Togo, Feb 2019
The second working week of NRDS revision was held in Lomé
Many countries who extended their membership to the Coalition started the revision of their NRDS at the end of phase 1 (Oct-Dec 2018). The revised strategy will cover the period of 2019-2030. Togolese Taskforce held the first working session (we call it Working Week: WW) and started the revision process, from 31st July to 4th August 2018. The Government of Togo financed an intermediary WW through a support by World Bank in Tsévié in November 2018, which produced a first draft of the revised NRDS2. Subsequently a second working week was planned with the support of CARD Secretariat. This 2nd Working Week was held outside the Ministry of Agriculture, but still in Lomé, from 26th January to 1st February 2019 at CIFEX centre. The main goal of this second Working Week with the support from CARD Secretariat was to review in details the draft document.
The starting day of the WW happened at a moment of change in Togolese Government. Mr. Harifidy Ramilison, CARD Regional consultant gave general comments on the draft of NRDS 2. For the purpose of giving ideas to complete and enrich second generation of the strategy, a presentation on other CARD countries’ experiences is made during the second WW. Mr. Ramilison presented the case of Ivory Coast rice development experience. A series of questions and answers have been done followed by discussions which focused on post-harvest challenges for Togo rice development. The consultant used this opportunity to introduce the RICE approach which was approved during the 7th CARD General Meeting and was proposed to be integrated in NRDS 2. Exchanges on each component of RICE approach was made in regards of related aspects dealt with in the first draft of NRDS 2: it was concluded by participants that most of RICE elements was taken into account into the first draft.
The next 2 days were fully devoted to review the draft of NRDS 2. Based on discussions, comments and suggestions, some adjustments have been made on the draft.
Particularly taskforce members decided to re-write two parts;
(1) Part 5.3: Strategic intervention axis related to “Governance of the sector”
(2) Part 6: “Instruments for implementing the strategy”.
It was done in the fourth day, where alignment with PNIASAN (CAADP document) were fine-tuned by the taskforce members.
Meanwhile the CARD Secretariat delegation was received by the new Minister during their staff meeting. That was a good opportunity for the Technical Coordinator of CARD Secretariat to underline its continuous support to the Togolese rice development. The ministry made a strong message to the rice taskforce representative about private sector involvement through the ministry’s “cluster approach”.
For the remaining time the whole team reviewed the sub section of “Sub-sector strategies” in the draft of NRDS 2, and agreed on some rearrangement in relation to the sub section of “Review of national rice sector”, considering that some critical information should be found at the beginning of the document.
The workshop was ended with:
(i) a review of Strategic Principles and Approach
(ii) “way forward”, giving to Togolese taskforce road map to NRDS 2 validation process and National Rice Project elaboration.
