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The '''Regional Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System''' (ReSAKSS) is an Africa-wide network established in 2006 to provide policy-relevant analysis, data, and tools for the assessment of the [[New Partnership for Africa's Development]] (NEPAD) and [[African Union]]'s joint Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and other regional agricultural development programmes in Africa<ref>{{cite web|title=ReSAKSS Project Portfolio|url=http://www.ifpri.org/book-5308/ourwork/program/regional-strategic-analysis-and-knowledge-support-system-resakss|publisher=IFPRI}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|title=Portfolio on Future Agriculture Website|url=http://www.future-agricultures.org/policy-engagement/caadp/560-resakss-regional-strategic-analysis-and-knowledge-support-system-}}</ref> .
 
The '''Regional Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System (ReSAKSS)''' was established in 2006 and compiles and analyzes information to help design and evaluate rural development strategies and monitor the progress of the [[Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme]] (CAADP).<ref>Global Donor Platform for Rural Development. [http://www.donorplatform.org/caadp?tab=resakss ReSAKSS and CAADP], accessed June 29, 2012</ref><ref>CTA. ICT Update. [http://ictupdate.cta.int/Links/Web-Resources/Regional-Strategic-Analysis-and-Knowledge-Support-System Farmer services: Regional Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System], accessed July 4, 2012</ref><ref name="ASARECA">ASARECA. 2009. [http://www.asareca.org/paap/uploads/newsletters/PAAP%20Newsletter%20Vol%2012%20No.19.doc PAAP Electronic Newsletter 12/19. 2009.]</ref> CAADP is a program of the [[African Union]] and the [[New Partnership for Africa's Development]] (NEPAD), which aims to increase the share of national budgets allocated to agriculture.<ref>African Union. 2003. [http://www.nepad.org/system/files/Maputo%20Declaration.pdf Maputo Declaration on Agriculture and Food Security in Africa (Assembly/AU/Decl. 7(II))]. Adopted at the Second Ordinary Assembly of the [[African Union]] in July 2003 in Maputo, Mozambique.</ref>
== Overview ==
ReSAKSS was established to meet the need for evidence-based information and analysis for [[Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme]] (CAADP)<ref>{{cite web|title=CAADP and ReSAKSS|url=http://www.donorplatform.org/activities/caadp/readings-and-links.html|publisher=Global Donor Platform for Rural Development}}</ref> . ReSAKSS operates as a multi-country network of collaborating partners that provide access to open data sources, analysis, and research tools and evidence for informing agricultural and poverty-reduction strategies.
 
== Organization Background==
Especially in the agriculture-based economies of Africa, agriculture is the sector that can affect not only poverty reduction and food security, but can also foster economic growth and sustain the environment.<ref>[http://publications.worldbank.org/ecommerce/catalog/product-detail?product_id=6966252 World Bank: World Development Report 2008: Agriculture for Development]</ref> African countries have set up CAADP to reach these goals and a Mutual Accountability Framework (MAF) to measure the program's progress. ReSAKSS plays an important role in this monitoring system by collecting relevant data and undertaking systematic analyses.<ref>ACORD, ActionAid, Oxfam. 2011. Synthesis Report: The 1st Pan-Africa Non-State Actors (NSA) Policy Dialogue Meeting on CAADP</ref><ref>Johnson, Michael, and Kathleen Flaherty. 2008. [https://web.archive.org/web/20111024235143/http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADS607.pdf Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support Systems (SAKSS): A Guidebook for Practitioners] ReSAKSS Working Paper No. 4.</ref>
ReSAKSS is organized around four nodes of operation: ReSAKSS Africa Wide (ReSAKSS-AW) is hosted at the [[International Food Policy Research Institute]] (IFPRI), Washington DC, US, ReSAKSS East and Central Africa (ReSAKSS-ECA)<ref>{{cite web|title=http://eastafrica.usaid.gov/en/USAID/Activity/1133/The_Regional_Strategic_Analysis_and_Knowledge_Support_System_for_Eastern_and_Central_Africa_ReSAKSSE|url=http://eastafrica.usaid.gov/en/USAID/Activity/1133/The_Regional_Strategic_Analysis_and_Knowledge_Support_System_for_Eastern_and_Central_Africa_ReSAKSSE|publisher=USAID-East Africa}}</ref> is hosted at the [[International Livestock Research Institute]] (ILRI) in Nairobi, Kenya<ref>{{cite web|title=http://www.ilri.org/RegionalStrategic|url=http://www.ilri.org/RegionalStrategic|publisher=ILRI}}</ref> , ReSAKSS Southern Africa (ReSAKSS-SA) is hosted at the [[International Water Management Institute]] (IWMI) in Pretoria, South Africa <ref>{{cite web|title=http://www.icrisat.org/icrisat-esa-resakss.htm|url=http://www.icrisat.org/icrisat-esa-resakss.htm|publisher=International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT)}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|title=http://www.icrisat.org/what-we-do/satrends/mar2007.htm|url=http://www.icrisat.org/what-we-do/satrends/mar2007.htm|publisher=ICRISAT}}</ref> and ReSAKSS West Africa (ReSAKSS-WA) is hosted at the [[International Institute of Tropical Agriculture]] (IITA) in Ibadan, Nigeria.
 
