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The aim of the course is to contribute to strengthening capacity at the national and regional levels for effective design and implementation of policy catalysing accelerated growth in the continent’s agro-industry in support of the AfCFTA ambitions for inclusive, sustained economic development. The course will address the policy concerns as expressed by most African governments, which include, among others, improving agricultural output and productivity, nurturing the linkages between agriculture and the industry sector in particular, without leaving behind other economic sectors, increasing national food security, combating poverty, expanding employment, promoting environmental sustainability, and enhancing sustainable rural livelihoods, including gender equality. The course also aims to sensitize on the importance of the adoption of a cross-sector approach in the formulation of policies. In doing so, the course will expose participants not only to the current state of knowledge and the comparative lessons which are available to Africa, but also some of the best practices that serve as pertinent examples of how an integrated and comprehensive agro-industrial policy has been used to promote economic transformation and social well-being. The specific objectives of the course are:
a) Provide information and analytical tools to strengthen the capacity of participants to formulate and implement strategies for addressing challenges and opportunities associated with attaining desired accelerated growth in regionally and globally competitive agro-industries in Africa
b) Present participants with opportunities to examine practical measures and lessons on the domestication of the Plan of Action for the Accelerated Industrial Development of Africa (AIDA) and the AU Continental Agribusiness Strategy into national systems to galvanize local-level action, while at the same time embracing inter-dependences between industrialisation and the recently adopted AfCFTA
c) Afford participants opportunities for networking and peer learning on practices proved successful in advancing agro-industry as a prime driver for building national wealth, creating jobs and promoting entrepreneurship opportunities for rural men and women