The Regional Fair for Knowledge on SANAD Policies (food and nutritional security and sustainable agriculture) marks an important step in the valorization and sharing of knowledge in the field of food security and sustainable agriculture in West Africa. This event, scheduled from December 6 to 8, 2023, in Benin, is the result of a collaboration between several West African regional institutions and organizations involved in the framework for monitoring the Charter for the Prevention and Management of Food Crises (PREGEC). It represents a crucial initiative for improving governance in resilience, food and nutritional security, as well as sustainable agriculture in the region.
The Project for the Improvement of Governance in Resilience and Food and Nutritional Security and Sustainable Agriculture in West Africa (PAGR-SANAD), launched in 2019 and co-funded by the European Union, aims to strengthen capacities within regional and national institutions for better governance of food and nutritional security (SAN) and agricultural policies. This program has enabled the development of a regional strategy for monitoring SANAD policies, focused on capitalizing experiences and mutual reinforcement.
The Regional Fair for Knowledge aligns with this dynamic. It is designed to valorize the practices and knowledge of actors in agrosylvopastoral and fishery value chains, thus contributing to the region’s food sovereignty. The event will share experiences and practices of sector actors, and support the building of evidence to bolster the advocacy of these organizations.
One of the key goals of the fair is to share successful practices and experiences, mobilizing cross-border consultation frameworks and National Transhumance Committees (CNT). It will also offer a platform for scaling up these good practices. The event will include plenary sessions and thematic groups, covering various aspects related to SANAD, such as pastoral mobility, local storage, youth employment, and conflict management.
Expected participants include representatives from various regional organizations, such as ROPPA, RBM, ROAC, APESS, AFAO, RECAO, POSCAO, OXFAM, SOS SAHEL, FIAB, Afrique verte, RESIMAO, SNV, ANOPER, the Associative Platform of Livestock Farmers and Pastoralists of Togo, as well as support staff. In total, about 44 participants from different organizations are expected.
The Regional Fair for Knowledge on SANAD Policies presents a unique opportunity for actors in the region to share their experiences, learn from each other, and collectively contribute to resilience and food sovereignty in West Africa. By participating in this event, actors can not only enrich their knowledge but also establish important connections for future collaborations.