Current project | 2023 to 2027
CEA-FIRST
CEA-FIRST: Consortium Europe-Africa for Research and Innovation on Food Systems Transformation
- Period
- December 2023 to December 2027
- Partners
- 22 partners from Africa and Europe
- Funded by
- The European Union
- Launched
- Accra, Ghana, 12 to 15 February 2024
- FANRPAN role
- Co-lead of Work Packages 3 and 5
- Status
- Current project
CEA-FIRST
About the project
Overview
December 2023 - December 2027
CEA-FIRST is a ground-breaking multi-stakeholder platform bridging Africa and Europe. Over three years, this collaborative project bring together 22 partners from both continents to address food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture. The initiative was launched in Accra, Ghana, from 12 to 15 February 2024, bringing together influential stakeholders from the European Union and the African Union.
As an integral part of the broader International Research Consortium (IRC), CEA-FIRST aims to become a pivotal bi-continental platform, bringing together a wide range of private and public institutions – from financial partners to research centres to companies – and members of civil society committed to advancing food security and sustainable agriculture.
In the midst of major transitions in agri-food systems and the pressing challenges of climate change and demographic shifts, the IRC is central to building an equitable and sustainable research and innovation partnership between Africa and Europe. This partnership is dedicated to strengthening agriculture as a key driver of economic development. Funded by the European Union as part of the Green Deal’s “From Farm to Fork” strategy.
At a glance
- Period
- December 2023 to December 2027
Photo: terraced rice fields near Morondava, Madagascar.
CEA-FIRST is a ground-breaking multi-stakeholder platform bridging Africa and Europe.CEA-FIRST
Photo: terraced rice fields near Morondava, Madagascar.
What it sets out to do
Project Objectives
CEA-FIRST focuses on several key objectives:
Sharing knowledge: providing public access to a comprehensive knowledge platform on food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture.
Research and Innovation (R&I) analysis: developing a robust methodology for analysing and prioritising R&I activities.
Partnership roadmap: supporting the update of the AU-EU R&I partnership roadmap.
Working groups: establishing operational and thematic research groups to promote the practical application of research.
Policy dialogue: strengthening the links between the IRC and the AU-EU high-level political dialogue.
Our contribution
FANRPAN’s role
FANRPAN will leverage its expertise in stakeholder engagement, policy analysis and policy advocacy to contribute to the project. FANRPAN co-leads Work Packages 3 and 5 with the Finnish University Partnership for International Development (UniPID) at the University of Helsinki