AATF Inaugural Report - African Agricultural Technology Foundation

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A New Bridge to Sustainable Agricultural Development in Africa involved in cry1Ab gene introgression and field testing. The Foundation’s multiple roles in the Project include: negotiating access to the cry1Ab gene, which confers resistance to the insect pest Maruca vitrata; providing liability protection to the technology provider; ensuring quality seed production and availability; licensing improved seed and technology distribution in Africa; and helping to develop relevant markets. In order to guarantee the necessary freedom to operate, a comprehensive “technology due diligence” assessment was conducted pro-bono on behalf of AATF by an experienced lawyer of the Belgium-based bio-pharmaceutical firm, Innogenetics, Inc. The Project’s promise has also attracted support from the UK’s Kirkhouse Trust, which is supporting efforts to improve the capacity of the region’s national agricultural research organisations to apply marker-assisted selection techniques during the Cry1Ab gene introgression phase of the Project. In addition, the West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF/WECARD) has embraced the project and has a seat on the proposed 7-member steering committee that is overseeing the Project’s progress. The Cowpea and Striga Projects exemplify the kinds of initiatives that AATF views as central to achieving its mission. Financial Projections AATF’s expenditures over time will of course depend on the scale, nature and timing of its various activities. However, all the Foundation’s activities embody and reflect two fundamental operational maxims: • Make the most of AATF’s ability to leverage small investments into significant impacts; and • Always strive to be cost-effective. AATF’s primary role is that of facilitating the transfer of proprietary technologies by building public–private partnerships designed to get new 30
Crossing to the Other Side and existing technologies into the hands of those who can use them to generate positive impacts on poverty and food security in sub-Saharan Africa. As a facilitator, the Foundation’s direct investments in establishing project partnerships can lead to huge benefits, both for those engaged in the partnerships and for the region’s resource-poor farmers. Benefits accruing to project partners themselves are generally not financial. They revolve around the realisation of humanitarian objectives, practical scientific advances, longterm market development, and the increasingly popular adage, “doing well by doing good.” For the ultimate beneficiaries of these efforts, however, the benefits are more tangible: notable increases in farm-level productivity, growing profitability, and greater food security over time. AATF’s project investments are designed to attract significant additional contributions by project partners. These contributions take several different forms – financial, as well as a variety of in-kind investments of technology, know-how, and human capital. Operationally, the Foundation’s investments are weighted towards covering project development and start-up costs, including project planning, and the transfer, adaptation and obtaining regulatory consent for new technologies. Relatively more of the downstream costs (actual implementation) are to be covered through resource mobilisation efforts that will involve the public and private sector partners in each project. The Foundation’s operational model also anticipates covering all follow-up costs, such as monitoring compliance with licensing terms, fulfilling AATF’s stewardship obligations, and any other project assessment work. Expenditure patterns vary from project to project, but in general they adhere to the blueprint shown in Figure 5. Funding from donors, governments and the private sector (including foundations) Total AATF funding AATF Overheads Expenditure AATF AATF Project Expenditure 100% Overheads 75% 75% 25% 100% Total Project Costs Staff, Operating, Direct, Set-up Costs Project Development Costs Upstream Project Costs Downstream Project Costs Follow-up Costs 25% 25% 75% Matched funding (contributions in cash and in kind from public and private sector partners) Figure 5: Indicative blueprint for the allocation of funds provided in support of AATF’s work. 31
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AATF Inaugural Report - African Agricultural Technology Foundation

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