Every year, the key professionals of the Agri-ProFocus network come together for a few days to discuss their progress and challenges. This year’s meeting was unique, as it was directly connected to the One-Stop Shopping event of 28 September and the launch of the new strategic plan.

The Agri-ProFocus Core Group meeting is a gathering of the coordinators of the current eleven Agri-Hubs, the facilitators from the Agri-ProFocus support office in Arnhem, representatives of knowledge institutes in the network and project officers of lead agencies in the Agri-Hub countries. In total 34 people from 11 countries and 9 organisations came to Hotel de Roskam near Arnhem for the meeting of 2012.

Together, the team worked towards implementation plans for the strategy, to share experiences and innovations and to confirm commitment on roles and expectations for the upcoming strategic period.

They presented the network’s achievements at the One-Stop Shopping event, on the day after the meeting. “My expectations are very high”, said Moise Foki Ngomsu, ICCO programme officer in Central Africa and closely involved in the set-up of new Agri-Hubs in Burundi and DR Congo, on the 28th. “I would like to see that most of the people who came can be involved in the joint philosophy of Agri-ProFocus and support the initiatives that have been taken.”

It was agreed that cross-country exchange is very important and should be extended. Agri-ProFocus should build its strong identity as global network with shared values. Promoting entrepreneurship across the boundaries of organisations and country borders: that is what we stand for.

The Core Group Meeting Report will soon be available for download from the ‘Publications’ section of this website.