Can reality television boost our interest in agriculture?

 

Image: Filming taking place in a Farmers Apprentice challenge (Supplied)

Economists describe the impact prime-time reality television can have on an industry as ‘The MasterChef Effect.’ Now, a reality program from the United Kingdom is testing whether the format can be used to broaden the appeal of farming, writes Monique Bowley.


In Australia programs like My Kitchen Rules, The Block and The Biggest Loser have helped boost interest and spending on fine dining, home renovations and fitness.

The audience have quite a romanticised view of what it's like out on the land. We don't want to see the reality of what it's like. Caroline Spencer, Fremantle Media

Now, a farming publication in the United Kingdom is trying to capitalise on the influence of reality television by producing Farmers Apprentice.
Described as a cross between The Apprentice and The Great British Bakeoff, Farmers Apprentice is an online video series that follows 10 contestants as they compete against each other in a variety of farming challenges.
Debbie Beaton is the editorial projects director for Farmers Weekly magazine, which produces Farmers Apprentice. She says the program was developed in response to the need for massive recruitment in agriculture.
‘There was a report in the UK saying that there are 60,000 new recruits needed by 2020 in order for the industry to keep just sustaining itself,’ Beaton says.
‘The problem is, this is an industry full of worthiness, but they do everything quietly and independently. We thought ... let’s do something that's going to have some real impact. We want to unashamedly show that farming is an attractive career option.’

 

 Image: Ingredients of a reality TV show: stern judges and cheeky characters. (Supplied)

 

Image: Farming is a dream not yet realised by these students (Supplied)

The aim of the reality program was to reach bright young graduates and show them the challenges and benefits of a career in agriculture.
Farmers Apprentice also built on a renewed interest in food and food production, which grew out of revamped cooking programs on television.
‘Chefs have put farming back in the spotlight. They're very keen to support provenance and local food and as a result, this has played well into the hands of farmers and producers,’ Beaton says.
‘It's transforming the image of farming.’
In its first season, the web-based program reached 10 million people, and was noticed by the UK Minister for Agriculture.
However, one of the biggest questions is whether it would have sufficient appeal to work in a prime-time slot on national television.
Caroline Spencer is the director for development at FremantleMedia, and has produced highly successful reality programs that include MasterChef, Farmer Wants a Wife and The Biggest Loser.
She says an Australian reality show focused on farming would be a hard sell.
‘If you look at something like MasterChef, everyone eats, so there is a reason people want to tune in by virtue of that, ’ says Spencer.
‘If you look at Farmer Wants a Wife, it was about a universal theme—love. That's why they have such broad mass appeal and why they resonate so strongly.’
‘I think we ... have quite a romanticised view of what it's like out on the land. We don't want to see the reality of what it's like.’
Despite this, Spencer admits that reality programs have shown that with the right production, a mundane activity like cooking can work on prime-time television.
‘I never fail to be surprised by some of the challenges we put on MasterChef—like chopping onions—that we managed to make entertaining,’ she says.

#AgriBusinesstotheBIGSCREEN

Reality television hit the mainstream about a decade ago with the launch of Big Brother and Survivor. Since then hundreds of reality shows have been created, from Keeping Up with the Kardashians to 
 Donald Trump’s The Apprentice.

 
A Nigerian company, Corporate Farmers International Limited is planning to launch a reality show jointly with the IITA Ibadan Nigeria where contestants will have to demonstrate their Agribusiness skills. 

The idea behind Corporate Farmers is to provide Agribusiness with entertainment while showing Nigerian youths that Agriculture  can be a viable career. 

Give us an overview of Corporate Farmers and explain why you decided to focus on farming?
The concept came from a desire to do something new, something more creative in the Agricultural media industry. We came up with something that will bring the African youth back to engage in agriculture, just like our forefathers cherished going to the farm.
The main reason why we decided to focus on agriculture is because food is essential for our existence. Without it there is no life. So we decided the best possible way to encourage the youth is by combining Abribusiness and entertainment.

Tell us a bit more about how the proposed show will work
The show will feature 40 Nigerian youths (18-30 years) from all the states in Nigeria. Nine groups comprising of four contestants will each be allocated a farm. The show will run for Thirteen weeks on the BIG SCREEN at the IITA in Ibadan while the selection process will entail an audition, which will be done by professionals in the agriculture industry. Contestants will participate in a range of farming related activities, including poultry, snail breeding, fishery, piggery, etc. There will be an eviction process and the winner will go home with very rewarding prizes.

