The RUL Platform

Introduction:

To harness RUL and thereby enhance food security and economic development, proper linkage of research and development interventions on RUL are very important. Hence, it is proposed to establish a RUL platform composed of major institutions and representatives of groups associated with RULs (Ministries, urban authorities, research institutions (national and international), NGOs, donors, representatives of private enterprise, and academia). The platform would be co-chaired by MoARD and MoUD at federal level, and GMP will serve as a secretary for the national platform and a focal person for the RUL project from the regional research institutes at the regional level. It was also agreed that the platform will have two major components, i.e., the RUL Platform Steering Committee and the larger stakeholders RUL platform. The steering group will meet regularly and will try to facilitate the RUL process. The larger stakeholders RUL platform will be used to disseminate findings, awareness creation and as a discussion forum. .

Rationale:

The rationales behind establishing the RUL platform are:

1. To systematically tackle better linkage of rural and urban issues, a framework is needed. A RUL platform would be a mechanism to better link development actions and research to specific MDGs in Rural and Urban regions.
2. The platform would function as a vehicle for discussion, information exchange and action to enable institutions and groups work more efficiently on issues that require sectoral and inter-sectoral (territorial) RUL approaches.
3. It will help identify key action areas for RUL including priority issues for research and translation of research findings into development and capacity building actions
4. The RUL platform in this manner can help to integrate efforts of key stakeholders in research and development (dealing on both rural and urban development) for better effects

Tasks of the RUL platform committee:

1. Bring to the table important rural-urban linkage issues that require joint attention.
2. Identify key joint actions and areas where gaps in knowledge, tools or options exist, i.e., support the planning of development and research activities for the RUL initiative.
3. Share responsibility for the translation of research findings into development, policy revision or formulation and capacity building actions
4. Provide forums for dialogue to link research to development activities
5. Harmonize rural and urban development strategies
6. Support resource mobilization for R & D
7. Work on advocacy activities and liaison with policy makers
8. Facilitating stocktaking, (organizations and activities) documentation and formulation of databases
9. Establish ad-hoc working groups as deemed necessary
10. Support the secretariat in organizing at regular intervals larger stakeholders platform for dialogue and dissemination of findings