FANRPAN’s Role in Generating Evidence for Policy Harmonization In the SADC Region by Dr. Lindiwe Majele Sibanda

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.

S ADC 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

Institutional Framework

Studies/Programmes Botswana Lesotho Malawi Mauritius Namibia S. Africa Tanzania Zambia Zimbabwe Angola Biotechnology Policy Issues Profiling SADC Farmer Organisations HIV & AIDS Communication & Networking Fertilizer Trade-Harmonization Maize Marketing Contract Farming BioSafety Strengthening FANRPAN Capacity Seed Trade

Agricultural Policy Harmonisation Project Funded by USAID Objectives: 1.To build a strong network that is better able to respond to the policy analysis and research needs of SADC 2.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 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 SEPTEMBER, 2006 CENTURION, SOUTH AFRICA.

Thank you!