170 likes | 183 Views
This article discusses FANRPAN's involvement in generating evidence for policy harmonization in the SADC region, focusing on the challenges and targets of the harmonization process. It also highlights FANRPAN's corporate identity and success stories in capacity building and partnerships.
E N D
FANRPAN’s Role in Generating Evidence for Policy Harmonization In the SADC Region by Dr. Lindiwe Majele Sibanda lmsibanda@fanrpan.org www.fanrpan.org
FOCUS ON SOUTHERN AFRICA (SADC) • SADC region: 14 Member states, 228 million people • The Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (FANR) sector drives economic development contributes 35% to GDP employs over 70% • Vastly Disparate levels of economic and policy development. • Region faces food insecurity challenges. • Agricultural investments by governments have remained low.
SADC HARMONIZATION TARGETS • 2008 Free Trade Area • 2010 Customs Union • 2015 Common Market-allowing unrestricted cross boarder movement of labour and capital
SADC Harmonization Processes • SADC Treaty-July 1992 in 9 areas • 22 Protocols-signed include trade • 3 MOUs signed on: i) Macroeconomic convergence, ii) coop on taxes, iii)stds, quality assurance, accreditation • 2 Charters -Tourism, social human rights • 6 Declarations
Establishment of FANRPAN • SADC Ministers of Agriculture recommended the formation of FANRPAN in 1994 to: • Promote appropriate agricultural policies at national and regional level in order • to reduce poverty • Increase food security and • Promote sustainable agricultural development
FANRPAN’s Corporate Identity • A multi-country FANR policy research and advocacy network • A multi-stakeholder FANR policy dialogue platform • A multi-partner network of agricultural institutions
FANRPAN’s Corporate Identity • An autonomous regional FANR policy outfit • A knowledge management and information exchange network • Recognized by governments, universities, private sector and civil society as a source of expert FANR policy research and analysis
Global Policy Bodies eg UN Agencies, WTO AU & Nepad SADC Secretariat FANRPAN Secretariat Country Institution Institutional Framework
Strengthening FANRPAN Capacity Biotechnology Policy Issues Profiling SADC Farmer Organisations Communication & Networking HIV & AIDS Seed Trade Fertilizer Trade-Harmonization Maize Marketing Contract Farming BioSafety Studies/Programmes Botswana Zimbabwe Tanzania Mauritius S. Africa Namibia Lesotho Angola Malawi Zambia
Agricultural Policy Harmonisation Project 2005- • Funded by USAID • Objectives: • To build a strong network that is better able to respond to the policy analysis and research needs of SADC • To strengthen the capacity of country level policy nodes to conduct policy dialogue and research
Harmonisation of Regional Policies • Seed trade • Fertilizer trade • HIV & AIDS policies • Biosafety
FANRPAN Success Story • Relocation of the regional secretariat office from Harare to Pretoria July 2005. • FANRPAN gets Diplomatic Status - Host agreement with SA govt signed on 8 March, 2006 • New Partnerships with Private Sector - MOU with Crop-Life International; SACAU – a regional Farmer Organisation • New Partnerships with RECs - MOU with the SADC, COMESA, FARA and NEPAD • New joint initiative between ARC of South Africa and FANRPAN - endorsed by NEPAD. • New Partnerships with CGIAR Centers – MOU with IWMI, a regional core research team (ICRISAT, ISU, SADC-SSN, Michigan State university) to guide the FANRPAN agricultural inputs trade studies.
Success Stories (cont’d) • Transfer of node coordination responsibilities from University to CSOs in Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa. • Identification of two and five-year targets aimed at strengthening the various areas of FANRPAN’s capacity. • Documentation of governance and board rules and procedures, human resources policies and procedures and communication procedures. • An increased appreciation of the importance and needs of FANRPAN by its development partners – 108 key partners attended 2005 high level regional policy dialogue • 8 policy studies commissioned in partnership with international organisations: IWMI, ICRISAT, MSU, IFPRI.
Success story (cont’d) • 30 Publications: policy briefs, newsletters, study reports (Contract Farming, PVP, HIV and AIDS, Biosafety); • Stakeholder policy dialogues/ engagements – 5 regional - Maize, Biosafety, HIV and AIDS, Inputs Trade, Contract Farming; • 18 National dialogues in three countries: Zambia, Malawi, Mauritius • On-Coming Dialogue events: Angola 19 June, Mozambique-23 June, Malawi 27 June, RSA – July; • New Website launched May 2006; www/fanrpan.org
Way Forward • Revised strategic plan and institutional positioning • Focus on few long term policy programmes: • FANR INPUTS -seeds, fertilizer, • Biosafety • HIV and AIDS • Strengthen Institutional Capacity for policy research and advocacy at national level
INVITATION • FANRPAN-ANNUAL HIGH LEVEL POLICY DIALOGUE • 12-14 SEPTEMBER, 2006 • CENTURION, SOUTH AFRICA.