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Agriculture and rural development

Africa-Europe rural transformation action agenda

The Africa-Europe rural transformation action agenda sets out concrete initiatives to strengthen rural areas and the food supply chain in Africa.

Actions

The action agenda sets out concrete initiatives across nine action areas, all of which target the sustainable strengthening of Africa’s agri-food sector and rural territories.

AU-EU agri-food platform

Ongoing action

Research and innovation partnership

Ongoing actions

  • Horizon Europe boosts EU-Africa cooperation in research and innovation.
    • As partner, the EU seeks to enhance cooperation with Africa to find locally adapted solutions to challenges that are global in nature, but which often hit Africa hardest. The Horizon Europe work programme 2021-22 and 2023-24 included altogether around 70 topics with a of around €650 million under calls for proposals that were particularly relevant for cooperation with Africa.
    • The AU-EU High Level Policy Dialogue (HLPD) on Science, Technology and Innovation formulates long-term research and innovation policy priorities to strengthen Africa-Europe cooperation. The EU-Africa cooperation in research and innovation web page brings together all research and innovation partnerships and opportunities for Africa.

Implementation of the continental strategy for geographical indications in Africa

Geographical indications (GIs) are one of the focus areas of this programme, which supports priority actions like:

  • the maintenance of the Pan-African geographical indications information hub,
  • the improvement of legal and institutional framework on geographical indications,
  • capacity building, with a manual for geographical indications in Africa and workshops,
  • communication activities to raise awareness on the benefits of geographical indications,
  • the registration of geographical indications in their country of origin, such as Cabrito de Tete in Mozambique,
  • the registration in the EU of geographical indications from Africa, such as Cameroon's Poivre de Penja (PGI),
  • the identification of potential geographical indications from Africa through studies on products such as Spirulina from Chad, Poutargue Imraguen or Kilichi du Niger.

At the request of the African Union, the European Commission is also supporting the evaluation of the African Union's strategy for geographical indications, in view of its possible prolongation.

Strengthening African farmers’ organisations

Ongoing actions

  • African-European farmers’ exchange programme

As part of the partnership, a multiannual EU cooperation programme with African farmers’ organisations (FO4ACP) has been launched. The programme will focus on improving the governance of organisations, supporting farmers’ integration into value chains, and strengthening their influence on policies. Smallholder farmers will be given particular attention in the programme. In March 2021, the action Farmers' Organizations for Africa, Caribbean and Pacific was launched in this context with the aim of helping small-scale farmers to overcome constraints and fully benefit from their activities.

A report on key findings and lessons learned from the FO4ACP Programme has been published. Among others, the programme foresees an exchange programme involving African and European farmers to enhance skills and expand knowledge through interactions, seminars, and training.

  • Mobility scheme between African and European VET systems

The AU and EU are cooperating on the OVERSTEP project, a joint alliance to develop a mobility scheme and share best practices for vocational education and training (VET) systems in Africa. The project focuses on the areas of food processing, agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary science, as well as tourism and hotel services. Through the OVERSTEP project, the AU and EU aim to improve the professional development, skills, and employability of teachers and managers.

Documents

21 JUNE 2019
Political declaration and action agenda
English
(5.7 MB - PDF)
Download
11 MAY 2021
OVERSTEP project – factsheet
English
(457.42 KB - PDF)
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15 JUNE 2023
Erasmus+ projects in Africulture - Agriculture
English
(501.26 KB - PDF)
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Events