How would you describe the average Nigerian youth’s perception about farming as a career?
The average Nigerian young person’s perception of farming is rather negative because they are not well informed about agriculture. The government does not encourage the Nigerian youth to participate in farming. All that the youth is interested in is to go to the studio and sing or dance.

Our vision is to get Corporate Nigeria invest in Agribusiness

Who are IITA Youth Agripreneurs?

We are group of young graduates involved in agribusiness, with the aim of being a unit that would serve as a model to other young people planning to venture into agribusiness and becoming the trainer of trainers.
The activities of the group cut across the value-chains of different crops including cassava, maize, plantain/banana, and soybean.
For cassava, we are into stem multiplication and root production. For maize and soybean, their focus is on seed multiplication (both certified and foundation seeds), whereas for the plantain/banana, they are into sucker multiplication and fruit production.
We have managed to bridge the gender inequality gap in the team, with our present number standing at 11 men and 10 women.

The activities of the group cut across the value-chains of different crops including cassava, maize, plantain/banana, and soybean. For cassava, the Youth Agripreneurs are into stem multiplication and root production. For maize and soybean, their focus is on seed multiplication (both certified and foundation seeds), whereas for the plantain/banana, they are into sucker multiplication and fruit production.
The Agripreneurs look forward to collaborating with sponsors and investors, as one of their future plans is to expand their production. They wish to become self-independent and self-employed, having acquired the necessary knowledge and skills, and ultimately become employers of labour.

Apart of Agribusiness, IITA Youth Agripreneus has a Goal to Train other African Youth in Agribusiness based on the following Topics:
cassava, maize, plantain/banana, and soybean.
For cassava, we are into stem multiplication and root production;For maize and soybean, their focus is on seed multiplication (both certified and foundation seeds), whereas for the plantain/banana, they are into sucker multiplication and fruit production. The fish farming Training can also be added.

Making Agriculture “Cool” for Youth

Agriculture’s image among young people is changing—from Brooklyn, New York to Nairobi, Kenya—where youth are now turning to farming and the food system as a viable career path.

Bernard Pollack

 

Agriculture has an image problem. Simply put, for the majority of the world’s youth, agriculture simply isn’t seen as being “cool” or attractive. Most think of it only as back-breaking labor, without an economic pay-off — and little room for career advancement.

With an ageing population of farmers, it’s clear that agriculture needs to attract more young people. This is a global challenge: half the farmers in the United States are 55 years or older, while in sub-Saharan Africa, the average age of farmers is around 60 years old.
“The exodus of rural youth means fewer small-scale farmers tomorrow, potentially drastically changing the profile of farming,” according to a recent report by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED).
The U.N. International Labour Organization predicts that, globally, there will be 74.2 million unemployed young people this year, an increase of 3.8 million since 2007. Youth unemployment is both a threat and an opportunity. The agricultural sector offers huge potential for job creation. Realizing this can radically change the image of agriculture among young people.
And agriculture’s image among young people is changing—from Brooklyn, New York to Nairobi, Kenya—where youth are now turning to farming and the food system as a viable career path.
“Increased access to education and new forms of agriculture-based enterprise mean that young people can be a vital force for innovation in family farming, increasing incomes and well-being for both farmers and local communities. Young people can transform the agricultural sector by applying new technologies and new thinking” said Mark Holderness, Executive Secretary of the Global Forum for Agricultural Research (GFAR).
Agriculture means more than subsistence farming - today, young people can explore career options in permaculture design, biodynamic farming, communication technologies, forecasting, marketing, logistics, quality assurance, urban agriculture projects, food preparation, environmental sciences, advanced technologies, and more.
Farmers, businesses, policy-makers, and educators need to promote agriculture as an intellectually stimulating and economically sustainable career—and make jobs in the agriculture and food system “cool” for young people all over the world.

