| JSR BUILDING BLOCKS | BEST PRACTICES | PRACTICE IN PLACE? (Yes/No) | WHAT IS THE CURRENT PRACTICE IN THE COUNTRY? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Existence of a JSR Steering Committee (SC) | SC provides strategic direction for the establishment and operation of the JSR. It is usually chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture and includes as members leading donors and 3-4 other representatives of key stakeholder groups | Yes | For the JSR assessment process in 2015, an inclusive SC was put in place. It was comprised of the Ministry of Agriculture (MAEP), Health Ministry, Finance Ministry, Development Ministry, the National Committee in Charge of Food and Nutrition (CAN), Civil Society (PASCIB), Producers Organizations (PNOPPA and CNAB) and the private sector (CCIB). |
| Existence of a JSR Secretariat | Secretariat coordinates activities and operations of the JSR and JSR SC. It can be made up of core staff from the Planning & M&E Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture | Yes | Secretariat is made up of MAEP’s directorate in charge of policy programming and forecasting and is supported by the research unit in charge of agricultural policy analysis. |
| Existence of JSR Terms of Reference (TOR) for the JSR | TOR to lay out JSR objectives, state and non-state stakeholders and their roles, roles of the SC and Secretariat, operating principles, structure and frequency of JSR meetings and follow up and implementation of actions, etc.
TOR may also need to be developed consultants hired to conduct JSR studies. |
Yes | TOR have been developed. |
- Joint sector review
- Biennial Review
MUTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY OVERVIEW
ReSAKSS SUPPORT TO MUTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY
The African Union Commission (AUC) and NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA) have adopted both a mutual accountability framework, which sets out principles for mutual review, and a results framework, intended to guide the tracking of performance indicators for the next decade of CAADP.
They have designated ReSAKSS as the primary knowledge and support platform for reviewing, benchmarking, and learning from ongoing progress in implementing the CAADP agenda. Integral to its mandate, ReSAKSS supports efforts to introduce or strengthen agricultural joint sector review (JSR) practices and provides technical support to the CAADP Biennial Review (BR) process.
Mutual accountability is a process by which two or more partners agree to be held responsible for voluntary commitments they make to each other. The process requires trust and partnership around shared agendas supported by evidence collected and shared among all partners in order to create incentives for the parties to meet their commitments over time. For more information, see the Mutual Accountability Framework for the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme.
Agricultural joint sector reviews (JSRs)
Agricultural joint sector reviews (JSRs) are an integral part of the transition to inclusive, evidence-based policy planning and implementation. In particular, the reviews form a platform for collectively reviewing the effectiveness of policies and institutions in the agricultural sector, as well as assessing the extent to which intended results and outcomes are being realized. In this way, all stakeholders are able to hold each other accountable for the fulfillment of commitments made under CAADP compacts, national agricultural investment plans, and related agreements. By allowing a broad spectrum of stakeholders to influence and gain insights into agricultural policies and priorities,
JSRs serve as a management and policy support tool for developing the sector through inclusive planning, programming, budgeting, monitoring, and evaluation.
CAADP Biennial Review
Through the 2014 Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods, African leaders committed to advancing mutual accountability by conducting a continental level biennial agricultural review to monitor and report on progress made on seven broad commitments.
The first Biennial Review (BR) took place during the 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of African Union (AU) heads of state and government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from January 28-29, 2018. The BR is a mutual accountability process for assessing agriculture sector performance at the country, regional, and continental levels as it relates to the achievement of Malabo Declaration commitments.
JSR GUIDELINES
GUIDELINES FOR JOINT SECTOR REVIEWS
To function as effective tools for mutual accountability and evidence-based policymaking, JSRs need to be designed with a strong focus on data and analysis, transparency, and stakeholder inclusion. CAADP’s JSR guidelines provide specific recommendations on how to implement the process successfully, in alignment with principles of ownership, relevance, inclusion, impartial evidence, learning, and commitment to results by all participants. The primary objective of ReSAKSS’s involvement is to provide analytical and technical support to countries and regions in strengthening their agricultural JSRs. To this end, ReSAKSS developed a concept note elaborating what, in fact, a JSR should review.
For more details, see Implementing the CAADP Joint Sector Review Guidelines: What Should Be Reviewed?
