The First FNSSA IRC Funders’ Working Group Meeting

On Monday, 20 October 2025, the NRF and CIHEAM-Bari, as co-task leaders under the Consortium Europe-Africa on Research and Innovation for Food Systems Transformation (CEA-FIRST) initiative, co-hosted the inaugural Funders’ Working Group Meeting of the International Research Consortium (IRC) on Food and Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture (FNSSA). The event took place at the South African Embassy in Brussels and served as a side event to the AU-EU Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM).

CEA-FIRST is a joint bi-continental effort designed to establish the FNSSA IRC in alignment with the FNSSA roadmap of the AU-EU High-Level Policy Dialogue (HLPD). The IRC has been created to operationalise the FNSSA roadmap and address fragmentation across the research landscape by functioning as a ‘network of networks’ that connects and coordinates research, education, advisory services, policy, industry, and funding.

The meeting aimed to provide foundational insights into CEA-FIRST and the IRC, while fostering a co-creation and co-design process for the Funders’ Working Group. Building on a report developed within the CEA-FIRST framework, led by the NRF and CIHEAM-Bari, participants exchanged views on how the Working Group could be structured and operationalised within the IRC. Discussions focused on FNSSA priorities, investment opportunities, funding modalities, and potential governance structures to ensure effective support for sustainable food and agriculture across Africa and Europe. The insights and outcomes from this session will inform the development of a Joint Work Programme, which will serve as the operational framework for the Funders’ Working Group within the FNSSA IRC.

The funders’ discussions continued the following day during the CEA-FIRST side event entitled Stakeholder Co-Creation for the IRC Functional Working Groups Strategy and Operational Plan. The NRF contributed to the panel discussion on Refining the Working Groups Strategy and Co-Designing the Joint Work Programmes.

In addition, the NRF team participated in the Innovation Fair 2025, themed Enabling That Step Forward, held on 23 October and jointly organised by the African Union, the European Union, and the Union for the Mediterranean. Several South African researchers and innovators showcased their work by pitching their projects and technologies at the event. The Innovation Fair, a flagship event of the AU-EU High-Level Policy Dialogue Week, brought together over 500 stakeholders including funders, policymakers, and project leaders. The NRF’s participation provided an opportunity to highlight South Africa’s leadership in AU-EU collaborative programmes, foster new partnerships, and enhance visibility and support for ongoing AU-EU initiatives.

Representing the NRF at all of these engagements were RIISA: International Grants and Partnerships’ Dr Prudence Makhura, Senior Manager: International Grants and Partnerships; Dr Nokuthula Mchunu, Manager: International Collaborative Research Grants; and Ms Nombuso Madonda, Professional Officer: Regional Research Programmes.

For more information on CEA-FIRST, please contact Ms N Madonda at NP.Madonda@risa.nrf.ac.za.

To learn more about the FNSSA IRC,