UA-SAFGRAD

30/07/2024

The Coordinator of AU-SAFGRAD with the Diplomatic Corps in Burkina Faso met with the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations and the Chair of SDGs groups on 24 July 2024

29/07/2024

The 9th African Agribusiness Incubation Conference & Expo, 23-26th July 2024, Lusaka, Zambia.

https://www.au-safgrad.org/the-9th-african-agribusiness-incubation-conference-expo-23-26th-july-2024-lusaka-zambia/

30/04/2024

Formation des professionnels de l’irrigation et de la gestion de l’eau agricole en début et en milieu de carrière sur l’utilisation de petits systèmes d’irrigation efficaces pour l’adaptation au changement climatique en Afrique, 15-25 avril 2024 Bizerte, Tunisie.

https://www.ua-safgrad.org/formation-des-professionnels-de-lirrigation-et-de-la-gestion-de-leau-agricole-en-debut-et-en-milieu-de-carriere-sur-lutilisation-de-petits-systemes-dirrigation-efficaces-pour-ladaptation-au/

22/04/2024

https://www.au-safgrad.org/enhancing-measurement-for-assessing-rd-system-performance-in-the-caadp-br-process-kampala-uganda-april-16-17-2024/

AU-SAFGRAD has organized a workshop on “Enhancing Measurement for Assessing R&D System Performance in the CAADP BR Process”, The workshop brought together, in addition to AU-SAFGRAD, a task force team of key experts including AU CAADP team, IFPRI, Akademya2063, AUDA NEPAD, Malabo commitment lead...