African Countries Need to Move Beyond Strategy and Focus on Implementation

4 April 2012
Content from a Premium Partner
The African Capacity Building Foundation (Harare)
press release

African Countries Need to Move Beyond Strategy and Focus on Implementation in Order to Realise Agricultural Transformation and Food Security

Infrastructure Development Emerges as a Key Pillar

Highlights:

  • Capacity remains at the heart of sustainable, inclusive and resilient development to increase incomes, reduce food prices and generate important spillovers to the rest of the economy
  • Countries need to move beyond strategy and focus on implementation, with infrastructure development as a key pillar
  • Ghana moves into category of 'High' capacity, providing grounds for optimism
  • Majority of countries move from 'Low' to 'Medium' category of capacity
  • ACI Report aims to bring political, policy, research, investment and capacity development attention to the implementation, monitoring and tracking of issues that impact Africa's agricultural transformation and food security.

The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) launched the 2012 Africa Capacity Indicators Report (ACIR) in London, on the theme 'Capacity Development for Agricultural Transformation and Food Security'.

In Africa today, agriculture accounts for a significant share of most economies, both in terms of GDP and employment. While showing some improvements, this sector still experiences many challenges, hindering the transformation that could enable a food secure continent.

Africa has the potential and opportunity to drive its development through agriculture. Yet, for the most part, production lags far behind population growth, resulting in food insecurity and widespread vulnerability. Policy reforms have so far brought mixed results, while measures to boost output have been affected by limited markets, declining aid, weak value-addition and low world prices for key agricultural exports.

It is within this context that ACBF has chosen the theme: 'Capacity Development for Agricultural Transformation and Food Security' for the second Africa Capacity Indicators Report (ACIR).

Agricultural growth plays a critical role in Africa's development and the report discusses various issues relating to agriculture in Africa, including land productivity, the effects of globalisation on commodity prices, climate change and rural-urban migration.

Speaking at the launch, ACBF Executive Secretary, Dr Frannie Léautier highlighted the key objectives of the report. "The ACIR," she said, "aims to measure capacity in relation to the development agendas of African countries. The assessment highlights key components of capacity, determining how these can be measured to ensure maximum impact on development.  The research uncovers critical factors in the political economy of change, including the long-term commitment of decision-makers to national development goals, and issues of accountability, food security and good governance".

"This is ACBF's second Africa Capacity Indicators Report, aimed at examining the key capacity development issues and challenges facing countries. The issue of agricultural transformation and food security in Africa is strongly linked to capacity development, labour and growth. Now in its second year, the ACIR has become a definitive knowledge product targeting policymakers, public sector officials, the private sector and civil society, guiding the development of their priorities by providing practical recommendations. At ACBF, our primary role is to try to fix the environment in which development results can be achieved. This is our claim and the value we bring to the process – we are in a different place now because of these reports", said Dr Léautier.

In 2012, Ghana moved into the 'High' category for capacity in the ACI composite index. The composite index measures the policy environment, processes for implementation, development results at country level and capacity development outcomes. Ghana's achievement is a marked improvement from 2011, when no countries were classified in the 'High' category. The majority of countries have now moved from "Low" to "Medium" in the development results category and the number of countries classed in the lowest categories has also decreased.

The round table panel discussion that followed the launch of the ACIR brought together a number of stakeholders and partners, as well as several key users of the report including Africa's top policy makers, development practitioners, civil society organisations and academics, who discussed the findings and implications for Africa's development.

The launch brought together a number of distinguished speakers, including Dr Mo Ibrahim, Founder and Chair of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, CEO, NEPAD and Dr Shenggen Fan, Director General, IFPRI.

In his keynote address, Dr Mo Ibrahim said, "The majority of African citizens rely on agriculture, making it our most important sector. To build a stronger, more efficient agricultural sector requires regional integration. From transporting goods, to access, to expanded markets and ensuring economies of scale – integration is key".

Speaking at the round table discussion NEPAD's, Dr Mayaki thanked ACBF for producing an outstanding African knowledge product, stating that the ACIR presents a good opportunity to see how the capacity development agenda for agricultural transformation is being tackled on the continent. He further explained that, when mainstreamed, capacity development allows for strategic thinking with human beings at the centre. "By looking at indicators and how they define the policy design process, we can look at it as a series of inter-relationships between actors. Policy design is not only a rational process, but rather like life and reality – it is a series of interactions between human beings which impact a range of power relationships. CAADP (the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme) was designed to fill the policy gap when it comes to agricultural transformation. Capacity is needed now to fill the implementation gap, so we can start thinking in a prospective manner", he said.

Dr Fan commended the process and procedure behind the 2012 ACIR, highlighting the overall rigour of the peer review and the fact that the research is robust and can be challenged.

"It is clear that we need to reposition agriculture for broad development outcomes. We need to build capacity at different levels - at individual, community and national levels. Fixing the fundamentals will be critical, for instance in primary and professional education and university systems. This report releases some great insights into the issue of capacity for agriculture and food security, including creating a case for developing concrete strategies and plans and allocating sufficient resources to support these strategic plans". Dr Fan added that IFPRI has been developing a mechanism to track the food security situation and food policy making capacity at the national and global level. "The launch of this report presents a very timely opportunity for collaboration between IFPRI, ACBF and like-minded organisations, particularly when it comes to disseminating key ACIR messages to key stakeholders and policymakers", he concluded.

Participants recognised the need to increase the awareness of state and non-state actors about the various dimensions of agricultural transformation and food security in order to consider these in the design of economic policies. Through the ACIR, ACBF aims to improve understanding of the various capacity needs associated with the agricultural sector. Continuous dialogue and engagement around the issues will provide opportunities to further develop and strengthen strategic partnerships to support development initiatives in this critical area.


About ACIR 2011

ACBF launched the inaugural Africa Capacity Indicators Report in 2011 on the theme 'Capacity Development in Fragile States'. Former South African President Thabo Mbeki described the report as a timely source - knowledge product and a testimony of ACBF's relevance in capacity development. "ACIR provides an authoritative characterisation of the state and evolution of African capacity across space and time. ACIR also provides an invaluable tool for country benchmarking and monitoring and evaluation of capacity development interventions", said HE President Mbeki. "The inaugural edition of ACIR provides an important baseline and an insight into the capacity development landscape in Africa with respect to the specific capacity clusters that have guided the underlying inquiry".

The ACI Reports (2011 and 2012) have been generously supported by the United Nations Development Programme and the African Development Bank (AfDB). In 2013, the third flagship ACIR will focus on 'Capacity Development for Natural Resources Management'.

About the African Capacity Building Foundation

ACBF was established in February 1991. It is the outcome of collaboration between African governments and the international donor community. Its mission is to build sustainable human and institutional capacity for sustainable growth and poverty reduction in Africa. ACBF's vision is for Africa to be recognised for its socio-political and economic capabilities and endowments – a continent with effective institutions and policies acquired through sustained investment in people and institutions. The Foundation is a leader, major partner and centre of excellence for capacity building in Africa.
The African Union currently serves as an Observer on the ACBF Board of Governors.

For further information on ACBF, please contact:
k.hanson@acbf-pact.org
a.mpunzwana@acbf-pact.org
r.kambarami@acbf-pact.org

The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF)
PO Box 1562, Harare
ZIMBABWE Tel: + 263 4 700208/210

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