In November 2009 a conference was held to assess progress in implementing CAADP in African countries with several countries surpassing the target of 10% of their annual budgets to agriculture.<ref>Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA). 2009. [http://farastaff.blogspot.de/2009/11/africa-wide-conference-to-discuss.html Africa-wide Conference to Discuss Strategies to Boost Agricultural Development], accessed July 2, 2012</ref>
ReSAKSS is governed by Steering Committees that are chaired by the [[African Union Commission]] (AUC) and AU-NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA) at the Africa-wide level and by [[Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa]] (COMESA), [[Economic Community of West African States]] (ECOWAS) and [[Southern African Development Community]] (SADC) for ReSAKSS-ECA, ReSAKSS-WA and ReSAKSS-SA, respectively. The Steering Committees, whose members include representatives of the different CAADP stakeholders at the respective levels, provide political and strategic guidance to ReSAKSS<ref>{{cite web|title=TORs for the CAADP ReSAKSS Continental Steering Committee|url=http://www.caadp.net/pdf/Agenda%208%20-%20TORs%20for%20the%20CAADP%20ReSAKSS%20Continental%20Steering%20Committee.pdf}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|title=Potential Collaboration between RESAKSS & SACAU|url=http://www.sacau.org/hosting/sacau/SacauWeb.nsf/Pwpt_ReSAKSS%20Conf-%20Potential%20Collaboration%20ReSAKSS_SACAU-nov09.pdf|publisher=SACAU}}</ref> .
 
===Use of data===
It has received funding from the [[United States Agency for International Development]] (USAID), the UK [[Department for International Development]] (DFID), the [[Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency]] (SIDA), and the [[Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation]].
Besides Strategic analysis, information and data management and capacity strengthening activities to support CAADP implementation and informing policy and decision-making processes in Africa more generally,<ref name="ASARECA" /> ReSAKSS data is used by various other actors to analyze and monitor African agricultural development.
 
