During 2007, ICRAF established the Naturally African Platform as a 'pan-African platform to develop the science, cultivation and trade of tree and other natural products' - as a first step toward bringing together the stakeholders of the African plant-based natural products sector on key issues of product development and commercialization.

Currently, ICRAF is working towards the consolidation of stakeholder inteests towrd establishing a fully regional platform and global community of practice of African natural products, to be based at the ICRAF global headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

From 18-19 May 2009, with funding from Irish Aid, ICRAF facilitated a consultative workshop drawing together producers, practitioners, researchers, government agencies, donors and other stakeholders of the natural products sector on eastern Africa, in order to take the first steps toward establishment of a formal network or coummunity of practice as a pltform for the exchange of key technical and market information for a variety of product categories and specific products over time.

During the remainder of 2009, the NaturallyAfrican platform will constitute technical committees with a mandate to establish a science-based and demand-driven program for natural products development at the regional level across sub-Saharan Africa.