The Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA) successfully hosted the World Bank Implementation Support Mission (ISM) for the Food Systems Resilience Program (FSRP) in Eastern and Southern Africa, in Gaborone, Botswana, from 16 to 17 January 2025. The event provided an opportunity to review progress, address challenges, and align strategies to strengthen food systems resilience in the Southern African region.
The mission was officially opened by CCARDESA Executive Director and Head of Mission, Prof. Cliff Sibusiso Dlamini. In his address, Prof. Dlamini acknowledged the World Bank’s unwavering support towards improving agriculture in the SADC region and emphasized CCARDESA’s dedication to the FSRP’s development objectives (PDOs). He affirmed that while the 2025 work plan may look ambitious, it is achievable and strategically aligned with the region’s needs.
“Our planned activities for 2025 are demand-driven and focus on addressing the pressing challenges in the region,” said Prof. Dlamini. Notable initiatives for the year include, among others:
- Establishing a Fertilizer and Soil Health Hub to serve the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region;
- Creating an e-Catalogue for Regional Technologies, Innovations, and Management Practices (TIMPs); • Enhancing SADC-level digital advisory services and completing the regional trade and market scorecard; • Supporting agroecological rezoning within the SADC region; and
- Expanding training programs through innovative delivery methods, such as Scientific Animations Without Borders (SAWBO).
The FSRP is a World Bank funded initiative that seeks to bolster food security and address the impacts of climate change on agriculture. By tackling structural challenges, the program aims to reduce vulnerabilities to climate crises, conflicts, and other shocks while promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
Led by Tim Robertson, FSRP Task Team Leader (TTL) and Senior Agricultural Specialist at the World Bank, the two-day mission also focused on enhancing stakeholder coordination and cross-learning between countries and sub-regions.
Tim Robertson, FSRP Task Team Leader (TTL) and Senior Agricultural Specialist at the World Bank
Tim praised CCARDESA for its leadership and innovative approach to fostering regional collaboration. “CCARDESA has set a gold standard for how to approach learning and engagement within the program,” he stated, highlighting the organization’s pivotal role in building a robust learning ecosystem to support policymakers and ministers across the region.
During the mission, CCARDESA shared updates on its progress in critical areas: Regional Coordination; Information, Communication, and Knowledge Management (ICKM); Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E; Financial Management (FM); Procurement Management (PM); and Environmental and Social Safeguards (ESS).
A key discussion point during the mission was the establishment of the Regional Fertilizer and Soil Health Hub to be coordinated by CCARDESA. The hub will provide technical expertise and resources to address fertilizer and soil health issues across the SADC region. This initiative is expected to play a crucial role in improving agricultural productivity and sustainability.
The World Bank ISM concluded with a renewed commitment to enhancing regional food resilience through collaborative efforts and innovative solutions, positioning CCARDESA as a pivotal player in implementing FSRP objectives.
