Kigali, Rwanda 2023

^5th AFRICAN ORGANIC CONFERENCE

December 12 – 15, 2023

Venue: Kigali Rwanda

THEME:  Strengthening Resilient and Sustainable Food Systems in Africa through Organic Agriculture

CALL FOR PARTICIPATION

PHYSICAL AND VIRTUAL MODES

 

            About the conference

The African Organic Network (AfrONet), an umbrella body of organic agriculture actors in Africa representing the National and Regional Organic Agriculture Movements (NOAMs/ROAMs) is organizing the 5th African Organic Conference (AOC) in Kigali, Rwanda for four (4) days from December 12 - 15, 2023 in collaboration with the organic agriculture actors in Africa, the African Union Commission and other strategic organizations outside Africa. The multi-stakeholder-event shall be concluded with the General Assembly of the Network.

The AOC is held every 3 years. The 4^th AOC was held in November 2018 at Sally, Senegal. The 3rd AOC was held in Lagos, Nigeria in October 2015. The 2nd AOC was in Lusaka, Zambia in May 2012 while the 1st AOC was held in Kampala, Uganda in 2009. The 5^th AOC (5AOC) which was scheduled to be held in Marrakesh, Morocco in November 2021, could not be convened due to circumstances beyond our control. Enforcing the resolution of the 4^th AOC, the Board of AfrONet gave Rwanda Organic Agriculture Movement (ROAM), as a run-up to FIMABio of Morocco to host the 5^th AOC. At an Extraordinary virtual General Assembly of AfrONet members in March 2023, the 5^th AOC was rescheduled to hold in Kigali, Rwanda from 12 - 15 December 2023. Rwanda Organic Agriculture Movement is hosting the event in Rwanda on behalf of AfrONet in both physical and virtual modes.
 

2.         Duration and venue of the Conference

The 5^th AOC shall be held for three days from 12 - 15 December, 2023 with the last day reserved for regional side events and the General Assembly of AfrONet.

3.         Theme and Nature of the Conference

Strengthening Resilient and Sustainable Food Systems in Africa through Organic Agriculture”.

The first two days of the conference shall constitute information exchange through presentations covering various topics. These will be presented in the Policy, Farmers’, Value Chain and Marketing, and Research Tracks. The third day will be dedicated to field visits to renowned organic farms, value addition, marketing, and other facilities, as well as side meetings. The fourth day will be reserved for the AfrONet General Assembly. 

4. Objectives of the Conference

9. To bring together organic stakeholders to a conference to discuss organic agriculture developments, progress, and challenges encountered in Africa since the last AOC held in Sally, Senegal. 
10. To share information about the benefits of organic agriculture and its contribution to the economies, human health, soil health, climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience building.
11. To strategize mechanisms for awareness creation and dissemination of Organic agriculture benefits and facts to stakeholders and communities across Africa. 
12. To highlight salient issues for strategizing actions for the development of organic agriculture for the next three years.   
13. To influence research and extension, financing opportunities, policy, and institutionalization of Organic Agriculture through relevant organizations across the continent including the African Union Commission, UNFAO, development partners, regional bodies, national governments, and the private sector, etc.
14. To enhance understanding of the role of Agroecology in Ecological and Organic Agriculture.
15. To support harmonization of approaches and promote intra-Africa collaborations and trade

5. Conference Tracks and Leading Organizations

The conference is made up of the following Tracks with lead organizations that shall anchor activities of each Track of the conference representing the multi-stakeholder platform of organic agriculture in Africa:

1. Farmers - Inter-Continental Network of Organic Farmer Organisations (INOFO - Africa)
2. Research- Network of Organic Agriculture Researchers in Africa (NOARA)
3. Trade/Exhibition (Afro Organic Fair)- Kenyan Organic Agriculture Network (KOAN)
4. Policy – African Union Commission- Continental Secretariat of Ecological Organic Agriculture (EOA) Initiative 

6. Conference Committees

The following two committees working together are in charge of planning the conference: 

1. Continental Planning Committee (CPC) – This committee under the leadership of AfrONet is comprised of Board members and Secretariat staff of AfrONet, the CEO of ROAM/Chair, Secretary and Treasurer of the LOC, two representatives each from conference track leading organizations, representatives of strategic international partners, two representatives from AUC/EOA Continental Secretariat, one rep of regional organic movements (Central, Eastern, Northern, Southern and West Africa), Conveners of past four AOCs. The CPC is in charge of overarching activities of the conference, e.g. 
2. Local Organizing Committee (LOC) – This committee under the leadership of the Rwanda Organic Agriculture Movement (ROAM) is composed of strategic stakeholders across the value chain of organic agriculture in Rwanda and representatives of appropriate governmental ministries in Rwanda. 

Conference Fees

Earlybird Registration

Event	Virtual  (USD)	Physical (USD)	Virtual (Rwandan franc)	Physical (Rwandan franc)
	International		National
Individual participants (with certification of   participation)	90	225	106,785.00	266,962.50
Students (Masters and below with valid evidence)	18	90	21,357.00	106,785.00
Exhibition	180	270	237,300.00	320,355.00
Side events/ day (organizations or groups)	450	900	N / A	N / A

Regular Registration

Event	Virtual  (USD)	Physical (USD)	Virtual (Rwandan franc)	Physical (Rwandan franc)
	International		National
Individual participants (with certification of   participation)	100	250	118,650.00	296,625.00
Students (Masters and below with valid evidence)	20	100	23730.00	118,650.00
Exhibition	200	300	237,300.00	355,950.00
Side events/ day (organizations or groups)	500	1,000	NA	NA

 

EXPECTED PARTICIPANTS AND BENEFICIARIES OF THE 5TH AOC 

The following are the expected participants and beneficiaries of the Conference: 

• Actors along the value chain of organic agriculture
• Researchers and students within and outside Africa focusing on Organic Agriculture and Agroecology issues in Africa
•  Continental and regional governments
• Policy makers from national and regional Ministries of Agriculture, Environment, Trade and other related governmental agencies in Africa
• Projects, NGOs, Community-based organizations (CBOs) within and outside Africa 
• Journalists

 

CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS, PARTICIPATION AND SPONSORSHIP

(Papers and success stories by Researchers/Producers) 

AfrONet therefore invites multi-stakeholder actors of organic agriculture value chain within and outside Africa to submit presentations of their research findings, innovations and success stories on Organic Agriculture and Agroecological practices. All these aiming at showcasing how these interventions are contributing to strengthening resilience in climatic conditions and food security in Africa. Below are the guidelines for scientific manuscript submission for the event.

 

Appropriate presentations addressing the theme and topics under sub-themes of the conference are requested.

Please note that only those duly registered for the conference shall be allowed to present papers or posters during the event.

 

First stage - A page poster presentation with name, location and success story

Second stage – A 3 – 5 mins video clips of specific success stories in organic agriculture production.

 

First step: Abstract not more than 250 words (double spacing, Times New Roman and font 12) should be submitted to africanorganicconference@gmail.com…

Deadline – October 30, 2023

 

Second step: Full papers of accepted Abstracts to be submitted at http://publications.noara.bio. and africanorganicconference@gmail.com on or before 15 November, 2023.

Please note that all finally accepted manuscripts will be published in the Conference Proceedings, while scientific ones that are evaluated acceptable for journal publication will have the opportunity to be published in the African Journal of Organic Agriculture and Ecology (AJOAE).