Ibrahim Hamdan, Executive Secretary, AARINENA

GFAR Program Committee Meeting New-Delhi, India

17- 18 March 2012

AARINENA Post GCARD Report

Post GCARD (AARINENA Retreat Road Map 2011/2012)

1. Advocacy 1.1 Support to AARINENA 12th General Conference addressing priorities

such as regional investments and capacities buildings by updating ASTI 1.2 Support for AARINENA Secretariat for the preparation to GCARD 2012 2. Strengthening Stakeholder capacities & Gender issues 2.1 Development of WANA Farmers and NGOs Forum 2.2 Identifying regional and national needs for Women in AR4D in WANA 3. Inter-regional partnership and action 3.1 International Conference on “adaptation of climate change for the WANA

region” 3.2 International Wheat Stripe Rust Symposium in collaboration with ICARDA 3.3 Collaborative workshop with ECPGR for strengthening biodiversity.

4. ICM4ARD/CIARD/Agricultural Knowledge for all 4.1 CIARD Training of Trainers Workshop 4.2 Status Report on ICM in WANA Region 4.3 Expert Consultation meeting on GIS Application in WANA

Post GCARD (AARINENA Retreat Road Map 2011/2012) Cont’d

AARINENA Retreat for the WANA Region, Aleppo, Nov. 2010 - Objective: to consider post-GCARD1 actions for the WANA region

and fleshing out an action framework. - Recommendations

• Collective action by all stakeholders to follow-up on the action framework

• Monitor the implementation of the post-GCARD1 action framework • Develop a baseline and an M&E system • Strengthen AARINENA’s role and capabilities to initiate and support

regional collaboration, “matching” capabilities of different NARES • AARINENA could establish closer links with other regional

organizations.

Post GCARD I 1-Advocay:

Post GCARD Retreat(cont.) Key-Messages from WANA Region Climate change impact is large, natural resources are

vulnerable, thus: Adaptation is a key-issue for the region Matching funding for WANA is needed

Emphasis on resource poor and food insecure in both urban and rural communities

Smallholder farmers and women needs to be central inAR4D Water, food security and biodiversity are key-issues for

WANA Capacity development is required to scale-up Build and strengthen AARINENA as regional network in

AR4D

1-Adocacy Cont.: International Conference on Adaptation to Climate

Change and Food Security in WANA Kuwait Declaration on Climate Change Identified several key recommendations, knowledge gaps, and opportunities for

policy makers, researchers and extension systems, and NGOs to implement programs designed to minimize short-and long-term vulnerability of the WANA region to climate change.

The Main recommendations are Integrate science, practices and policy by mainstreaming adaptation into existing

projects and programs, and strengthen cooperation among relevant stakeholders to better understand how farmers and others are coping with climate change.

implications of climate change impacts and potential policy choices .

The Kuwait Declaration (cont.) Simulate multi-disciplinary research on climate change and food security and

develop innovative strategies that contribute to socio-economic sustainability of the production systems in fragile environments

Enhance capacity building activities in the region and strengthen the climate, crop, livestock and fishery data collection capability, analysis and modeling through increased public and private investment in climate change adaptation.

Strengthen regional cooperation and exchange of successful experiences among countries through the creation of a Network for Climate Change and Food Security in WANA.

Develop innovative financial mechanisms to scale up technical and financial support for the adaptation efforts of the WANA countries.

Examine alternative scenarios for the future food security in the region

1-Advocacy Cont. AARINENA 12th General Conference, Kuwait, 16-17 November 2011

Major Decisions:

1-Constitution Amendments.

2-Increase membership Fees

3- Selecting Search Com. for Exc..Sec. post

4-Next GC to be held in Turkey

5-Election of New Executive Committee:

12th General Conference (Cont.) • Executive Committee Members elected as follows: • Dr. Faisal Awawdeh ( Jordan), AARINENA President • Dr. Eltahir Siddig Ali (Sudan), Vice President & Representative of

the Nile Valley & Red Sea Sub-region • Dr. Nasser Al-Khalifah (Saudi Arabia), Arabian Pen.Sub-reg • Dr. Habib Amamou (Tunisia), Maghreb Sub-region • Dr. Mohamed Abu-Eid (Palestine), Mashreq Sub-region • Dr. Mojtaba Rajab Baigi (Iran), West Asia Sub-region • Dr. Mahmoud Solh, Representative of CGIAR • Dr. Mark Holderness, Representative of GFAR • CSO Representative (Dr. Salima Marzouki-CoFO Chair)

oAARINENA and ASTI team of the IFPRI worked with the principal agricultural R&D (ASTI) initiative in WANA

oA detailed surveys and face-to-face interviews with the principal agricultural R&D agencies prepared.

