Conclusions of the Workshop on Institutional Reform and Governance Modernization in the Agricultural Sector

🔹 Executive Summary

The workshop produced eight key reform areas to modernize agricultural governance:

1. Reorganization of interprofessional offices through auditing, harmonization, and performance contracts.
2. Clarification of mandates between the Ministry and its subordinate institutions.
3. Strengthening decentralization to bring services closer to farmers.
4. Digitalization and simplification of administrative procedures.
5. Improved coordination and digital interconnection among offices.
6. Evolution of the governance model with broader participation from stakeholders and Saharan regions.
7. Strengthened structuring of agricultural service directorates.
8. Transformation of technical institutes into centers of expertise and innovation.

The Minister’s closing remarks emphasized collective intelligence, policy overhaul, technology and knowledge-driven management, innovative financing mechanisms, enhanced research and production, and the pivotal role of digitalization.

🙏 Opening Acknowledgements

• Tribute to Minister of Agriculture Yassin Ouali for his leadership and organization.
• Gratitude to moderators and coordinators Mr. Hartani, Mr. Bazrak, and Ms. Louksser.
• Appreciation to all participants and experts for their valuable contributions.

🏛 Reorganization of Interprofessional Offices

• Conduct a comprehensive audit to identify shortcomings.
• Review distribution of prerogatives to avoid duplication.
• Harmonize human and financial resources across entities.
• Establish performance contracts between the central administration and the offices.

🔄 Clarifying Mandates Between the Ministry and Its Agencies

• Redefine the Ministry’s role in control, regulation, legislation, and evaluation.
• Refocus subordinate structures on fieldwork and proximity actions.
• Revise the regulatory framework governing Chambers of Agriculture.
• Consider merging certain technical institutes to optimize efficiency.

📍 Decentralization and Local Service Delivery

• Review the organization of regional directorates and sub-offices.
• Introduce a specific status for the communal agricultural delegate.
• Establish specialized communal delegations.

💻 Digitalization and Administrative Simplification

• Carry out an exhaustive inventory of administrative procedures to eliminate redundancies.
• Develop a fully digital public agricultural services platform.
• Explore the creation of a one-stop digital service window for all procedures.

🤝 Coordination Among Interprofessional Offices

• Strengthen the coordination role within their statutes.
• Digitally interconnect their platforms to facilitate data exchange.

🌐 Governance Model and Representation

• Expand representation of technical institutes in the new provinces (wilayas).
• Strengthen the Technical Institute for Saharan Agricultural Development.
• Consolidate the participatory approach by involving all value chain stakeholders.

🏢 Restructuring Agricultural Service Directorates

• Empower and equip heads of services with stronger means and authority.
• Expand staff teams to improve operational effectiveness.

💡 Transforming Technical Institutes into Centers of Expertise and Innovation

• Revitalize research units by addressing financial and HR constraints.
• Adopt open innovation to involve external actors and move beyond traditional in-house R&D models.

🎙 Minister’s Closing Address

• Emphasis on collective social intelligence and the need for open dialogue spaces.
• Distinction between sectoral goals (field outcomes) and ministerial responsibilities (policy formulation).
• Call for revisiting post-independence mechanisms to build a more pragmatic agricultural model.
• Announcement of the National Food Security Council to promote research and university innovation.
• Stress on digitalization for data-driven decision-making and rational resource management.
• Advocacy for new financing mechanisms (venture capital, alternative instruments).
• Focus on land management modernization and digitalization of property systems.
• Highlight the importance of genetic improvement research and a productive Saharan agriculture.
• Acknowledgement of experts, international organizations, and the Algerian diaspora for their valuable input.

🧭 Key Conclusions

1. Launch audits and performance contracts for interprofessional offices.
2. Clearly redefine the roles of the Ministry and its subordinate institutions.
3. Expand decentralization and strengthen local agricultural services.
4. Implement large-scale digitalization and administrative simplification.
5. Enhance institutional coordination and digital interconnectivity.
6. Move toward a participatory, inclusive model adapted to Saharan regions.
7. Reinforce agricultural service directorates both structurally and in human resources.
8. Transform technical institutes into open, innovation-driven centers of expertise.