12 September 2011: The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Planning and Coordinating Agency and the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which will provide a framework for cooperation and coordination between the organizations that aims to accelerate agricultural growth and productivity on the continent.

The agreement, signed during the course of the China-NEPAD Agency Agricultural Cooperation Seminar, aims to support joint efforts in the implementation of Africa’s agriculture and rural development agenda. Key areas identified by the agreement include: agricultural technology demonstration centres; vocational training; agricultural research; aquaculture and marine fishery; and exchange of policy experience related to agricultural development.

The Parties will develop a workplan to guide implementation of the MoU, with key priority areas identified as strengthening capacity of African agricultural systems, enhancing exchange of information to improve communication of technologies, launching pilot agricultural and rural development projects, and recommending private sector work on joint production activities. China also will explore opportunities to strengthen the role of existing bilateral cooperation, including training programmes and technical experts in support of transfer of the appropriate technology to Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) priorities at country level. [NEPAD Press Release]