A resurgence of interest among young farmers is happening and it’s vital to support this growth.
In collaboration with GFAR, Food Tank has compiled an exciting list of organizations working with young people around the world to make agriculture and agriculture-related work more appealing and change public perceptions so that agriculture is not just seen as cool, but is recognized as a vitally important career.
In the United States, the New Entry Sustainable Farming Project works to strengthen local food systems by supporting new farmers. The farmer training program helps young farmers learn what it takes to run a small farm operation from business planning to specialized advanced workshops in livestock and healthy food.
And in southeastern New England, the Young Farmer Network hosts “Young Farmer Night,” a series of free regular social and educational events that bring farmers of all ages and experience levels together to network and collaborate.
U.S. Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden recently announced resources and policy changes to improve the financial security of new and beginning farmers and ranchers. This includes a new website that will be a one-stop resource where farmers and ranchers can explore the variety of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) initiatives designed to help them succeed.
Last year in Africa, Joseph Macharia started a Facebook page, “Mkulima Young,” to encourage youth to engage in agriculture. The page serves as a social forum for youth, a place to ask questions, and create agriculture networks. Macharia posts photos and inspirational stories of farmers to empower youth in his community.
In Kenya, Uganda, Antigua, and Barbuda, the Junior Farmer Field and Life Schools (JFFLS) foster market demand for sustainable food while also providing youth with tools to begin growing their own sustainable food. JFFLS goal is to empower vulnerable youth and provide them with skills needed for long-term food security.
Farm Africa began a farm training program for rural youth, growing vegetables, mushrooms, and passionfruit in Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. They teach students how to get the best price at market and encourage them to get involved in local governance.
The European Council of Young Farmers (CEJA) is the “voice of Europe’s next generation of farmers.” CEJA’s main objective is to support the renewal of generation in the agriculture sector by being a platform for information and education exchange.

The International Movement of Catholic Agricultural and Rural Youth (MIJARC) has 2 million young rural people as members, contributing to and promoting the sustainable development of agricultural and rural areas all over the world, to make rural areas attractive and viable for young people.
The Caribbean Farmers Network (CaFAN) began a new program of training, capacity building, and promoting young farmer-leaders under age 35 in Trinidad, Tobago, Guyana, Antigua, Grenada, St. Lucia, Barbados, and St. Vincent. Fifteen of the participants have started blogs to share ideas and opinions on the agriculture sector including, Nyamekye Mapp of Tobago, and her search for agrifootsoldiers.
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Rural Youth Talents Program in South America seeks to publicize and share knowledge from lessons learned in rural youth agriculture programs. The goal is to establish and strengthen networks of youth involved in food and agriculture, as well involve more youth in the field.

The South Asia Youth Camp on Agriculture and Water mobilizes youth between ages 18 and 36 to influence government leaders to take action on climate change and responsibility for agriculture and water. The camp brings together youth to share opinions, ideas, take action, and protect the rights of smallholder producers in South Asia.

And education is changing too:
The Global Confederation of Higher Education Associations in Agriculture and Life Sciences (GCHERA) brings together over 600 agricultural universities, involving around a million students per year. GCHERA is working to change university curricula around the world, to make agriculture-based courses more attractive to young people and more relevant to the skills and opportunities they now seek.
The Earth University in Costa Rica works to prepare future leaders with ethical values to contribute to the sustainable development of the tropics. Their courses include both work experience sessions and students developing and running their own agribusinesses through the class.
Wageningen University in the Netherlands has, over the last decade, completely redefined its courses to meet the needs and priorities of today’s young people. Wageningen now focuses on the theme ‘healthy food and living environment’ and works closely together with both governments and the business community.

Also, Young Professionals for Agricultural Development (YPARD) is an international movement of nearly 8,000 young professionals, a vibrant network, both online and on the ground, inspiring young people into a wide range of agriculture careers and to play active roles for innovative agricultural development.
These projects and many other initiatives, programs, and people are making agriculture cool again. What programs do you know about that are making agriculture more appealing to younger generations? Let us know!

The Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR) brings together all those working to strengthen and transform agricultural research for development around the world. During 2014 and the International Year of Family Farming (IYFF), GFAR is working with Food Tank to showcase and raise awareness and understanding of the challenges faced by smallholders and help identify efficient ways to support family farmers.

by Danielle Nierenberg and Sarah Small

Youth In Agriculture

Within the developing agenda of Ghana, agriculture is identified as one of the economic pillars. The nexus/connection between agriculture development and Ghana’s ability to achieve its food and nutrition security goals are inextricably linked.
Agriculture is important to the development of any nation, Ghana being no exception. Development must include the youth and therefore the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) seeks to encourage their participation in the agricultural sector. This effort seeks to change the negative perception the youth have of participation in agriculture, (farmers) as uneducated, unskilled, physical labourers with extremely low economic return. Modern agriculture is more than tilling the soil and animals. The sector today offers career opportunities in research, environment, financial management, engineering and other technical areas for the youth to explore.
The introduction of the Youth in Agriculture Programme (YIAP) is necessary and vital to facilitate food and nutrition security because of the following reasons but not limited to:

A Combine Harvester on a Block Farm at Savelugu

• There is compelling evidence of ageing farmer population in the country which must be addressed to facilitate sustainability in agriculture production. The average age of farmer in Ghana is 55 years and life expectancy averages between 55 – 60 years.
• Ghana’s food import bill for rice, cooking oil, frozen chicken and meat (have become staple food) continues to rise. If this trend continues the availability of food in Ghana in the near future will depend on imports making the country vulnerable to catastrophic events and other exogenous shocks that have negative impact on food  production from external source. The youth is strategic to the success of any effort to boost Ghana’s food production.
• The poor image of persons involved in agriculture, especially in the rural communities needs to be changed and the youth are the  ideal catalyst such change given their greater prosperity and wiliness to adapt new ideas, concept and technology which are all important to changing the way agriculture is practiced and perceived.
• Increased employment particularly rural employment is required as youth unemployment is on the increase.
• Increase productivity in agricultural sector depends on the youth who compromise about 20 – 30 of Ghana’s active population. Their energy and numbers provide tremendous opportunities for increasing agricultural productivity.
• YIAP provides productive alternatives for the engagement of the youth to reduce crime and other social problems.
• Diversified, modern farming practices.
• New crop varieties and animal strains/breeds.
• Less soil pollution since there will be regular advice and supervision from MOFA.
• Reduction in rural-urban migration.

Youth on a Block Farm at Savelugu

The Youth in Agriculture Programme (YIAP) is a Government of Ghana (GOG) agricultural sector initiative with an objective of motivating the youth to accept and appreciate farming/food production as a commercial venture, thereby taking up farming as a life time vocation.
The YIAP has the task and responsibility of mobilizing the youth to take up farming and its other related activities as life time vocation. By so doing the following benefits will be derived from the employment for the youth, through the provision of tractor services and agro – inputs;
The youth in Agriculture Programme has the objective of

• Making youth accept farming as a commercial business venture;
• Generate appreciable income to meet farmers domestic and personal needs;
• Youth will improve their standard of living-through improved income.
• Youth will be motivated to stay in rural areas, as inputs will be delivered at their farm gate, on credit basis and interest free,
• Produce enough food crops, meat and fish using modem methods.

Components of the Youth in Agriculture Programme (YIAP)
The Youth in Agriculture has four (4) components namely:
i. Crops / Block Farm
ii. Livestock and Poultry
iii. Fisheries/Aquaculture and
iv. Agribusiness
Crops/Block Farm
This System has two sub-components, general crops and the block farm Block Farm, under this Scheme, state land or land acquired from chiefs or private individuals is ploughed and shared in

Block Farm Rice and Combine Harvester

blocks among ; young farmer under supervision of MOFA staff. For now, the crops under YIAP include maize (seed and grain), sorghum, soybean, tomato and onion.
Other enterprises will be included as the programme expands. Under the block farm, YIAP provides farmers with tractor services, inputs at subsidized prices all on credit and at interest free. The land is ploughed and shared amongst young farmers in blocks. In the long run, big commercial farmers are to be made from Block Farm and the other component of the Youth in Agric Programme.
With regard to the general system, farmers clustered in an area may be considered under the programme. At the end of the season, farmers are expected to repay the facility in kind. This system takes care of their marketing responsibilities and post harvest loses. Farmers may sell their produce to the Buffer Stock Company established by MOFA or’ any customer of their choice.
Livestock and Poultry
This component targets young unemployed men and women to take to production of livestock and poultry (broilers layers, guinea fowls and piggery to begin with. Beneficiary youth will be assisted with day old chicks in the case of broilers, layers and guinea fowls, They will be provided with housing, feeding, drugs and vaccine, utility until they are weaned off the programme in about a year.
Similarly breeding sows and pigs together with the other inputs will be provided. There is a programme for other animals such as cattle, sheep and goats and other stocks such as rabbit and grasscutter will be added. Since animal production is a specialized area, participating farmers will be trained.
Fisheries/Aquaculture
The Youth in Aquaculture Programme is first of all being driven by the demand for healthy fish and inadequate domestic fish production. Traditional harvest fisheries are cither fully exploited or near full exploitation and cannot meet the increasing demand for seafood.
The youth are especially targeted to form the focal point of the project.
Who can join the Programme

