he FAO Science and Innovation Strategy focuses on three Pillars: Strengthening science and evidence-based decision-making; Supporting innovation and technology at regional and country level; Serving Members better by reinforcing FAO’s capacities.

1. 32nd Session of the
FAO Regional Conference for Africa
11-14 April 2022
FAO Science and Innovation Strategy
Ismahane Elouafi, Chief Scientist
#ARC32

2. ≈
Science &
Innovation cut
across all key
dimensions of
the FAO
Strategic
Framework
2022-31
Social, policy, institutional, financial and
technological (including digital)
innovations
1
NO
POVERTY
2
ZERO
HUNGER
10
REDUCED
INEQUALITIES
GENDER YOUTH INCLUSION

3. Guidance from168th Session of FAO Council
• Give importance to addressing accountability, affordability and access
• Science and innovation should be adaptable to local, national and regional development
contexts
• Strengthen national and local institutions, including agricultural research institutions
• Pay due attention to the needs of indigenous peoples, local communities, people in
vulnerable situations, people with disabilities, youth and women
• Assess potential benefits and risks from using new technologies and innovations on the
three pillars of Sustainable Development

4. Council: perspectives from Africa
• The FAO Science and Innovation Strategy is aligned with African Union’s Science,
Technology and Innovation Strategy
• Science, technology and innovation are central to development, including the SDGs
• Emphasize importance of accessibility, including indigenous and local knowledge
• Plan appropriate measures to make use of small-scale producers’ local innovations because
they are adapted to their realities
• Include risk of worsening the existing gaps between developed and developing countries on
science and innovation

5. I. Context - Background
II. Highlights of the FAO Science and Innovation Strategy
III. Vision - Goal
IV. Scope
V. Theory of change
VI. Guiding principles
VII. Pillars and outcomes
VIII. Accountability framework
Outline of the FAO Science & Innovation Strategy

6. Vision
A world free from hunger and malnutrition, where the
potential of science and innovation is fully leveraged to
overcome complex social, economic and environmental
challenges of agrifood systems in a globally equitable,
inclusive and sustainable manner

7. Goal
2030 AGENDA FOR
SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
FAO STRATEGIC
FRAMEWORK
2022-2031
TECHNOLOGY
INNOVATION
ACCELERATORS
PROGRAMME PRIORITY AREAS
(PPAs)
Members harness science and
innovation to realize context-specific
and systemic solutions for MORE
efficient, inclusive, resilient and
sustainable agrifood systems for better
production, better nutrition, a better
environment and a better life, leaving
no one behind.
1
NO
POVERTY
2
ZERO
HUNGER
10
REDUCED
INEQUALITIES
GENDER YOUTH INCLUSION

8. Scope
• All sectors and areas of agrifood systems
• Natural, social and economic sciences
• All types of innovations: technological (including
digital), social, policy, financial, and institutional
• Systemic approaches: sustainability science,
interdisciplinarity and transdisciplinarity
• Knowledge of Indigenous Peoples and small-
scale producers
• Strict compliance with FAO policies on
protection of data and IPRs

9. Guiding Principles
PEOPLE CENTERED
GENDER-EQUAL
EVIDENCE-BASED
NEEDS-DRIVEN
SUSTAINABILITY-ALIGNED
RISK-INFORMED
ETHICS-BASED

10. Proposed pillars of the S&I Strategy
TRANSFORMATIVE
PARTNERSHIPS
-
INNOVATIVE
FUNDING &
FINANCING
SUPPORTING
INNOVATION &
TECHNOLOGY AT
REGIONAL &
COUNTRY LEVEL
REINFORCING FAO’S
CAPACITIESTO BETTER
SERVE MEMBERS
STRENGTHENING
SCIENCE & EVIDENCE-
BASED DECISION MAKING

11. Pillars, outcomes and enablers
Agrifood systems knowledge
and evidence enhanced
Access to, and use of,
sustainable, affordable and
context-specific innovations
and technologies by small-
scale producers, family
farmers and other agrifood
systems actors enhanced
Capacities to enable science
and innovation enhanced
across the Organization
Science-policy interfaces for
agrifood systems
strengthened
Capacities of national
agrifood innovation systems
to prioritize, co-create, and
scale sustainable and
appropriate innovations and
technologies strengthened
Knowledge management
and exchange of
information and
experiences enhanced
across the Organization
Research for
development
strengthened
National capacity to
design, implement and
evaluate strategies,
policies and regulatory
frameworks on science,
technology and
innovation strengthened
Strengthening science
and evidence-based
decision-making
Supporting innovation
and technology at
regional and country
level
Reinforcing FAO's
capacities to better
serve Members
PILLARS OUTCOMES
Innovative funding
and financing
ENABLERS
Transformative
partnerships

12. Roadmap highlights
Informal Consultations with Members
Regional processes
Governing Bodies
Launch of FAO internal consultation process
AUG NOV FEB APR JUN
SEPT OCT JAN MAR MAY
DEC
ESTABLISHMENT
OF FAO
INTERNAL
CONSULTATION
MECHANISMS
OUTLINE AND
ROADMAP
CONSIDERED BY
THE PROGRAMME
COMMITTEE
8 – 12 NOV
OUTLINE AND
ROADMAP
CONSIDERED BY
COUNCIL
29 NOV – 03 DEC
INFORMAL
CONSULTATION
WITH MEMBERS
25 FEB
FAO SCIENCE &
INNOVATION
STRATEGY
CONSIDERED BY THE
PROGRAMME
COMMITTEE
16 – 20 MAY
FAO SCIENCE &
INNOVATION
STRATEGY
CONSIDERED BY
THE COUNCIL
13 – 17 JUN
REGIONAL
MEETINGS ON
SCIS
RAP
28 OCT
REGIONAL
MEETINGS ON
SCIS
RLC
23 NOV
REU
25 NOV
RAF
25 NOV
REGIONAL
MEETINGS ON
SCIS
RNE
9 DEC
REGIONAL
CONFERENCES
NERC
10 – 13 JAN; 7-8
Feb
REGIONAL
CONFERENCES
ARC
11 - 15 APR
REGIONAL
CONFERENCES
ERC
10 – 13 MAY
REGIONAL
CONFERENCES
APRC
8- 11 MAR
REGIONAL
CONFERENCES
LARC
28 MAR – 1 APR
INFORMAL
CONSULTATION
WITH MEMBERS
21 SEP