Regional Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System: Difference between revisions

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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.

== 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<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=http://project.future-agricultures.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=560:resakss-regional-strategic-analysis-and-knowledge-support-system-&catid=199:caadp&Itemid=607|url=http://project.future-agricultures.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=560:resakss-regional-strategic-analysis-and-knowledge-support-system-&catid=199:caadp&Itemid=607|publisher=Future Agriculture}}</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/activities/caadp/readings-and-links.html CAADP and ReSAKSS], 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 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>

== Organization ==

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) is hosted at the [[International Livestock Research Institute]] (ILRI) in Nairobi, Kenya, ReSAKSS Southern Africa (ReSAKSS-SA) is hosted at the [[International Water Management Institute]] (IWMI) in Pretoria, South Africa and ReSAKSS West Africa (ReSAKSS-WA) is hosted at the [[International Institute of Tropical Agriculture]] (IITA) in Ibadan, Nigeria.

==Why Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support Systems==

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.

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. [http://ebookbrowse.com/synthesis-report-pan-africa-policy-dialogue-meeting-pdf-d259799751 Synthesis Report: The 1st Pan-Africa Non-State Actors (NSA) Policy Dialogue Meeting on CAADP]</ref><ref>Johnson, Michael, and Kathleen Flaherty. 2008. [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>

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>

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]].

===Use of data===

== Activities and outputs ==

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"></ref> ReSAKSS data is used by various other actors to analyze and monitor African agricultural development.

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|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>, 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 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> (ReSAKSS data was cited by policymakers in G8 Camp David Accountability Report<ref>{{cite web|title=Camp David Accountability Report|url=http://www.g20civil.com/upload/iblock/ce6/g8report.pdf}}</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>; 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=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> .

For instance, the data has been used by the [[G8]]<ref>[http://www.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>

==Structure==

ReSAKSSThe initiative 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,each ReSAKSS-WAof andthe ReSAKSS-SA,African respectivelySubregions. The Steering Committees, whose members includewith representatives of the different CAADP stakeholders at the respective levels, provide political and strategic guidance to ReSAKSS.

The regional nodes are housed at three Africa-based centers of the [[Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research]] (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"></ref>

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>

==Criticism==

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>

==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==

{{reflistReflist}}

[[Category:Agricultural research]]

== External links ==

[[Category:Statistical data sets]]

# [http://www.resakss.org/ ReSAKSS Website]

[[Category:Food security]]

# [http://resakss.wordpress.com/ ReSAKSS Blog]

[[Category:Poverty reduction]]

[[Category:Food politics]]

[[Category:Agrarian politics]]