The Regional Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes (ReNAPRI) was among several institutions that participated in the Training on Agricultural Innovation Systems: Policy Practice Index (PPI) Tool organized by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA). Representing the ReNAPRI network were the following experts: Dr. Emmanuel Mwakiwa-Zimbabwe, Dr. Jackson Langat-Kenya, Dr. Rogers Andrew and Saadan Edson-Tanzania.
The training workshop was held from 22 to 25 June 2021, drawing over 40 participants from West and Central African Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF), Association for the Strengthening of Agricultural Research in East and Central Africa (ASARECA), and Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCADERSA) countries which brought richness in terms of the discussion, experience and content sharing in policy formulation and analysis. Other organizations which attended the training included African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS), Barefoot Education for Afrika Trust (BEAT Africa) and Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN).
The workshop was designed to strengthen the capacities of regional and national organizations in policy formulation, policy implementation, and policy advocacy as well as resource mobilization to support the implementation of policies, particularly Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) policies among African countries.
The Policy Practice Index (PPI) tool is a living tool which will allow progressive policy analysis in meeting the CAADP target on an annual basis which would then feed to the Bi-annual CAADP reviews. The tool is useful and pragmatic for quantitatively assessing of progress made by a country in meeting the CAADP targets. The tool will enable a country to compare progress and quality of policy formulation and implementation. The tool also enables comparison of policy formulation and implementation across the following: different policy dimensions and indicators; times; countries and regions.
In partnership with Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCADERSA), ReNAPRI will help to build the capacity of countries in the Southern Africa region to employ this tool.