Holiday Message from CCARDESA

Dear Colleagues,

As 2018 comes to a close, we reflect on a year of progress and development for Centre for Coordination for Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA), it’s partners and stakeholders. From a public perspective, this was underlined by a significant step forward at the CCARDESA Secretariat in November, with the launch of our new website www.ccardesa.org at the FANRPAN High-level Policy Dialogue in Maputo, Mozambique. Developed with the support of the GIZ Adaptation to Climate Change in Rural Areas in Southern Africa (ACCRA) programme, this new site integrates institutional information with a comprehensive knowledge hub. We are hoping that this platform will help further catalyse the exchange of knowledge among stakeholders, through the availability of documents and other resources, on the knowledge hub itself and shared via discussion groups, social media channels and newsletters. To sign-up for this newsletter, please submit your email address at the bottom of any page on the website.

Following are some of the highlights from our work this year.

• CCARDESA – engagement with many stakeholders through multiple platforms and forums and the launch of the new institutional website and knowledge hub;
• Agricultural Productivity Program for Southern Africa (APPSA) hosted the first APPSA Scientific Conference in Malawi; and
• GIZ Adaptation to Climate Change in Rural Areas in Southern Africa (ACCRA) – supporting the launch of the new CCARDESA website and knowledge hub and supporting the climate proofing of the maize value chain project.

Each of these achievements are unpacked in the news stories below, supported by more information resources on the website.

And now, with these achievements in mind, we look forward to  your continued support into 2019 and for further progress in the field of agricultural research and development in the region. On behalf of CCARDESA, we wish you and your families a peaceful and restful festive season.

With season’s greetings.

Dr Simon Mwale
Acting Executive Director
Centre for Coordination for Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa Secretariat
Gaborone
Botswana

Dr Simon Mwale
Acting Executive Director
Centre for Coordination for Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa Secretariat
Gaborone
Botswana

Centre for Coordination for Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA)
CCARDESA had a successful year and convened many stakeholder engagement activities. This included participation in meetings with other sub-regional organisations with the European Commission’s International Cooperation and Development (DEVCO); hosting the new Director of the SADC Food Agriculture and Natural Resources (FANR)  Directorate, Mr. Gove, which will lead to further cooperation between the two institutions; the hosting of the first APPSA Scientific Conference (see below); and hosting the Policy Dialogue and Stakeholder Consultation Forum for Farm Animals and Genetic Resources. CCARDESA was also excited to launch its new website and information, communication and knowledge management system.

Agricultural Productivity Program for Southern Africa (APPSA)
The Agricultural Productivity Program for Southern Africa (APPSA) has experienced some significant achievements, including hosting the first Scientific Conference in Lilongwe, Malawi in November under the theme “Enhancing Farmers’ Productivity through Collaborative Agricultural Research in Southern Africa”. The conference was attended by more than 100 Scientists from the current APPSA countries (Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia) and participants from other SADC Countries (Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Madagascar and Zimbabwe) and CG Centers (CIAT, IRRI & ICRISAT).  In addition, Angola and Lesotho are set to join the APPSA programme.  The focus commodities for which they will be establishing Regional Centres of Leadership (RCoLs) are cassava for Angola and horticulture for Lesotho. To learn more about the APPSA programme please visit: http://www.ccardesa.org/agricultural-productivity-program-southern-afric...

Adaptation to Climate Change in Rural Areas in Southern African (ACCRA)
The GIZ Adaptation to Climate Change in Rural Areas in Southern African (ACCRA) programme has continued to support the CCARDESA Secretariat in its activities. This has included supporting the launch of the new CCARDESA website and knowledge hub, supporting the further development of the Information, Communication and Knowledge Management (ICKM) System at the organisation which has included the development of an ICKM strategy and manual. Furthermore, ACCRA successfully implemented the maize value chain project with Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi including the completion of a climate risk analysis for the SADC region, a prioritisation of climate-smart best practices for maize in the region, and piloting of selected practices in Malawi and the formulation of a feasibility analysis. To learn more about the ACCRA programme please visit: http://www.ccardesa.org/adaptation-climate-change-rural-areas-southern-a...