JSR BEST PRACTICES
JSRs need to be credible national (or subregional) exercises. Their successful undertaking requires national ownership and leadership, relevance to National Agriculture and Food Security Investment Plans (NAIPs) or cooperation agreements, inclusive participation, commitment to results by all participants, impartiality through evidence-based objective analyses, sensitivity to gender issues, and the capacity to enhance national planning and provide learning experience. ReSAKSS developed best practices for JSRs to guide agricultural stakeholders in conducting successful JSRs. The best practices include a series of building blocks, or milestones that occur within a set sequence that are required to establish and carry out comprehensive and regular JSRs.
For more detail, see JSR Best Practices.
BENIN
BENIN
×BURKINA FASO
BURKINA FASO
×| JSR BUILDING BLOCKS | BEST PRACTICES | PRACTICE IN PLACE? (Yes/No) | WHAT IS THE CURRENT PRACTICE IN THE COUNTRY? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Existence of a JSR Steering Committee (SC) | SC provides strategic direction for the establishment and operation of the JSR. It is usually chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture and includes as members leading donors and 3-4 other representatives of key stakeholder groups | Yes | Steering Committee is made up of representatives from monitoring and evaluation (M&E) units of ministries in charge of rural development (agriculture, livestock, water and sanitation, environment) and the Permanent Secretary for Agricultural Sectorial Policies Coordination (SP/CPSA).
Donors and Non-State Actors (NSA) need to be included. |
| Existence of a JSR Secretariat | Secretariat coordinates activities and operations of the JSR and JSR SC. It can be made up of core staff from the Planning & M&E Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture | Yes | The SP/CPSA plays the role of the JSR Secretariat and helps to ensure the coordination of agricultural policy processes. The current practice is close to the best practice |
| Existence of JSR Terms of Reference (TOR) for the JSR | TOR to lay out JSR objectives, state and non-state stakeholders and their roles, roles of the SC and Secretariat, operating principles, structure and frequency of JSR meetings and follow up and implementation of actions, etc.
TOR may also need to be developed consultants hired to conduct JSR studies. |
Yes | TOR is drafted by state actors only. Participation of donors and NSA is needed to follow the best practice. |
CÔTE D'IVOIRE
CÔTE D'IVOIRE
×| JSR BUILDING BLOCKS | BEST PRACTICES | PRACTICE IN PLACE? (Yes/No) | WHAT IS THE CURRENT PRACTICE IN THE COUNTRY? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Existence of a JSR Steering Committee (SC) | SC provides strategic direction for the establishment and operation of the JSR. It is usually chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture and includes as members leading donors and 3-4 other representatives of key stakeholder groups | No | A proposed Steering Committee will be made of: i) Ministry of Agriculture, ii) Ministry of Livestock, Ministry of Water and Environment, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, the Technical Secretariat for National Development Program, Ministry of Economy and Finance, ANOPAC¬ (National Association of Agricultural Producers Organizations of Cote d'Ivoire), CGECI (Confederation of Enterprises of Cote d'Ivoire), civil society, and PTF (Technical and Financial Partner). |
| Existence of a JSR Secretariat | Secretariat coordinates activities and operations of the JSR and JSR SC. It can be made up of core staff from the Planning & M&E Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture | No | Secretariat coordinates activities and operations of the JSR and JSR SC. It can be made up of core staff from the Planning & M&E Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture |
| Existence of JSR Terms of Reference (TOR) for the JSR | TOR to lay out JSR objectives, state and non-state stakeholders and their roles, roles of the SC and Secretariat, operating principles, structure and frequency of JSR meetings and follow up and implementation of actions, etc.
TOR may also need to be developed consultants hired to conduct JSR studies. |
Yes | TOR exist for the review. A review of the National Development Plan (NDP) is carried out.
