Food, Agriculture and Natural
Resources Policy Analysis Network
for Southern Africa (FANRPAN)
Contact details: Dr Lindiwe Majele Sibanda
P. O Box 2765
Causeway
Harare
ZIMBABWE
Telephone 263 4 792348/50
Fax 263 4 792409
Email: linds@ecoweb.co.zw;policy@fanrpan.org
FANRPAN Mission
WHAT: To coordinate, influence and facilitate
policy research, analysis and dialogue at the
national and regional levels
WHY in order to develop the food, agriculture
and natural resources sector through networking,
capacity building and generation of information
for the benefit of all stakeholders in the SADC
region
Why FANRPAN?
1994, recommendation to the SADC Ministers of
Agriculture on key prime movers for achieving
agricultural growth:
• empowerment of smallholder farmers through
training and creation of producer associations;
• greater involvement of private sector actors;
• creation of policy analysis networks.
Composition of FANRPAN
• An autonomous regional stakeholder driven
policy research, analysis, implementation and
advocacy network established in May 2001.
• Designed to ensure that policy makers have
continual access to well researched and analysed
policy advice both at the national and regional
level.
• Maintains close link with SADC secretariat,
donors and other collaborators working in the
region.
• Network operates country nodes in 11 of the 14
SADC countries.
Member Countries
Botswana,
Mauritius,
South Africa,
Zambia,
Lesotho,
Malawi
Mozambique, Namibia
Swaziland, Tanzania
Zimbabwe.
FANRPAN Network Structure
FANRPAN BOARD OF
GOVERNORS
Coordinator –
Communications and
Policy Advocacy
Coordinator –
Policy Research
Technical Advisory
Committees
ADMIN UNIT
Country Nodes Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe,
Tanzania, Mauritius, Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Swaziland,
Lesotho,
• Node Coordinator
•Farmer Representative
•Private Sector Representative
•Government Policy Maker
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Objectives of FANRPAN
 Promote appropriate agricultural policies in order to reduce
poverty, increase food security and enhance sustainable
agricultural development in the SADC region;
 Improve policy analysis, research and formulating of
priority SADC themes;
 Develop human and institutional capacity for coordinated
dialogue among all stakeholders;
 Establish contacts with similar networks and other research
collaborators
 Collect, store and exchange information and liase with
target groups in order to facilitate broad participation of
stakeholders (public, private, NGO, civil society) in policy
issues
Thematic Policy Research
Major themes:
• Productivity growth and Technology Development
for Crops and Livestock e.g studies on GMO, seed
fertiliser and soil fertility, HIV and AIDS
• Commercialisation,trade& market competitiveness
e.g studies on strategic grain reserves, contract
farming
• Institutional reform and capacity building e.g.
study on strengthening farmer organisations
• Land, water and natural resource management
• Information and Knowledge management systems
Research Study Process
• Identification & prioritising of the research topic
• Setting research protocols, timelines and research teams
through nominations from country nodes, secondments
from partners or competitive bidding
• Setting up of regional steering committee to guide the
research team and drawing contracts
• Conducting study Inception and report back workshops to
present results at national and regional level
• Publication and circulation of synthesis papers, policy
briefs, and proceedings to relevant stakeholders
• Periodic review and monitoring of policy
recommendations
• Providing Policy advise to SADC Ministers of FANR
sector.
Current Studies/Programmes
Studies
HIV/AIDS/
SADC-EU
Annual
Policy
Dialogue
BiotechPolicy
Bio-safety
Policy
Livelihood
s/USAIDRCSA
Contract
Farming/
French
Gov.
NMTIPCAADP/
FAO
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Project Time Frame
2003
2004
2005
2006
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Studies
CONTRACT FARMING
HIV/AIDS
CTA
BIOSAFETY
AGRIC-BIOTECH
LIVELIHOODS
NMTIP-CAADP
2007
Effective Networking
• FANRPAN is unique because of its vertical and
horizontal connectivity with stakeholders
(Farmers, Govts, Policy analysts and Private
sector)
• The Network operates nodes in 11 of the 14
SADC countries
• At country level the nodes operate as a network of
stakeholders
• Through their steering committees, the nodes
spearhead policy analysis in their respective
countries
Effective Networking Cont’d
• FANRPAN links to SADC through the
FANR directorate which is an ex officio
member of the Board of Governors.
• The CEO of FANRPAN attends the SADC
Council of Ministers meetings where the
network feeds back issues and research
results.
Stakeholder Consultations
• Country nodes implement in country stakeholder
consultation meetings to define agenda
• Stakeholders are involved throughout the policy
process
• Stakeholders are drawn from Ministries of
Agriculture, NGO’s farmer organisations,
agricultural institutions, relevant parastatals,
private sector, research institutions and extension
• The FANRPAN stakeholder directory is intended
to bring together network members
Challenges
• Limited resources for policy research
• Lack of continuum in in-country research
and dialogue resulting in weak institutional
arrangements
• Policy analysis skills need strengthening
New vision for sustainability
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NATIONAL LEVEL
Strengthen capacity of nodes to effectively communicate with all
stakeholders
Introduce national stakeholder policy dialogues on topical FANR
policy issues
Coordinate community driven information systems that will link rural
communities to national policy processes through the nodes.
Have full time network administrator supporting core research
Introduce partnering mentoring arrangements at national levels with
assistance from with international partners
REGIONAL LEVEL
Maintain close links with SADC and NEPAD secretariats
Facilitate continuous sharing of information and knowledge
Have full time secretariat that provides quality outputs on a continuous
basis
Monitor and evaluate the implementation of recommended policies