• .Any person interested in farming
• Group of young men and women in the community interested in farming.
• Any institution training farmers.

How to Join the Youth in Agriculture Programme

• Contact any MOFA office at the Regional or District level in Regional and District capitals.
• Contact the National secretariat of the Youth in Agriculture Programme,  MOFA, Accra,
• For block farm participants, you must be in groups with elected leaders.

You  must apply in writing and state your area of interest, location to access to any agricultural productive resource .
Youth in Agriculture Programme

• Tractor services where your land is ploughable
• If your land cannot be ploughed you have to clear it yourself.
• Supply of inputs such as seeds, agro-chemicals, sacks, and facilitate marketing of your produce.
• Technical support from Agric. Extension staff of MOFA.
• Training of farmers free of charge, where the need arises.

The role of the District, Municipal and metropolitan Assemblies

• Supervision
• Assist to acquire land
• Provide land and equipment
• Monitor activities

EXIT STRATEGY
An organization or individual without an exit strategy  may be in a quagmire. At worst, an exit
strategy will save face; at best an exit strategy will peg a withdrawal to the achievement of an objective worth more than the cost of continued involvement.
Any business, be it farming, commerce or e manufacturing needs to grow. In any business’ formative years, a push is needed. This push could be in the form of capital, land or management. In terms of h agriculture, resources such as land, capital and labour s need be expanded or intensified. The Youth in Agriculture Programme is the channel through which the Government of Ghana is giving a push to the youth.
In order to allow the youth to grow in their farming businesses, young farmers participating in the various, components of YIAP need to be weaned off at a point. , However, this will depend on which component or enterprise the young farmer is involved in, because the gestation period of each enterprise varies from the other. The young farmer at that point needs to be, partially independent in terms of taking decisions, acquisition of inputs and marketing of his/her produce.
The YIAP will introduce weaned young farmers to the appropriate service providers and Banks such as Agricultural Development Bank, StanBic Bank, etc.
The details of provision of credit to the farmer will be between the farmer and the bank. The YIAP however will continue to maintain contacts with the farmers in order to draw from their knowledge and experience for new participants in the programme.
Crops/Block farm
Each young farmer will have to be encouraged to open a bank account with the agricultural inclined banks as a first step. A young farmer who is able to continue repaying his/her debts with YIAP will be allowed to continue up to 3 years. After 3 years he has to look for his/her own land, because it is expected that he/she will expand his farm from 2 hectares to 5 hectares and above hectares.

Livestock/Poultry
Each young farmer will be encouraged to open a bank account as a general policy of the programme. Since the production cycle of poultry, rabbits and pigs allow several in a year; a young farmer will be with the programme for 2years. It is expected that at the end of the second year, the farmer would have gained enough knowledge and experience to be on his own. Financially he would have saved some funds to enable him construct a simple animal house.
Aquiculture/ Fisheries
Young farmers will be weaned off after 1 year. The Cost-Benefit analysis show that after two successful production cycles (will make about 50%of working capital invested as income),
young farmers should be able to save to construct their own cages. The banks should be able to provide the farmer with working capital as credit to enable them put into use their cages constructed.
Agribusiness
This component involves training of the youth in processing, marketing and consultancy in various areas of agricultural production. The YIAP will be able to keep participants up to I year. After 1 year, a young participant will be weaned off the programme. To begin, especially for the processors, simple processing equipment would be provided to them on credit basis. For the working capital, weaned young participants would be introduced to the appropriate financial institution.
The YIAP is under the leadership of The National Coordinator, and supported by four (4) Coordinators namely as follows;
1.         National Programme Coordinator                   Alhahi E.A. Mahama
2.         Coordinator, Crops/Block Farm                     Mr. Emmanuel Akuna
3.         Coordinator, Aquaculture/Fisheries                Mr. Francis Gao
4.         Coordinator, Livestock & Poultry                  Mr. Julius Nukpeza
5.         Coordinator, Agribusiness                              Rev. Mrs.Nyvieme Adiapena

