global facilitation unit for underutilized species · i. hoeschle-zeledon gfar programme committee...

I. Hoeschle-Zeledon GFAR Programme Committee Meeting,Beijing, Nov. 2007

Global Facilitation Unit for

Underutilized Species

Progress Report2007


Introduction

In addition to progress made in the 3 thematic focus areas:

Policy analysis and advocacyInformation, communication and documentationPublic awareness

achievements towards the creation of a new entity on underutilized crops will be reported


Analysis policies and legislation and their impact on underutilized species

• National – agriculture, education, health and nutrition, investment, marketing and export

• International - WTO, WIPO, EU, UN (e.g. FAO GPA, Int. Treaty on PGRFA, CBD, UPOV, WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health, UNESCO Initiative for Education for Sustainable Development, Codex Alimentarius, EU NFR, World Declaration and Plan of Action on Nutrition, WTO Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement,…)

Recommendations to address gaps in policies and to create enabling policy environment

Policy analysis/advocacyInformation/documentationPublic Awareness


Achievements

studies on impact of national policies on underutilized species conservation and use in Peru, Papua New Guinea, Nepal, Vietnam, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Zambia, Ghana cross-analyzed to identify similarities and differences (policy gaps, policy potentials)recommendations to policy makers for general national policy reform in the agricultural, education, health and nutrition, investment, marketing and export sectors formulated and reviewed by development policy specialist


Achievementsanalysis of international agreements and legislation in the areas of agriculture, natural resources, education, health and trade finalizedpolicy gaps and opportunities identified (intern. policies are not conducive for underutilized species, however provide opportunities if well implemented)

recommendations to policy advocacy groups (incl. GFU) for actions under the existing policy arrangements to enhance conservation and use of underutilized species formulated and reviewed by development policy specialist


Achievementsformulation and publication of final recommendations in progress

2 meetings with policy makers organized to present the options offered by underutilized species and to advocate for conducive policies:• 11th session of the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food

and Agriculture• 2nd session of the Governing Body of the ITPGRFA


web portal as main information tool for stakeholders to facilitate their work, create awareness, foster collaborations and contribute to informed decision makingcase studies to

• identify ‘best practices’ in tapping the potential of promising species

• formulate guidelines for development of underutilized species value chains

Policy analysis/adviceInformation/documentationPublic awareness


Achievements

web portal

• increasing amount of information available• database on funding opportunities re-designed and updated• blog added• database with detailed species information added (400)• monthly updates sent to stakeholders• 2 static versions produced and distributed for users with

poor Internet connectivity• growing number of visits and visitors and double time

spent on the site/visit


Achievements

web portal• increasing amount of information available• database on funding opportunities re-designed and updated• blog added• database with detailed species information added (400)• monthly updates sent to stakeholders• 2 static versions produced and distributed for users with

poor Internet connectivity• growing number of visits and visitors and double time

spent on the site/visit


Achievements

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Achievements

case studies• 7 studies analyzing factors enabling or inhibiting successful marketing

of underutilized species in India, Peru, Kenya, Italy, Turkey, Ghana (minor millets, kokum, maca, African leafy vegetables, emmer, African eggplant) finalized and published on Web site

• Guidelines and good practices for underutilized species value chain development elaborated (decision tools for value chain actors and facilitators)

• Study on relevance of “Geographical Indications” and “Designation of Origin for Agricultural Products and Foodstuff” for sustainable use and protection of agricultural biodiversity with recommendations for their development and implementation, and suggestions to research and development organization for action


Sensitizing policy makers, research managers, donors, general public on the importance of underutilized species for the poor

changing negative image of underutilizedspecies

Policy analysis/adviceInformation/documentationPublic awareness


Achievements

Film on underutilized crops for BBC Earth Reports to be launched at CoP9 on BBC and German TV

Side event a 11th Session of the Commission on GRFA “Greater appreciation for local crops”: panel discussion with 4 speakers; recommendation of Plenary to include underutilized crops in MYPoW

Side event at the 2nd Session of the GB of the ITPGRFA “Underutilized Species – Treasures hidden in the IT”; suggestion to Plenary to consider expansion of Annex 1

Information material displayed and distributed at various events


brochures

Achievements

• info brochures on 19 underutilized species to accompany travel exhibition

several posterspresentations delivered at underutilized species related eventstraveling exhibition of underutilized species products displayed

• “Inviting all the world’s crops to the table – supporting traditional crops to supply future needs”


Traveling exhibitionTraveling exhibition


Capacity building• 2nd training course “Promoting agro-biodiversity

use through markets and chains” co-designedand co-organized with Wageningen International and Bioversity International

• 3rd course planned for 2008, regular module of WI training programme

• co-organization of intern. symposiumMarch 2008 under the auspices of the ISHS

Achievements


AchievementsPartnerships with CGIAR• GFU included in an SGRP project as coordinator of the

activity: “Optimization of CGIAR’s contribution to global efforts on conservation and sustainable use of Underutilized Plant Genetic Resources ”

• lead role in developing frame work forSystem Priority 1B

• contributions to frame work for System Priority 3A and pre-proposal for Challenge Programme on High-value Crops


Achievements

Partnerships with other research organizations

• Univ. of British Columbia, Bioversity International, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Ethiopian Institute of Biodiversity Conservation: joint research project on Noug (Guizotia abyssinica), funded by CIDA; GFU project coordinator

• Univ. of Freiburg, South African Agricultural Research Council, Bioversity International, Maseno University: joint proposal submitted to BMZ on underutilizedspecies in coping strategies for climate change


AchievementsPartnerships with ICUC

• Dec. 2006: joint side event at AGM 2006 about our plans to merge and create a new entity on underutilized crops

• 2007:3 joint GFU/ICUC Steering Committee/Advisory Board meetings

GFU/ICUC commissioned independent evaluation of continuing need for a global entity on underutilized crops, preferred programmatic focus, institutional profile and key partners

Joint side event at AGM 2007, Sun 2 Dec. 12:00, room 310


Consultant’s main findings and recommendations:

• Clear and on-going need for an international entity to help catalyze, backstop, promote and publicize work on underutilized crops for the benefit of the poor and the environment

• No own legal personality, a new semi-autonomous entity, hosted by a well functioning, technically appropriate institution

• Reasonable measure of independence from the host, free to pursue own mission, own oversight body, own institutional identity

• Potential hosts: Bioversity International, FAO, ICRAF, AVRDC-RCA


Programmatic priorities:

• Information and communication: serve as a knowledge broker, information clearing house and one-stop-shop for information seekers

• Market analysis and market research: advice on how markets operate and how to maximize market opportunities

• Policy research, analysis and advocacy: at the international/regional level, advice and assistance at national level to create enabling policy environment

• Public awareness: targeting policy makers and donor agencies, raising the profile of underutilized species and seeking policy and financial support

• Capacity building: development and dissemination of training materials, facilitating access to training materials, not a primary provider of education and training


GFU - State of the art• funding ends in December 2007• no-cost extension until June 2008 requested• GFU staff contracts extended by Bioversity International until

March 2008, funds largely from Bioversity• funding gap to complete no-cost extension period and to keep

GFU operational during transition phase• proposal for a small grant in preparation for submission to

IFAD• GFU/ICUC expectation: funding to start new entity available

mid 2008, • no commitments yet; side event and additional meetings to

raise donor interest, further fundraising • if funds cannot be secured, operations likely to end in June

2008


www.underutilized-species.org

global facilitation unit for underutilized species · i. hoeschle-zeledon gfar programme committee...

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