On March 18–19, 2025, the 5th partnership meeting of the SUSTLIVES project was held at CIHEAM Bari, Italy. The initiative is supported by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS). The meeting brought together representatives from the project’s eight partners—based in Burkina Faso, Niger, Finland, and Italy—with the aim of reviewing the progress made during the first half of the fourth year (August 2024 – January 2025), monitoring administrative and financial management, discussing a no-cost extension, and planning for the final phase (March – December 2025).
The meeting, organized and coordinated by CIHEAM Bari and the AICS Office in Ouagadougou, gathered nearly 30 scientific and administrative representatives from the University Joseph Ki-Zerbo of Ouagadougou, the Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT, the National Research Council of Italy (CNR, Bari and Avellino branches), the LUKE – Natural Resources Institute of Finland, Roma Tre University, and the NGO Afrique Verte, along with representatives from AICS Niger and the AICS headquarters.
A Living Laboratory for Research and International Cooperation
As the project enters its final year, the priorities highlighted during the meeting included administrative and financial monitoring, strengthening research and training activities, and maximizing the territorial impact of the project’s actions. With the expected results nearing completion, significant attention was also devoted to visibility and dissemination of outcomes.
Professor Jacques Nanema, from the University Joseph Ki-Zerbo, emphasized that SUSTLIVES represents a school of North-South and South-South cooperation, an initiative that promotes scientific research and training for the next generation on Neglected and Underutilized Species (NUS). These agricultural resources, still underexploited, hold significant potential for food security and the livelihoods of rural communities.
Professor Lawali Dambo, from Abdou Moumouni University, highlighted the innovative nature of the experimental NUS site, which enabled researchers to collaborate directly with farmers and other value chain actors, encouraging a continuous exchange between scientific research and field application.
AICS Ouagadougou’s Commitment to Sustainability and Agrobiodiversity
In her remarks, Laura Bonaiuti, Director of the AICS Office in Ouagadougou, reaffirmed the importance of completing the activity plan strategically, making the most of available resources to optimize the project’s impact and ensure its sustainability. By addressing key themes for Italian Cooperation—such as agroecology, food security, and agricultural value chain development—SUSTLIVES has proven to be a living laboratory, where science and traditional knowledge come together to generate new insights and lay the groundwork for future initiatives aimed at strengthening agri-food systems in the Sahel region.