For instance, the data has been used by the [[G8]],<ref>[https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/189889.pdf G8 Camp David Accountability Report: Actions, approach and results]</ref> [[G20]], the [[OECD]],<ref>[http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/16/59/50544691.pdf Sustainable Agricultural Productivity Growth and Bridging the Gap for Small-family Farms: Interagency Report to the Mexican G20 Presidency]</ref> [[USAID]],<ref>USAID. 2010. [http://www.feedthefuture.gov/sites/default/files/country/strategies/files/FTF_2010_Implementation_Plan_Southern_Africa.pdf Feed the Future Implementation Plan 2010: Southern Africa]</ref> and the [[Heinrich Böll Foundation]].<ref>Heinrich Böll Foundation. 2009. [http://www.boell.de/downloads/worldwide/HighFoodPrices-WhoGetsTheMoney_Kenya.pdf High Commodity Prices – Who gets the Money? A Case Study on the Impact of High Food and Factor Prices on Kenyan Farmers]</ref>
== Activities and outputs ==
The key activities and outputs of ReSAKSS include: a web-based tool that features visual description of African countries’ performance in key agricultural development indicators<ref>{{cite web|title=New Interactive ReSAKSS Website Tracks Progress in African Agricultural Development|url=http://www.danidadevforum.um.dk/en/servicemenu/News/NewInteractiveReSAKSSWebsiteTracksProgressInAfricanAgriculturalDevelopment.htm|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark}}</ref> ; ReSAKSS flagship products, Annual Trends and Outlook Reports (ATORs)<ref>{{cite web|title=Non-CAADP reports: Monitoring African Agricultural Development Processes and Performance: A Comparative Analysis|url=http://www.caadp.net/pdf/Monitoring%20African%20Agricultural%20Development%20Processes%20and%20Performance_A%20Comparative%20Analysis%20(ReSAKSS).pdf|publisher=CAADP}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ruforum.org/documents/2010-resakss-annual-trends-and-outlook-report|title=The 2010 ReSAKSS Annual Trends and Outlook Report|publisher=RUFORUM}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|title=http://www.nepad.org/system/files/2010%20ReSAKSS-ATOR_CAADP-ME_revised%20March9_caadp_pp.pdf|url=http://www.nepad.org/system/files/2010%20ReSAKSS-ATOR_CAADP-ME_revised%20March9_caadp_pp.pdf|publisher=NEPAD}}</ref> , monitor progress at all levels (continental, regional and country) toward achievement of the CAADP benchmark targets, based on a monitoring and evaluating (M&E) framework<ref>{{cite web|title=Comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Report for the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)|url=http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/33/4/46552392.pdf?contentId=46552400|publisher=OECD}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|title=Putting Principles into Action: A US-Africa Forum on Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa|url=http://partnership-africa.org/sites/default/files/Summary%20Report%20February%202010%20Forum.pdf|publisher=Partnership to Cut Hunger and Poverty in Africa}}</ref> and other publications include a working paper and an issue brief series that analyzes key growth and poverty reduction issues in Africa<ref>{{cite web|title=ReSAKSS: Impact Assessment Outcome Statement|url=http://www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/publications/os10_resakss.pdf|publisher=IFPRI}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=ReSAKSS Quarterly Newsletter, Autumn 2011|url=http://knowledge.cta.int/en/Dossiers/CTA-and-S-T/Newsletters2/ReSAKSS-Quarterly-Newsletter-Autumn-2011|publisher=CTA}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|title=ReSAKSS Working Paper No.15: Assessing Potential Welfare Impacts on Agriculture of a Regional Free Trade Agreement in Southern Africa|url=http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNADS617.pdf|publisher=USAID}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|title=Policy Brief: Agricultural growth trends in Southern Africa|url=http://www.fanrpan.org/documents/d00358/papers/presentations/Agricultural_growth_trends_Chilonda_May2007.pdf|publisher=FANRPAN}}</ref> ; assisted with the growth and investment analysis for the country CAADP compacts and technical reviews of the national agricultural investment plans during the CAADP country roundtable processes <ref>{{cite web|title=Trends and outlook report on key agriculture and rural development indicators in Tanzania|url=http://www.idasa.org/media/uploads/outputs/files/tanzania_trends_report_may_2011-edited.pdf|publisher=Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperatives, The United Republic of Tanzania}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|title=2011 ATOR, Country SAKSS Progress Report and 2012 Plans|url=http://www.nepad.org/system/files/ReSAKSS_CAADP%20PP%202012_Nairobi.pdf|publisher=NEPAD}}</ref> ; provided technical assistance to establish country SAKSS nodes; trained or facilitated training of several researchers, policy analysts, and development professionals on data collection and different topics related to agricultural policy analysis<ref>{{cite web|title=Africa-wide Conference to Discuss Strategies to Boost Agricultural Development|url=http://www.ipc-undp.org/pressroom/pdf/IPCPressroom229.pdf|publisher=International Policy Centre for Inclusive Growth (IPC-IG)}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|title=First ReSAKSS/HarvestChoice Nairobi Workshop A Big Success (VIDEO)|url=http://harvestchoice.org/labs/first-resakssharvestchoice-nairobi-workshop-big-success-video|publisher=HarvestChoice}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|title=FAC at the Regional Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System's first conference|url=http://www.future-agricultures.org/policy-engagement/554-policy-dialogue/1021-resakss-conference|publisher=Future Agricultures}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|title=Africa-wide Conference to Discuss Strategies to Boost Agricultural Development|url=http://farastaff.blogspot.com/2009/11/africa-wide-conference-to-discuss.html|publisher=FARA Secretariat}}</ref> .
 