oData collected on investment, capacity, and institutional trends for the period 2007-2010 on the agricultural research systems in 6 NENA countries (Egypt, Morocco, Iran, Jordan, Oman and Syria)

o Outputs Update the existing ASTI datasets Data will be used for in-depth policy analyses ASTI/AARINENA report on trends in agricultural R&D.

1-Advocay (cont) Agricultural Science and Technology Indicators (ASTI)

2-Strengthening Stakeholders Capacities & Women empowerment

2.1 Esrablishment of Consortium for Farmers’ Organizations (CoFO) Cairo 30-31 December 2011, FAO and GFAR nineteen leading representatives of farmers unions and associations from different countries of

the region in WANA participated in the establishment meeting ;

Approved charter for the Consortium Elected an Executive Committee

2.1 Consortium of Farmers Organizations in West Asia North Africa Region

(COFO-WANA)

2- Strengthening Stakeholders capacities & Women empowerment (Cont.)

2.2 Women Empowerment for Improved Research in WANA

To develop recommendations for working mechanisms and policies for the ministries of agriculture, agricultural research institutions and extension agencies to advance the role of women working in agriculture in the region.

.

Women Empowerment for Improved Research in WANA

Ebba Augustin with Ruby Assad & Dalila Jaziri

2.2 Gender Gap

2.2 Recommendations to AARINENA

1. Establish a regional network that supports the integration of women farmers into the work and research of its member organizations across the region;

2. AARINENAs Executive Committee needs to seriously consider encouraging qualified women to join the committee and play an active role;

3. Offer member organizations capacity building in gender responsive research, analysis and documentation;

4. Exchange best practices for adoption and scaling up.

1. Establish a regional network that supports the integration of women farmers into the work and research of its member organizations across the region;

2. AARINENAs Executive Committee needs to seriously consider encouraging qualified women to join the committee and play an active role;

3. Offer member organizations capacity building in gender responsive research, analysis and documentation;

4. Exchange best practices for adoption and scaling up.

3-Inter-regional partnership and action AARINENA participated in reviewing few CGIAR's Mega

Programs (MPs) and Consortium Research Programs (CRPs) – MP3 on Dry land Cereals and Grain Legumes, August

2010 in Nairobi. CRP1.1 on integrated agricultural production systems, August 2010I, Dry Land Systems Regional Planning Working Meeting, June 2011, Nairobi.

• AARINENA cosponsored the International Wheat Stripe Rust Symposium, April 2011, organized by ICRADA in Aleppo.

• Cosponsored the International Conference on Food Security and Climate Change in Dry Areas, Feb. 2010, Amman-Jordan and the Current Conference on CC

• AARINENA represented the Regional Fora in the CGIAR Fund Council Meetings which took place in July at the Word Bank in Washington, DC. , November 2011 at IFAD and March 2012 at Seattle

4-ARD/CIARD/Agricultural Knowledge for all

4.1 Near East Rural & Agricultural Knowledge and Information Network (NERAKIN-RAIS)

This Information Network was developed in collaboration with FAO/RNE: • It is a platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration

for Agricultural Research and Development (ARD) for target groups and stakeholders.

• NERAKIN-RAIS is playing a major role in building information infrastructure at regional and national level.

4.2 Coherence in Information for Agricultural Research for Development

(CIARD) AARINENA delegation participated in the International

Expert Consultation on CIARD Framework, Beijing, June 2011.

Training of Trainers Workshop on CIARD, October 2011, Amman – Jordan

Encouraging Regional countries to publish and share their experiences at the national or regional level through the success stories and case studies

The content issue and its important role in information and knowledge sharing was emphasized by FAO , GFAR and CGIAR.

