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The FANRPAN Regional Stakeholders Meeting: 2-4 May 2007
Theme: Meeting the Demand for Effective Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis in Southern Africa

Kopanong Hotel and Conference Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa
2 May 2007

Background Presentations Proceedings

FANRPAN Kopanong Resolutions

Preamble

Article 1: Noting the demand for research evidence to support policy development made at the first Conference of Southern and Eastern Africa Ministers of Agriculture held in Harare, Zimbabwe in April 1994; and the changing operational context that FANRPAN finds itself, five years after inception (continuing decline in regional agricultural production, stagnating agricultural growth, continuing poverty, new players, new realities).

Article 2: Noting the existing national, regional and international commitments by various stakeholders (SADC-RISDP, SADC-MAAP, COMESA Agricultural Strategy, NEPAD-CAADP, AU-Agriculture and Food Security Programme, FARA-FAAP, UN-MDGs, RIU, and National Agricultural Strategies).

Article 3: Noting that FANRPAN's value proposition is to deliver high-quality policy-relevant economic and social analysis that can be used by national and regional policy makers, donors, the private sector and other stakeholder groups to aid in formulating agricultural, food, and natural resources policies. The research being implemented through cross-country comparative studies, using local professionals working with international partners, to draw generic lessons for regional strategies and transboundary collaboration.

Article 4: Noting the on-going donor interest and commitment to support agricultural growth and poverty reduction programmes.

Article 5: Noting the current FANRPAN Research portfolio (largely short-term commissioned research) of nine projects worth a total of US$832,000: (1) Institutional Strengthening (USAID); (2) Dialogues and Publications (CTA); (3) Bridging the Gap (FARA); (4) RABSAC (PBS); (5) COMPETE (EU); (6) Agricultural Growth and Poverty Trends (SAKSS-SA); (7) Olifants Book (IWMI-SA); (8) Human Vulnerability Index (Southern Africa Trust), HIV and AIDS Dialogue (Southern Africa Trust); (9) Informal Maize Markets (Southern Africa Trust).

Article 6: Noting that the main challenge FANRPAN has faced since inception, is the lack of core funds to support long-term policy research and organisational development, FANRPAN proposes a new long-term research programme portfolio over the next five years (2007-2012) worth US$12,300,000 (76% to cover country node level programmes).

Article 7: Noting that FANRPAN has already established synergistic partnerships with several programmes and institutions operating in the region: ICRAF; GECAFS; CWPF; PBS; COMPETE; RIU; Terr-Africa (SLM); NEPAD-FISH; and has signed MOUs with 14 other institutions including COMESA; GECAFS; South African Government; CropLife; SACAU; ICRISAT; IFPRI; Michigan State University; IWMI; and others).

Article 8: Noting the excellent performance of the revitalised FANRPAN country nodes (Zambia, Malawi, South Africa and Mozambique) over the last two years, and the need to revamp the remaining eight nodes to the same standard.

Article 9: Recognising that all binding institutional and organisational changes required to support the new FANRPAN strategic direction must be accompanied by complementary changes in the FANRPAN constitution.

Article 10: Noting that FANRPAN is developing a new corporate strategy (reviewing its overall purpose and scope of business to meet stakeholder expectations), a new business strategy (how its business will compete successfully in the current context), and a new operational strategy (how each unit of FANRPAN will be re-organised to deliver the new strategic direction)- the 80 FANRPAN stakeholders representing: 12 SADC member countries: Angola (1); Botswana (4); Lesotho (4); Malawi (4); Mauritius (3); Mozambique (2); Namibia (4); Tanzania (3); South Africa (3); Swaziland (3); Zambia (4); Zimbabwe (4); CGIAR centres (CIAT, IITA, ILRI, IWMI), Farmer Organisations (Namibia FO; Zambia FO, SA-NAFU, SACAU); Donors (USAID; Southern Africa Trust); NEPAD (2); SADC (2); AU (1); COMESA (1); partner organisations (Trade Hub; Caribbean Policy Network; FARA, HSRC, ODI) and consultants (4) - meeting at Kopanong Hotel, Johannesburg from 2-4 May 2004 - resolved that:

  1. FANRPAN should, over the next 10 years, pursue a three-pronged strategic direction based on three triangularly-linked strategic Pillars
    • Research - to generate evidence and options
    • Voice - to communicate the findings and options to decision-makers
    • Capacity Building - for quality research and quality communication products


  2. The FANRPAN Research agenda for the next 5 years will have four dimensions
    • Regional Integration - research geared towards harmonisation of regional policies aimed at enhancing the regional integration agenda. This will include: water productivity; management of shared water resources, improved input and output markets, regional trade
    • Enhancing Global Competitiveness - research geared towards improved access to the benefits of international trade
    • Reducing Vulnerability (Social Protection) - research towards a better understanding of the nature, extent and magnitude of vulnerability and deprivation in the region, especially at household level, and how these can be mitigated through social assistance and social insurance
    • Innovations and adoption - research towards a conducive policy environment to support adaptation to global environmental change, and promotion of effective innovation systems. One focus will be on opportunities that tend to be cross-sectoral in nature, with insufficient attention, for example aquaculture and fish


  3. The FANRPAN Capacity Building agenda will be three pronged:
    • Building Partnerships - strong collaborative research partnerships to ensure quality research outputs (e.g. with IFPRI, MSU)
    • Mentorship - identifying champions in the region to build a "community of practice" in high quality policy analysis in the region
    • Training - Demand-driven and tailor-made training programmes for various stakeholders (e.g. policy advice; policy analysis; preparing policy briefs)
    • Strengthening Institutional Capacity of Regional and National FANRPAN secretariats


  4. The FANRPAN "Voice" agenda (Voice for "evidence and options" to support advocacy)
    • Multi-stakeholder dialogues - convening national and regional level dialogue fora as platforms for interface between policy makers, farmer organisations, researchers; agribusiness and civil society organisations
    • Advisory notes/Policy Briefs - articulating policy implications and recommendations from the FANRPAN research studies
    • Communication and Outreach - pprint and electronic information products aimed at the various FANRPAN stakeholders (e.g. website; directory; databases; pamphlets; annual reports; discussion papers; publications)


  5. The FANRPAN Resource Mobilisation strategy will include:
    • Expediting the signing and operationalisation of key MOUs - especially with SADC - so as to tap into funds available through the RECs and play a key role in supporting regional programmes
    • Permanent Secretaries and Members of Parliament (MPs present) will raise the awareness of their Ministers about FANRPAN and its outputs - so that the Ministers can move a motion for support through SADC (and other agencies)
    • FANRPAN Secretariat will develop a comprehensive proposal from the approved framework for resource mobilisation from various donors
    • Setting up of Trust Fund to support secretariat and core activities
    • Engagements with a consortium of key donors to support the FANRPAN business plan.
    • FANRPAN Board Chairman's Committee of Eminent persons set up and tasked with resource mobilisation.


  6. Raising FANRPAN profile in Regional Processes/programmes
    • Permanent Secretaries and other senior policy makers will lead the initiative to raise the profile of FANRPAN in SADC and other regional programmes - where FANRPAN can serve as a subsidiary implementation organisation
    • FANRAN Secretariat will endeavour to present research findings at key ministerial fora organised by the RECs (SADC and COMESA), as well as at other fora.


  7. Constitutional amendments - minimal constitutional amendments that do not alter the main framework, were proposed based on the changing realities and implementation requirements needed to address these realities. The proposed amendments will be reviewed and adopted by the FANRPAN AGM in September 2007.


