A Public Consultation on BIFAD's Plans to Propose a Subcommittee on Minority Serving Institution Engagement and Leadership in USAID's Agricultural, Food Security, and Nutrition Programming

Wednesday, June 28, 2023

1:30pm - 3:30pm ET

This public meeting will provide a forum for the Board for International Food and Agricultural Development (BIFAD) to share plans for a proposed BIFAD Subcommittee on MSI Engagement and Leadership. It will assemble expert panelists and invite stakeholders to provide input on the Subcommittee's objectives and membership.

BIFAD plans to propose establishing a Subcommittee on MSI Engagement and Leadership in USAID's Agricultural, Food Security, and Nutrition Programming this year. The proposed Subcommittee has the following overarching objectives:

• Inform recommendations to strengthen partnerships with MSIs as thought leaders and implementing partners in USAID's agriculture, food security, and nutrition policies and programming.
• Create a platform for direct dialogue.
• Strengthen BIFAD's collaboration with MSIs.
• Identify opportunities for USAID to engage with higher education communities, particularly MSIs and underrepresented groups, to develop a diverse pipeline of future professionals in global food security, nutrition, and agricultural development.

The establishment of this Subcommittee is grounded in the recent Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities through the Federal Government, and USAID's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy.

At the meeting, expert panelists will provide perspective on opportunities and challenges for USAID engagement and collaboration with MSIs in agriculture, food security, and nutrition programming. Members of the MSI community, underrepresented groups in academia, and other stakeholders may discuss and share feedback on the draft objectives and membership plans for the BIFAD Subcommittee during a public comment period.

Prior to the meeting, BIFAD and USAID will post a draft of the Subcommittee's Terms of Reference (TOR) outlining the objectives, authorities, membership plan, and member roles. The draft will be available at www.usaid.gov/BIFAD on June 14. Members of the public are invited to share written comments, evidence, or materials via e-mail between June 14 and July 12, 2023. Interested persons may e-mail Clara Cohen, Designated Federal Officer for BIFAD in the Bureau for Resilience and Food Security at USAID, at ccohen@usaid.gov (Subject: Comment on the proposed BIFAD Subcommittee on MSI Engagement). All public comments will be included in the public record and considered in BIFAD's finalization of Subcommittee plans.

Questions about this public meeting?