EStà as panelist on Collaborative Governance, in Brussels

Strengthening sustainable urban food systems through close collaboration between Africa and Europe

During the AU–EU Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) week, the CEA-FIRST and AfriFOODlinks projects co-organized a one-day event in Brussels dedicated to exploring how cooperation between the African Union and the European Union can strengthen evidence-based public policies. The meeting represented a key moment in consolidating the joint commitment of the AU and EU to food security, sustainable agriculture, and the transition to a new FNSSA Roadmap (2027–2036).

AfriFOODlinks Policy Dialogue

In this session, Bianca Minotti PhD, member of EStà, presented the methodological approach of EStà’s Living Labs as spaces for innovation and co-creation oriented towards public policies. The aim is to promote open innovation in the policy domain, based on the assumption that complex social challenges require collaborative, systemic, and context-sensitive responses. In this sense, rather than a tool, EStà’s methodology is a process of collaboration and co-creation: by promoting the sharing of languages, the construction of common ownership, and the activation of collective intelligence, EStà’s Living Labs act as catalysts for long-term alliances and systemic change.

The debate then focused on urban innovation, highlighting how African research (driven by local contexts and co-creation processes such as Living Labs and multi-stakeholder platforms) can foster the transformation of local food systems.

Stakeholder Co-Creation for the IRC FWG Strategy and Operational Plan

It brought together members of the International Research Consortium (IRC), AU–EU policy makers, and funders to validate and refine the Strategy and Operational Plan of the Functional Working Groups (FWG). The strategic discussion ensured that the IRC responded to stakeholder needs, aligned with the priorities of Agenda 2063, the European Green Deal, the CAADP Kampala Strategy, STISA 2034, and the SDGs, and secured concrete commitments for the pilot phase under the CEA-FIRST project.

2° CEA-FIRST Policy Forum

The day ended with a high-level exchange between research and policy-making, aimed at improving coordination, visibility, and impact of investments in AU–EU collaboration on FNSSA. Through panels and open discussions, the Forum explored opportunities to reduce fragmentation, improve funding coordination, and strengthen the IRC as a sustainable platform for food system transformation.

The three sessions demonstrated the depth and breadth of AU–EU cooperation: from the definition of strategic governance to urban innovation and the integration of research and public policy. Together, they reaffirmed the shared vision of Africa and Europe for long-term cooperation in research and innovation (R&I), based on mutual benefits and a commitment to more equitable and resilient food systems.