The ATPS is a trans-disciplinary network of researchers, policymakers, private sector actors and the civil society that promote the generation, dissemination, use and mastery of STI for African development, environmental sustainability and global inclusion.
The ATPS Phase VIII Strategic Plan for 2017-2022 has identified four strategic priority areas of focus during the period. These are: agriculture, food and nutrition; energy; climate change and environment; and health.
The ATPS network functions through National Chapters in 30 countries (27 African and 3 Diaspora chapters). The National Chapters operate under National Coordinators who provide intellectual and administrative leadership at country level.
Project Duration: 2019-2023
Grantor: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC)
Principal Investigator: Dr Nicholas Ozor
Contact Email: executivedirector@atpsnet.org
Grant Amount: USD 684,310
Project Description/Background
Garnering supports and legitimacy for programs and initiatives run in Africa from continental bodies such as the African Union Commission (AUC), the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the Regional Economic Commissions (RECs) as well as the relevant National governments could undoubtedly lead to ownership, high visibility, success, and sustainability of such programs and initiative. However, the process of engaging with these high-level bodies and governments is not straightforward. It requires strong champions who have established longstanding relationships both formal and informal with these bodies and governments to achieve the desired objectives. The African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) is one rare organization in Africa that has established working relationships and goodwill with these aforementioned bodies and governments for over 30 years. In most cases, ATPS provides human resource supports to these bodies in a win-win situation that has led to the development of trust and high integrity between ATPS and the continental bodies and governments.
Development Goal
The EOA-I aims to transform and create sustainable food systems through promoting ecologically sound strategies and practices among diverse stakeholders in production, processing, marketing and policymaking, to safeguard the environment, improve livelihoods, alleviate poverty and guarantee food security.
The overall goal of the initiative is to mainstream EOA into national agricultural production systems by 2025 in order to improve agricultural productivity, food security, access to markets and sustainable development in Africa.
Our Approach
Our approach for engaging AUC, NEPAD, UNECA, RECs and other national governments in the EOA-I will be through lobbying and advocacy for them to legitimize Ecological Organic Agriculture Initiative (EOA-I) in Africa. We shall work with them and other stakeholders to co-design all the activities that ATPS will be engaged in and co-organize all the events such as workshops, annual regional dialogues, and meetings. We shall influence them to make formal statements in favour of EOA in Africa as well as mainstream some programmes and activities into their own programmes and activities. In all, we shall pursue to ensure that they endorse EOA-I to become a continental initiative for all African countries by mainstreaming it into regional agricultural programs and policies.
At the national levels and working with all the EOA country lead organizations and stakeholders, we shall ensure that governments adopt EOA as one of the strategies for ensuring sustainability in food and nutrition security through our coordinated advocacy approaches and campaigns. We shall deploy our national champions in each country to mainstream EOA into the national agricultural research and extension systems as well as in policies and programmes.
Key Objectives and Activities
Expected Outputs
Expected Outcome
The overall outcome from mainstreaming EOA-I into the AUC, NEPAD, UNECA, RECs and National Governments’ Agenda will be a visible and well-integrated EOA-I programme at continental, regional and national levels that are capable of providing high quality and nutritious food for improved health outcomes on the continent.
Project Outputs
Policy Review and Analysis of EOA in selected African countries by ATPS
Stakeholder Mapping and Analyses of EOA in selected African countries by ATPS
Policy and Institutional Landscape of Ecological Organic Agriculture in Rwanda-Policy Brief 55
Advancing Ecological Organic Agriculture in Nigeria-Policy Brief 56
Policy and Institutional Landscape for Ecological Organic Agriculture in Senegal-Policy Brief 57
Institutional Framework for Ecological Organic Agriculture Development in Kenya-Policy Brief 58
Policy and Institutional Landscape for Ecological Organic Agriculture in Benin-Policy Brief 59