The Regional Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes (ReNAPRI) has recently organized a validation workshop on constraints in the implementation of existing policies aimed at increasing cross-border trade in SADC region. The workshop which took place on the 29th of November 2021 brought together policy makers, development partners, government representatives, NGOs, private sector and non-state actors involved in cross border trade in the SADC region was highlighted by a key note presentation from ReNAPRI’s lead experts Dr. Emmanuel Mwakiwa and Dr. Jackson Langat.
In their submissions, the experts identified lack of policy harmonization and limited Farmers’ Access to Markets and Financing in Agriculture as some of the key issues affecting cross border trade in the SADC region. They therefore called for increase harmonization in polices in the region and more access to finance to farmers in order to increase cross border trade in the region.
This validation workshop was a follow up to a very successful Regional Policy Dialogue on Cross Border trade in SADC which was facilitated by ReNAPRI on the 28th of October 2021 and witnessed the expert discussion from representatives from SADC Secretariat, USAID Southern Africa office and CCARDESA.
Both the workshop and the regional policy dialogue are part of an ongoing partnership between ReNAPRI and CCARDESA which seen a ReNAPRI team composed of Dr. Emmanuel Mwakiwa, Dr. Shepard Siziba, Dr. Jackson Langat, Dr. Nalishebo Meebelo and Alphonse Akouyu provide top notch expertise to CCARDESA in its efforts to provide sustainable and innovative solutions to issues affecting cross border trade in SADC.