"There is an urgent need to focus on developing knowledge products aimed at building the capacity of actors at the national, regional, and continental levels. These should be fully exploited to influence policy formulation and implementation and to promote the adoption of climate-smart agricultural practices. Whatever is implemented will be lost if knowledge is not generated." There were the resounding words of Ms Sara Savastano, the Director of Research and Impact Assessment Division in IFAD. She spoke at a Mid Term Review (MTR) organized by the International Fund for Agricultural Development whose primary aim is to provide objective assessment of outputs, achievements, and implementation progress toward the intended Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programmes ex-Pillar 4 (CAADP-XP4). The meeting is held at Birchwood Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 16th to 22nd May 2022.
The CAADP-XP4 Programme is funded by the European Union (EU) and administered by the IFAD. It is implemented in collaboration with the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS), Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in East and Central Africa (ASARECA), West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF), the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development in Southern Africa (CCARDESA) and Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA).
The CAAPDXP4 Programme boosts the agricultural transformation agenda through innovations in agriculture and food systems in partner countries, making them resilient to climate change and to better respond to the development demands.
Dr Simon Mwale, the CCARDESA grants and Programmes Officer, officially welcomed the participants in the SADC region. He revealed that the CAADPXP4 project commenced three years ago and has picked lessons during implementation, including some learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the changes in approach to the execution of the project. He applauded the programme’s partners for quickly adjusting to novel modes of implementation during the COVID19.
The Technical Committee Chairperson, Mr Moses Odeke, gave his opening remarks where he stated that Consortium welcomes the MTR and are prepared for it. He indicated that it would provide the Consortium with an opportunity to show their preparedness for the remaining period of the project. He further said that the meeting would help identify gaps and opportunities to improve project performance post the MTR. Mr Odeke was also quick to mention that the MTR is not an audit exercise but is meant to enhance the Consortium's performance for the remaining period of the project. Lastly, he urged participants to actively provide the necessary information required to make the MTR a success.
Mr Darrell Sexton from the European Commission gave his official opening remarks where he reiterated the European Commission's support for various projects at a sub-regional and continental level. He further stated that the European Commission had committed resources towards developing sustainable Agri food systems and is interested in this process supporting sub-regional Organisations in Africa.
Mr Darrel Sexton expressed joy to see IFAD implementing the MTR as it is one of their deliverables. He was also looking forward to the outcomes of the exercise.
The MTR will identify requirements for the adjustment of the Programme to optimize performance and impact and make recommendations to guide implementation until closure. Among others the MTR is also expected to provide clear guidance on the way forward following the impact of the covid restrictions on the implementation of planned project activities. Therefore, to the extent possible, the MTR meeting will explore how to implement critical activities that will contribute towards producing desirable outcomes. The MTR will be used to identify lessons that enabled the CAADPxP4 organizations to work successfully in the implementation of the Programme even in the face of the Covid-18 outbreak.
