Temilolu Bamiwuye, and Omobolanle Onilogbo [1]
On April 15, 2024, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), represented by Kwaw Andam (Nigeria National Policies and Strategies Lead and IFPRI-Nigeria Country Program Leader), Hyacinth Edeh (IFPRI-Nigeria Country Program Manager), and Temilolu Bamiwuye (IFPRI-Nigeria Research Analyst), met with Prof. Garba Sharubutu, the Executive Secretary of the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria (ARCN) and his team. The meeting was also attended by representatives from other ARCN departments, including the Plant Resources Department, Planning Research and Statistics, Human Resources, and ICT.
The purpose of the meeting was to present the Food Security Simulator Nigeria (FSSN) and to discuss embedding the FSSN on ARCN’s website. The meeting began with a round of introductions and a welcome address by the Executive Secretary, who emphasized the importance of collaborating with international organizations such as IFPRI.
Kwaw Andam highlighted the previous collaborative efforts between IFPRI and ARCN, including a monitoring and evaluation training session in the past. He reiterated the Executive Secretary's comments on the importance of visibility, stressing the need to widely communicate the role of research and the various works undertaken by both organizations. Kwaw also mentioned the significance of political and donor support, which is crucial for improving agricultural research in the country.
In introducing the tool, Kwaw explained that the Food Security Simulator - Nigeria was launched in Nigeria in October 2023. The tool was developed by IFPRI under the CGIAR National Policies and Strategies Initiative to inform policy actions and assess the potential short-term impacts of food price or household income changes ("shocks") on food consumption, diet quality, and other food security indicators in Nigeria. He also mentioned that the tool had been piloted in Kenya. Hyacinth Edeh added that the tool utilized data from the Nigeria Living Standard Survey 2018-19, conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The demonstration of the tool showcased its ability to analyze the impact of changes in food prices and other shocks on poverty levels, undernourishment, and dietary diversity. The presentation and demonstration sparked significant interest from the ARCN members regarding the tool's usage and functionality.
The meeting participants discussed the need for a feedback mechanism to be included on the website, allowing users to provide comments and feedback on the tool. The Executive Secretary emphasized the importance of ARCN staff gaining proficiency in utilizing the tool, as it can be a valuable resource for budget planning and policymaking.
Regarding the next steps, the Executive Secretary noted that the ARCN website is currently undergoing restructuring and will incorporate the FSSN tool once completed. He also highlighted the importance of training researchers on the use of the Food Security Simulator - Nigeria tool after the link is hosted on the website.
[1] Authors are listed.
