This document outlines the background, goals, objectives, approach and expected outcomes of a training workshop aimed at strengthening capacities for strategic agricultural policy planning and implementation in Africa. The workshop will provide training on monitoring and evaluation, communications, capacity needs assessments and establishing country-level policy analysis nodes to support evidence-based agricultural planning. The expected outcomes include roadmaps and strategies for setting up sustainable country policy analysis nodes to improve investment planning and implementation through ongoing monitoring and evaluation.

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)