  8. The next FANRPAN General Meeting (GM) will be held in September 2007. Key milestones leading to this meeting will be:
    • The revised constitution circulated to members
    • A formal notice for the GM sent out by June 30, 2007, together with agenda, venue and date of meeting
    • Nominations for new board received before GM
    • FANRPAN 5 year Strategy finalised and circulated to all stakeholders
    • Detailed research programmes finalised and shared will all stakeholders
    • A record of actions towards fund raising
    • A Consortium of donors constituted and invited to participate in the September 2007 General Meeting


  9. Stakeholder Commitments
    1. Researchers
      • Researchers commit to be part of the vibrant FANRPAN nodes and lead in providing evidence on FANR issues
      • Researchers commit to adopting the FANRPAN vision and mission and provide research services and dissemination of results to nodes
      • Researchers commit to assist in resource mobilisation for FANRPAN and its node activities
    2. Permanent Secretaries and Government Officials commit to:
      • Assist FANRPAN to make itself known by talking directly to government representatives with the capacity/power to commit
      • Assist FANRPAN to present formal funding requests to government to support the nodes
      • Ensure that government officials participate fully in nodal programmes (well represented in node steering committees)
      • Assist FANRPAN in marketing its research outputs to key government officers
      • Assist in developing high level links with SADC and COMESA (FANRPAN needs to develop relevant communication instruments for the RECs)
      • Assist in developing high level links with the SADC national committees
      • Sensitise government and donors to be flexible with funding
      • Country nodes should make use of government officials in resource mobilisation.
      • Permanent Secretary Mauritius commits to

        Submitting a report to the Minister early next week to appraise him of the outcome of this workshop and to recommend that the FANRPAN issue be flagged at the SADC Ministers of Agriculture meeting this year.

        Inform Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Cooperation which is the line Ministry for SADC and COMESA about the resolutions taken at this workshop and request that the FANRPAN issue is tabled on the agenda of COMESA and SADC.

        Arrange, on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, for an early meeting to be called to review the current structure and activities of the national Node, and to give a new impetus to its operation and ensure that all relevant stakeholders are taken on board.

        Ministry of Agriculture will use its good relationship existing with donor agencies to support project proposals that may come from the Node requiring financial and technical assistance.

    3. Members of Parliament commit to:
      • MPs will assist in the strengthening of national nodes
      • MPs will support the country nodes in sensitising the relevant parliamentary committees
      • MPs will support network's research programmes
      • MPs will encourage and lobby government and donors to provide funding support to FANRPAN country nodes
    4. Farmer Organisations and Private Sector commit to
      • Will endeavour to be the "voice" for the country nodes - to raise awareness
      • Will support resource mobilisation at nodal level
      • Contribute case studies for FANRPAN communication and research materials
    5. FANRPAN Board and Secretariat will
      • Ensure that MOU with SADC is signed by September 2007
      • Engage country level senior government representative and remind them of 1994 Ministerial commitment
      • Organise an "eminent person" delegation to visit and present FANRPAN to SADC Executive Secretary
      • Ensure that SADC nominates a representative to FANRPAN Board of Governors
      • Ensure that the remaining 7 country nodes meet the minimum node hosting qualifications by September 2007
      • Ensure that all the node hosting institutions sign MOUs with FANRPAN
      • Distribute 2006 Annual Report to key donors
      • Distribute meeting resolutions, draft strategy and business plan to donors
      • Invite donors for the September 2007 General Meeting
      • Organise a consortium of donors to mobilise resources (USAID, DFID, CIDA, SIDA, EU and Foundations)
      • Undertake fundraising visit to European donor agencies with assistance from CTA


  10. Country Node Commitments

    1. Botswana Node
      • Will explore ways that FANRPAN and SADC can interact by exploring possibilities of node representation in the Botswana SADC national committee
      • Will introduce Botswana node to the SADC secretariat and share research findings with the SADC-FANR directorate
      • Will revitalise the node by selecting a new steering committee; developing a national work plan including a network system with other researchers; and developing national level research priorities within the framework of the FANRPAN strategy
      • Will mobilise national level resources to support node level research