However, the review cycle needs to enhance TORs to also include a review of implementation progress under the national agriculture and food security investment plan (NAIP) and commitments under the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition. |
ETHIOPIA
ETHIOPIA
×| JSR BUILDING BLOCKS | BEST PRACTICES | PRACTICE IN PLACE? (Yes/No) | WHAT IS THE CURRENT PRACTICE IN THE COUNTRY? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Existence of a JSR Steering Committee (SC) | SC provides strategic direction for the establishment and operation of the JSR. It is usually chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture and includes as members leading donors and 3-4 other representatives of key stakeholder groups | Yes | Ethiopia has a SC for its Agriculture Sector Policy Investment Framework (PIF) Review, which corresponds to the JSR. The PIF has representatives from the ministry of agriculture and leading development agencies. However, there is considerable room for improvement of the non-state actors (NSAs) involvement in the PIF review processes. |
| Existence of a JSR Secretariat | Secretariat coordinates activities and operations of the JSR and JSR SC. It can be made up of core staff from the Planning & M&E Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture | Yes | The Rural Economic Development and Food Security Sector Working Group (RED&FS) Secretariat coordinates the review process. The Secretariat works closely with the planning department of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA). The secretariat is constrained by inadequate numbers of staff with sufficient skills for M&E and mutual accountability. |
| Existence of JSR Terms of Reference (TOR) for the JSR | TOR to lay out JSR objectives, state and non-state stakeholders and their roles, roles of the SC and Secretariat, operating principles, structure and frequency of JSR meetings and follow up and implementation of actions, etc.
TOR may also need to be developed consultants hired to conduct JSR studies. |
Yes | The SC develops TOR to guide the review process. TORs for consultants are also developed. |
GHANA
GHANA
×| JSR BUILDING BLOCKS | BEST PRACTICES | PRACTICE IN PLACE? (Yes/No) | WHAT IS THE CURRENT PRACTICE IN THE COUNTRY? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Existence of a JSR Steering Committee (SC) | SC provides strategic direction for the establishment and operation of the JSR. It is usually chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture and includes as members leading donors and 3-4 other representatives of key stakeholder groups | Yes | Usually this role is played by the Policy sub-group of the Agriculture Sector Working Group (ASWG). Attendance by private sector, farmer groups, and civil society organizations (CSOs) is usually weak although they are officially part of the ASWG.
Gradually, the steering committee for the country’s Medium Term Agriculture Sector Investment Plan (METASIP) has become more involved in the planning of the JSR. Steering committee meetings are attended by a wide range of stakeholders. |
| Existence of a JSR Secretariat | Secretariat coordinates activities and operations of the JSR and JSR SC. It can be made up of core staff from the Planning & M&E Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture | Yes | The Secretariat has dedicated staff from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and is supported by key departments in the Ministry. |
| Existence of JSR Terms of Reference (TOR) for the JSR | TOR to lay out JSR objectives, state and non-state stakeholders and their roles, roles of the SC and Secretariat, operating principles, structure and frequency of JSR meetings and follow up and implementation of actions, etc.
TOR may also need to be developed consultants hired to conduct JSR studies. |
Yes | TOR are developed for each JSR based on the JSR theme. |
MALI
MALI
×| JSR BUILDING BLOCKS | BEST PRACTICES | PRACTICE IN PLACE? (Yes/No) | WHAT IS THE CURRENT PRACTICE IN THE COUNTRY? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Existence of a JSR Steering Committee (SC) | SC provides strategic direction for the establishment and operation of the JSR. It is usually chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture and includes as members leading donors and 3-4 other representatives of key stakeholder groups | Yes | The Steering Committee is made up of civil servants from the ministries in charge of rural development, producer organizations, civil society, women and youth, the private sector and development partners (DPs). |
| Existence of a JSR Secretariat | Secretariat coordinates activities and operations of the JSR and JSR SC. It can be made up of core staff from the Planning & M&E Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture | Yes | The Secretariat is made up of staff from the Planning and Statistics Unit of the Ministry of Rural Development ((CPS/SDR) |
| Existence of JSR Terms of Reference (TOR) for the JSR | TOR to lay out JSR objectives, state and non-state stakeholders and their roles, roles of the SC and Secretariat, operating principles, structure and frequency of JSR meetings and follow up and implementation of actions, etc.
TOR may also need to be developed consultants hired to conduct JSR studies. |
Yes | TORs are drafted by the CPS/SDR and validated by the Steering Committee. |
MALAWI
MALAWI
×| JSR BUILDING BLOCKS | BEST PRACTICES | PRACTICE IN PLACE? (Yes/No) | WHAT IS THE CURRENT PRACTICE IN THE COUNTRY? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Existence of a JSR Steering Committee (SC) | SC provides strategic direction for the establishment and operation of the JSR. It is usually chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture and includes as members leading donors and 3-4 other representatives of key stakeholder groups | Yes | Malawi has a JSR Task Force functions as a Steering Committee. It is made up of the Ministry of Agriculture, IFPRI, donors, and other stakeholders, and is expected to meet at least once every two months. Its objectives are to i) facilitate the timely and quality organization of JSR meetings, ii) identify necessary prerequisite millstones for JSR meetings, and iii) ensure that actions and recommendations agreed at JSR meetings are followed up on in a timely manner.
