About FANRPAN

Our Experience

For nearly three decades, FANRPAN has led and supported programmes that bring evidence into policy on food, agriculture and natural resources, working with governments, regional bodies, research institutions, farmer organisations and development partners.

48
projects since 2008
30
funding partners
Since 2008every shaded country has hosted FANRPAN project work; the brighter the country, the more projects
Past and present:1 to 2 projects3 to 56 to 910 or moreactive in 2026

Where our projects have worked

Experience across Africa

Shading shows how many of the projects profiled here have worked in each country. Regional and continental programmes that did not name specific countries are listed separately.

TunisiaTogoS. SudanSudanSomaliaSomalilandSierra LeoneSeychellesSenegalSão Tomé and PrincipeRwandaNigeriaNigerMoroccoW. SaharaMauritiusMauritaniaMaliLibyaLiberiaGuinea-BissauGuineaGambiaGabonEritreaEq. GuineaEgyptDjiboutiDR CongoCongoComorosChadCentral African Rep.Cabo VerdeCameroonBurundiBurkina FasoAngolaAlgeria
Projects per country1 to 23 to 56 to 910 or more

Project portfolio

Selected projects

Drawn from FANRPAN’s institutional capability statements and project records. Search, or filter by topic and country.

Showing 48 of 48 projects

Active now

6 projects

2026 to 2029 · Active

CS-PILLAR

Capacity Strengthening for Policy Implementation towards Improved Livelihoods and Local Agrifood Systems Resilience in Africa

Strengthens policies and institutions for inclusive seed systems in Eswatini, post-harvest management in Uganda and community animal health in Zimbabwe, working through national working groups led by government.

Where
Eswatini, Uganda, Zimbabwe
Funding
Judith Neilson Foundation
Role
Lead
Seed systemsPost-harvest and value chainsLivestock and One HealthCapacity strengthening
Project page →

2024 to date · Active

AU-APD

African Union Agriculture Policy Dialogues

Supports the AU Commission to run policy dialogues that give Member States practical guidance on implementing continental agricultural frameworks.

Where
Africa-wide
Funding
German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL)
Role
Consortium partner
Policy processes and CAADP
Project page →

2024 to 2027 · Active

StEPPFoS

Strengthening Evidence-Based Policy Practice for Sustainable Food Systems

Supports the Pan-African Network for Economic Analysis of Policies to help African countries analyse food systems policies.

Where
Africa-wide
Funding
European Union, through FARA
Policy processes and CAADPNutrition and food systems
Project page →

2023 to 2027 · Active

CEA-FIRST

CEA-FIRST: Africa and Europe multi-stakeholder platform on food and nutrition security

A platform of 22 African and European partners working on food and nutrition security and sustainable agriculture under the AU-EU research and innovation partnership.

Where
Africa and Europe
Funding
European Union
Role
Co-lead of two work packages
Policy processes and CAADPNutrition and food systems
Project page →

2022 to 2028 · Active

CBA SCALE+

Community-based Adaptation: Scaling-up Community Action for Livelihoods and Ecosystems

Works with local authorities, communities and policymakers to scale up community-based adaptation to climate change.

Where
Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Funding
International Climate Initiative (IKI), through CARE Germany
Role
Programme management and node coordination
Climate resilience
Project page →

Active

Extensive livestock

Extensive Livestock Systems for Food and Nutrition Security

Leads the work on food and nutrition security, adaptive capacity and the political economy of extensive livestock systems.

Where
Ethiopia, Kenya, Zimbabwe
Funding
ACIAR, through ILRI
Role
Policy engagement and stakeholder coordination
Livestock and One HealthNutrition and food systems
Project page →

Completed since 2022

7 projects

2025

G20 MACS

Stakeholder engagement and knowledge support for the G20 Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists

Under South Africa's G20 Presidency, FANRPAN convened regional consultations that carried African evidence and priorities into the G20 agricultural chief scientists' process.

More than 600 stakeholders took part in four regional virtual consultations, which produced a regional synthesis report.

Where
South Africa (Continental consultations)
Funding
Agricultural Research Council, South Africa
Role
Partner, with ARC
Policy processes and CAADP
Project page →

2024 to 2026

Policy Harmonisation

Leveraging Knowledge Management to Enhance Policy Harmonisation and Domestication for Agricultural Transformation in East and Southern Africa

Built the evidence on how regional and continental agricultural frameworks are domesticated and implemented, with a focus on work opportunities for young people.

Where
East African Community and SADC
Funding
AGRA
Policy processes and CAADPWomen and youth
Project page →

2024 to 2025

SADC Indigenous Foods

SADC Indigenous Food Development Programme

Coordinated scoping studies on indigenous foods across SADC Member States and prepared the regional synthesis report and regional strategy.

Where
SADC Member States
Funding
World Food Programme
Role
Coordinated the scoping studies
Nutrition and food systemsPolicy processes and CAADP
Project page →

2024

Seed policy gap analysis

Policy Gap Analysis of the Seed Systems in South Africa

Analysed the regulatory frameworks, institutions and operating mechanisms of South Africa's seed systems, drawing on interviews and focus group discussions.

Where
South Africa
Funding
Agricultural Research Council, South Africa
Seed systemsPolicy processes and CAADP

2023 to 2026

CFS

Circular Food Systems in Africa

Integrated irrigation, livestock and dryland farming into circular food systems. FANRPAN led the policy work: gap analyses, policy briefs, dialogues and stakeholder capacity building.

Where
Mozambique, Tanzania, Zimbabwe
Funding
ACIAR
Role
Regional coordination and policy work
Water and irrigationLivestock and One HealthNutrition and food systems
Project page →

From 2022 · Completed

ClimBeR

ClimBeR: Building Systemic Resilience against Climate Variability and Extremes

Contributed country work in Kenya and Zambia to a CGIAR initiative on climate resilience.

Where
Kenya, Zambia
Funding
University of Leeds
Climate resilience

Completed

ACTIVATE Africa

Supported mothers and caregivers to advocate for policies that improve complementary feeding for children aged 6 to 36 months.

Where
Kenya, Côte d'Ivoire
Nutrition and food systemsWomen and youth
Project page →

2017 to 2021

16 projects

2021 to 2022

CaBFoodS-Africa

Capacity Building in Food Security for Africa

Contributed policy analysis on nutrition-sensitive options for food security.

Where
Ghana, Kenya, South Africa
Funding
ARUA and UKRI GCRF Partnership Programme
Role
Partner
Nutrition and food systemsCapacity strengthening

2021 to 2022

Livestock GHG inventories

Regional support to national livestock greenhouse gas inventories in Southern Africa

Engaged national agriculture and inventory agencies and supported training on managing greenhouse gas emissions from livestock.

Where
Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, South Africa
Funding
New Zealand Government, through AgResearch
Role
Partner
Livestock and One HealthClimate resilience

2021

COVID-19 and SADC food systems

Minimising the economic impacts of COVID-19 on agriculture and food systems in SADC

Assessed COVID-19 impacts in selected communities and developed guidance on nutrition, home gardens and hygiene for extension officers.

Where
Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia
Funding
GIZ, through CCARDESA
Role
Partner, with CCARDESA
Nutrition and food systemsCapacity strengthening

2021

Conservation agriculture

Conservation Agriculture Entry Points into Regional and National Development Frameworks in Southern Africa

Mapped where conservation agriculture fits into the SDGs and regional and national frameworks, and identified investment opportunities for climate resilience.

Where
Southern Africa
Funding
FAO Subregional Office for Southern Africa
Climate resiliencePolicy processes and CAADP

2021

FAO policy and investment plans

Technical assistance for instrument-based policy, investment and sector plans

Supported the development of agricultural sector and irrigation policies and second-generation national agricultural investment plans.

Where
Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique, Zimbabwe
Funding
FAO Subregional Office for Southern Africa
Role
Technical assistance provider
Policy processes and CAADPWater and irrigation

2021

Market Access Campaign

Raised awareness of the market barriers facing smallholder farmers and set out evidence-based options for fairer markets.

Where
Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Funding
Oxfam
Role
Partner, with Oxfam
Markets and trade
Project page →

2020 to 2023

FSNet-Africa

Food Systems Research Network for Africa

Trained early-career researchers in the policy side of food systems transformation and in engaging with policymakers.

Where
Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia
Funding
UKRI Global Challenges Research Fund; African Research Universities Alliance
Role
Partner, with the University of Pretoria and the University of Leeds
Nutrition and food systemsCapacity strengthening

2020 to 2022

ZIRON Pulse

ZIRON Pulse: iron and zinc-rich beans for rural populations in Africa

Promoted the production and consumption of iron and zinc-rich beans to address malnutrition.

Where
Kenya
Funding
UKRI Global Challenges Research Fund
Role
Partner
Nutrition and food systems
Project page →

2020 to 2021

Southern Africa CSA

Southern Africa Climate-Smart Agriculture and non-state actor alliances

Brought the Southern Africa Climate-Smart Agriculture Alliance and a non-state actor community of practice into operation.

Where
Madagascar, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia
Funding
CARE International
Role
Partner, with CARE
Climate resilienceNutrition and food systems
Project page →

2020 to 2021

COMESA climate knowledge platform

Regional Climate Change Knowledge Management Platform

Helped establish a climate change knowledge platform for exchange among COMESA Member States.

Where
COMESA Member States
Funding
COMESA
Role
Partner, with COMESA
Climate resilience
Project page →

2020 to 2021

Water-energy-food, Malawi

Bridging national water-energy-food strategy to local needs in Malawi

Linked national water, energy and food priorities with local, gender-sensitive needs by widening rural participation in policy.

Where
Malawi
Funding
UK Research and Innovation
Role
Partner
Water and irrigationNatural resources

2019 to 2021

SADC food and nutrition strategies

National Food and Nutrition Security Strategies for SADC Member States

Supported Member States to assess how well their national food and nutrition security strategies align with the SADC regional strategy.

Member States agreed on actions to bring national strategies into line with the regional strategy.

Where
SADC Member States
Funding
SADC
Role
Lead
Nutrition and food systemsPolicy processes and CAADP

2018 to 2022

Dietary data

Improving Dietary and Health Data for Decision-Making in Agriculture and Nutrition in Africa

Helped develop and test a smartphone application that lets caregivers record nutrition and health data and receive feedback.

Where
Kenya
Funding
International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
Role
Partner
Nutrition and food systems
Project page →

2017 to 2022

TISA

Transforming Smallholder Irrigation into Profitable and Self-Sustaining Systems in Southern Africa

Developed irrigation policy options to make smallholder schemes more profitable, equitable and self-sustaining.

Where
Mozambique, Tanzania, Zimbabwe
Funding
ACIAR
Role
Co-lead, with the Australian National University
Water and irrigationPolicy processes and CAADP

2017 to 2021

AFRICAP

Agricultural and Food-system Resilience: Increasing Capacity and Advising Policy

Connected national, regional and international stakeholders to the programme's research and scenario modelling to design policies for climate-smart, sustainable agriculture.

Where
Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia
Funding
UKRI Global Challenges Research Fund
Role
Co-lead, with the University of Leeds
Climate resilienceNutrition and food systems
Project page →

2017 to 2018

Youth Championing Policy

Youth Championing Policy Development to Transform African Agriculture

Supported young people to take part in agricultural policy development through FANRPAN national nodes.

Where
FANRPAN node countries
Funding
Mastercard Foundation
Women and youthPolicy processes and CAADP

2011 to 2016

13 projects

2014 to 2018

ATONU

Agriculture to Nutrition: Improving Nutrition Outcomes through Optimised Agricultural Investments

Developed frameworks for choosing nutrition-sensitive interventions and tested a package of behaviour change communication, women's empowerment and home gardens.

Where
Ethiopia, Tanzania
Funding
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Role
Lead
Nutrition and food systemsWomen and youth
Project page →

2014 to 2015

Tripartite climate programme

COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Programme on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation

Trained civil society climate advocates and supported their work towards a common African position on climate change and agriculture at AU and UNFCCC platforms.

Where
COMESA, EAC and SADC
Funding
COMESA
Role
Lead partner
Climate resiliencePolicy processes and CAADP

2013 to 2017

Irrigation water productivity

Increasing Irrigation Water Productivity in Mozambique, Tanzania and Zimbabwe

Shared policy findings and supported agricultural innovation platforms, training workshops and farmer learning tours at irrigation schemes.

Where
Mozambique, Tanzania, Zimbabwe
Funding
ACIAR
Role
Partner
Water and irrigation

2013 to 2017

SPARC

Strengthening Policy Advocacy and Research Capacity for Enhanced Food Security in Eastern and Southern Africa

Strengthened the Regional Secretariat and national nodes, reviewed the climate-smart agriculture policy context and convened national policy dialogues.

National policy dialogues were convened in 15 countries in 2016.

Where
FANRPAN node countries in Eastern and Southern Africa
Funding
African Capacity Building Foundation
Role
Lead partner
Capacity strengtheningClimate resilience

2013 to 2017

PHM-SSA

Postharvest Management in Sub-Saharan Africa

Produced national and synthesis studies on post-harvest policies and institutions, gender studies and policy briefs in French and Portuguese.

Where
Benin, Mozambique
Funding
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
Role
Lead partner
Post-harvest and value chainsPolicy processes and CAADP
Project page →

2013 to 2016

Climate risk and post-harvest

Helping smallholder farmers manage climate risks to crop production and post-harvest handling

Developed training materials on post-harvest management and convened regional and national dialogues on climate-smart agriculture.

Where
Madagascar, Malawi, South Africa, Zimbabwe
Funding
FAO
Role
Lead partner
Climate resiliencePost-harvest and value chains

2013 to 2014

HVI and disasters

Household Vulnerability to Disasters: Applying the Household Vulnerability Index

Applied FANRPAN's Household Vulnerability Index to assess how exposed households are to disasters.

Where
Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa, Zimbabwe
Funding
World Vision International; Southern Africa Trust
Climate resilience

2012 to 2015

AfricaInteract

AfricaInteract: Research-to-Policy Linkages for Adaptation to Climate Change in Africa

Trained climate policy advocacy champions and convened a regional climate-smart agriculture policy dialogue in Zambia in 2015.

Where
Malawi, South Africa, Zimbabwe
Funding
CORAF/WECARD
Role
Lead partner
Climate resilienceCapacity strengthening

2012 to 2015

Youth in Agriculture

Youth in Agriculture Programme

Coordinated multi-country case studies and national and regional policy dialogues on young people in agriculture.

Where
Multi-country
Funding
USAID
Role
Project management
Women and youthPolicy processes and CAADP

2012 to 2014

EPCSA

Evidence-Based Policies for Climate-Smart Agriculture

Produced climate-smart agriculture scoping studies, convened national and regional policy dialogues and trained stakeholders to communicate evidence to policymakers.

Eleven national policy dialogues were convened and 149 practitioners were trained.

Where
Eastern and Southern Africa
Funding
Norad
Role
Lead partner
Climate resilienceCapacity strengthening
Project page →

2011 to 2014

SECCAP

Strengthening Evidence-Based Climate Change Adaptation Policies in Southern Africa

Built the capacity of analysts and scientists to combine downscaled climate scenarios with crop and vulnerability models to inform national policy and CAADP.

Outputs included three policy briefs, four peer-reviewed papers and four funded MSc theses.

Where
Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi
Funding
International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
Role
Lead partner
Climate resilienceCapacity strengthening

2011 to 2013

CSA learning and advocacy

Learning, Communicating and Advocating for Climate-Smart Agriculture

Led learning, communication and advocacy on climate-smart agriculture.

Where
Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda
Funding
Rockefeller Foundation
Climate resilience

2011 to 2012

SAPASA

Strengthening Evidence-Based Agricultural Policy Advocacy and Harmonisation in Southern Africa

Strengthened evidence-based agricultural policy advocacy and regional harmonisation.

Where
FANRPAN node countries
Funding
USAID
Policy processes and CAADP

2008 to 2010

6 projects

2010 to 2014

HaSSP

Harmonized Seed Security Project

Piloted the domestication of the SADC Harmonised Seed Regulatory System, aligning national variety release, certification and plant health rules with regional protocols.

Where
Eswatini, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Funding
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
Seed systemsPolicy processes and CAADP
Project page →

2010 to 2013

Limpopo Basin

Limpopo Basin Development Challenge: agricultural water management

Contributed research on agricultural water management in the Limpopo Basin.

Where
Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, Zimbabwe
Funding
CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food
Water and irrigation

2010 to 2012

CAADP civil society

Strengthening civil society engagement in CAADP policy analysis, dialogue and implementation

Strengthened the role of civil society in CAADP policy analysis, dialogue and implementation.

Where
Eswatini, Malawi, Namibia
Funding
GIZ, for BMZ
Policy processes and CAADPCapacity strengthening

2009 to 2012

WARM

Women Accessing Realigned Markets

Strengthened the ability of women farmers to advocate for agricultural policies that work for them, using Theatre for Policy Advocacy.

Where
Malawi, Mozambique
Funding
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Role
Project management, research and advocacy
Women and youthMarkets and trade
Project page →

2009

COMESA CAADP Compact

COMESA Regional CAADP Compact framework

Developed the framework for the COMESA regional CAADP compact, including a stakeholder inventory and institutional arrangements for implementation.

Where
COMESA Member States
Funding
COMESA
Role
Developed the framework
Policy processes and CAADP

2008 to 2009

ACCID

Africa-wide Civil Society Climate Change Initiative for Policy Dialogue

Ahead of COP15, built partnerships between African civil society and governments, supported negotiator capacity and contributed to a common African position on climate change.

Where
COMESA Member States
Climate resiliencePolicy processes and CAADP