3rd CEAFIRST General Assembly
2025-11-25 09:00 - 13:30 UTC | Virtual
Background
The CEA-FIRST project, funded under Horizon Europe, is operationalising the International Research Consortium (IRC) on Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA). Anchored in the AU-EU partnership and guided by the FNSSA Roadmap of the High-Level Policy Dialogue (HLPD), the IRC is envisioned as a multi-actor, member-based platform designed to address fragmentation in research and innovation (R&I) efforts and promote scalable, impactful solutions. The operationalisation is being undertaken in consolidation and pilot phases. Over the course of the Consolidation Phase, the CEA-FIRST project has made significant progress in establishing foundational structures and laying the groundwork for IRC implementation, which now informs the transition to the pilot phase.
Notable achievements over the past 24 months include:

Establishment of CEA-FIRST project governance structures, visual identity, dissemination, exploitation and communication plan and channels
Establishment of the IRC’s governance structures and operational frameworks, such as the General Assembly, Secretariat, Council, External Advisory Committee, and Working Groups.
Development of IRC Statutes, designed primarily as a comprehensive partnership instrument, detailing its governance, membership and operational structure.
Launch of the IRC membership call and development of a membership growth strategy, including the TOR for implementation.
Review of the 2016–2026 AU-EU FNSSA Roadmap.
Development of a clustering strategy and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) framework for the CEA-FIRST, IRC and FNSSA Partnership.
Expansion of the FNSSA database

As the project enters the IRC Pilot Phase, it seeks to operationalise the IRC as a central mechanism for the implementation of the FNSSA Roadmap (2027-2036) by delivering collaborative services, driving knowledge exchange and supporting regional innovation ecosystems. This transition marks a critical juncture in the project’s lifecycle, requiring the formalisation of governance structures, validation of strategic and operational plans, and endorsement of core service offerings.
The Third General Assembly meeting, scheduled for 25 November 2025, is convened virtually to consolidate progress made during the consolidation phase, reflect on lessons learned, challenges and innovative aspects that have emerged and prepare for the successful implementation of the IRC Pilot Phase. It will serve as a platform for ratifying key documents, approving institutional arrangements, and aligning stakeholders around a shared vision for the IRC’s role and impact.
Objectives of the General Assembly Meeting
The meeting specifically aims to:
1.Review and consolidate progress, challenges, and innovative aspects that emerged from the Consolidation phase of the CEA-FIRST Project
2.Present and seek approval for the IRC governance and functioning, and
3.Ratify key IRC documents, including the IRC Statutes, and visual identity
4.Validate and ratify the IRC Strategy and Operational Plan (SOP)
5.Approve the IRC Secretariat functioning and associated portfolio of services, including MEL, Knowledge Management Systems (KMS), Clustering, and working groups (functional ones on research, education, advisory services, agro-industries, policy as well as cross-cutting enablers on funding, communication, youth & gender)
Expected Outcomes
•IRC governance and functioning formally approved
•Ratified IRC Statutes and SOP, including visual identity
•Endorsed IRC service offerings and year 3 work plan
Register Here: Registration Form – 3rd CEA-FIRST General Assembly

