President’s Letter to Members

Dear Esteemed Members of the African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE),

Happy New Year and warm greetings to you all as we usher in 2025! It is a pleasure to connect with you as your President as I extend my heartfelt gratitude for your continued support and engagement. Together, we have made remarkable strides since I assumed office in 2023, and I am excited to share our achievements, reflect on our journey, and outline the path forward for AAAE.

Reflections on Progress Since 2023

Over the past two years, we have focused on strengthening our association to serve you better and grow our services across Africa. Below are some of the key milestones:

  1. Membership Growth and Insights:
    1. Our current membership stands at 335 professionals, reflecting AAAE’s growing influence and relevance. However, we also have a significant pool of 890 former members whose memberships have expired. I encourage all inactive members to renew their membership, as your continued support is vital to advancing AAAE’s mission and fostering a thriving agricultural economics community. By renewing your membership, you contribute to the development of policies, knowledge, and solutions that shape the future of agriculture in Africa. Our staff is available to assist you with the renewal process and ensure a smooth experience.
    1. We conducted the AAAE Membership Needs Survey 2024, which revealed your top priorities, including networking opportunities, mentorship programs, research collaboration, and digital engagement. This feedback will shape our strategic direction for 2025 and beyond.
  2. Effective Secretariat Management:
    1. To enhance operational efficiency, we transitioned our Secretariat management to the African Associations Management Company (AFAMCO) under a one-year pilot arrangement. This decision aligns with the practices of leading global sister associations that have successfully adopted similar management models. By partnering with AFAMCO, the board aims to streamline processes and deliver improved services to our members.
  3. Advancing Research Through AfJARE:
    1. Our flagship journal, the African Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics (AfJARE), continues to be a leading platform for disseminating cutting-edge research.
    1. We deliberated on partnering with Emerald Publishing Services but ultimately decided against it due to cost considerations, prioritizing financial sustainability without compromising quality. To address this, the Board has started reaching out to our supporters to source funding for the journal. Publishing with a reputable publisher offers significant advantages, such as an Impact Factor, which would elevate AfJARE’s profile and generate income for the journal. As your President, I am committed to ensuring this goal is achieved during my tenure, enabling AfJARE to join the ranks of elite sector journals and attract more high-quality publications. Recently, we revamped our editorial team, aiming to significantly improve the turnaround time for publishing articles. We are confident this will come to fruition in 2025 and beyond.
  • Enhanced Member Engagement:
    • As per your survey feedback, we plan to introduce regular webinars and virtual events, aligning with your demand for increased digital engagement. We will communicate to you once this plan has been finalized and ask for your support.
    • We also hope to rollout decentralized regional workshops and localized activities to help foster inclusivity and address unique regional challenges. Together with our regional representatives, we will provide guidance on the next steps.

Looking Ahead: 2025 and Beyond

As we chart the course for the future, I am excited to share our focus areas:

  1. 8th African Conference of Agricultural Economists (ACAE):
    • Save the date: September 2026! We are excited to announce that Nairobi, Kenya, will host the 8th African Conference of Agricultural Economists. This flagship event will convene early-career researchers, thought leaders, policymakers, and practitioners to explore transformative solutions for Africa’s agricultural sector. 
    • Details on the exact dates, venue, and Call for Papers (CFP) will be shared in line with our activity timeline. Stay tuned for updates!
  2. Mentorship Program:
    • Many respondents in our survey expressed strong support for the association launching a structured mentorship program to assist early-career professionals. This initiative has proven successful in other sister associations. However, it is a resource-intensive endeavor. If we are able to secure funding for the program, we are committed to moving forward with its implementation.
  3. Financial Sustainability Initiatives:
    • As a board, we are exploring innovative funding mechanisms to maintain affordable annual membership fees while ensuring high-quality services.
    • We also plan to enter into strategic partnerships with like-minded organizations to support our mission and broaden our reach.

Call to Action

As we embark on this exciting journey, I urge each of us to actively participate in AAAE’s activities and initiatives. Whether it’s paying your membership dues, publishing with AfJARE, mentoring a young professional, or attending our events, your involvement is invaluable in shaping the future of our association and the agricultural economics profession in Africa.

The successes we have achieved so far are a reflection of our collective commitment and shared vision. As we move forward, let us continue to work together to make AAAE a beacon of excellence and innovation. I look forward to engaging with you all throughout 2025 and beyond. Thank you for your dedication and support. Together, we will achieve much more.

Wishing you a prosperous year ahead!

Warm regards,

Joshua Ariga, Ph.D.
President: African Association of Agricultural Economists

Email: president@aaae-africa.org