{"id":1578,"date":"2022-12-01T02:49:48","date_gmt":"2022-12-01T01:49:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ag-connectors.org\/?p=1578"},"modified":"2022-12-02T02:13:03","modified_gmt":"2022-12-02T01:13:03","slug":"strengthening-capacities-in-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ag-connectors.org\/index.php\/2022\/12\/01\/strengthening-capacities-in-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"Strengthening Capacities in Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"1578\" class=\"elementor elementor-1578\" data-elementor-settings=\"{&quot;ha_cmc_init_switcher&quot;:&quot;no&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-179659fe elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"179659fe\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;,&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6e99d2f9\" data-id=\"6e99d2f9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6a044f95 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6a044f95\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInDown&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/ag-connectors.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/FARA-story-photo-r543knq4t9awb727ud70fie6adzsc8thx5ufa9d9qg.jpg\" title=\"FARA-story-photo\" alt=\"FARA-story-photo\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-30403846 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"30403846\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-1d0ae9e8\" data-id=\"1d0ae9e8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-65acea28 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"65acea28\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Strengthening capacities in Africa<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2a389504 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2a389504\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>to respond to EU\u2019s competitive calls for research proposals.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7f3ce17 wpr-post-info-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-wpr-post-info\" data-id=\"7f3ce17\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"wpr-post-info.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"wpr-post-info wpr-post-info-vertical\"><li class=\"wpr-post-info-date\"><span>01 December 2022<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-66b8723 elementor-widget-divider--separator-type-pattern elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"66b8723\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\" style=\"--divider-pattern-url: url(&quot;data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns=&#039;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&#039; preserveAspectRatio=&#039;none&#039; overflow=&#039;visible&#039; height=&#039;100%&#039; viewBox=&#039;0 0 20 16&#039; fill=&#039;none&#039; stroke=&#039;black&#039; stroke-width=&#039;0.5&#039; stroke-linecap=&#039;square&#039; stroke-miterlimit=&#039;10&#039;%3E%3Cg transform=&#039;translate(-12.000000, 0)&#039;%3E%3Cpath d=&#039;M28,0L10,18&#039;\/%3E%3Cpath d=&#039;M18,0L0,18&#039;\/%3E%3Cpath d=&#039;M48,0L30,18&#039;\/%3E%3Cpath d=&#039;M38,0L20,18&#039;\/%3E%3C\/g%3E%3C\/svg%3E&quot;);\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-59cf2796 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"59cf2796\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1a74aee8\" data-id=\"1a74aee8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-10b4c83a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"10b4c83a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Ag-connectors supported FARA, its sub-regional organizations (SROs) and partners in developing proposals responding to European Union funding calls under the European Union\u2019s Horizon Europe program. There have been \u00a0limited \u201cwinning\u201d proposals from non-academic\/research organizations in the African region. By building its proposal development capacity, FARA hoped to respond more effectively and to win calls for African agricultural research and development. \u00a0<\/p><p>A core team of experts and staff from FARA, the SROs and partners worked closely with Ag-connectors consultants to develop better proposals. Adopting a 4-step methodology focused on optimizing the limited time available to develop competitive proposals, the assignment was carried out virtually over a 5 month period. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p><p><b>Step 1:<\/b> Understanding \u00a0FARA\u2019s and its partners priorities and strengths. The team reviewed FARA\u2019s past projects comparing them to EU Horizon\u2019s calls open for Africa. \u00a0Ag-connectors consultants reviewed various aspects; opportunities, challenges, geographic spread, relevance, alignment to the calls as well as effective partnerships. \u00a0Ag-connectors also analyzed EU Horizon proposal expectations with respect to scope, output, outcome, impact and the partnerships to be established. The reviews resulted in a workable starting point to respond to two calls for proposals: 1) Agro-ecological approaches for African agriculture systems and 2) African Food Cities.<\/p><p><b>Step2:<\/b> Assessing and matching expertise. Working closely with the FARA secretariat, Ag-connectors evaluated \u00a0and \u00a0matched expertise to best respond to capacity gaps among participants. Working teams or consortia were created. Using Ag-connectors \u00a0expertise, potential partners from across the African continent and Europe were identified and vetted employing assessment criteria jointly developed by Ag-connectors and the FARA teams<\/p><p><b>Step 3:<\/b> Coaching, facilitation and support. Focusing on ideation and conceptualization for effective proposal response, mindmaps were created for each proposal, identifying crucial information including current knowledge relevant to FARA\u2019s capacities and existing policies \u00a0(global, regional and national). \u00a0Ag-connectors shared its expertise gained from EU call experience as well as literature reviews. Ag-connectors drafted a Theory of Change to be used by proposal development teams for each of the calls.. The main coaching approach was \u2018learning-by doing\u2019 with joint reflection and refinement. Ag-connectors facilitated a series of sessions to ensure learning, to create proposal ownership, budget development and to understand roles and responsibilities.\u00a0<\/p><p><b>Step 4:<\/b> Drafting and review of final proposal: Drawing from its in-house knowledge and extensive experience designing bankable proposals, Ag-connectors drafted the proposal and budget as outlined during the facilitated sessions. The title of the proposal is \u201cTransitioning to Agroecology through Innovation and Learning Systems in Africa\u201d (TRAILS). \u00a0TRAILS was reviewed \u00a0and accepted by partners for submission.\u00a0<\/p><p>For the Food cities proposal, based on the concepts and knowledge gained from Ag-connector facilitated sessions, FARA and its partners designed the proposal without further Ag-Connector assistance.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-23381da elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"23381da\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div 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elementor-col-33 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-57435572\" data-id=\"57435572\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-66 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5e1955c9\" data-id=\"5e1955c9\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8ee2c8a elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8ee2c8a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3>Connect with us<\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fec3aed elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"fec3aed\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"74\" src=\"https:\/\/ag-connectors.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/logo-Ag-Connectors-10pct.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-76\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-377cccf0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default wpr-particle-no wpr-jarallax-no wpr-parallax-no wpr-sticky-section-no\" data-id=\"377cccf0\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_ha_eqh_enable&quot;:false}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-20c16718\" data-id=\"20c16718\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-74c944bf elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"74c944bf\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Cornelis Anthoniszstraat<br \/>18-2 1071 VT Amsterdam<br \/>The Netherlands<\/p><p>engage@ag-connectors.org<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-567af944\" data-id=\"567af944\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-49da1fa elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"49da1fa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: 1rem;\">The Netherlands\u2019 Chamber of Commerce\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: 1rem;\">Registration Number<\/span><span style=\"color: var( --e-global-color-text ); font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: 1rem;\">: 72011130<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7d601303 elementor-widget elementor-widget-google_maps\" data-id=\"7d601303\" data-element_type=\"widget\" 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program.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1901,"featured_media":1581,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[9],"class_list":["post-1578","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories","tag-stories"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ag-connectors.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1578","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ag-connectors.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ag-connectors.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ag-connectors.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1901"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ag-connectors.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1578"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/ag-connectors.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1578\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1971,"href":"https:\/\/ag-connectors.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1578\/revisions\/1971"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ag-connectors.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1581"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ag-connectors.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1578"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ag-connectors.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1578"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ag-connectors.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1578"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}