Technical Assistance to setting up CAADP Country SAKSS in selected countries in the ECOWAS region
Technical assistance was provided by ReSAKSS-WA for the establishment of a CAADP Country Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support (SAKSS) node in Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo, all countries in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) region. ReSAKSS-WA also assisted with the design of a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) review framework for the agricultural sector of Nigeria, with support from IFPRI-Nigeria.
Nigeria-SAKSS, IFPRI-Nigeria, and USAID-Nigeria assisted with working out modalities to engage M&E experts to carry out this activity for the CAADP Country Team and SAKSS node. In addition, concept notes for a Nigeria Annual Trends and Outlook Report (ATOR) methodology workshop and a SAKSS orientation workshop were also drawn-up.
In addition to the review framework, concept notes for a Nigeria Annual Trends and Outlook Report (ATOR) methodology workshop and a SAKSS orientation workshop were also drawn-up. The orientation workshop is in the works to prepare key agriculture ministry staff regarding their roles in the SAKSS program. These activities are expected to take place prior to 2012. ReSAKSS-WA also assisted in identifying a SAKSS coordinator for Nigeria. Discussions are still ongoing to assess the way forward.
ReSAKSS-WA has also recently participated in a NEPAD/AUC meeting on strengthening SAKSS and mutual accountability frameworks (MAF). The meeting examined ongoing SAKSS and MAF activities and made detailed plans for strengthening them in selected West African countries for pilot programs.
Support was given to the agricultural statistics unit of Togo to conduct the baseline study for the implementation of Togo National Agricultural Investment Plan (NAIP). This support has focused on the amendment of the questionnaires for the inclusion of indicators for M&E CAADP and Togo NAIP.
West Africa Capacity Building and Agricultural Sector Enhancemen
The proposed aims of Togo’s NAIP support ECOWAS in the implementation of the CAADP and ECOWAS Agricultural Policy M&E framework. This was all discussed at the recent West Africa regional M&E meeting in Lomé, Togo. After the regional conference on the transmission of increasing world food prices on West African Markets held from 4 to 6 April in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, ReSAKSS-WA, together with Michigan State University and Promisam, the Syngenta Foundation, and CILSS, finalized the regional synthesis of the study on food consumption dynamics in selected countries.
Discussions with FAO on the implementation of the “Analysis of Evolving Consumption Patterns and Income Growth” component mentioned in the last quarterly report have advanced and a contract between ReSAKSS-WA and FAO will soon be signed pending agreement on the Intellectual Property. ReSAKSS-WA hopes the contract will be signed soon for work to commence.