Describing the 2011-2020 strategic plan of the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice) to boost the rice sector in Africa as “evidenced-based and therefore very solid and powerful,” the new Director General of AfricaRice Dr Harold Roy-Macauley urged AfricaRice staff “to be adventurous and ingenious in the way we roll out our rice science.”
He stated that although AfricaRice’s mandate covers the rice sector in Africa, it is global in its approach, because of the growing importance and opportunities of the African rice sector in the global rice market. “Rice is global and it is big business,” said Dr Roy-Macauley. “It is the white gold of the future. We at AfricaRice should consider ourselves fortunate to be in big business already.”
Dr Roy-Macauley made these remarks in his first speech to the AfricaRice staff during the handover ceremony on 12 March 2015 at AfricaRice temporary headquarters in Cotonou, Benin, in which the Interim Director General Dr Adama Traoré handed over office to him.
Dr Roy-Macauley, a Sierra Leonean national, was appointed as the new Director General of AfricaRice at an Extraordinary Session of the Council of Ministers of AfricaRice held on 6 February 2015, in Kampala, Uganda.
After thanking Dr Traoré for ably steering the Center during the interim period, Dr Roy-Macauley outlined his first priorities that include the following:
• Rendering partnerships more efficient around rice science and sector development
• Strengthening capacity for rice science and sector development
• Improving access of small-holders rice producers to markets
• Reintegrating rice science in the policy agenda of countries
• Increasing investments in rice science and sector development
To realize his vision for AfricaRice, he highlighted the need for AfricaRice Management and staff to focus on the implementation of four main pillars:
1. “Consolidation, which implies consolidating existing scientific and development activities to respond directly to the weaknesses observed in the rice value chain with special focus on integrating functional Innovation platforms (IPs) in rice value chain in the rice hubs and striking a better balance between varietal development and dissemination and agronomy.
2. Efficiency/Efficacy, which implies improving the following key systems – monitoring, evaluation and learning; data and information collection and analysis; knowledge management; information and communication; cooperate services and quality delivery; and governance policies, leading to increased credibility of AfricaRice, the interest of development partners including the private sector and their investments and the sustainable funding of AfricaRice’s activities.
3. Punctuality, which implies anticipating consequences (proactivity and rapidity), having great consideration of our clients, inspiring confidence in staff, and being polite, which will lead to improved client relationship and the reputation of AfricaRice Management.
4. Excellence, which implies being very progressive, having a sense of responsibility and a spirit of openness, and recognizing diversity, merits and talents, which will lead to improved work environment.”
Listen to AfricaRice Director General Dr Harold Roy-Macauley’s maiden address.
Dr Dominique Kohli, Assistant Director of the Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG), Switzerland presenting at the 10th AfricaRice NEC meeting and GRA workshop
Dr Roger Kanton, Principal Research Scientist, Savanna Agricultural Research Institute, CSIR-SARI, Ghana presenting at the 10th AfricaRice NEC meeting and GRA workshop
Dr Kazuyuki Yagi, National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences (NIAES), NARO, Japan presenting at the 10th AfricaRice NEC meeting and GRA workshop
Dr Sylvie Lewicki, CIRAD Regional Director, Dakar, Senegal presenting at the 10th AfricaRice NEC meeting and GRA workshop
Dr Philippe Lecomte, CIRAD Livestock Scientist, Dakar, Senegal presenting at the 10th AfricaRice NEC meeting and GRA workshop
AfricaRice Director of Strategic Partnerships Dr. Samuel Bruce-Oliver moderating parallel session during the 7th African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF2017), 7 September, Abidjan
AfricaRice DG Dr. Harold-Roy Macauley speaks at the IDRC Side Event, 7th African Green Revolution Forum (AGRF2017), 4 September, Abidjan
Mrs Rebecca Khelseau-Carsky speaking at the 2017 AfricaRice Dr Robert Carsky Award ceremony
2017 AfricaRice Dr Robert Carsky Award : Dr Samuel Bruce-Oliver announcing the winner in the GSS category
2017 AfricaRice Dr Robert Carsky Award : Dr Etienne Duveiller announcing the winner in the IRS category
Séquence « institutionnelle » , par Dr. Patrice GRIMAUD, Directeur Régional du Cirad
Séquence « Recherche » ,par Dr. Jonne RODENBURG, Agronome, AfricaRice
Presentation by Dr Sidi Sanyang at "Scientific and Technical Partnerships in Africa" meeting
Opening remarks by Mr Kouakou Apporture at "Scientific and Technical Partnerships in Africa" meeting
Welcome remarks by Dr Harold Roy-Macauley at "Scientific and Technical Partnerships in Africa" meeting
African women in Rice Science advocate "Be Bold for Change"!
African women in Rice Science advocate "Be Bold for Change"!
AfricaRice Director General Dr Harold Roy-Macauley making concluding remarks
AfricaRice Director of Corporate Services Mr Koen Geerts making concluding remarks
AfricaRice Deputy Director General Dr Etienne Duveiller making concluding remarks
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