The document discusses Joint Sector Reviews (JSRs) which are a process for mutual accountability in country agriculture sectors. JSRs assess sector performance against targets, identify strengths/weaknesses, and make recommendations. Several Southern African countries have launched JSR processes with support from organizations like ReSAKSS and NEPAD. Outcomes include countries using results to guide policy and increase data/M&E. Lessons indicate political support, inclusiveness, and data availability are important for effective JSRs.

1. Improving JSR Practices at Country
Level: Achievements and Gaps in
Southern Africa
Greenwell Matchaya, Coordinator for ReSAKSS
Southern Africa (SA), International Water
Management Institute (IWMI), South Africa
g.matchaya@cigar.org

2. What is a Joint Sector Review (JSR)?
 A joint sector review (JSR) is one way of
operationalizing the mutual accountability
framework at country level
 The JSR process creates a platform to:
» assess the performance and results of the
agriculture sector
» assist governments in setting sector policy
and priorities
» assess how well state and non state actors
have implemented pledges and commitments
(laid out in NAIPs, and other agreements)

3. Purpose and benefits of the Joint Sector Review
 The primary purpose of a JSR is to determine and evaluate
observed results of sector performance and their comparison
with the intended results or targets
 Therefore, the JSR:
» allows diverse stakeholders to get insights into and
influence overall policies and priorities of the sector
» serves as a management and policy support tool for
inclusive stakeholder planning, programming, budget
preparation and execution, monitoring and evaluation, and
overall development of the sector
 Existing country JSRs need strengthening in terms of design,
stakeholder inclusion, data analysis, dialogue and improved
quality of implementation.

4. Principles of a Joint Sector Review
 National ownership and leadership
 Relevance to NAIP or cooperation agreement
 Inclusive participation
 Commitment to results by all participants
 Impartiality and evidence-based
 Enhance national planning
 Sensitivity to gender
 Learning experience

5. What the JSR process does for a country
Describe and analyze the structure, conduct
and performance (SCP) of the sector against
mutually-agreed milestones and targets
Identify strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities and threats (SWOT) in the
sector
Based on the results and findings in the
above, make recommendations for
improving performance in the sector.

6. What is monitored in a Joint Sector Review
 Development results e.g. income growth, poverty and
hunger reduction, food and nutrition security, etc
 Overall agricultural sector growth target, with specific
subsector and commodity targets
 Required financial and non-financial resources to
effectively implement the plan
 Policies, programs, institutions, and implementation
processes
 Linkages (including pathways to achieve the development
results), enabling environment and assumptions

7. Roadmap for undertaking a Joint Sector Review
 Set up a JSR steering committee chaired
by Ministry of Agriculture
 Establish JSR secretariat
 Develop terms of reference for the JSR
 Mobilize resources
 Constitute review team
 Undertake the review and dialogue
 Draw implementation and follow-up plan
for the recommendations from the JSR

8. CAADP-relevant “cooperation agreements”

9. Outcomes and Lessons..
Country Outcomes
Mozambique Launched Joint Sector Review process was launched
in Maputo on 29th August 2013 and finalized in
2014.
Malawi ReSAKSS-SA/IFPRI in collaboration with the AUC
NEPAD, and COMESA and the Ministry of
Agriculture has finalized and validated JSR report at
a workshop in Lilongwe in April 2014
Swaziland Launched and finalized in 2015, in collaboration
with the AUC NEPAD
Zambia Launched and finalized in 2015, in collaboration
with the AUC NEPAD

10. Outcomes
 Countries are using outcomes of the JSR
assessments as well as ATORs
» to support policy review and dialogue
processes.
 In 2015, Malawi JSR followed the JSR
assessment recommendations by ReSAKSS
 Swaziland’s demand for more technical
support in M&E increased following JSR
assessment that revealed gaps

11. Outcomes
 JSR work has stimulated demand for more
data and hence, strong M&E
 Results from the JSR assessment reports
used in compiling the New Alliance report
for 2013-2014 in Mozambique
 Countries demanding more work on linkages
of policies, indicators of investments to
development results

12. Outcomes -Malawi
• Recommendations from JSR assessments have helped
country to set up ambitious agenda on the JSR process
• Malawi has incorporated lessons from JSR Assessment
exercise into their JSR process
• JSR processes were largely Ministry of Agriculture
focused but are now more inclusive following Mutual
accountability process
• However need to further enhance CSO and private
sector participation
• Issues raised from JSR process delegated to technical
working groups under ASWAp for action

13. Outcomes-Mozambique
• Various Ministries report progress within their sectors
at annual review.
• Adoption of the CAADP Compact further strengthened
review process. Private sector involvement became
stronger after adoption of CAADP
• Implementation of the G8NA further strengthening the
process

14. Outcomes –Swaziland, Zambia
 Finalized and validated in 2015
 Generated demand for better data and M&E
systems
 Zambia finalized the assessment in 2015
 Served as a basis for several sectoral
meetings in Zambia

15. Lessons
 Political anchorage by African Union, NPCA is
critical
 Buy-in at country level is very important for
rallying the Agricultural sector
 Inclusivity from the beginning increases
acceptability of recommendations
 Political ownership/leadership by Ministry of
Agriculture is key.
 Consultativeness is also important

16. Lessons
• Inclusiveness is an issue: Government and DPs engage
but NSAs are not fully engaged
• Acceptance of JSR------Effective communication and
consultative approach informing stakeholders of the
importance of JSR has helped to array the challenges
• JSR team composition: best left to country to decide
but should include (private sector, academia, research,
CSO, state etc.)
• Data availability: sourcing data from private sector and
non-state actors has been a challenge. There is need to
invest in data infrastructure.
• SAKSS networks therefore are invaluable tool for data
collection and analysis

17. Future Plan for JSRs
1. Implementation of action plans by
initial seven countries
2. Rolling JSR to next set of countries
through a process lead by AUC/NPCA