There is need to appoint co-chairs because currently only the Ministry of Agriculture chairs JSR meetings. The JSR Task Force needs to include other donors who are active in the sector. |
| Existence of a JSR Secretariat | Secretariat coordinates activities and operations of the JSR and JSR SC. It can be made up of core staff from the Planning & M&E Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture | Yes | Malawi has a JSR Secretariat which is within the Agriculture Sector-Wide Approach Program (ASWAP) secretariat and coordinates activities of the JSR and JSR Taskforce. It is made up of the Planning and M&E Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture and IFPRI. It is responsible for organizing meetings and following up with technical working groups. |
| Existence of JSR Terms of Reference (TOR) for the JSR | TOR to lay out JSR objectives, state and non-state stakeholders and their roles, roles of the SC and Secretariat, operating principles, structure and frequency of JSR meetings and follow up and implementation of actions, etc.
TOR may also need to be developed consultants hired to conduct JSR studies. |
Yes | Malawi’s JSR started in 2012 but it has operated without well-established TORs. JSR TORs need to be developed to outline roles for all stakeholders and operating principles. |
MOZAMBIQUE
MOZAMBIQUE
×| JSR BUILDING BLOCKS | BEST PRACTICES | PRACTICE IN PLACE? (Yes/No) | WHAT IS THE CURRENT PRACTICE IN THE COUNTRY? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Existence of a JSR Steering Committee (SC) | SC provides strategic direction for the establishment and operation of the JSR. It is usually chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture and includes as members leading donors and 3-4 other representatives of key stakeholder groups | Yes | The Directorate of Economics in the Ministry of Agriculture chairs the JSR process in the country. The process is supported by other ministries such as Finance and Land. The Agricultural Sector Coordinating Committee serves as the JSR Steering Committee.
There is need to strengthen participation of civil society organizations (CSOs) and the private sector. |
| Existence of a JSR Secretariat | Secretariat coordinates activities and operations of the JSR and JSR SC. It can be made up of core staff from the Planning & M&E Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture | Yes | The Agricultural Sector Coordinating Committee serves as the JSR Secretariat. There is a need to have permanent members on the Secretariat from CSOs and the private sector. |
| Existence of JSR Terms of Reference (TOR) for the JSR | TOR to lay out JSR objectives, state and non-state stakeholders and their roles, roles of the SC and Secretariat, operating principles, structure and frequency of JSR meetings and follow up and implementation of actions, etc.
TOR may also need to be developed consultants hired to conduct JSR studies. |
Yes | The TORs have been modified to include all key stakeholders (both state and non-state actors) and their roles in the JSR process. |
NIGER
NIGER
×| JSR BUILDING BLOCKS | BEST PRACTICES | PRACTICE IN PLACE? (Yes/No) | WHAT IS THE CURRENT PRACTICE IN THE COUNTRY? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Existence of a JSR Steering Committee (SC) | SC provides strategic direction for the establishment and operation of the JSR. It is usually chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture and includes as members leading donors and 3-4 other representatives of key stakeholder groups | Yes | Steering Committee (SC) is made up of M&E units of ministries in charge of rural development (agriculture, livestock, water and sanitation, environment), the Nigeriens feed Nigeriens Initiative (HC3N) and other ministries (finance, education and planning) and non-state actors. Donors need to be included in the SC. |
| Existence of a JSR Secretariat | Secretariat coordinates activities and operations of the JSR and JSR SC. It can be made up of core staff from the Planning & M&E Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture | Yes | Functions of a Secretariat are handled by staff from the HC3N initiative. |
| Existence of JSR Terms of Reference (TOR) for the JSR | TOR to lay out JSR objectives, state and non-state stakeholders and their roles, roles of the SC and Secretariat, operating principles, structure and frequency of JSR meetings and follow up and implementation of actions, etc.