    2. Lesotho Node
      • Will establish a link with the Lesotho SADC committee through the Principal Secretary for Finance and the Chief Executive responsible for SADC
      • Will develop country policy briefs and brochures to promote FANRPAN at country level
      • Will assist in lobbying for the finalisation of the FANRPAN MoU with SADC Secretariat
      • The country node will continue to be hosted at the University of Lesotho and will formalise hosting arrangements with the Institute of Southern African Studies (ISAS)
      • Will mobilise resources for node activities and hold stakeholder meetings to sensitise all stakeholders


    3. Malawi Node
      • Will prepare and submit a report through the Chair of the Malawi Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, to be tabled in the National Assembly
      • Will link up with the representative of the Malawi SADC parliamentary committee and the international relations committee for SADC and COMESA
      • Will organise a sensitisation workshop for the parliamentary committee on agriculture and donors
      • Will mobilise resources to support Malawi node programme activities
      • Will increase awareness and dissemination activities about FANRPAN


    4. Swaziland Node
      • Will appraise the Parliamentary portfolio and sessional committee about FANRPAN with a view to persuading SADC and COMESA to support FANRPAN activities
      • Will meet with SADC national committee to appraise its members about opportunities of working with FANRPAN
      • Appraise ministers attending SADC and COMESA meeting about FANRPAN so that they may advocate for it
      • Advocate for allocation of part of the 10% African commitment for budget increase in agriculture to fund policy research through the node
      • Will market itself and invite all stakeholders to membership
      • Will set up a multi-sectoral committee to work with the node
      • Will collaborate with other country nodes to share research activities and outputs


    5. Zambia Node
      • Government of the Republic of Zambia and node to lobby SADC and COMESA on behalf of FANRPAN
      • Will undertake a self-assessment as a constituency of FANRPAN and the ultimate beneficiaries
      • Will work closely with government and node to explain its relevance beyond reasonable doubt and convince government to fund some programmes


    6. South Africa Node
      • Convene meeting with National Department of Agriculture (DOA) to clarify FANRPAN operations and objectives
      • Communicate FANRPAN outputs to the SADC Council of Ministers through the Director General-DOA
      • Submit documentation to DG/Ministers office and provide attachments about FANRPAN
      • Distribute FANRPAN documents to the database of stakeholders in South Africa
      • Communicate/link FANRPAN to other networks in South Africa
      • Ensure that FANRPAN Secretariat makes "Poster Presentations/sessions" during national conferences


    7. Mozambique and Angola Nodes
      • Meet SADC/COMESA representatives and inform them of FANRPAN's objectives and strategic plan and invite them to maintain a permanent dialogue in order to have their support to implement this plan as well as specific projects
      • Governments are already committed to FANRPAN node
      • With the donors we will also do the same exercise as with SADC/COMESA representatives


    8. Zimbabwe Node
      • Revive the Zimbabwe node and take advantage of the vibrant agricultural community working group (ACWA) that has links to Govt, donors, SADC and COMESA
      • Commit to implementing SADC and COMESA FANR programmes
      • Will seek creative/strategic collaborations that ensure country node participation in regional initiatives


    9. Namibia Node
      • Will sensitise SADC national committee on FANRPAN activities
      • Will develop a clear business plan and submit to Secretariat
      • Will reactivate the node with support from the regional Secretariat
      • Will showcase completed and ongoing research agenda to secure government funding
      • Will be proactive in engaging government about research agenda
      • Will be more proactive in voicing concerns to FANRPAN regional secretariat
      • Will be more interactive with researchers in neighbouring countries
      • Organise special conference to revitalise NEPRU's participation in FANRPAN activities


    10. Tanzania Node
      • Will organise a stakeholders meeting to deliberate and plan activities for the node and implementation schedule
      • Will foster linkages with the Ministry of Agriculture and share information about FANRPAN activities in Tanzania;
      • Will request the PS-Ministry of Agriculture to lobby for the node (through local and regional fora):
      • Will enhance recognition of FANRPAN by SADC-country desk and potential donors)
      • Will facilitate signing of the MoU with SADC
      • Will use FANRPAN's regional framework to solicit funds from potential donors
      • Will request members of the node to contribute to the overhead cost of the hosting institution
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