For four days, the Malagasy, Mauritian, Seychelles and Reunionese* delegations met in Saint Pierre to work on several strategic projects for the future of the network, namely:

• the internal functioning and the regional dynamics of the network
• the construction of the future strategic plan 2021-2026
• the reflection on setting up future Qualireg projects

We also took the opportunity to take stock of the Interreg-V Qualinnov 2 project.

Qualinnov 2 : mid-term review 

The first morning was dedicated to the progress of the actions included in the Interreg-V Qualinnov 2 project, which concern several participants. It was the opportunity to discuss the progress of the activities, the difficulties encountered and the elements to be monitored. The project is moving forward but not in a very homogeneous way; some activities are almost completed while others have not started yet. 

The internal functioning and the regional dynamics of the network 

During this day, we discussed the update of the network members. Following the survey sent to the 60 members organizations in August 2018, only 28 institutions renewed their membership of the network. Further work of updating and prospecting new members will therefore be necessary in the coming months.

We also focused on the future changes within the QualiREG teams (Coordination and National Focal Points). It was decided that in the future only one National Focal Point (NFP) would be identified per country, with one deputy, including for Reunion. It was reminded that in the coming months, Mathieu Weil, Sarah Detournay and Camille Matwijiw will leave the coordination team of the network. They will be replaced by Claire Cerdan, Christian Soria and Jean-Christophe Meile. Welcome to them !

Towards a new strategic plan

Among the objectives of the seminar, we wanted to lay the groundwork for the new 2021-2026 strategic plan; a large-scale and crucial project in order to define the priorities and orientations of the network as well as the actions to be taken to achieve this. Thus, QualiREG aims to draft a new five-year strategic plan by the end of 2020.

An ex-post evaluation of the 2015-2020 strategic plan was carried out in the margins of the Committee and the results were presented during a round table. Based on these lessons and discussions, and in a co-construction approach, a working group will be responsible for drafting a document which will then be submitted for comment, and validation, to the network members.

Target for 2021: to diversify the project portfolio of the network

It is essential for the QualiREG network to expand and diversify its project portfolio involving one or more of its members. With its capacity to create synergies in order to meet the needs of agri-food actors in the Indian Ocean, the network set itself the ambition to support the development of several inter-island and multidisciplinary projects on the topics of functional nutraceuticals, mycotoxins, support for export channels in the Comoros or to give a follow-up to Qualinnov 2 project.

Three work sessions were devoted to project engineering. A first theoretical session on financing opportunities in the Indian Ocean, the project cycle and the development of a concept note, followed by two practical sessions dedicated to the selection of three projects and the first drafts of concept notes. The identification and formulation work with the partners and the search for funding will continue in the coming months in order to lead to accepted projects.

Visit of the Domaine du Café Grillé

On Wednesday 22d of May, it was time for a relaxing and discovery afternoon with the guided tour of the Domaine du Café Grillé. The opportunity for partners to immerse themselves in the history of Reunion from yesterday and today through the history of Bourbon coffee, which was the first major crop on the island, and the visit of a Creole botanical garden rich in exotic and endemic species.

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* Michel Rakotoharinome (DSV – Madagascar)
Francis Rakotondravony (LSP – Madagascar)
Jacqueline Rakotoarisoa (Fofifa – Madagascar)
Theeshan Bahorun (CBBR – Maurice)
Shalini A. Neeliah (FTL – Maurice)
Tessa Belle (NISTI – Seychelles)
Manfred Laporte (NISTI – Seychelles)
Cyrielle Garcia (Université de la Réunion)
Philippe Laurent (Université de la Réunion)
Claire Cerdan (Cirad – Réunion)
Christian Soria (Cirad – Réunion)
Mathieu Weil (Cirad – Réunion)
Vincent Poprhyre (Cirad – Réunion)
Sarah Detournay (Cirad – Réunion)
Camille Matwijiw (Cirad – Réunion)
Christelle Monier (Cirad Réunion)
The representatives from the Comoros were unfortunately unable to attend the seminar.