The Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA) is hosting a regional joint planning workshop for the Agricultural Productivity Programme for Southern Africa (APPSA) with Angola and Lesotho, from the 29th of November to the 3rd of December, in Johannesburg, South Africa. The workshop, which is also aimed at facilitating the adoption of a result-based planning approach, includes participants from the APPSA first Phase countries, namely Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia.
This workshop follows the recommendations of the recent World Bank Implementation Support Mission (ISM) which underlined the need for the first Phase countries to be involved in the planning and subsequent implementation of the APPSA Annual Work Plan and Budget. Worth noting – Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia have been part of the ISM including the recent one convened from 15th to 19th November 2021.
“The participation of the original APPSA countries in the review and planning workshop is very instrumental as they have gone through most of what we are currently pursuing, and as such they have relevant experience and/or wisdom to share with the rest of us”, said Dr Majola Mabuza, APPSA Regional Coordinator during his opening remarks.
APPSA is a six-year regional World Bank funded initiative based on collaboration between two or more countries. A regional review and planning is pivotal for a harmonized implementation of project activities. APPSA Project Development Objective (PDO) is to increase the availability of improved agricultural technologies in participating countries in the SADC region. The PDO is assessed through specific indicators and targets based on the regional Results Framework. Some of the PDO indicators are as follows: (i) Number of technologies that are being made available to farmers and other end users; (ii) Percentage of Lead Farmers in targeted areas who are aware and adopt an improved technology promoted by the Project; (iii) Number of technologies generated or promoted by the Project in one participating country that are released in another participating country; (iv) Direct Project beneficiaries (number) of which female (percentage); and (v) Farmers reached with agricultural assets or services.
Besides the review and planning meeting, on Wednesday, the 1st of December, the workshop will focus on policy harmonization and strategic partnerships. Thursday, the 2nd of December, will be dedicated to review and endorsement of R&D concept notes and, finally on Friday there will be thematic discussions by M&E and Communication Working groups.
