Greenwell Matchaya, Coordinator for ReSAKSS Southern Africa (SA), International Water Management Institute (IWMI), South Africa

1. Setting up SAKSS Governance Structure
and Analytical Network in Southern
Africa
Greenwell Matchaya, Coordinator for ReSAKSS
Southern Africa (SA), International Water
Management Institute (IWMI), South Africa
g.matchaya@cigar.org

2. ReSAKSS Efforts for SAKSS Establishment
Outline
 What a country SAKSS platform is,
 Why it is needed;
 Progress to date;
 Plans for 2017 and beyond

3. The need for SAKSS
Urgency: Knowledge Gaps
Paucity of data to guide decision making
Absence of enough analytical work to guide
decision
Lack of capacity in generating and utilization
of evidence in decision making
Don’t know much about how our policies and
investments will achieve our development
objectives
Vision
Generate knowledge to facilitate evidence
based policy planning and decision making

4. What is a SAKSS?

SAKSS is a network of people and institutions that provides
timely, credible, and evidence-based knowledge and
analysis to inform agricultural and rural development
The individuals are linked
through collaborative research
(strategic analysis), capacity
strengthening, and dialogue.
Knowledge support system:
A network that serves the
evidence needs of strategy
formulation and
implementation.

5. Strategic Components of SAKSS
1. Strategic analysis
• Sector-wide M&E; data collection and analysis
• Annual trends and outlook reports
• Specific strategic analysis and production
(occasional publications)
2. Capacity building
• Training members of the SAKSS network in areas
of M&E
• Support to the ministry in areas of M&E and
evidence based policy implementation
3. Knowledge Support Systems –
• Publications/knowledge products
• Outputs: ATORS, Ag-sector-wide M&E databases,
occasional publications, policy briefs

6. Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System for Southern Africa (SAKSS-SA)
SAKSS: Broker of Strategic Analysis/Knowledge
Demand Supply
Policy
Analysis
Units
Think Tanks,
Central Bank
Statistics
Bureaus,
Universities,
FBOs
Parliament,
PS, FBOs,
Donors,
Directors
SAKSS
Oversight Body
SAKSS
Node
SAKSS Network
 Credence of SAKSS in
CAADP process
 Governance
 Channel knowledge
and evidence to policy
makers
• …
•Identify and sensitize
knowledge gaps
•Synthesize knowledge
•Mobilize and coordinate
knowledge generation
•Facilitate training
•…
•Express interest and
buy into vision
•Align knowledge
generation activities
•Receive funding and
training
•…

7. Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System for Southern Africa (SAKSS-SA)
• Structured network of policy-
making, analysis, and
implementation partners
– 3 distinct but interrelated parts:
Node, Network, and Oversight
Body
– institutionalised within relevant
country structures
– country-owned and country-
managed system depending on
the country’s own agenda and
capacity (including funding)
Country SAKSS Generic Architecture

8. Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System for Southern Africa (SAKSS-SA)
Composition
Statistical bureaus
Universities
Think Tanks
NGOs and FBOs
Consultancies and Individuals
Locally-based international
organizations
Functions/Activities
Express interest in network
Buy into SAKSS agenda
Provide and update info on
expertise and capacity
Apply for research grant
Receive grants and training
Deliver on TORs (e.g. data,
analysis, training, etc.)
SAKSS Network

9. Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System for Southern Africa (SAKSS-SA)
Composition and Funding
 Coordinator: renowned knowledge
manager from the country
 Accounting: for competent management
of competitive research grants
 Research Assistance: follow up with
research by network
 Communications: website, policy briefs,
newsletters, seminars, reports, etc…
Key Functions/Activities
 Set up and maintain active Network
 Raise funds to source key
knowledge relating to NAIP
 Facilitate capacity strengthening of
network (using ReSAKSS, etc.)
 Provide quality control of Network
outputs
 Synthesize, manage and generate
knowledge products from Network
outputs
 Facilitate use of knowledge
products in decision making
processes via Oversight Body, etc.
 Provide information to ReSAKSS
for regional and continental
CAADP M&E
 …
SAKSS Node composition

10. Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System for Southern Africa (SAKSS-SA)
Composition
Chair: e.g. PS of Min of
Agriculture
Members: agricultural sector
development institutions (state
and non-state actors)
Secretary: SAKSS Node
coordinator
Functions
Credence of SAKSS in
CAADP process
Governance (guidance and
oversight of SAKSS node
activities)
Channel knowledge and
evidence (recommendations)
to policy makers
SAKSS Oversight Body

11. Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System for Southern Africa (SAKSS-SA)
Roles and Responsibilities of Others
Government/Host Institution
provides funding and
institutional support (e.g. office
space, auditing services, etc.)
Donors provide funding for
SAKSS activities, directly to
Node and/or indirectly via
Government/Host Institution
AUC provide advocacy and
fundraising for establishment
of SAKSS
REC provides advocacy and
funding and guidance for set-
up and operations of SAKSS
ReSAKSS provides TA for set-
up of SAKSS and facilitate
training of Network for region-
wide capacity development
Others in country provide
training to Node and Network
for national capacity
development

12. Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System for Southern Africa (SAKSS-SA)
Policy
Analysis
Units
Think Tanks,
Central Bank
Statistics
Bureaus,
Universities,
FBOs
Parliament,
PS, FBOs,
Donors,
Directors
OB Node Network
Level 100
Rationale and
Concepts
(CAADP; Policy
Analysis)
Level 200
Concepts and
Application
(Policy Analysis;
Report Writing)
Level 300 …
Application and
Modeling
(CGE, Econometrics,
Data Work)
SAKSS: capacity strengthening activities

13. Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System for Southern Africa (SAKSS-SA)
Country experiences
1. Mozambique: SAKKS important for enhancing M&E
• Governing body identified, SAKSS network being developed
2. Zambia
• Governing body identified, SAKSS network being developed
• Funding is key to advancement
3. Malawi
• High level of interest for SAKSS: SAKSS to be based in the
Ministry of Agriculture; Funding is key achieving many of
SAKSS outputs
4. Zimbabwe: High level onf interest, Goveervning body in
place; network in place but need to be elaborated further

14. Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System for Southern Africa (SAKSS-SA)
Experiences and Lessons Learned
• Country political buy-in and leadership are very important
• Technical buy in and leadership of the Ministry of agriculture
are equally important in successful establishment of country
SAKSS
• Important to define SAKSS governance-prevents SAKSS from
being viewed as owned by a department
• Mutual trust between country and ReSAKSS creates confidence
but takes time to build
• SaKSS coordinator should not be seen as imposed on the
system.

15. Plans for the future
 Intensify operations at the Mozambique,
Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia SAKSS
 Mobilize funding for other countries