TOR may also need to be developed consultants hired to conduct JSR studies. |
Yes | TOR are drafted by state actors only. Participation of donors and NSA is needed. |
SENEGAL
SENEGAL
×| JSR BUILDING BLOCKS | BEST PRACTICES | PRACTICE IN PLACE? (Yes/No) | WHAT IS THE CURRENT PRACTICE IN THE COUNTRY? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Existence of a JSR Steering Committee (SC) | SC provides strategic direction for the establishment and operation of the JSR. It is usually chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture and includes as members leading donors and 3-4 other representatives of key stakeholder groups | Yes | The national agriculture and food security investment plan (NAIP) Committee serves as the JSR SC. Committee is inclusive of state and non-state actors (NSA) and chaired by the Directorate of Analysis and Forecasting of Agricultural Statistics (DAPSA). |
| Existence of a JSR Secretariat | Secretariat coordinates activities and operations of the JSR and JSR SC. It can be made up of core staff from the Planning & M&E Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture | Yes | Secretariat is made up of members from DAPSA, other ministries planning units, and NSAs. |
| Existence of JSR Terms of Reference (TOR) for the JSR | TOR to lay out JSR objectives, state and non-state stakeholders and their roles, roles of the SC and Secretariat, operating principles, structure and frequency of JSR meetings and follow up and implementation of actions, etc.
TOR may also need to be developed consultants hired to conduct JSR studies. |
Yes | TOR were drafted by the SC and shared with all stakeholders for review and input. |
SWAZILAND
SWAZILAND
×| JSR BUILDING BLOCKS | BEST PRACTICES | PRACTICE IN PLACE? (Yes/No) | WHAT IS THE CURRENT PRACTICE IN THE COUNTRY? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Existence of a JSR Steering Committee (SC) | SC provides strategic direction for the establishment and operation of the JSR. It is usually chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture and includes as members leading donors and 3-4 other representatives of key stakeholder groups | Yes | The Steering Committee (SC) is led by the Ministry of Agriculture with support from other ministries i.e. Finance, Economic Planning and Development and Environment and Natural Resources. Non-state actors are also involved through civil society organizations (CSOs) such as the Council of Churches and the Swaziland Farmers Association.
Active involvement of senior government officials such as Under-Secretaries and Principal Secretaries, the Minister of Agriculture, and the Parliament Portfolio Committee on Agriculture during the 2015 JSR assessment is commendable. |
| Existence of a JSR Secretariat | Secretariat coordinates activities and operations of the JSR and JSR SC. It can be made up of core staff from the Planning & M&E Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture | Yes | JSR Secretariat was established under the leadership of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture. A key role of the Secretariat is to facilitate the JSR process among all key stakeholder groups.
The Permanent secretary was very hands on in the appointment of the JSR secretariat. |
| Existence of JSR Terms of Reference (TOR) for the JSR | TOR to lay out JSR objectives, state and non-state stakeholders and their roles, roles of the SC and Secretariat, operating principles, structure and frequency of JSR meetings and follow up and implementation of actions, etc.
TOR may also need to be developed consultants hired to conduct JSR studies. |
Yes | The country customized and modified the TORs to meet the needs and demands of the sector. The roles given to the secretariat and the consultants are clearly defined. |
TANZANIA
TANZANIA
×| JSR BUILDING BLOCKS | BEST PRACTICES | PRACTICE IN PLACE? (Yes/No) | WHAT IS THE CURRENT PRACTICE IN THE COUNTRY? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Existence of a JSR Steering Committee (SC) | SC provides strategic direction for the establishment and operation of the JSR. It is usually chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture and includes as members leading donors and 3-4 other representatives of key stakeholder groups | Yes | There is a SC committee composed of members from the agriculture sector line ministries, development partners, and non-state actors (NSAs).
Reviews of the agriculture sector include the Agriculture Sector Review (ASR), Public Expenditure Review (PER), and Joint Implementation Review (JIR). |
| Existence of a JSR Secretariat | Secretariat coordinates activities and operations of the JSR and JSR SC. It can be made up of core staff from the Planning & M&E Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture | Yes | The country has a secretariat which coordinates activities and operations of the JSR. It is made up of staff from the directorate of planning in the ministry of agriculture and from the Tanzania Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System (SAKSS). |
| Existence of JSR Terms of Reference (TOR) for the JSR | TOR to lay out JSR objectives, state and non-state stakeholders and their roles, roles of the SC and Secretariat, operating principles, structure and frequency of JSR meetings and follow up and implementation of actions, etc.
