CCARDESA Facilitates a writeshop for Scientists from Angola and Lesotho to develop R&D Proposals

The Center for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA) is facilitating a writeshop for Principal Investigators (PI) who developed successful Concept Notes (CNs) from the last call for proposals under the Agricultural Productivity Programme for Southern Africa (APPSA). From this writeshop, which is scheduled to run from the 1st to the 5th of August 2022 in Johannesburg, South Africa, Scientists from Angola and Lesotho are aiming to finalise the development of 27 collaborative project proposals.

Research & Development (R&D) Sub-projects are a key element in achieving the APPSA Project Development Objective (PDO), which is to increase availability of improved agricultural technologies in participating countries in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region. Currently, a total of 18 R&D Sub-projects led by scientists from Angola and Lesotho are implemented in the two countries. Commissioning of new proposals will add on the list of on-going R&D subprojects. Both implementing countries agree that this writeshop is also an opportunity to ensure that approved proposals are commissioned and start implementation before the end of the current calendar year.

APPSA is a World Bank funded initiative currently implemented by Angola and Lesotho and regionally coordination by CCARDESA. Under APPSA, Angola is establishing a Regional Center of Leadership (RCoL) on cassava and cassava-based farming systems whereas Lesotho is focusing on horticulture and horticulture-based farming systems. From 2013 to 2019, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia successfully established RCoLs on maize, rice and food legumes, respectively.