2nd General Assembly: AU-EU International Research Consortium (IRC) on FNSSA
2025-11-27 09:00 - 13:00
Background
The AU-EU IRC on FNSSA, currently being operationalised by the CEA-FIRST project, is a multi-actor, member-based ‘Network-of-networks’, optimising the impact of Research and Innovation (R&I) investments, and strengthening capacity building within the AU-EU FNSSA R&I framework. Central to the realisation of these objectives is the formal establishment and activation of various IRC governance bodies, comprising the Secretariat, IRC Council, External Advisory Committee, thematic Working Groups, and the General Assembly.
In the past 24 months of implementation, the CEA-FIRST project has made remarkable strides:
• Essential IRC governance structures and operational frameworks (General Assembly, Secretariat, Council, External Advisory Committee, and Working Groups) have been established.
• Launch of IRC membership, along with strategies for membership growth, including the TOR for implementation.
• Development of IRC Statutes, a visual identity, and dissemination, exploitation and communication plan and channels
• Review of the 2016-2026 AU-EU FNSSA Roadmap and initiation of calls for Working Groups and expressions of interest for IRC Anchor Institutions
A significant milestone was reached with the activation of the Secretariat during the first IRC General Assembly, held in Brussels on March 14, 2025. This event marked Milestone 3 of the CEA-FIRST project and provided the momentum needed to operationalise the other governance structures for supporting the ongoing operationalisation and consolidation process of the IRC, setting the stage for the IRC pilot phase beginning in December 2025.
The AU-EU International Research Consortium on Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (IRC-FNSSA) is entering a pivotal phase in its development. Following the successful establishment of foundational structures, the upcoming Second IRC-FNSSA General Assembly marks a critical development milestone, the transition from the consolidation phase to the pilot phase, a key step in operationalising the IRC’s governance, partnership frameworks and positioning in the AU-EU FNSSA partnership and implementation of the associated Roadmap (2027-2036).
Session Aims
The Second General Assembly of the IRC-FNSSA seeks to consolidate the progress achieved during the consolidation phase and lay the foundation for its pilot phase. This session will serve as a strategic platform to endorse key governance structures and establish the operational framework needed for effective piloting, approve the Statutes and IRC Secretariat functions and institutional arrangements, and align stakeholders around a shared vision for the IRC’s role and impact in transforming agrifood systems across Europe and Africa. By fostering collaboration and partnerships, the meeting aims to help build momentum for the IRC’s journey, to ultimately position it as a key driver of the AU-EU partnership’s efforts to transform agrifood systems across both continents sustainably.
Objectives of the 2nd IRC GA
Specifically, this second IRC General Assembly will:
1.Receive updates on progress made during the first 2 years of the CEA-FIRST project
2.Validate the governance and membership frameworks, including the endorsement of Council and External Advisory Committee (EAC) members, as well as the functioning of the various working groups and anchor institutions
3.Formally approve the IRC-FNSSA statutes, Strategy and operational plan, creating an adaptive governance framework that will enhance consortium operations and guide the FNSSA roadmap
4.Ratify IRC Secretariat functions, along with institutional arrangements
5.Strengthen partnerships and promote cross-continental collaboration to expand the IRC membership and support impactful FNSSA initiatives
Expected Outcomes
At the end of the meeting, we anticipate achieving the following goals:
− Endorsement of the IRC governance structures by all members
− Activation of IRC working groups and established Anchor Institutions
− Adoption of the IRC statutes, Strategy and operational plan enabling a structured and transparent governance process
− Renewed and expanded commitments from stakeholders to foster cross-continental collaboration and grow IRC membership
Registration: Registration Form – 2nd IRC-FNSSA General Assembly

AU-EU IRC on FNSSA Governance Kick-Off Meeting
2026-04-14
Over the past year, the IRC Secretariat has been activated, hosted by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) with contributions from European and African partners. It will support coordination, knowledge management, monitoring and learning, and policy dialogue functions, in line with the IRC Statutes and Strategy adopted in late 2025. The IRC governance bodies, including the General Assembly (GA), Council, External Advisory Committee (EAC), Functional Working Groups (FWGs), and Anchor Institutions, have now been nominated. This Kick-Off Meeting marks their initial collective engagement and the beginning of the collaborative governance phase of the IRC. At the same time, the renewal of the FNSSA Roadmap (2027–2036) is in its final drafting stage and expected to be concluded by May 2026. The IRC is positioned to serve as the institutional bridge between this renewed Roadmap and its implementation, particularly in the lead-up to the anticipated AU–EU Ministerial endorsement moment in November.
Objectives of the Kick-Off Meeting
This meeting will formally launch the IRC governance phase and position the IRC as a key implementation mechanism for the emerging FNSSA Roadmap 2027-2036. The agenda for the meeting includes:

Introduce and orient newly nominated members of the Council, EAC, FWGs, and Anchor Institutions to their roles, mandates, and interlinkages under the IRC Statutes and Strategy.
Present the operational role of the IRC Secretariat, including ongoing functions in coordination, knowledge management, MEL, communications, and HLPD interfacing.
Propose working arrangements and Secretariat-facilitated coordination processes to ensure functionality while formal leadership roles are being established.
Share draft governance tools and delivery frameworks, including an early Roadmap–FWG alignment matrix, a MEL “starter set,” and initial risk categories for review and feedback.
Agree on interim working arrangements and nest steps toward mid 2026 governance decisions

Expected Outcomes
The meeting is structured for collective orientation and activation. Expected outcomes include:

Shared understanding of the IRC’s governance structure and its role in supporting Roadmap delivery.
Clarity on the Secretariat’s coordination and support functions, and its interim facilitation role.
Initial engagement with delivery tools, including: a draft Roadmap-to-FWG alignment concept, a proposed MEL starter set and preliminary risk register structure
Agreement to convene a second governance meeting in mid 2026 post stakeholders feedback on the draft renewed Roadmap (expected to take place in June) to confirm leadership roles, adopt Joint Work packages and approve operational plans.
Adoption of a Communique marking the start of the IRC-FNSAA Pilot governance phase.
