The Oslo Conference: Resolution

On August 31, concerned corporations and organizations from the private and public sectors met in Oslo, Norway to debate partnership initiatives for an African Green Revolution. The parties agreed to the following resolution that will be open to debate until October 27. A Oslo Conference blog will be launched September 25.

The organisers and participants of the Oslo Conference for a Green Revolution in Africa resolve to take concrete and concerted action toward the development of self-sustaining changes in African agricultural growth through the use of enhanced approaches to public-private partnerships.

•  Disseminate the Oslo Conference proceedings through the conference web-site and accompanying publicity.

•  Convene a broad advisory group of development partners designed to refine and recommend improved models for public-private partnerships.

•  Communicate the findings of the broad advisory group in support of the emerging strategic African agricultural development processes.

The Conference Acknowledged the Following Goals within the African Agriculture Sector:

•  Release from Poverty

•  Sustainable Agricultural Growth

•  Financially Secure, Self-Sustaining Development

The conference’s broad participation, including members of the international and local public, private and non-profit sectors, agreed that these objectives will require a proactive and collaborative commitment to Action.

The Conference Recognised the Following Conditions:

•  The critical role of agriculture in building the wealth needed for Africa to reduce poverty and hunger

•  The rights to engagement in the agricultural entrepreneurial process of both women and men

•  The essential role in development played by NGOs and civil society

•  The need for both public and private investment and engagement in African agriculture to stimulate sustainable agricultural growth

•  The need for private-sector participation in the long-term development process

•  The need for public-sector appreciation of the importance of business to development

•  The value and need for public-private partnership to African agricultural development

•  The need to fully understand and enhance public-private partnership models to maximise development effectiveness

Through the Conference the following Themes Emerged as Supportive to Achievement of the Goals:

•  Public-Private Partnerships as a key to self-sustaining development

•  Targeted Research and transfer of Science and Technology to Farmers

•  Access to Finance to allow development of farming and the surrounding infrastructure

•  Linkage of Production and Output Markets to facilitate appropriate production choices

•  Development of, and participation in, New Markets (e.g. biofuels)

•  The inclusion of aspects of Health and Education in the development agenda

•  The importance and extension of the Role of Women in agriculture

•  The encouragement of Entrepreneurship in seeking positive growth in the sector

•  The value of Crop Diversification in optimising farmer returns and the understanding of principles of Risk Management to protect those returns

•  The value of Sustainable Partnerships Based upon Mutual Benefits for All Stakeholders