The Agricultural Productivity Programme for Southern Africa (APPSA) hosted a World Bank Implementation Support Mission (ISM) on the 7th of July 2023 to assess the current project status, with a focus on the agreed action points from the Mid-Term Review (MTR) concluded in December 2022. This session, which was held virtually, was a wrap up of in-country missions undertaken in Angola and Lesotho in early to mid-June 2023.
APPSA is a six-year World Bank funded initiative currently being implemented by the Republic of Angola and the Kingdom of Lesotho, and regionally overseen by the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA). Angola is establishing the Regional Centre of Leadership on Cassava and Cassava-based farming systems whereas Lesotho is focusing on Horticulture and Horticulture-based farming systems. Both countries are collaborating in the implementation of 43 Research and Development (R&D) sub-projects.
The World Bank team was led by the Regional Task Team Leader (TTL) based in Washington DC, Francisco Obreque, and country TTLs for Angola and Lesotho, Aniceto Bila and Daniel Gerber, respectively. The delegates from the two countries were led by Dr João da Costa Ferreira Neto, Director of the Instituto de Investigação Agronómica (IIA) in Angola, and Mr Selebalo Ramakhanna, Acting Director of the Agricultural Research Department from Lesotho. The CCARDESA team was led by Prof. Cliff Sibusiso Dlamini, the Executive Director and Head of Mission.
In his remarks, Prof. Dlamini commended the two implementing countries for their commitment as great strides have been made since the MTR, mainly under Component 1 on technology generation and dissemination of improved technologies. From 47 technologies, innovations and management practices (TIMPS) that were disseminated in the two countries by December 2022, the number has increased to 105, surpassing the end of project target by 5%. The project has a large component of works for which designs have been completed and are now in the last phases of procurement to hire contractors to undertake the construction works. With about 18 months remaining, countries were encouraged to have all contracts signed by end of July to ensure timely completion of all construction and rehabilitation initiatives. The decision to conduct country-based post-MTR missions enabled implementing parties to understand the dynamics in each of the two countries and provide tailor-made recommendations to improve delivery on the project.
Overall, the project performance was said to be encouraging and the expectation is that by the next ISM, most of the construction works should be underway with improved disbursement figures.
