The East Africa (EA) Region conducted a three day Annual Staff Planning Meeting at the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) Headquarters 10th to 12th February 2013. The meeting was attended by EA staff members from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Ethiopia. Representatives from each Science Domain (SD1, SD2, SD3, SD4, SD5), Human Resource Unit, Capacity Development Unit, Financial Services Unit, ICT, Research Methods Group, Communications Unit and the Programme Development Unit gave a presentation on their Domain or Unit to enlighten the participants more of the purposes the Units serve and the linkages between the Science Domains with CRPs and Regional programs.
As part of his welcoming remarks, Dr. Mowo, East Africa Regional Coordinator, specified the agenda of the meeting. First, a general overview and updates on the progress of Regional activities and what has been done so far towards addressing World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF) goals. Second, discuss the EA refreshed strategy and business plan. Dr. Mowo also highlighted the key challenges currently experienced in the region and stated that with these challenges, diversification into higher-return activities is crucial and agroforestry has the potential to contribute to higher-returns. He emphasized the need of having a strategy that will not only address current challenges but also address possible future challenges.
Dr. Ofori and Dr. Jonathan Muriuki also made presentations on the EA strategy and Business Plan. In order to align the EA Strategy with the ICRAF refreshed strategy, the participants were divided into 6 groups to brainstorm about the ICRAF strategic goals and operational goals and fit them into the EA context, guided by several points including: Opportunities for Agroforestry practices in EA; Conducive areas to work in; Drivers of land use change that affect communities in EA; Impact pathways; Resources required; Partners to liaise with and a five year vision on the success indicators, milestones, gender, equity and sustainability. Each of the groups presented what they had developed during the activity and all the ideas will be incorporated in the final strategy and business plan which is set to be finalized by mid-July through a team of scientists and country representatives that was put in place. The country representatives also presented their country specific strategies and timelines were set for each of the finalized strategies to be completed.
In his closing remarks Prof. Temu pointed out the need to build bridges and not barriers as it is easier and much healthier to learn to ask for forgiveness and not for permission. The administration of ICRAF is not a barrier but a bridge to success in scientific work.