TOR may also need to be developed consultants hired to conduct JSR studies. |
Yes | The SC prepares TOR for the JSR and shared them with key agriculture stakeholders for comments. TORs for the consultants are also developed. |
TOGO
TOGO
×| JSR BUILDING BLOCKS | BEST PRACTICES | PRACTICE IN PLACE? (Yes/No) | WHAT IS THE CURRENT PRACTICE IN THE COUNTRY? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Existence of a JSR Steering Committee (SC) | SC provides strategic direction for the establishment and operation of the JSR. It is usually chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture and includes as members leading donors and 3-4 other representatives of key stakeholder groups | Yes | The SC for the national agriculture and food security investment plan (NAIP) serves as the JSR SC. All key stakeholder groups are included. |
| Existence of a JSR Secretariat | Secretariat coordinates activities and operations of the JSR and JSR SC. It can be made up of core staff from the Planning & M&E Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture | No | The Secretariat of Togo Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System (SAKSS) has been proposed to assume this role. |
| Existence of JSR Terms of Reference (TOR) for the JSR | TOR to lay out JSR objectives, state and non-state stakeholders and their roles, roles of the SC and Secretariat, operating principles, structure and frequency of JSR meetings and follow up and implementation of actions, etc.
TOR may also need to be developed consultants hired to conduct JSR studies. |
Yes | TOR have been developed and reflect the need for NAIP review. |
UGANDA
UGANDA
×| JSR BUILDING BLOCKS | BEST PRACTICES | PRACTICE IN PLACE? (Yes/No) | WHAT IS THE CURRENT PRACTICE IN THE COUNTRY? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Existence of a JSR Steering Committee (SC) | SC provides strategic direction for the establishment and operation of the JSR. It is usually chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture and includes as members leading donors and 3-4 other representatives of key stakeholder groups | Yes | Uganda’s Agriculture Sector Working Group makes up the SC for its Joint Agricultural Annual Review (JASAR). The SC is chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF). The SC includes MAAIF, other agriculture line ministries, donors, and non-state actors (NSAs). |
| Existence of a JSR Secretariat | Secretariat coordinates activities and operations of the JSR and JSR SC. It can be made up of core staff from the Planning & M&E Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture | Yes | The country has a JASAR secretariat which coordinates activities and operations of the JASAR. It is made up of staff from the Directorate of Planning and M&E within MAAIF. |
| Existence of JSR Terms of Reference (TOR) for the JSR | TOR to lay out JSR objectives, state and non-state stakeholders and their roles, roles of the SC and Secretariat, operating principles, structure and frequency of JSR meetings and follow up and implementation of actions, etc.
TOR may also need to be developed consultants hired to conduct JSR studies. |
Yes | TOR for JASAR exist and they are comprehensive. However, in practice the review is dominated by MAAIF performance reporting. Some areas (such as public expenditures, outcome and impact performance, development partners’ performance and non-state actors’ performance) are not reviewed in detail. MAAIF invites selected institutions to make presentations on topical issues. |
ZAMBIA
ZAMBIA
×| JSR BUILDING BLOCKS | BEST PRACTICES | PRACTICE IN PLACE? (Yes/No) | WHAT IS THE CURRENT PRACTICE IN THE COUNTRY? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Existence of a JSR Steering Committee (SC) | SC provides strategic direction for the establishment and operation of the JSR. It is usually chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture and includes as members leading donors and 3-4 other representatives of key stakeholder groups | Yes | The Steering Committee is led by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. Other Ministries, development partners, and think tanks such as the Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research (ZIPAR) are also involved.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock has conducts a Joint Agriculture Review (JAR) process. The JAR has been incorporated into the JSR process. The JAR has a steering committee at national level while provinces also have their own steering committees, a good practice. |
| Existence of a JSR Secretariat | Secretariat coordinates activities and operations of the JSR and JSR SC. It can be made up of core staff from the Planning & M&E Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture | No | A Secretariat is in place as part of the JAR. |
| Existence of JSR Terms of Reference (TOR) for the JSR | TOR to lay out JSR objectives, state and non-state stakeholders and their roles, roles of the SC and Secretariat, operating principles, structure and frequency of JSR meetings and follow up and implementation of actions, etc.
