February 27, 2026
The Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) and Kagiso Trust have formalised a strategic partnership, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Johannesburg.
The agreement brings together two institutions with complementary strengths: FANRPAN’s continental leadership in evidence-to-policy engagement and Kagiso Trust’s four decades of experience in community-driven development and institutional reform
The signing followed a high-level leadership meeting at which both organisations discussed priorities for collaboration in strengthening Africa’s food, agriculture, and natural resources policy environment. Discussions during the meeting highlighted the urgent need for stronger connections between research, community knowledge, and policy processes. Discussions underscored that addressing interconnected challenges — food insecurity, climate change, and rural livelihoods demands partnerships that integrate community knowledge with credible scientific evidence.
Kagiso Trust brings more than four decades of experience building scalable models in education, local governance, social development, and inclusive finance, with a sustained focus on democratic accountability and amplifying community voices. FANRPAN contributes a continental policy network spanning researchers, policymakers, farmers, civil society, and development partners, translating evidence into policy action grounded in locally generated knowledge.
The MoU structures collaboration across four priority areas: including policy engagement, research synthesis, community-centred approaches, and translating evidence into accessible guidance. Together, the two organisations aim to transform grassroots insights into practical policy solutions that can be scaled across countries and regions.
By combining FANRPAN’s continental convening power with Kagiso Trust’s established presence in communities, the partnership is well-placed to develop evidence-based solutions that strengthen Africa’s agrifood systems and wider development priorities.
As the two organisations begin this collaboration, the partnership represents more than a formal agreement, it signals a shared commitment to a shared commitment to embedding African knowledge and community experience at the heart of the continent’s food and development policy.