==ReferencesStructure==
ReSAKSSThe initiative is governed by Steering Committees that are chaired by the [[African Union Commission]] (AUC) and AU-NEPADAU–NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA) at the Africa-wide level and by [[Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa]] (COMESA), [[Economic Community of West African States]] (ECOWAS) and [[Southern African Development Community]] (SADC) for ReSAKSS-ECA,each ReSAKSS-WAof andthe ReSAKSSAfrican sub-SA, respectivelyregions. The Steering Committees, whose members includewith representatives of the different CAADP stakeholders at the respective levels, provide political and strategic guidance to ReSAKSS<ref>{{cite web|title=TORs for the CAADP ReSAKSS Continental Steering Committee|url=http://www.caadp.net/pdf/Agenda%208%20-%20TORs%20for%20the%20CAADP%20ReSAKSS%20Continental%20Steering%20Committee.pdf}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|title=Potential Collaboration between RESAKSS & SACAU|url=http://www.sacau.org/hosting/sacau/SacauWeb.nsf/Pwpt_ReSAKSS%20Conf-%20Potential%20Collaboration%20ReSAKSS_SACAU-nov09.pdf|publisher=SACAU}}</ref> .
{{reflist}}
 
The regional nodes are housed at three Africa-based centers of the [[CGIAR]]: the [[International Institute of Tropical Agriculture]] (IITA) in Ibadan, Nigeria; the [[International Livestock Research Institute]] (ILRI) in Nairobi, Kenya; and the [[International Water Management Institute]] (IWMI) in Pretoria, South Africa in collaboration with the [[International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics]] (ICRISAT). The [[International Food Policy Research Institute]] (IFPRI) provides the overall coordination across the three nodes.<ref name="ASARECA" />
== External links ==
 
# [http://www.resakss.org/ ReSAKSS Website]
ItReSAKSS hasand its regional and local components have received funding from the [[United States Agency for International Development]] (USAID), the UK [[Department for International Development]] (DFID), the [[Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency]] (SIDA), and the [[Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation]].<ref>[http://www.resakss.org ReSAKSS Website: About Us], accessed June 29, 2012</ref>
# [http://resakss.wordpress.com/ ReSAKSS Blog]
 
