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Working Groups

The Partnership has a number of Expert Panel Working Groups, each of which focuses on a topic central to fighting poverty and hunger in Africa. At present, the Partnership's four working groups are:

 

Agricultural Markets & Trade

 

The objective of the Agricultural Markets and Trade Working Group is to design and implement Partnership activities to strengthen agricultural and rural enterprises and to facilitate their integration into regional, national and global markets. The group brings together core representatives from U.S. and Africa-based private and public organizations who have experience with Africa’s agriculture and trade-related issues.

    Priorities of the Agricultural Markets and Trade Working Group include:

    • Creating a better policy environment and improved programs in the U.S. and Africa for the expansion of agricultural production and marketing at national, regional and global levels.

    • Facilitating information exchange and fostering relationships between African and U.S. public and private sector representatives to strengthen agricultural trade and marketing policies and activities.

    • Supporting Partnership national committees, regional organizations, and NEPAD to improve agriculture production and marketing.

 

Capacity Building for Science & Technology

 

The Capacity Building for Science and Technology Working Group designs and implements Partnership activities to help build human and institutional capacity in science and technology and improve science-based technology development and transfer for agriculture, health and the environment.

    To support its objectives, the Capacity Building for Science and Technology Working Group:

    • Works with national committees and key regional organizations to define and pursue their priorities in training and capacity building and science-based technology development and transfer.
    • Increases political support and funding levels for programs to improve training and capacity building for science-based technology development and transfer.
    • Facilitates a balanced discussion of the role of science and technology in reducing hunger and poverty in Africa.

 

Infrastructure

  

The Infrastructure Working group designs and implements activities to strengthen transportation, power and communications infrastructure in rural Africa. The expansion of agribusiness, trade, and other elements of economic growth are severely constrained by inadequate infrastructure in much of Sub-Saharan Africa.

    Key objectives of the Infrastructure Working Group include:

    • Facilitate public-private partnerships for private financing and operation of larger-scale infrastructure projects with risk-sharing by donor agencies.
    • Develop projects and seek funding for public-private partnerships to improve local infrastructure in rural areas – telecommunications, internet access, road systems, and access to electric power.
    • Collaborate with African, multilateral, and bilateral partners to set priorities for infrastructure improvement and to finance and implement these programs.

 

Relief to Development

 

The Relief to Development group designs and implements activities to support coordination between crisis-oriented efforts to combat immediate hunger and long-term agricultural development. By more strategically aligning these efforts and ensuring relief and development efforts are not at cross purposes, we meet short-term needs while supporting increased regional food security, income generation, and greater resilience to future food crises.

    Key activities of the Relief to Development Working Group include:

    • Analyzing and encouraging critical dialogue around existing emergency response programs
    • Collaborating with African, multilateral, and bilateral partners to generate political support for relief strategies that align with agricultural development and long-term food security needs.

 

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