Advocacy for the development of ICM at national and regional levels

4.3 Expert Consultation on GIS

application held in Amman in June 2011 The meeting reviewed presentations from ICARDA , GFAR and AARINENA

sub-regions and PROGIS a Private company. Recommendations:

• Advocate and explain the potential of using GIS for agricultural development and environment in the region.

• Advocate and promote increased, improved and targeted investments in the development of “spatial data infrastructure” for research in GIS applications.

• Advocate the need for new capacities, especially human capacities and skills in the area of GIS.

• Develop greater regional and sub-regional collaboration in this area of ICT application

The participants agreed to develop a Concept Paper on using Spatial Information System for integrated agricultural and water resources

i WANA

4.4 Status Report on ICM in WANA Region

Distribution of AARINENA Networks

Tunisia Olive

Network

Sudan PGRN

UAE Date Palm

Global Network

Iran Int. Reg.

Cotton Network

N.A. (Maghreb) Sub-Region

Mashreq Sub-Region

Arabian Peninsula

Sub-Region

West Asia Sub-Region

Morocco WUE

Egypt

Agri. Biotech. + NERAKIN

Nile valley

Sub-Region

Jordan Medicinal &

Aromatic Plants

III- AARINENA Technical Networks

• Proceedings of the International Date Palm Conference were published in collaboration with ISHS

• Khalifa International Date Palm Award was awarded for 2010, 2011 and 2012

• Khalifa International Date Palm Award 2012 • The award five categories including • 1) Research, Studies & Technologies; • 2) Best Producer for Institutions; 3) the Best New Technique; 4)the Best Development Project 5)Influential Figure(s) in the Date Palm Industry.

AARINENA Technical Networks (Cont.) 1-Date-Palm Global Network (DGPN)- (http:www.dpgn.useu.ac.ae)

2. Inter-Regional Cotton Network in Asia and

North AFRICA (INCANA)- (http://www.cottonnetwork.org)

In Collaboration with APAARI and CACARI The Fourth Steering Committee Meeting of INCANA,

December 2010, Cairo-Egypt. FARA sent a representative to participate in this meeting A proposal for Cotton Quality Training Course was

prepared pending support Change of Coordinator by Iran AREEO

AARINENA Technical Networks (Cont.) 3. Regional Olive Network Olive-bioteq 2009 Conference: For a Renovated

Profitable and Competitive Mediterranean Olive Growing Sector, Dec. 2009, Tunisia Olive GAP Manual for NENA Countries 2010 was

published.. Two participants have selected from AARINENA as

members of the Scientific Committee of the VIIth International Symposium on Olive Growing, Argentina, Sept. 2012, organized by ISHS and IOC. “Following Olive Footprints” book of over 40 authors

from around the world under publication by AARINENA, IOC and ISHS .Contact agreement was signed.

4. Regional Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Network 13th International Conference and Exhibition on Medicinal and Aromatic

Plants, October 2009, Cairo – Egypt (Dr. Safwat Mistafa)

AARINENA Technical Networks (Cont.)

5. Regional Water Use Efficiency Network Proceedings of AARINENA Expert Consultation Meeting for establishment

of Water Use efficiency Network, ICARAD-Aleppo, was published and distributed to the members

No Activities

6. Agricultural Biotechnology Network (Cont.) The Network in collaboration with FAO/RNE established Web site for

Regional Agricultural Biotechnology Knowledge Network (RABNENA)-(http://www.rabnena.net)

An introductory Training course on bioinformatics was conducted at ARC-

AGERI-Egypt AARINENA delegation participated in the FAO International Conference on

Agricultural Biotechnologies, March 2010, Mexico The Bio-safety Technical Group Leader participated in preparing a

laboratory Manual on Detection of Genetically Modified Organisms. The Network Coordinator participated in the Fifth International Conference

on GM Foods, June 2011, Amman– Jordan Collaboration with APPARI by participating in their training courses by

WANA participants

AARINENA Technical Networks (Cont.)

7. 7-Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) Network AARINENA Network delegation participated in the Fourth

Regular Session of the Governing Body of ITPGRFA held in Bali, March 2011 Under GFAR

The Network held its Coordinating Board Meeting at the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries in Sultanate of Oman, June 2011 and adopted the following recommendations: Preparation of PR conservation strategy in WANA in

collaboration with GFAR, BI and ICARDA . Identify two areas for immediate preparation of concept

notes for full regional project proposals including Harmonization of PGR Information Systems in NENA, and Assessment of Status of the Current PGR Programs

• 7

AARINENA Technical Networks (Cont.)

