Cotonou, Benin
April, 2008
I would like to share with you
some highlights on the tangible progress made by
the Africa Rice Center (WARDA)
to face the challenges of the fast-changing rice sector in
Africa.
1. More effective use of
Council of Ministers
We are now more effectively
using WARDA’s unique mechanism that links our research to
regional policy-makers – the Council of Ministers comprising
the Agricultural Ministers of WARDA member states.
The 26th Council of Ministers Session in September 2007,
held in Abuja was a milestone for the Center:
- WARDA made a
convincing presentation on the looming rice crisis in
Africa – alerting the policy-makers of the risks posed
by their heavily import-dependent rice sector.
- Specific
recommendations were made to the African governments in
terms of policies and support for rice research,
extension, farmers, inputs, and infrastructure in order
to address the serious problems and tap the continent’s
good rice potential.
- The results of this
effort are encouraging. FAO has recently reported that
“concerns about food import dependency in the region
have led to a mobilization of resources towards the rice
sector.”
Despite the current
volatile rice situation, FAO has predicted “a positive
rice production outlook in Africa, where high world
prices may sustain a 2 percent growth, particularly in
Egypt, Guinea, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.”
2. Increased ownership of
WARDA’s vision
WARDA’s vision for
a more competitive, sustainable and diversified
center is now fully owned by the member states
following its endorsement by the Council of
Ministers.
3. Heightened demand for WARDA
WARDA is
increasingly demand-driven. It was created through
demand by West African countries. Now countries from
East, Central and North African are applying to join
the Association as member states.
WARDA membership went up from 17 to 21 as four new
countries joined in 2007after their applications
were approved by the WARDA Council of Ministers.
- The four
countries include Uganda, which is the first
member from East Africa, and three Central
African countries – Democratic Republic of
Congo, Republic of Congo and Central African
Republic.
- Egypt,
Africa’s rice exporting country, has recently
sent its application, which is being considered
by the WARDA Council of Ministers.
- Many West
African countries, such as Senegal, Liberia and
Sierra Leone, are seeking increased technical
support from WARDA
4. Improved harmonization with
CGIAR Centers
-
Programmatic alignment with IRRI and CIAT:
steady progress made
A major highlight was the launching meeting
of the project on “Stress-tolerant rice”, at
WARDA, Cotonou, Benin in March 2008. This
project, coordinated by IRRI, is funded by
the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The Africa component of this project
proposal was developed by IRRI in
partnership with WARDA, which is its main
partner in implementing this component.
The meeting was inaugurated by His
Excellency, Minister of Agriculture, Animal
Husbandry and Fisheries, Government of
Benin. The Directors General of WARDA and
IRRI attended.
IRRI’s delegation included about 20
participants. Representatives from BMGF, the
Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa
(AGRA), African Seed Trade Association and
SG-2000 also took part in this meeting as
well as NARS scientists from the 14 project
member countries in Africa.
-
Corporate Service alignment with IITA in
Benin: fait accompli
IITA and WARDA have aligned their Corporate
Services in Cotonou, Benin. We are proud to
state that the implementation process was
efficiently handled by the joint committee.
All corporate service functions in Cotonou –
Human Resources, Finance, Planning and
Budgeting, Information Technology,
Operations and Administration – are now
under WARDA management since end 2007.
We thank the CGIAR and the World Bank for
its support of for these operations (shared
between WARDA and IITA). We also thank the
Management, Board and staff of IITA and
WARDA for their commitment to make this
possible.
5. Enhanced partnership with
regional bodies
- A big
effort has been made to strengthen
WARDA’s relationship with the regional
economic communities. For the first
time, the West African Economic and
Monetary Union (UEMOA) and the Economic
Community of West African States
(ECOWAS) were invited to attend the
Council of Ministers as observers.
- WARDA
DG was invited to the ECOWAS Head of
State and Government Summit in
Ouagadougou in January 2008, which he
attended.
-
Discussions for developing a
collaboration program (seed legislation,
training courses, etc.) are under way.
6. Improved financial health
By
strengthening donor and stakeholder
contacts and rigorous management,
the financial health of WARDA has
steadily improved. As a result:
-
The number of days of reserve
has increased from 109 in 2007
to 141 in 2008.
-
The 2008 budget has increased by
15% compared to 2007.
-
Sustained advocacy for the need
to invest in rice research has
also helped increase
significantly member country
contribution to WARDA, which
reached an unprecedented level
in 2007.
-
The recent meeting of the WARDA
Board of Trustees expressed its
satisfaction with the gradual
improvement in the overall
resource mobilization efforts of
the Center.
-
The Board approved the 2008
working budget and a prudent
investment policy for WARDA.
7. Renewed dynamism in research
activities
-
With effect from December
2007, Dr. Marco Wopereis was
appointed Deputy Director
General after a rigorous
selection process. He has
brought his vision,
experience and youthful
dynamism to the research
activities.
-
In response to the
fast-changing rice sector in
Africa and in keeping with
WARDA’s new vision as well
as the recommendations of
the 5th External Program and
Management Review (EPMR),
WARDA has initiated the
development of a new
Strategic Plan for the
Center. The first draft was
shared with the Board. The
Strategic Plan will be
developed in close
consultations with the WARDA
National Experts Committee
and various other partners.
-
WARDA’s new streamlined
programmatic structure was
recently approved by the
Board.
8. Follow-up on the EPMR
recommendations
-
The implementation of
the EPMR recommendation
is being closely
monitored by the Board
and Management. At the
recent Board meeting, an
update on this was
presented.
-
In response to the
recommendations of EPMR,
the Board has set up an
external Scientific
Advisory Committee
consisting of three
top-caliber experts to
help its Program
Committee provide
in-depth guidance on the
technical quality of
research undertaken by
WARDA.
Although we are encouraged by all
these results, we realize that major challenges lie ahead of us
– notably the precarious rice situation and the climate change
and their implications for Africa. We hope that with the right
partnership-based research strategy and capitalizing on WARDA’s
strengths, we can address these challenges through an integrated
approach.
Thank you.
Dr Papa Abdoulaye Seck
Director General
Africa Rice Center (WARDA) |
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