Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

Question 1: What are the potential entry points for government to address challenges and foster the development of digital agriculture?

The global challenges are not conclusive in the following areas:

• Stakeholder’s education: Are there plans to transcribe the applications to local languages?
• Focus on sectoral peculiarities and requirement (crop/fisheries/livestock)
• Stakeholder’s ownership, participation and partnership
• Harmonisation of countries policies or synergy
• Attraction to youths
• Supplementary elements: policies standards, regulatory framework

Question 2: How can the establishment of the Digital Council address the numerous barriers to adoption of these technologies?

The principles highlighted are not conclusive though they address the need for overcoming the barriers. The assumption is presumption on all things being equal without consideration to: --inadequate education to grasp the concept; infrastructural deficiencies and required facilities to actualise vision; financial needs/ support and non-adoption by people who are impervious to change (old habits die hard). Achieving grass root buy-in and adoption is important in scaling up the project.

Question 3: Do you think that the roles identified for the Digital Council are suitable for facing the agri-food systems challenges outlined above?

1. The roles are suitable for as long as they can be focused to achieve the desired goals and objectives and there are efficient implementation strategies. The pulling together of research work should ensure the existence of such relevant research works across geographic areas, demographics etc.
2. Role 2: The polices must be in place before the need to access their maturity
3. Role 2: Every form of good governance (transparency, stakeholder’s participation, inclusiveness etc); strong monitoring and evaluation and not only collaboration will be effective ways to enable digitalisation in an inclusive way.

The other roles should take into consideration the gaps in levels of development, enlightenment and exposure to research and use of research findings in the participating countries.

Other political roles: The Council should also be involved in Advocacy at different levels of Government -National and State Government, stakeholders- operators, investors etc.

There should also be a mechanism in place for periodic engagement with Government at national, regional and international levels, on policies and policy formulation, adoption, implementation, adaptation of policies to evolving issues, maturity etc

Question 4 What governance structure should be in place for the Council to serve its purpose?

The governance structure is feasible for as long as the Executive Council will have a way of interfacing with the highest levels of governments like the forum where the idea was conceived; ensure compliance with Keep Performance Indicator to evaluate progress against timelines, ensure commitments in infrastructural financing. What are the criteria for choosing a) the 21 delegates? Are they going to be representatives of member countries which may make their selection political and the right people may not be selected?

b) The Advisory committee to ensure inclusiveness, transparency, and capable hands.

The working Group: There must be proper evaluation of the working group to ensure that they would deliver on their mandate.

Where do Monitoring and Evaluation belong within the governance structure.

Question 5: Please add any other comment or relevant content you think should be included in the Concept Note.

For the Council to succeed, it is important to list and ensure availability of resources especially financial and identify sources of funding. Also set timelines against stated goals and objectives.