November 2011

1. AARINENA Executive Committee held five meetings (Damascus Meeting, 14 October 200; ICARDA Meeting, 3 May 2009 ; Alexandria Meeting, 12 November 2009 ; ICARDA Meeting, 24 November 2010; and Kuwait Meeting, 12-13 September 2011).

2. The Tenth General Assembly Meeting (GAM) APAARI, Japan, 20 October 2008 3. Workshop on methodological innovations in impact assessment of agricultural research at Brasilia,

Brazil from 12 -14 November 2008. 4. An introductory course on bioinformatics, Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute

(AGERI)- Egypt, 23 November – 2 December 2008 5. Consultation Meeting on Establishing a Regional Platform for Handling GM Crops and Related

Commodity Products in the NENA Region, Sudan, 16-17 December 2008 6. The Strategy and Results Framework and Mega Program Development Workshop, (BI) headquarter-

Rome, 17-20 February 2009 7. The ERA-ARD Meeting, Lithuania, 26-27 February 2009 8. The scientific visit to Montpellier, Clermont-Ferrand, Dijon, France, 28 March – 3 April 2009. 9. The fifth Southern Advisory Group (SAG) Meeting, Budapest, 1st of April 2009

10.Regional Training Workshop on Building National Capacities in Information and Knowledge, Cairo, Egypt, 17-20 May 2009

11.AARINENA-GCARD Preparation Meeting, Amman-Jordan, 27 August 2009 12.E-Consultation of WANA Region, 2-24 September 2009 13.13th International Conference and Exhibition on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, 3-5 October 2009,

Cairo, Egypt 14.The Expert Consultation on Bio-pesticides and Bio-fertilizers for Sustainable Agriculture, Taichung,

27 to 29 October 2009 15.Face-to-Face Workshop Regional Consultations, WANA Region, 10-12 November 2009, Alexandria,

Egypt

Meetings

16. The Agriculture and Rural Development Day (ARDD), Copenhagen-Denmark, 12 December 2009 17. The Sixth Meeting of SAG, Brussels-Belgium, 15 December 2009 18. Olive-bioteq 2009: For a Renovated Profitable and Competitive Mediterranean Olive Growing Sector, 15 - 19

December 2009, Sfax, Tunisia 19. The International Conference on Dialogue between Europe and its Southern Partners on Agricultural Research

and Climate Change, Brussels-Belgium, 17 December 2009. 20. Regional Workshop on Gene Bank Documentation and Management in the Near East and North Africa Region,

Amman-Jordan, 30-31 January 2010 21. International Conference on Food Security and Climate Change in Dry Areas, Amman-Jordan, 1-4 February

2010 22. International Workshop on Fast Growing Economies Role in Global Agriculture for Development, Beijing, 8-10

February 2010. 23. The FAO International Technical Conference on Agricultural Biotechnologies in Developing Countries (ABDC):

Options and Opportunities in Crops, Forestry, Livestock, Fisheries and Agro-industry to face the Challenges of Food Insecurity and Climate Change, Guadalajara-Mexico, 1-4 March 2010.

24. Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD): Enhancing Development Impact from Research in Montpellier, France from 28-31 March 2010

25. Bioversity Week, Rome, 20-23 May 2010 26. The Advanced Workshop on Regional Capacity Building for GMOs Detection and Bio-safety for Food and

Agriculture 16-17 June 2010, Syria 27. The Fifth Agriculture Science Week and FARA General Assembly, Burkina Faso, 19-24 July 2010 28. The Stakeholders Meeting for MP3 on Dry land Cereals (held from 2-3 August 2010) and Grain Legumes (held

from 6-7 August 2010) in Nairobi, Kenya. 29. The Second MP1.1 Stakeholder Consultative Conference on integrated agricultural production systems for dry

areas, ICARDA-Aleppo, 9-10 August 2010. 30. Workshop to develop CGIAR MP2 on Policies, Institutions, and Markets to Strengthen Assets and Agricultural

Incomes for the Poor, Addis Ababa, 17-19 August 2010.

