The Montpellier Panel agreed the agenda for a new report in 2012 at a recently concluded side event at the Mo Ibrahim Foundation annual gathering and forum on African agriculture in Tunis.

Growth with Resilience

The Montpellier Panel met in Tunis during the Mo Ibrahim Forum from 11th-14th November 2011. 

Panel members have agreed to focus on “Growth with Resilience” to inform European governments on how they can support national and regional agricultural development and food security priorities in sub-Saharan Africa.

Central to this agenda will be the publication of a report, due in late February 2012, based on this theme.  The report aims to inform discussions related to key policy events in 2012 and will look broadly at agriculture’s role in supporting green growth, food and nutrition security, ecosystem services and climate change mitigation and adaptation, among others.

Sir Gordon Conway, Chair of the Montpellier Panel, said:

“Agriculture is back high on the political agenda, as more leaders are recognizing the key role which it can play in addressing many of the world’s most pressing challenges.  Policies and funding now need to better reflect African national and regional priorities, and build resilient agricultural programmes that fulfill the strong growth potential of the sector. The Montpellier Panel work will also suggest more and better ways for translating these discussions into meaningful interventions on the ground.”

The Montpellier Panel consists a group of ten experts from the fields of agriculture, sustainable development, trade, policy, and global development. It first convened at the Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD) in Montpellier in March 2010. 

Their first report “Africa and Europe: Partnerships for Agricultural Development”, highlights African priorities in agriculture and nutrition and makes recommendations for ensuring global food price stability and strengthening partnerships between Europe and Africa.

Montpellier Panel members include:

• Sir Gordon Conway, Professor of International Development, Imperial College London (Chair)
• Lindiwe Majele Sibanda, Chief Executive, Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN)
• Tom Arnold, Chief Executive, Concern Worldwide
• Henri Carsalade, Président d’Agropolis International
• Louise Fresco, Professor, University of Amsterdam
• Peter Hazell, Visiting Professor, Imperial College London
• Namanga Ngongi, President, Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA)
• Joachim von Braun, Director, ZEF, University of Bonn
• Ramadjita Tabo, Deputy Executive Director, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)
• David Radcliffe, Senior Policy Advisor, Directorate-General, Development and Cooperation, European Commission
• Prabhu Pingali, Deputy Director, Agricultural Development, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (Observer)

Media Coverage  

See below for various media coverage of the meeting:

• CGIAR (Consortium of International Agriculture Research Centers)
• Humanitarian News
• The Non-Profit Blogs
• Aid Resources

For media enquiries, please contact:

Michael Hoevel
Glasshouse Partnership michaelh@glasshousepartnership.com
+44 (0)20 7908 6508 (office)
+44 (0)79 6265 7322 (mobile)

The Mo Ibrahim Forum

Established in 2006, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation supports good governance and great leadership in Africa.

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation held major events in Tunis, Tunisia, on November 11, 12 and 
13.

The events paid tribute to the youth of Africa, and awarded former President Pedro Verona  Rodrigues Pires with the 2011 Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership and address the key policy issue of agriculture.

Three major events marked this celebratory weekend:

• On Friday 11 November, a range of artists from across the continent gathered in Tunis for 
  an evening of music and entertainment with an extraordinary public concert around the  theme ‘Africa Celebrates Democracy’
• Saturday 12 November, the 2011 Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership 
  was conferred upon former Cape Verde President Pedro Pires, during a Prize Ceremony 
  broadcast live across Africa
• On Sunday 13 November, the Foundation organised a major policy forum gathering leading global figures to discuss African agriculture.  Sir Gordon Conway was a speaker and panellist at this meeting. 

These events also marked the fifth anniversary of the foundation. 

For further information, see the Mo Ibrahim Foundation website