The former Chairperson of the Governing Board of CORAF, Dr. Alioune Fall, has been appointed the Interim Chair of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA).
FARA coordinates agricultural research for development in Africa.
Until his appointment, Senegalese-born Dr. Fall served as FARA’s Vice-Chairperson for three years (June 2016-June 2019). He takes over from Dr. Ephraim A. Mukisira of Kenya.
Spearheading the Reforms of CORAF
Dr. Fall was Chairperson of the Governing Board of CORAF between 2014-2018. These years were also some of the CORAF’s most challenging. Facing financial stress and an unsuitable strategic plan, CORAF was required to undertake substantial reforms.
Under the guidance of Dr. Fall, CORAF mobilized its diverse constituency to define a new strategic direction. The 2018-2027 Strategy and the 2018-2022 Operational Plan were unanimously approved at the 12th General Assembly held in Dakar, Senegal in April 2018.
The new strategic documents outline the pathways to make CORAF more results-oriented and impact-driven for the benefit of the people and communities of West and Central Africa.
“CORAF couldn’t be prouder of Dr. Alioune Fall’s appointment as the new chair of FARA. Under his stewardship, CORAF crossed some of its most daunting years. This and his decades of experience in agriculture research in Africa will be extremely relevant to FARA,” says Dr. Abdou Tenkouano, Executive Director of CORAF.
“We congratulate him and wish him well in this new assignment.”
Dr. Angela Maria P. Barreto da vega Moreno took over as chair of the Governing Board of CORAF in April 2018. She is the first female Board Chair since the inception of CORAF in 1987. Reining in on the growing poverty in West and Central Africa has been central to Dr. Moreno’s vision since taking over as CORAF’s Board Chair.
Headquartered in Accra, Ghana, FARA serves as a technical arm of the African Union Commission on agriculture science, technology, and innovation issues. FARA was established in 2001 by CORAF, the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa, the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa, and the North Africa Research Organization.