TOR may also need to be developed consultants hired to conduct JSR studies. |
Yes | The TORs are in place for the JAR at the national and provincial levels.
The roles of different parties are clearly defined for the JAR Secretariat and Steering Committee at both national and provincial levels. |
ZIMBABWE
ZIMBABWE
×| JSR BUILDING BLOCKS | BEST PRACTICES | PRACTICE IN PLACE? (Yes/No) | WHAT IS THE CURRENT PRACTICE IN THE COUNTRY? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Existence of a JSR Steering Committee (SC) | SC provides strategic direction for the establishment and operation of the JSR. It is usually chaired by the Ministry of Agriculture and includes as members leading donors and 3-4 other representatives of key stakeholder groups | Yes | The Steering Committee is made up of representatives from the Economics and Markets Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanization and Irrigation Development (MAMID) and other Ministries such as Trade and Commerce, Lands, and Finance. |
| Existence of a JSR Secretariat | Secretariat coordinates activities and operations of the JSR and JSR SC. It can be made up of core staff from the Planning & M&E Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture | No | The Secretariat is made up of staff from the Department of Economics and Markets and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector. Despite the lack of resources, the robust work done by the Department of Economics and markets went a long way in making the process a success. |
| Existence of JSR Terms of Reference (TOR) for the JSR | TOR to lay out JSR objectives, state and non-state stakeholders and their roles, roles of the SC and Secretariat, operating principles, structure and frequency of JSR meetings and follow up and implementation of actions, etc.
TOR may also need to be developed consultants hired to conduct JSR studies. |
Yes | Generic TOR were adopted and adapted to meet country needs. The roles played by the Steering Committee, the Secretariat, and a Consultant are clearly stipulated. TORs have helped to promote country ownership of the JSR process among stakeholders in the agricultural sector. |
SUPPORTING JOINT SECTOR REVIEW ASSESSMENTS
As part of its role in supporting review, benchmarking, and mutual accountability processes, ReSAKSS has led efforts to promote comprehensive, inclusive, and robust agricultural JSRs. JSRs provide a platform for assessing the performance of the agricultural sector and how well government and nongovernment stakeholders have implemented their commitments, as stipulated in CAADP compacts, national agricultural and food security investment plans, and related cooperation agreements.
ReSAKSS has conducted assessments of JSR initiatives in 18 countries and 1 regional economic community, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to evaluate the institutional and policy framework and the quality of existing processes for the purpose of developing action plans intended to improve or establish best practices for the conduct of JSRs. Recommendations from the assessments have been incorporated in countries with ongoing JSRs, and other countries—such as Senegal and Burkina Faso—are developing new JSR processes reflecting these best practices. Technical review and assessment activities target three areas:
- evaluating the policy and institutional environment surrounding the implementation of NAIPs: “National Agriculture and Food Security Investment Plans (NAIPs)”;
- examining progress toward achieving the key target outcomes of the NAIPS, and recording benchmarks for future reviews; and
- assessing existing review processes in terms of their effectiveness for future reviews, including identifying actions to remedy weaknesses.
Two key outputs of the review, assessment, and consultation activities are
- substantive review reports on sectoral performance, progress against commitments, effectiveness of policies and institutions, and quality of review processes, and action plans to address the gaps and weaknesses in terms of technical and institutional capacity and to promote best practices in sectoral review processes.
- To date, joint sector review assessments have been conducted in 18 countries, and more are planned. The reports of available JSR assessments are linked below:
JSR SCHEDULES & CONTACTS
Joint Sector Reviews (JSRs) are not new in Africa. Several countries already conduct JSRs or JSR-like processes on a regular basis. ReSAKSS is helping to strengthen these processes and make them more regular, comprehensive, and inclusive of non-state actors. Below you can find information on JSR schedules and contact information for JSR point persons at the country and regional levels.
BIENNIAL REVIEW GUIDELINES AND TOOLS
The African Union Commission and the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency, in collaboration with regional economic communities (RECs), and various technical partners, have developed BR guidelines and tools to guide the preparation of the continental BR report:
Guidelines
i) 43 performance indicators to benchmark country progress toward meeting each of the seven Malabo commitments,
ii) Technical Guidelines that profile each indicator and provide detailed calculations and computing methods,
iii) Country Progress Reporting Template used by each country to collect data required for the country BR report, and
iv) Strategic guidelines to establish the review mechanism for the BR reporting on the Malabo Declaration.
