The DeSIRA-LIFT project, “Leveraging the DeSIRA initiative for agri-food systems transformation”, aims to catalyse the European Union’s DeSIRA programme current and future activities supporting the Development of Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture to enhance its impacts. It was launched in June 2021 with funding from the European Commission (DG INTPA) for a duration of 3 years (June 2021–May 2024).

The specific objectives of DeSIRA LIFT are:

1. Supporting country-based DeSIRA project actors to enhance their capacity to manage changes in climate-oriented innovation systems in line with sustainable agri-food system transformations
2. Supporting the five partner organisations of CAADP-XP4¹, the Global Forum on Agricultural Research and Innovation (GFAR), and the Tropical Agriculture Platform (TAP) in promoting agricultural innovation systems
3. Making knowledge work for the European Commission policy (DG INTPA, EU delegations and their partners) and contributing to the policy dialogue on agri-food system transformations for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

COLEAD is the lead of the second service area (with support from the Natural Resources Institute), working closely with African research organisations in areas contributing to sustainable agriculture and food systems. Key activities include supporting FARA on: (i) Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) and climate change, looking specifically to the contribution of sustainable practices and agroecology to CSA; two studies on 10 years of African engagement at CoP and a Decadal Plan for the operationalisation of the agricultural part of the AU strategy on climate change; (ii) Malabo+10 series to support CAADP-XP4 with their contributions to Malabo Declaration commitments sharing knowledge, trends, innovations and lessons learned on key-topics (circular economy, sustainable production, intra-African trade, investment in research); (iii) collaboration with the CAADP-XPA Capacity Development Group and TAP/FAO to identify and promote drivers of innovations developed by women and youth; (iv) support to the International Research Consortium (IRC, former LEAPFNSSA) to increase partnership development from African organisations.

Visit the DeSIRA LIFT Website: https://www.desiralift.org/

¹ CAADP-XP4 is the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) ex-Pillar IV: Africa Regional and Sub-regional Organizations for Agricultural Research and Innovation project. The five partner organisations are : Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA); the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS), Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA); West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF), and the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA).