CS‑PILLAR
Strengthening policies and institutions for seed systems, post-harvest management and livestock extension in Eswatini, Uganda and Zimbabwe, respectively.
Uganda
Zimbabwe
Turning policy commitments into national action
CS-PILLAR is a three-year FANRPAN programme that works on the part of agricultural change most often left undone: the policies, coordination structures and institutions that decide whether good ideas reach farmers.
Across Eswatini, Uganda and Zimbabwe, smallholder farmers face weak seed systems, high post-harvest losses, and limited access to animal health services. The constraints are not only technical. They sit in fragmented policy, thin institutional capacity and weak coordination between research, government and communities.
Rather than deliver services directly, the programme strengthens how governments and institutions design, coordinate and implement inclusive, evidence-based policy. It builds the national evidence base, convenes the right actors, and supports reforms that can outlast the funding period.
Change that national systems can sustain
By working on policy and institutions rather than single projects, the programme aims for results that outlast the funding period and that other FANRPAN member countries can learn from.
Anchored in continental commitments, delivered nationally
Africa has the frameworks. The gap is implementation. CS-PILLAR is designed to help close the distance between continental commitments and what changes on the ground in three countries.
The programme is positioned to support implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Strategy and Action Plan 2026 to 2035, the Kampala Declaration adopted in 2025, and Agenda 2063. These frameworks place institutions, coordination and the participation of women and youth at the centre of agricultural transformation.
A dedicated workstream supports alignment between national priorities and the continental and regional frameworks of the African Union, AUDA-NEPAD and the Regional Economic Communities.
Kampala Declaration (2025)
Agenda 2063
SADCCOMESAEAC
Women & youth inclusion
Climate-resilient food systems
One programme, three national agendas
Each country addresses a distinct value-chain constraint, led by a FANRPAN national node working with its line ministry and national stakeholders.
EswatiniInclusive seed systems
Build a stronger, more inclusive national seed system: an evidence base, a National Seed Technical Working Group, and a National Seed Policy Roadmap and Investment Plan, with attention to women- and youth-led seed enterprises and climate-resilient varieties.
UgandaPost-harvest management
Reduce post-harvest losses and improve food safety in the maize value chain: a stronger evidence base, a national coordination structure, and practical guidance on safe drying, handling and storage for farmers and extension workers.
ZimbabweCommunity-based livestock extension
Strengthen community-based livestock extension by formalising Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs): a needs assessment, a national technical working group, national guidelines and a standardised training curriculum for quality and accountability.
Seven outcomes, two layers of work
Three country workstreams sit on top of four enabling workstreams that strengthen FANRPAN itself, connect the work regionally, and capture evidence and learning.
Institutional strengthening & resource mobilisation
Strengthen FANRPAN’s systems, staff capacity, digital tools and partnerships, including a stronger resource base and donor engagement.
Regional alignment with the AU & RECs
Align national priorities with Regional Economic Community frameworks, and convene regional policy dialogues and cross-country learning.
Monitoring, evaluation, accountability & learning
Upgrade FANRPAN’s MEAL system and digital platform for real-time tracking, monitoring visits, and documented best practice.
Knowledge generation & policy advocacy
Produce and disseminate policy briefs and advisories, and engage media so evidence informs decisions nationally and regionally.
Country workstreams (Outcomes 2, 3 and 4) are set out in the country footprint above. Together the seven outcomes form the programme’s results framework.
From evidence to resilience
The same logic runs through each country: build the evidence, set up the coordination, hold the conversations, shape the policy, and track the change.
Evidence
National studies on seed systems, post-harvest management and CAHWs, with policy briefs.
Coordination
National technical working groups convened in each country.
Dialogue
Multi-stakeholder policy engagements and validation meetings.
Policy & alignment
National policy guidance developed; priorities aligned with REC frameworks.
Resilience
More inclusive, climate-resilient agrifood systems, backed by accountable delivery.
What success looks like by 2029
These are the programme’s intended results over its three-year term, drawn from the agreed results framework. They are targets, not achievements; progress will be reported against baselines established in Year 1.
FANRPAN evidence informs at least three national policy or regulatory processes across the three countries.
An active National Seed Technical Working Group, evidence-based policy adjustments, and stronger participation of women and youth.
A functioning national post-harvest coordination mechanism and practical safe-storage guidance in use.
A CAHW needs assessment reflected in national guidance, with a standardised CAHW training curriculum piloted.
National priorities aligned with Regional Economic Community frameworks, supported by regional policy dialogues.
A strengthened FANRPAN MEAL system, documented best practice, and a body of knowledge products referenced in policy dialogues.
Numeric targets: the results framework includes quantified targets (knowledge products, policy adjustments, stakeholders reached).
A phased, three-year roadmap
Activity builds from evidence and set-up in Year 1 to policy uptake and regional learning by Year 3. All items are planned.
Year 1
Underway- Inception and donor onboarding
- Institutional systems and digital MEAL upgraded
- National studies: seed, post-harvest and CAHW
- Technical working groups established
- Staff capacity strengthened
Year 2
- Policy roadmaps and guidance developed
- Multi-stakeholder dialogues and validation
- Extension and training materials produced
- Regional engagement deepened
Year 3
- Policy uptake and REC alignment
- Cross-country learning events
- Best practice documented and packaged
- Regional close-out and knowledge sharing
Who leads and who delivers
A Programme Steering Committee provides oversight. The FANRPAN Regional Secretariat in Pretoria leads delivery, supported by functional leads, with national nodes driving country implementation.
Regional alignment: the programme works in alignment with continental and regional frameworks, including those of the African Union, AUDA-NEPAD and the Regional Economic Communities (SADC, COMESA and EAC).
Supported by the Judith Neilson Foundation
CS-PILLAR is funded by the Judith Neilson Foundation, which invests in people, places and ideas to strengthen communities in Africa and Australia. The programme is delivered by FANRPAN as the implementing partner.
Outputs will be published here as they are produced
CS-PILLAR will generate studies, policy briefs, guidance and dialogue outputs over its term. This library is ready to host them. No project resources are available for download yet.
National seed systems study, Eswatini
Assessment of policies, institutions and inclusion in the seed sector.
Planned · Year 1Post-harvest management study, Uganda
Evidence on losses, food safety and effective practice in the maize value chain.
Planned · Year 1CAHW needs assessment, Zimbabwe
Baseline for formalising community-based livestock extension.
Planned · Year 1Filtering: by country, type and year.
Stories from the programme
FANRPAN launches CS-PILLAR to strengthen climate-resilient agrifood systems
FANRPAN announces a new regional programme, supported by the Judith Neilson Foundation, to strengthen inclusive, climate-resilient and evidence-based agrifood systems in Eswatini, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Read the announcement →FANRPAN joins SADC Ministers on disaster recovery and resilience
FANRPAN took part in the Sixth Ordinary Meeting of SADC Ministers Responsible for Disaster Risk Management, contributing its position on the role of policy and coordinated regional responses to disasters.
Read the story →FANRPAN at the Skoll World Forum in Oxford
With support from the Judith Neilson Foundation, FANRPAN joined funders and innovators at the Skoll World Forum to position its evidence-to-policy role in African food systems and build new partnerships.
Read the story →Partner on stronger agrifood policy
CS-PILLAR works with governments, funders, research institutions, farmer organisations and regional bodies. If your work intersects with seed systems, post-harvest management, livestock extension or evidence-to-policy practice, we would like to hear from you.
FANRPAN Regional Secretariat · 141 Cresswell Road, Weavind Park, Silverton, Pretoria, South Africa