From 14–15 July 2025, the Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA) convened regional Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) and Communications Working Group meetings in Johannesburg, South Africa, to bolster strategic planning, harmonize operations, and foster cross-country collaboration within the Food Systems Resilience Programme (FSRP).
Held under the World Bank-supported FSRP, the meetings brought together M&E and communications specialists from FSRP implementing countries (Malawi, Madagascar, Comoros, and Tanzania) and CCARDESA. The sessions marked a significant step towards coordinated, results-driven approaches to strengthening food systems resilience across the SADC region.
In an increasingly complex agricultural landscape — shaped by climate shocks, market volatility, and evolving policy demands — the FSRP Working Groups are emerging as vital platforms to streamline regional efforts and reinforce mutual accountability.
The Communications Working Group formally endorsed its Terms of Reference, consolidated national and regional 2025 communication workplans, and initiated the development of a regional newsletter and a shared events calendar. These tools aim to enhance real-time knowledge flows, amplify the visibility of country-level interventions, and support regional policy advocacy through coherent, farmer-centered messaging.
In parallel, M&E experts operationalized the Regional Monitoring and Evaluation Working Group (RM&EWG), aligning country-specific business models with regional objectives, validating results frameworks, and adopting harmonized reporting templates and indicators. These efforts lay the foundation for integrated, cross-country performance tracking, ensuring that all FSRP interventions are informed by timely, evidence-based decision-making.
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Participants also highlighted the role of digital platforms, shared data standards, and collaborative dashboards in enabling seamless monitoring and adaptive learning. These innovations will help generate real-time insights into program outcomes and inform continuous improvement across implementation phases.
These working groups are more than administrative structures — they are vehicles for collective action. Through them, we can harmonize strategies, track progress with clarity, and deliver the kind of regional impact that transforms livelihoods.
By establishing clear mechanisms for coordination, reporting, and communication, the meetings signaled a new phase of institutional integration within FSRP — one that promotes coherence, accountability, and shared learning across borders. The operationalization of the Working Groups ensures countries can speak with a unified voice, report against common indicators, and collaborate on scalable, climate-smart agricultural innovations.
As the FSRP gains momentum, CCARDESA’s role in convening and strengthening regional networks remains pivotal in translating strategy into tangible impact — making food systems transformation a reality on the ground.
Members of the FSRP Communications Working Group, together with representatives from the Cassava Regional Center of Leadership in Angola and the Horticulture Regional Center of Leadership in Lesotho, had the opportunity to interact and exchange knowledge and experiences.