Tools
i) Technical Note on the scorecard methodology to benchmark and evaluate country progress, and
ii) Regional training workshops to train national experts on BR i) benchmarking methods, ii) indicators, and iii) guidelines.
MUTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY OVERVIEW
ReSAKSS SUPPORT TO MUTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY
The African Union Commission (AUC) and NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA) have adopted both a mutual accountability framework, which sets out principles for mutual review, and a results framework, intended to guide the tracking of performance indicators for the next decade of CAADP.
They have designated ReSAKSS as the primary knowledge and support platform for reviewing, benchmarking, and learning from ongoing progress in implementing the CAADP agenda. Integral to its mandate, ReSAKSS supports efforts to introduce or strengthen agricultural joint sector review (JSR) practices and provides technical support to the CAADP Biennial Review (BR) process.
Mutual accountability is a process by which two or more partners agree to be held responsible for voluntary commitments they make to each other. The process requires trust and partnership around shared agendas supported by evidence collected and shared among all partners in order to create incentives for the parties to meet their commitments over time. For more information, see the Mutual Accountability Framework for the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme.
Agricultural joint sector reviews (JSRs)
Agricultural joint sector reviews (JSRs) are an integral part of the transition to inclusive, evidence-based policy planning and implementation. In particular, the reviews form a platform for collectively reviewing the effectiveness of policies and institutions in the agricultural sector, as well as assessing the extent to which intended results and outcomes are being realized. In this way, all stakeholders are able to hold each other accountable for the fulfillment of commitments made under CAADP compacts, national agricultural investment plans, and related agreements. By allowing a broad spectrum of stakeholders to influence and gain insights into agricultural policies and priorities,
JSRs serve as a management and policy support tool for developing the sector through inclusive planning, programming, budgeting, monitoring, and evaluation.
CAADP Biennial Review
Through the 2014 Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods, African leaders committed to advancing mutual accountability by conducting a continental level biennial agricultural review to monitor and report on progress made on seven broad commitments.
The first Biennial Review (BR) took place during the 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of African Union (AU) heads of state and government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from January 28-29, 2018. The BR is a mutual accountability process for assessing agriculture sector performance at the country, regional, and continental levels as it relates to the achievement of Malabo Declaration commitments.
BIENNIAL REVIEW REPORTS AND RESOURCES
The BR assesses and reports on progress made by countries, regions, and the continent as a whole with respect to achieving the seven Malabo Declaration commitments. Below are BR related reports and resources.
Continental Reports i) Inaugural Biennial Review Report . According to the report, out of 47 reporting countries, 20 obtained an overall agricultural transformation score of at least 3.9 out of 10 indicating that they are on track to achieving Malabo commitments by 2025. ii) Inaugural African Agricultural Transformation Scorecard.
BIENNIAL REVIEW SCHEDULES AND CONTACTS
Below you can find BR schedules and contact information for CAADP BR point persons at the country, regional, and continental levels:
Schedules The 2017 CAADP BR Roadmap, lays out different planning steps leading to the submission of the BR report at the January 2018 AU Summit for review.
SUPPORT TO THE CAADP BIENNIAL REVIEW
The Regional Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System (ReSAKSS) provides important technical assistance to the CAADP BR process. In support of the inaugural BR report, ReSAKSS supported: i) development of technical guidelines, tools, and indicators; ii) training of 156 national experts from 52 countries; iii) development of a user-friendly interface to ease data entry and automatic generation of scorecards, and iv) efforts by countries and regional economic communities (RECs) toward data collection and analysis, data entry, and drafting country reports, regional summaries, and the continental report.
ReSAKSS plans to provide similar support to subsequent CAADP BRs. ReSAKSS will support AUC and NPCA with drawing lessons from the inaugural BR and using them to improve the process and strengthen methodologies and tools. ReSAKSS also plans to support countries with strengthening statistical capacities, data monitoring and evaluation systems, as well as mutual accountability processes such as joint sector reviews that are the bedrock for an inclusive and comprehensive BR process.