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Tegemeo Institute Participates In The 9th Annual Renapri Stakeholders Conference In Namibia.
Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development is a policy research institute under the Division of Research and Extension of Egerton University.
The Institute is established under Statute 23 (14-t) of the Egerton University Statutes, 2013 under the Universities Act , 2012 (No. 42 of 2012) and its Instruments.
ReNAPRI is an African-owned and African-led think tank that is focused on providing good data, analytics, regular outlook and progress reports, policy recommendations and guidance to national governments as well as regional and continental institutions in the African continent. The 9th Annual ReNAPRI Stakeholders Conference is one, of a number of outreach activities that our network implements in order to effectively share knowledge (through engagement with its partners and stakeholders) and disseminate relevant outputs in support of policymaking.
Last year, the ReNAPRI Strategic Plan 2021-2026 was launched. This has made the network vibrant even as it kicked off implementing the plan through a number of activities in November 2021.
In her remarks, Nalishebo Meebelo (Ph.D.) Executive Director ReNAPRI Secretariat said, “as we begin to increase our membership across the continent. It is my honour and privilege to welcome you all, once again, to the 2022 Annual ReNAPRI Stakeholders Conference.”
In her welcoming remarks, Dr. Nalishebo Meebelo said: “We strive to be a dynamic PanAfrican network of universally recognized national agricultural policy research institutes that generate relevant and high-quality evidence, to guide and inform effective policy decisions that promote sustainable solutions across the continent.”
Egerton University will feature extensively in the three days conference taking place in Namibia starting today November 1- November 3, 2022 led by Tegemeo Institute Director, Professor Gideon Obare.
Dr. John Olwande Research Fellow Tegemeo Institute, Egerton University will also make a keynote presentation on the overarching theme of the 9th Annual ReNAPRI Stakeholders Conference; ‘Strengthening Africa’s food system through increased productivity, climate resilience, and adaptation.’ He is a Research Fellow, at Tegemeo Institute at Egerton University, (ReNAPRI). His broad interest is in international development, with a research focus on the economics of sustainable agriculture and agricultural markets. His goal is to contribute to the sustainable development of farming communities, especially in low-income countries.
ReNAPRI network has also continued to build, strengthen, and nurture strategic partnerships, both in the continent and beyond. Within this context, ReNAPRI has mobilized technical financial and organizational support, and undertaken joint activities with partners, towards achieving its goals. ReNAPRI’s partners range from donors, philanthropies, African and international think tanks, universities, national, regional and continental organizations, among others.
Damas Philip, PhD, Chair of the ReNAPRI Board of Director and Agriculture Principal, College of Economics and Business Studies (CoEBS) at Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA).
He observed: “May the deliberations during the conference generate outputs which will drive a sustained food security agenda on the continent of Africa, especially in a new world of uncertainties related to public health challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, national conflicts which disrupt food and agricultural global supply chains and environmental demands driven by climate change.”
It is in this light that ReNAPRI is implementing a number of projects relevant to finding solutions for the challenges currently facing the African continent such as:
1. The AU Comprehensive Africa Climate Change Initiative (CAACI) – funded by USAID
2. Support to the organisation of the AU Africa Fertiliser and Soil Health Summit and development of a 10-year Action Plan – funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and USAID.
3. Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Policy Research Capacity and Influence (PRCI)funded by USAID through Michigan State University which supports the Secretariat and our Africa to African Learning initiative.
4. Training of ReNAPRI centers and stakeholders in the central, east, west and southern Africa in the use various policy tools.
“I am certain that ReNAPRI is well on the way to becoming Africa’s go to think tank, as our network continues to produce high quality evidence needed to support agricultural research and development in Africa,” Chair of the ReNAPRI Board of Director Dr. Damas Philip said.
This is the first Annual ReNAPRI Stakeholders Conference since he was elected as Chair of the ReNAPRI Board in December 2022. In his acceptance to provide leadership to this vibrant network, for the next 3 years, Dr Damas sought member support during his tenure, and he pledged his guidance, whenever it will be required.
ReNAPRI as a network has a key role to play in recommending policy solutions to our stakeholders towards addressing the various challenges facing the African continent.
Welcoming the delegates at Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST), Salomo Mbai , Director The Agricultural Trade Policy Institute (ATPI) explained that the 9th Annual ReNAPRI Stakeholders Conference will engage a range of stakeholders committed to increasing productivity, and building sustainable and resilient agri-food systems in the African continent. The conference will identify effective policies and innovative public and private sector investments that will ensure increased productivity and broad-based resilient growth.