Meetings cont’d

31. The 28th International Horticulture Congress (IHC2010) of the International Society for Horticulture Sciences (ISHS), Lisbon-Portugal, 22-27 August 2010

32. The Eleventh General Assembly Meeting (GAM) of APAARI, Suwon- Republic of Korea 12 October 2010 33. APAARI training courses held in Chinese Taipei in October and November 2010 34. Consultation Meeting of the Plant Genetic Resources (PGR) Network, Aleppo- Syria, 4th of November 2010 35. Post GDARD I: AARINENA Retreat for the WANA Region, Aleppo-Syria, 22-24 November 2010 36. The Agriculture and Rural Development Day (ARDD) 2010, Cancun-Mexico, 4th of December 2010 37. The 10th International Conference on Development of Dry Lands, 12-15 December 2010 in Cairo, Egypt 38. The Fourth Steering Committee Meeting of INCANA, 16-18 December 2010, Cairo 39. Consultative Workshop on Knowledge Exchange Management System for Strengthening Rural Community

Development, Cairo-Egypt, 27 – 30 December 2010 40. The Fourth Regular Session of the Governing Body of ITPGRFA, Bali-Indonesia, 14-18 March 2011. 41. International Wheat Stripe Rust Symposium, ICARDA-Aleppo, 18-20 April 2011. 42. The Fifth International Conference on GM Foods, Amman– Jordan, 6-7 June 2011 43. Expert Consultation Meeting on GIS Applications in Agricultural Development, 7-8 June 2011, Amman-Jordan 44. The Consultation on Building the CIARD Framework for Data and Information Sharing, Beijing, 20-23 June 2011. 45. The First Coordinating Board (CB) Meeting of the PGR Network, Muscat, 27-29 June 2011 46. The Dry Land Systems Regional Planning Working Meeting, Nairobi- Kenya, 27-30 June 2011. 47. The Fifth CGIAR Fund Council Meeting, Word Bank-Washington, DC, 6-8 July 2011 48. GCARD2 organizing Committee Meeting, 21-22 July 2011, Rome 49. Joint ECPGR and NENA PGR Workshop on the implementation of the International Treaty of PGRFA, Turkey, 28-

29 September 2011 50. Training of Trainers Workshop on CIARD, Amman – Jordan, 4-6 October 2011.

Meetings cont’d

Newsletter: o AARINENA published 6 biannual Newsletters for the last three years.

Proceedings of Meetings: 1. Proceedings of the 11th General Conference of AARINENA, Damascus-Syria, 12-14

October 2009. 2. Synthesis Report: The Regional Reviews towards the Global Conference on

Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD) in WANA region, November 2009 3. Bio-fuel Production, Policy, Institutional Mapping and their Impacts on Food and

Environment in WANA region, February 2010 4. Olive GAP Manual, Good Agricultural Practices for NENA Countries 2010. 5. The GCARD Process in West Asia and North Africa, Final Synthesis, March 2010 6. Proceedings of AARINENA Retreat to Consider Post-GCRAD Actions for West Asia

and North Africa ( WANA) Region, ICARDA-Aleppo, Syria, 22-24 November 2010. 7. Proceedings of AARINENA Expert Consultation Meeting for establishment of Water

Use efficiency Network, ICARAD-Aleppo, Syria 8. Proceedings of the International Wheat Stripe Rust Symposium held at ICARDA

Headquarters, Aleppo, Syria from 18-20 April 2011. 9. Proceedings of meetings, workshops and training courses were published, distributed

and posted on AARINENA Website.

Publications

Major Achievements (2008-2011) No. of Participants Representing AARINENA and/or

Participated in AARINENA Events (2008-2011)

Future Work Plan

1). AARINENA will continue strengthening RAIS: 1.1- Organizing regional training workshops for ICT Capacity

building 1.2-Training Workshop on Agr. Biotech. Network on the new Web

(FAO/RNE) 1.3 Workshop on Extension to Market in collaboration with FAO 2).Supporting and strengthening existing Regional Network

activities 3) Publications: 3.1 AARINENA Newsletter and Proceedings of Meetings 3.2 Olive book with ISHS & IOC,

3.3 Climate Change proceedings with WMO (Springers)

3.4 Success Stories

4) preparation for GCARD 2

4.1 preparing for GCARD 2012 (electronic consultation)

Thank You