The World Bank commenced the Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the Agricultural Productivity Programme for Southern Africa (APPSA) Phase II in the Republic of Angola from 21 to 25 November 2022. The mission is expected to continue in Lesotho from 28 November to 2 December 2022. This MTR is to assess the relevance of the programme and progress made towards achieving the Project Development Objective (PDO) and targets as set out in the results framework.
APPSA is a six-year World Bank funded initiative currently being implemented by Angola and Lesotho and facilitated by the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA), aiming at increasing the availability of improved agricultural technologies in participating countries in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region. Through this project, Angola is establishing a Regional Center of Leadership on Cassava and Cassava-based farming systems whereas Lesotho is focusing on Horticulture and Horticulture-based farming systems.
This MTR is to assess the progress made towards achieving APPSA project development objectives
According to Francisco Obreque, the APPSA Regional Task Team Leader (TTL), this MTR is an opportunity to assess the project’s implementation and make modifications where necessary with the aim of achieving the Project’s overall objective. In Angola, the TTL was accompanied by two World Bank consultants and the APPSA TTL for Angola, Aniceto Bila.
“While there is still room for improvement, Angola has made some positive strides in certain areas. In this MTR, we can look critically at the challenges we have observed and make informed decisions on how we can improve in the second half of the project period”, emphasized Francisco.
In Angola, the MTR started with courtesy meetings with Senior Government Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture as well as from the Ministry of Finance where both the World Bank and the APPSA country implementing agency, Instituto de Investigação Agronómica (IIA), briefed the dignitaries on APPSA milestone achievements, challenges and plans for the remaining project period. Field visits were made to Malange and Mazozo Research Stations where delegates were taken through APPSA field trials on cassava, legumes and cereals. Malange Research Station is where the Cassava RCoL is being constructed.
The MTR will be concluded in Lesotho where the World Bank is expected to provide the overall assessment of APPSA implementation and identify areas for improvement by both implementing countries as well as CCARDESA.
Delegates posing in front of the cassava genebank at Mazozo Research Station
