The Power of Networks – Strategies for external communication and science-based outreach Upscaling private sector participation and science-based outreach in West Africa Date: 23 June 2022 Venue: CSIR-STEPRI Conference Hall, Accra, Ghana Presentation by Francois Stepman

1. PAEPARD: brokerage, capacity building,
communication, funding & impact
Session 5: The Power of Networks – Strategies for external communication
and science-based outreach
Presentation prepared for the Workshop on Upscaling Private Sector
Participation and Science-based Outreach in West Africa
Accra, Thursday 23 June 2022

2. Communicating on Multi-stakeholder partnerships takes time due to trust and
mutual understanding issues and differences in organizational culture (Europe and
Africa) and working practices (delays in reporting & implementation of activities):
• Relatively few partnerships lead to joint innovation processes with the private sector.
• Engagement mechanisms (e.g., start-ups and scaling incubators) are newer to research,
and require further exploration, testing and fine-tuning.
• Weaknesses in the business environment not addressed within a multi-stakeholder
partnerships (MSP) result in applied research projects discontinued before market linkages
have had time to mature and connect with private investors or local banks.
• The effectiveness of communicating on innovation platforms highly depends on the type of
the problem being addressed, and proposed solution, as well as the presence of existing
partner networks in which agricultural stakeholders are already working together.
• PPP engagement mechanisms (e.g., with start-ups and scaling incubators) are newer to
research, requiring exploration, testing and fine-tuning. Each of the engagement
mechanisms comes with its own specific advantages and disadvantages, challenges and
opportunities.
What are the main challenges of external communication
in the PAEPARD network?

3. Several mechanisms can guide research in engaging with the private sector.
• Give more attention to Agribusiness and research needs of the private sector in particular
how applied research benefits private sector development.
• Inform and link research coordinators to institutionalized Technology Transfer Offices
(TTOs).
TTOs are important institutions for the successful transferability of research outputs to entrepreneurs.
These institutions allow for a bridge between researchers and the private sector so that technology and
outputs can reach the marketplace and generate economic and social value.
• Link with business development support institutions and systems.
• Explore and experiment with novel engagement mechanisms such as scaling incubators,
innovation hubs, and co-investment arrangements to better understand how they can add
value, what the risks are, and how to best institutionalize and manage such mechanisms.
• Communicate on innovative finance mechanisms including accelerators, incubators, start-
ups; challenge funds; blended finance; impact investing.
Which enabling factors should be improved to enhance communication
with general public, private sector, decision makers in the PAEPARD network?

4. From a private sector perspective, improve the interface with (applied) research on:
(a) processing, storage, food preparation and other food interventions; (b)
Mechanization and renewable energy; (c) Healthier packaged food.
• Give more visibility to the most promising research projects from a socio-economic
development and innovation standpoint and to document the specific needs that should be
addressed for such projects to turn into tangible business and development
opportunities.
A “mapping” exercise of projects pertaining to the EU-AU R&I partnership on FNSSA documented the
specific needs that should be addressed for such projects to turn into tangible business and
development opportunities. EC (2022) EU-AU R&I Partnership on FNSSA: investment strategies and measures
identification. #73 p
• Link and put in contact projects, public and private funders, private companies and
incubators, in a simple and effective manner.
• Disseminate regularly online training webinars which offer opportunities to enhance
entrepreneurship and innovation across Africa in a commercially viable way and foster
private sector participation in science-based outreach.
• Showcase investors looking to invest in the agriculture sector and government led
investment opportunities (incl, Climate finance for agri-SMEs)
Which mechanisms or interfaces of relevant actors shall be improved
in the PAEPARD network?

5. PAEPARD has streamlined the role and place of end-users (target groups) in the
ARD planning and implementing processes (Farmers’ organisations and Agri
MSMEs.
• PAEPARD facilitates a permanent dialogue between researchers and non-researchers:
regular posts from PAFO, FANRPAN, FAO, CGIAR, etc on the PAEPARD Dgroups.
• It has a community of practice of 11,700 members and 35,000 blog views per month.
• Opportunities for MSMEs in the agribusiness sector are included in the monthly overviews of
ARD opportunities.
• Over the past decade 548 blogpost were produced and tagged on agribusiness, 47 on
Public Private Partnerships, 115 on trade, 68 on value chain, 61 on SME and 237 on
innovation. ARD activities have received a particular attention in following West African
countries: Benin (50) Burkina Faso (31), Gambia (1), Ghana (65), Guinea Conakry (2),
Ivory Coast (19), Liberia (2), Mali (10), Mauritania (2), Niger (12), Senegal (35), Sierra
Leone (2), Tchad (1), and Togo (5).
• ARD activities have been highlighted from CORAF (42), ECOWAS (13), FARA (196), AGRA
(116) and CGIAR (445).
Impact of PAEPARD science-based outreach
to various target groups