South Africa Country Board Launch
The inaugural meeting of the Africa Harvest South Africa Country Board (S.ACB) convened on August 2, 2024, in Johannesburg, South Africa. The agenda focused on aligning Africa Harvest’s mission with the opportunities in South Africa. The Chairperson of S.ACB, Her Excellency Ambassador Prudence Mocumi chaired the meeting and facilitated introductions, establishing a conducive environment for a productive session. Board members in attendance were Loyiso Jiya, Luleka Mbete, Maanday Bambeni, Pamela Bukashe, Jimmy Thompson, Nancy Socamangashe, Maavhungu Azwifarwi Philemon (Farwi), and Dr. Florence Wambugu – Chief Executive Officer of Africa Harvest Biotech Foundation International, and other key collaborators.
Dr. Wambugu delivered a presentation that outlined Africa Harvest’s mission and ongoing initiatives, highlighting the foundation’s significant achievements. She introduced the S.ACB Charter, underlining its importance in synchronizing South Africa’s initiatives with Africa Harvest’s overarching objectives. The meeting’s highlight was the official launch of the S.ACB which featured brief speeches, a ceremonial ribbon-cutting, and a group photograph.
The afternoon session featured an interactive discussion regarding potential project areas in South Africa. The conversation focused on critical subjects such as climate change, environmental sustainability, youth employment initiatives, market linkages, and capacity building. A notable opportunity identified was the sorghum value chain project currently underway in the Eastern Cape, which already involves 1,500 farmers. Collaborators such as Tiger Brands and South African Breweries were mentioned as potential partners for purchasing produce from local farmers.
Key deliberations included the potential for Africa Harvest to implement youth-led agriculture projects and suggestions for securing funding from the Ministry of Agriculture. The Board also agreed to use Africa Harvest’s ongoing DTCs 4 Youth Jobs Creation project in Kenya as a model for similar initiatives in South Africa.
This meeting represented a significant advancement for Africa Harvest in its mission to leverage agricultural initiatives for sustainable development within South Africa. The S.ACB has committed to actionable objectives that align with the country’s pressing needs, thereby ensuring a positive impact on youth employment and rural development in the forthcoming years.
