1. Strengthening Capacity for Strategic
Agricultural Policy and Investment Planning
and Implementation in Africa:
Training Workshop
Background, Goal and Objectives
Samuel Benin
Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi
11-13 April 2012

2. Strategic Analysis and Monitoring of CAADP
• 4 nodes: managed by IFPRI, IITA,
and Agricultural Performance in Africa ILRI and IWMI
• Key partners: AUC/NPCA and RECs
Knowledge Management, Capacity
Strengthening, and Policy Communications
support
review and
dialogue
evidence- and outcome-based planning and
implementation of agricultural-sector policies
and strategies in Africa

3. ReSAKSS Phase I (2007-2010)
• Website (www.resakss.org), e-newsletter/blog (www.resakss.wordpress.com), and
other social media (Facebook, twitter, Flickr): data, tools, analysis, news,
knowledge products, and links to resources on CAADP implementation
• Developed CAADP M&E framework and conduct data collection and
analysis to monitor progress towards CAADP benchmark targets—
published annually in a continental and three sub-regional flagship annual
trends and outlook reports
• Growth and investment analysis for the country CAADP compacts and
technical reviews of the national agricultural investment plans
• Provided technical assistance to establish country SAKSS nodes in Malawi,
Mozambique, Rwanda, and Uganda.
• Established a Working Paper and an Issue Brief series that analyzes key
growth and poverty reduction issues in Africa
• Trained several researchers, policy analysts, and development
professionals on data collection and different topics related to agricultural
policy analysis

4. Objective of ReSAKSS Phase II
(2011-2015)
• Establish and operationalize or strengthen
country SAKSS nodes; depending on the
country’s state in the CAADP process and
readiness in setting a SAKSS

5. Approach
• Depends strongly on the readiness of a country
determined by the stage of the country in the CADDP
process in addition to having funds allocated for the
operations of the SAKSS
– SAKSS-ready for those countries that have a functional
SAKSS or have a NAIP and there is potential funding to
cover or expand the operations of the SAKSS
– SAKSS-sensitized for those countries that have advanced
in the CAADP process (have a NAIP or signed a compact)
– SAKSS-beginning for countries where the CAADP process is
in the pre-compact stages or is yet to be launched.

6. Objective of Regional Workshops
• Training on SAKSS concepts
• Agricultural policy analysis and monitoring
and evaluation
• Launch capacity needs assessment work

7. Topics (see agenda)
• Strategic analysis and research methods
• Project management and M&E
• Communications
• Capacity (systems, human and institutional)
needs assessment
• Transformational leadership

8. Outputs and Expected Outcomes
• Outputs
– Country SAKSS architecture
– Roadmap for country SAKSS and capacity building
• Expected outcomes
– SAKSS node managers and analysts will be
equipped to help assess needs for improving the
quality and utility of agricultural policy analysis
and investment planning and implementation and
M&E via the SAKSS

9. Follow-up to Workshop
• Conduct capacity needs assessments and documentation
– Within two months of workshops
– ReSAKSS will work with in country-based consultants to carry
out the assessments and produce individual country reports
• Country SAKSS and capacity strengthening strategy
– Within two to three months after completion of needs
assessment
– ReSAKSS managers to translate the findings and
recommendations of the country assessments into an
operational country SAKSS and capacity strengthening agenda
for each country
• Country SAKSS establishment and operation
– ReSAKSS will provide technical assistance
– ReSAKSS will work with country SAKSS to obtain direct funding
for operations (pipeline: IFAD and Netherlands)