Tackling rural poverty, together

Africa Forum (AF) is an annual event organised by the Rural Development Sector Network (SNRD) of GTZ. AF started in 1997 as a learning network for African planners and implementers in agriculture and rural development. Over the years, AF has served as a valuable platform for exchange of experiences and lessons in a wide range of agricultural and rural development issues. Of late, Africa Forum has shifted its focus from exploring the workings of aid delivery mechanisms to that of assessing the role different actors’ play in fostering pro-poor rural development. The theme of the 11th Africa Forum, held in Accra in mid October 2007 - 'Drivers of Pro-Poor Rural Growth' - epitomised this shift.

The theme of this year's (i.e., 12th) Africa Forum is 'Making Agribusiness Work for Rural Livelihoods', with a sub-theme focusing on 'Support to CAADP Implementation at Country Level' . This year's AF is hosted by Ethiopia's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and is co-organised by SNRD of GTZ and the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). The Forum is expected to attract senior Ministry of Agriculture experts/officials from about 20 African countries, including those directly involved in coordinating CAADP at various levels. It is also expected that a good number of development partner (DP) representatives residing in Ethiopia will attend at least the opening day events.

For additional information on the 12th Africa Forum as well as on aspects of past Africa Forum events, please visit  www.africaforum.info