Group 1 – Policy priorities for ACTESA

Group MembersGroup Members1.1. Stephanie Wilcock – USAID/EAStephanie Wilcock – USAID/EA2.2. Sarah Longford – WFP/P4PSarah Longford – WFP/P4P3.3. Grace Myiga Mhango – GTPAGrace Myiga Mhango – GTPA4.4. Lindiwe Sibanda – FANRPANLindiwe Sibanda – FANRPAN5.5. Richard Jones – ICRISATRichard Jones – ICRISAT6.6. Anne Mbaabu – AGRAAnne Mbaabu – AGRA7.7. Cecelia Khupe – USAID/SACecelia Khupe – USAID/SA8.8. Kaarli Sundsmo – USAID/EAKaarli Sundsmo – USAID/EA9.9. Joseph Karugia – ReSAKSS-ECA, Chair Joseph Karugia – ReSAKSS-ECA, Chair

1. Advocate for rule-based government interventions in the market

Removal of export bansRemoval of export bans Provide evidence on their effectsProvide evidence on their effects Fill knowledge gaps on management of Fill knowledge gaps on management of

regional and national food reservesregional and national food reserves Mechanisms for accountability and Mechanisms for accountability and

enforcement of regional agreementsenforcement of regional agreements Provide incentives to countries for Provide incentives to countries for

implementing the policyimplementing the policy Safety-net system to support policy when Safety-net system to support policy when

politically threatened politically threatened

2. Promote/advocate/lobby for implementation of existing protocols and prioritize new ones to enhance

grain trade Regionally agreed protocols (e.g. STR, reduction Regionally agreed protocols (e.g. STR, reduction

of NTBs) are often not implemented at national of NTBs) are often not implemented at national levellevel

What enforcement/accountability mechanisms? What enforcement/accountability mechanisms? Incentives for implementing regional agreements Incentives for implementing regional agreements

at national level – What can be learnt from at national level – What can be learnt from ECOWAS, other RECs?ECOWAS, other RECs?

Prioritize new protocols (grades and standards Prioritize new protocols (grades and standards to promote grain trade, fertilizer trade, etc)to promote grain trade, fertilizer trade, etc)

3. Extend Seed trade harmonization to non-SADC COMESA members

Build on what has been achieved in SADC Build on what has been achieved in SADC to develop technical agreements for:to develop technical agreements for:

Regional variety release;Regional variety release; Regional seed certification;Regional seed certification; Plant quarantine pest listsPlant quarantine pest lists

4. Package marketing information for consumption by users

Numerous existing MISs not accessible by Numerous existing MISs not accessible by users (especially policy makers)users (especially policy makers)

Not sufficient buy-in at country level for early Not sufficient buy-in at country level for early warning systemswarning systems

Build capacity for data collection, analysis and Build capacity for data collection, analysis and interpretation – disperse responsibility among interpretation – disperse responsibility among government, farmers organizations, private government, farmers organizations, private sector, and other stakeholderssector, and other stakeholders

5. Develop a knowledge management system

Stock-taking exercise to document Stock-taking exercise to document available informationavailable information

Develop a matrix of past and on-going Develop a matrix of past and on-going alliance members’ activities, post on alliance members’ activities, post on website and continuously update it – website and continuously update it – should be in public domainshould be in public domain

Provide a web-based platform for alliance Provide a web-based platform for alliance members to share information on planned members to share information on planned activities – restricted accessactivities – restricted access

Priorities for Year 1

Rule-based government intervention – Rule-based government intervention – remove export bansremove export bans

Packaging of marketing information to Packaging of marketing information to enhance use at national levelenhance use at national level

Implementation of existing protocols and Implementation of existing protocols and priorities for new onespriorities for new ones