Partnership Inception Workshop – 8th and 9th August 2012
The Mauritius Breadfruit Sector Consortium organized a two-day Partnership Inception Workshop on 8th and 9th August 2012 at the Food and Agricultural Research Council, Reduit. This workshop is supported and is part of the Platform for African-European Partnership on Agricultural Research for Development (PAEPARD) Project, which is facilitating this collaboration among various stakeholders in the Breadfruit Sector in Mauritius as well as European Partners (African-European Partnership).
The overall objectives of the workshop were to
- Develop Concept Notes for each of the Research questions formulated from previous workshop and working sessions
- Discuss on possible funding opportunities
- Develop a partnership action plan.
The opening of the workshop was done by the Director General of the Food and Agricultural Research Council (FARC), whereby directors and representatives of the organizations participating in the workshop activities were present. The participants of the workshop were from the Food and Agricultural Research Council (FARC), the Agricultural Services of the Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security (MAIFS), Conserverie Sarjua International Ltd, the Natural Resources Institute (NRI) – University of Greenwich, Rose-Belle Sugar Estate, Greenworld Company Ltd and the Professional Association of Producers / Exporters of Horticultural Products from Mauritius (APEXHOM).
The Director General of FARC, Mr. Ramkissoon welcomed all the partners present at the workshop opening, and highlighted that the European Partner of the consortium, Mr. Whitfield from the Natural Resources Institute (NRI) was also present in the room. He gave an over-view of the activities of the consortium and explained the importance of breadfruit as an alternative source of carbohydrate in the context of food security in Mauritius and how each stakeholder has a role to play to contribute in the breadfruit value-chain. This was followed by a Power-Point Presentation by Mr. Gunesh who gave more details on the PAEPARD project: Context, objectives, expected results, activities, the Mauritius Breadfruit Sector Consortium
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| The Director General of FARC during his address |
This was followed by a presentation by the Consortium facilitators who gave more details on the PAEPARD Project and the activities of the Mauritius Breadfruit consortium. The Presentation can be viewed below:
Session 1: Group Allocation and SWOT Analysis
From previous working sessions, 5 Research Topics were generated and one group was formed for each topic (A total of 5 Groups). Before proceeding with the SWOT Analysis, each participant was allocated to a group, depending on their role in the consortium and their contribution in the development of the concept note. For each group, it was ensured that partners were from different stakeholder groups (research, non-research, private sector etc.).
Once the participants were allocated to a group, the Facilitator explained the purpose and importance of doing a SWOT Analysis, which is one of the essential tools used in project planning. The participants were required to work in their respective groups and had to present their work after discussion.
Session 2: Project Planning Tools
The objective of this session was to introduce different project planning tools to the participants, explain how to plan a project proposal and engage them in Group Activity. After a PowerPoint Presentation to explain the activity, each group was required to do a Logical Framework (Log Frame) for their respective Research Topic. This activity was the last one for Day 1.
Day 2: Development of Concept Notes
On the second day of the Partnership Inception Workshop, Power Point presentations were delivered by the facilitators and group activities were organised, whereby participants got a background on (a) Project Planning tools, (b) different aspects of a project proposal, (c) potential funding sources & their requirements. With this knowledge and having completed the SWOT Analysis and Log frame for each of the 5 cascading projects, the participants were provided with a guideline on Key Concepts of Project formulation (developed by ICRA) and were asked to start writing the concept notes.
Before coming to the workshop, each group had already started to gather information and did a desk research on their respective Research Topic. In addition, each group was also provided with a laptop with internet connection, which they could use to search for any information that was required in writing the concept note.
The rest of the day was taken up with this activity and after more than 3 hours of work, each Group submitted their concept notes.
In the closing plenary of the workshop, the facilitators explained to the participants that the 5 concept notes would be consolidated together as a National Programme during the next working session and when completed, the consortium will apply for funding as soon as there is an opportunity.
Please find pictures from the workshop in the following Slide-Show:
Working session – 29th August 2012
A full-day working session was organised by the Mauritius Breadfruit Sector Consortium on 29th August 2012 at the Food and Agricultural Research Council, Reduit. The objective of the working session was to review the concept notes developed during the Partnership Inception Workshop on 8th and 9th August. Participants present were from the Agricultural Research and Extension Unit (AREU) and the Food and Agricultural Research Council (FARC).
During the Working Session, each concept note was projected and the facilitators and participants were going through them together. When each concept note was reviewed, each group took its respective concept note and made amendments so that all the Concept notes that were being developed had the same structure and the objectives, methodology, budget etc. were as per the guidelines being used.
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| Facilitator and Consortium Partners going through the concept notes together |
This activity took up the whole day and it is expected by the consortium that a consolidated proposal with 4 cascading projects would be developed in September 2012.
More Information on the Mauritius Breadfruit Sector Consortium can be found on this Link: PAEPARD Mauritius Wiki
