Implementation
and Coordination of Agricultural Research and Training (ICART)
Institutional support to SADC FANR to
enhance regional capacity to coordinate
agricultural
research and training:
Situation Analysis of
Agricultural Research and Training in the Region
A situation
analysis of Agricultural Research and Training in the SADC region was
initiated
bu the ICART project in 2006. The process started with a Desk Study of
research
and training institutions in the SADC region in July-October 2006. A
second
phase of the situation analysis took place in January-February 2007.
Each Member State was visited by one of
four
consultants during that short period in order to gather additional
information
from the Member State. The time allocated to
the
consultants was short, but it enabled a rapid assessment of the
situation
across the region.
The third
phase of the process involved national consultants, working under the
supervision of the ICART National Focal Point carried out more detailed
data
collection and analysis in each Member State (12 countries completed
Phase
3
studies). National workshops were carried out in each of the countries
with
representation of the stakeholders of the NARS. The final reports from the Member States
were
then
sent to the ICART PCU.
Phase 4 of
the Situation Analysis consisted of two consultants, as well as staff
at the
FANR Directorate, preparing a synthesis report on the status of the
NARS in the
SADC region, based on the reports of the national consultants, policy
documents
from the Member States and other reports of related projects in the
Agricultural R&D Unit of the FANR Directorate. The preliminary
findings of the synthesis reporting phase were discussed at a workshop
with the FANR
and the ICART
National Focal Points and a Regional
Synthesis Report of the situation analysis of the NARS in the SADC
region was produced. In addition
to the assessment of the NARS, the consultants also prepared a draft
strategy
for support to regional networks in the region by the FANR Directorate,
part of
which could be implemented through the ICART project.
The
information gathered through the situation analysis will also
contribute to
the
information exchange platform on Agricultural Research and Training in
the
region.
Meetings to support
coordination of AR&D in the region
In addition ot its biennial Assembly of Stakeholders (2006, 2008),
the ICART Project has facilitated the organisation and holding of
Meetings of Directors of
Agricultural Research and Agricultural Extension (2007, 2008), Meetings of
Deans of Faculties of Agriculture (2007, 2009),
Meetings of Managers of
Agricultural Information (2007,
2008), and those specifically dealing with AR&D information (2008, 2009a &
2009b).
Capacity Building of Stakeholders
Capacity building
workshops have been held on Agricultural Information Management,
Monitoring and Evaluation of Research Projects, Proposal Writing and
Networkng.
Linkages with other sub-regional and
regional projects on AR&D
The ICART Project has also established working relationships with, and
contributed to other programmes in the SADC region, such as the
Multi-country Agricultural Productivity Programme (MAPP), SCARDA,
DONATA, RAILS, as well as contributed to the establishment of the
FANR's Agricultural Information Management System (AIMS)
|
Southern African Development
Community
