In the quest for a sustainable future, it is important to note that collaboration and partnerships are crucial. One such powerful alliance is the partnership between the Africa Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes (ANAPRI) and the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment (MGEE). This partnership is designed to implement the Comprehensive Africa Climate Change Initiative (CACCI) in Zambia to generate a proof of concept that would then be upscaled in the African continent, in the quest for sustainable development.
On Friday, 7th July 2023, ANAPRI Secretariat’s Executive Director, Dr Nalishebo Meebelo and her team paid a courtesy call on the Zambian Minister for Green Economy and Environment, Hon Eng. Collins Nzovu, MP to register ANAPRI’s support to Zambia’s green growth agenda. ANAPRI is a 16-member network of think tanks based in 15 African countries established with the objective of generating high-quality research for policymaking to support food system’s development. ANAPRI collaborates with national governments, the African Union Commission and Regional Economic Communities.
The Hon Minister said MGEE acknowledges the significance of ANAPRI as a valuable partner and expressed gratitude for the support provided under the CACCI program. CAACI plays a crucial role in implementing Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and has a strong focus on data, analytics, Monitoring and Evaluation, as well as reporting for results and impact. The Minister said Zambia is currently facing a pressing need to enhance agricultural productivity towards strengthening food security. The country’s abundance of water bodies presents an opportunity for the country to become a major hub, and therefore, actions such as water harvesting, particularly during the rainy season, are deemed essential to ensure food security and surplus, as well as energy security. The Minister highlighted the importance of capacity building in the context of research pertaining to supporting agriculture development and emphasized the government’s commitment to promoting a green economy by reducing carbon emissions.
With support from USAID, though Michigan State University, ANAPRI is supporting the implementation of CACCI in Zambia and Ghana, to develop a prototype that would be implemented in other parts of the continent. This is within the context of the Paris Agreement and in line with the African Union’s frameworks on Climate Change. CACCI is also being implemented in Senegal and Rwanda through AKADEMIYA2063 (A2063).
This collaboration strives to create an enabling environment where climate change challenges are addressed effectively, sustainable agricultural practices are adopted, and awareness about the importance of climate change adaptation and mitigation is raised among policymakers, farmers, and the public in Zambia.
Likewise, this alliance highlights the significance of cooperation between policy research organizations and government institutions. This is essential for evidence-based policymaking, informed decision-making, capacity building, and sustainable development. By combining their respective strengths, these collaborations pave the way for more effective, targeted, and sustainable policies and initiatives that address pressing societal challenges.
The partnership between ANAPRI and Zambia’s Ministry of Green Economy and Environment represents a significant step towards achieving green growth and sustainable development in Zambia. This will contribute to the quest for a resilient and food secure Zambia, with key examples for the rest Africa to draw upon.
