ASARECA, established in 1994, includes 11 member countries and focuses on improving agricultural performance in a region covering 8.5 million km² with 350 million people reliant on agriculture. It operates under a strategic plan (2008-2017) and has implemented approximately 70 projects through 420 partnerships across various institutions. The collaboration with CGIAR aims to enhance agricultural innovation and address regional challenges while promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

1. ASARECA collaboration with CGIAR and RTB
Joseph Methu
Head, Partnerships & Capacity Development
RTB Annual Meeting, Entebbe
October, 2014

2. ASARECA Geographic reach
Established in 1994 by 10 member
countries; now 11 member countries
❖ASARECA region covers 8.5 million km2
with about 350 million people
❖Agriculture forms the source of livelihood
for the bulk of the population
❖Agriculture accounts for 43% of the sub-regional
GDP.

3. Why was ASARECA established
❖ Countries in the region are facing similar challenges and
opportunities to improve agriculture’s performance.
❖ Agro-ecological zones cut across political boundaries,
and therefore, technologies developed in one country
frequently find application in similar environments of
other countries.
❖ Great opportunities to promote agricultural led growth
through sharing of Agricultural research results
❖ Need for Regional collective action, collaboration and
specialization
❖ Leverage on resources where possible

4. ASARECA adds value to National Agricultural Research
Systems (NARS) through:
ASARECA secretariat takes a coordinating role

5. ASARECA is operating on a 10 year Strategic Plan
(2008 – 2017) supported mainly via a W/Bank
managed MDTF
Strategy being implemented under 2 Operational
Plans : 2008 – 2013 and 2014 – 2018
Development of 2014 – 2018 OP completed
CONSULTATIVE
PROCESS

6. OP 2 Thematic areas
❖Natural Resource management and Eco-system
services.
❖Market, market linkages and trade
❖Sustainable agriculture

7. ASARECA Outputs for MTOP2
1. Appropriate technologies, innovations and
management practices [TIMPs] generated
2. Appropriate TIMPs disseminated and up-scaled
3. Appropriate policy analysis and advocacy
enhanced
4. Stakeholder capacity for innovation
strengthened
5. Communication, information and knowledge
management improved

8. PROPOSED ASARECA KI HUB
Platforms
for Info
Exchange
Learning
and
Innovation
for AR4D
Techn. &
Information
Clearing
House
KEY OUTCOME
Equitable access &
utilization of agricultural
knowledge & information
within and beyond ECA
sub-region
AR4D
Think Tank

9. Creating Partnerships for Agricultural Innovation: How
ASARECA operates
At continental level ASARECA has partnerships with
FARA, COMESA and AU-NEPAD to contribute to
the CAADP agenda and the MDG goals
The CGS is a process of creating partnerships for
effective agricultural innovation
Dublin initiative on aligning CGIAR to National
CAADP processes
- Linking CG with ASARECA programs
- Productivity workshop
- Science Agenda for African Agriculture

10. Partnerships for delivery of the ASARECA mission in
the member countries in OP 1
By end of OP 1, ASARECA will had implemented about
70 projects in the 11 member countries.
The projects will have been implemented through about
420 partnerships (read sub-agreements) under CGS
The 420 are formalized through sub-agreements. Many
other informal partnerships could be identified

11. OP 1: Types of organizations in Partnerships with
ASARECA
Type of Institution Number of
Partnerships
NARIs 223
Universities 59
International Research
33
Institutions
Private sector 22
Government agents 42
NGOs 37
Others 7
Total partnerships 423

12. Partnerships with CGIAR and CRPs
CGIAR were central in implementation of ASARECA
activities during net-works prior to current
ASARECA programs
CGIAR is part of ASARECA Governance through the
BoD where they are represented by ILRI
There are a few MoUs with CG Centers currently e.g
ILRI for capacity building through BecA
CGIAR CRPs ASARECA Collaboratin summary Oct
2014.docx

13. Conclusions
Huge opportunities for CGIAR to reach NARIs
(impact??)by working with ASARECA
Development of specific joint projects is a possibility also
(Defining roles & responsibilities including finances)
Need to formalize working relationships through MoUs,
MoAs, contracts etc

14. Thank you