Knowledge exchange conference: Investing in farmer-led irrigation development in sub-Saharan Africa

When

April 26, 2023 - April 27, 2023    
8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Where

Accra
Accra, Ghana, Accra
Map Unavailable

Business, research and development practices to build climate-resilient food system transformation

Wednesday and Thursday, 26 – 27 April 2023 | 08:00-17:00 GMT

Farmer-led irrigation development (FLID) – in which farmers take the lead in establishing, managing and improving irrigated agriculture – has gained increased attention from government institutions, and development and implementation partners as a promising solution to build climate resilience for smallholder farmers and transform food systems to support healthy diets for all. Given the various efforts in the research–implementation–investment arena, vast experience of FLID is emerging across Africa.

Hosted by the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), the knowledge exchange conference will bring together stakeholders from across the irrigated agricultural sector to create synergies, catalyze efforts and further boost FLID for increased productivity in Africa.

The two-day event is jointly sponsored by the USAID-funded Innovation Lab for Small-Scale Irrigation (ILSSI), the CGIAR Initiative on West and Central African Food Systems Transformation, the World Bank and Water and Energy for Food.

Objectives and target audience

During the event, which will be in-person and online, we will:

  • Support an exchange of lessons learned to date among implementers, investors and researchers on catalyzing FLID at scale in a sustainable and inclusive manner, and
  • Explore strategies for addressing remaining barriers and gaps through new knowledge and investment actions in the next five years.

The target participants are development partners, policymakers, private sector actors, researchers and practitioners who have undertaken interventions or investments in FLID.

Zoom Link for Registration

 

Featured speakers

Opening remarksSpeakersSpeaker profiles

Welcome address and opening remarks

Dr. Olufunke Cofie
Country Representative – Ghana, Regional Representative – West Africa, IWMI
Mr. Macben Makenzi
Senior Advisor, GIZ (Water and Energy for Food-WE4F/ Sun4Water)
Ms. Amber Lily Kenny
Deputy Office Director – Economic Growth, USAID
Mr. Pierre Laporte
Country Director for Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, World Bank
Hon. Bryan Acheampong
Minister for Food and Agriculture, Ghana


Keynote speakers and presentation focus areas

Government: Mr. Ollando Allan
Senior Engineer, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, Uganda
Development finance: Dr. Laura Bonzanigo
Senior Water Resources Management Specialist, World Bank
Financing agri-business in sub-Saharan Africa: Ms. Carlijn Nouwen
Co-founder, Climate Action Platform for Africa (CAP-A)
Private sector engagement: Mr. Macben Makenzi
Senior Advisor, GIZ (Water and Energy for Food-WE4F/ Sun4Water)
Research: Dr. Thai Thi Minh
Senior Researcher – Innovation Scaling, IWMI