Adding Value with AGRA

The MCC recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).This MoU -- the fourth signed this year by the MCC -- should be applauded as the type of smart partnership which connects coordinated development research with project implementation and results. Both organizations strive to stimulate rural development to foster economic growth, protect the environment and alleviate poverty and hunger in a sustainable fashion. AGRA’s current programs to develop improved seed varieties, provide agricultural education and improve the health of Africa’s soils complement MCC Compacts focused on infrastructure (including transportation and irrigation), land tenure systems and access to credit.AGRA and the MCC have already demonstrated their commitment to African agriculture with investments of $330m and $1.7b respectively. This collaboration will reinforce such efforts to date as well as leverage research and best practices in order to rapidly close the infrastructure gap and jump start productivity with provision of improved crop varieties and technical training to small-scale farmers. Ghana, Madagascar, and Mali will be the first three countries to put this alliance into effect through the local accountable entities.This MoU could prove to be an innovative solution to reverse the trend of declining funding for international agricultural research institutions through pairing public and private institutions with complementary missions. Let’s hope that putting the meat on the bones of this agreement not only helps to flesh out policies on paper but more importantly expands the diets of and opportunities for hungry and poor Africans.