# [http://www.ifpri.org/book-38/node/5229 Country Development Strategy: Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support Systems (SAKSS)], IFPRI Website
==Criticism==
# [http://www.nepad-caadp.net/pdf/CAADP%20NEPAD%20fact%20sheet%20Desk%20Top%20Final.pdf "NEPAD and the CAADP Agenda, Factsheet No.2, March 2008"]. NEPAD.
The CGIAR, whose member organizations host and manage ReSAKSS, and its donors, namely the [[Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation]] have been criticized for their connections to Western governments and multinational [[agribusiness]] for furthering a technology-driven agenda that favors large agribusiness at the expenses of small farmers.<ref>SciDev Net. 2010. [http://www.scidev.net/en/features/are-gates-and-cgiar-a-good-mix-for-africa-.html Are Gates and CGIAR a good mix for Africa?], accessed on July 4, 2012</ref><ref>Lobbywatch Profile [http://www.lobbywatch.org/profile1.asp?PrId=295 CGIAR - Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research], accessed on July 4, 2012</ref> However, many mainstream sources recognize CGIAR as having support of smallholders and poor farmers central to its mission.<ref>The Economist. (2-18-2012) [https://www.economist.com/international/2012/02/18/the-nutrition-puzzle “The nutrition puzzle: Why do so many people in poor countries eat so badly—and what can be done about it?”] “Marie Ruel, of the International Food Policy Research Institute in Washington, DC, ticks off some of the tasks: focus on the first 1,000 days of life (including pregnancy); scale up maternal-health programmes and the teaching of good feeding practices; concentrate on the poor; measure and monitor the problem.”</ref><ref>Tran, Mark. (2011-09-02) [https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2011/sep/02/east-africa-crisis-investment-pastoralists? “Investment in pastoralists could help combat east Africa food crisis”] The Guardian. "The ILRI, based in Nairobi, is a proponent of pastoralism and asserts that herding in dry areas makes better economic sense than irrigation."</ref><ref>The Economist (4-23-2000) [https://www.economist.com/special-report/2000/03/23/biting-the-silver-bullet “Biting the silver bullet”] “CGIAR… help poor farmers”</ref><ref>New Agriculturist (1-2007) [http://www.new-ag.info/en/view/point.php?a=1 “Confronting the Challenges of Change”] “The CGIAR has a very long and successful history of providing agricultural science for the benefit of poor people across the world, and that remains our core mission.”</ref><ref>New Agriculturist (1-2005) [http://www.new-ag.info/en/pov/views.php?a=1268 “The CGIAR: A Bridge to the Future?”] “Tropical agriculture has benefited very significantly from the work of the CGIAR (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research)….the CGIAR's impact, since its founding in the 1970s, is an estimated US$9 return on every US$1 invested.”</ref>
 
==Further reading==
#* [http://www.resakss.org/ ReSAKSS Websitewebsite]
* [http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/33/4/46552392.pdf?contentId=46552400 Comprehensive Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Report for the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)]
 
==References==
{{Reflist}}
 
[[Category:Agricultural research]]
== Literature ==
[[Category:Statistical data sets]]
* S. Benin, A. Kennedy, M. Lambert, L. McBride. (2011) [http://www.resakss.org/index.php?pdf=50920 ReSAKSS Annual Trends and Outlook Report 2010: Monitoring African agricultural development processes and performance - A comparative analysis], 132.
[[Category:Food security]]
* Johnson, Michael, and Flaherty, Kathleen. 2011. [http://www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/publications/sp6.pdf Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support Systems for agriculture and rural development in Africa]
[[Category:Food politics]]
* Tewodaj Mogues, and Samuel Benin. 2012. [http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415603676/ Public Expenditures for Agricultural and Rural Development in Africa]
[[Category:Agrarian politics]]
* Benin, S., Thurlow, J., Diao, X., Kebba, A., and Nelson O. 2008. [http://www.resakss.org/index.php?pdf=39391 Agricultural Growth and Investment Options for Poverty Reduction in Uganda], this ReSAKSS working paper was also published as [http://www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/pubs/pubs/dp/ifpridp00790.pdf IFPRI discussion paper].
* The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the Regional Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System for Southern Africa (ReSAKSS-SA), [http://www.irishaid.gov.ie/Uploads/3d.Report%20of%20the%20SADC%20ARD%20Priorities%20Study.pdf Exploring Strategic Priorities for Regional Agricultural Research And Development Investments In Southern Africa], January 11, 2011