Details of activities, financial commitments and plans for this year, 2011 would be made known to you by the National Coordinator, Alhaji Adam Mahama, after you have finally settled.

Program to attract Africa’s youth to agriculture launched in Kenya

An IITA project seeking to entice the educated youth to go into agriculture and agribusiness was established in Makueni County in Kenya, in collaboration with the University of Nairobi and Makueni County Government and officially launched on 10 March.
The Makueni Youth Agripreneurs (MYA) project, based at the University of Nairobi, Kibwezi station, brings together university graduates in the region from diverse backgrounds. They will be trained on modern farming methods, processing of and value addition to agricultural produce, and entrepreneurship. The project will be replicated in other parts of the country to engage more of the youth in agriculture and contribute to reducing the country’s high unemployment rate.
The initiative is part of a larger program called IITA Youth Agripreneurs (IYA), started three years ago in Nigeria by Dr Nteranya  Sanginga, IITA’s Director General. This program aims to tackle the twin challenges of youth unemployment and the need to increase agricultural production to supply food for a rapidly increasing population.

The Makueni project was officially launched at an event at the IITA-Kenya offices at the International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe).by Oscar Musembi Marco, Kibwezi West Sub-County Administrator, on behalf of the Makueni County Governor Prof. Kivutha Kibwana and its Deputy Governor, Hon. Adelina Ndeto Mwau.
Mr Marco lauded the initiative, saying it was much needed in the Makueni County in its current efforts to transform itself and become self-reliant on food. “Through this youth program we are on the right path to transform Makueni County from being food insecure to becoming a breadbasket of the country,” he said, “and change the youth in Makueni from being job seekers to job creators.”
He added that the Makueni County government had set aside Kshs 25 million (US$277,330) to give low interest loans to young people, women, and those with disabilities. He urged the youth to take advantage of this incentive.
Dr Sanginga, who was also at the event, said Makueni County had been selected so the youth could support the Institute’s efforts in providing a solution to  aflatoxins―those deadly chemicals produced by molds which attack maize and other grains―as the area was one of the hotspots for the problem in the country.
“IITA is setting up a factory to produce aflasafe, a biological control solution to aflatoxins. The technology requires sorghum to be used as a carrier. The youth will produce and supply the factory with sorghum,” he said. “They will create employment and, at the same time, produce a great public good for the people of Makueni.”
He further added that the program was a start and would be replicated throughout the country; members of the group would be involved in outreach and the training of other young men and women.
He said that the IYA program had received much support from donor agencies and was well on track to reach its target to spread the program to 20 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
Prof Geoffrey Kironchi from the University of Nairobi, one of the collaborators in the project, said the University had donated part of its 1200 acres of land and greenhouses at its Kibwezi station to MYA to grow vegetables through irrigation as a start-off activity. He added that the project, bringing together those from different backgrounds, could be instrumental in attracting the youth to agriculture.
“Our youth are not attracted to agriculture yet there are a lot of opportunities in the sector. We all have to eat every day. There is also a lot of food wasted and uneven distribution. While some parts of the country have an abundant food supply all year, others are constantly faced with famine and starvation.” 
This was echoed by Prof Nancy Karanja also from the University of Nairobi. She said the University was fully committed to the project and its endeavor to create youth employment. “It’s very disheartening to us as teachers and parents when we find our students loitering around after graduation because there are no jobs,” she said. “And on the other hand as a country, we can only talk of development once we are able to feed ourselves.”
Others at the event were Dr Victor Manyong, IITA Director for Eastern Africa; Dr Bernard Vanlauwe, IITA Director for Central Africa; Dr Kristina Roing De Nowina, MYA Project Manager, representatives of IYA from Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, and Kenya, and representatives from other partner institutions.