The African Union (AU) and European Union (EU), through the High-Level Policy Dialogue (HLPD) on Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI), have fostered a long-term partnership focused on sustainable development and mutual prosperity. A key component of this partnership is the Research and Innovation (R&I) Partnership on Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA), which supports the transformation of agri-food systems in Africa and Europe.
The FNSSA Roadmap (2016–2026) has been instrumental in guiding joint AU-EU investments in food systems research & innovation. As the roadmap nears its conclusion, the Consortium Europe-Africa for Research and Innovation on Food Systems Transformation (CEA-FIRST) project, launched in December 2023, is leading the process to co-develop a Revised FNSSA Roadmap for 2027–2036, under the aegis of the HLPD Bureau.
Building on the outputs of CEA-FIRST Deliverables D2.10, D2.2, and D2.11 (co-led by RUFORUM and CIRAD), which provide reviews of the first roadmap’s implementation (FNSSA Roadmap 2016-2026) and annotated recommendations for its revision, six high-level experts (three African, three European) are to be recruited to develop the new roadmap in close collaboration with the HLPD Working Group on FNSSA, RUFORUM, CIRAD, FARA, Agrinatura, ARC, SLU, WUR, UH, and FANRPAN.
The reference for experts to be contracted by the European Commission is in Work Programme 2025, pp. 303-304.
- Purpose of the Assignment
The selected experts will work jointly with complementary expertise to design the Revised FNSSA Roadmap (2027–2036), transforming the annotated recommendations and review findings into a strategic, actionable document. This roadmap will serve as a guiding framework for AU-EU R&I priorities in food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture over the next decade.
- Objectives
The objectives of this assignment are to:
- Translate the strategic and operational insights from CEA-FIRST deliverables, especially D2.11 on the Annotated Recommendations (co-led by RUFORUM and CIRAD) into a coherent roadmap.
- Identify and prioritise emerging R&I themes based on bi-continental policy priorities and stakeholder needs.
- Ensure inclusivity, gender balance, and youth perspectives in food systems transformation.
- Align with AU Agenda 2063, CAADP, EU Green Deal, the EU Global Gateway, the EU Vision for Food and Agriculture, the EU Food 2030 research and innovation strategy, the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, the EU Life Science Strategy, and UN SDGs.