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| ASARECA | |
|---|---|
| Name | ASARECA |
| Abbreviation | ASARECA |
| Formation | 1994 |
| Type | Intergovernmental organization |
| Headquarters | Entebbe, Uganda |
| Region served | Eastern and Central Africa |
| Membership | Burundi; Democratic Republic of the Congo; Djibouti; Eritrea; Ethiopia; Kenya; Madagascar; Rwanda; Somalia; South Sudan; Sudan; Tanzania; Uganda |
| Leader title | Executive Secretary |
ASARECA is a regional research-for-development network serving multiple countries in Eastern and Central Africa. It links national agricultural research institutions, international centers, universities, and civil society to support agricultural innovation, rural livelihoods, and resilience. The network engages with regional bodies, donor agencies, and private-sector actors to coordinate research agendas, disseminate technologies, and influence policy.
ASARECA was established in 1994 following consultations among national institutions and international partners responding to regional initiatives such as the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa consultations and the policy dialogues influenced by the World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization. Founding members included national research councils and institutes from countries such as Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi, aligning with continental trends led by organizations like the African Union and the New Partnership for Africa's Development. Early programs drew on collaborations with international agricultural research centers including the International Livestock Research Institute and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, and were informed by global frameworks such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and the FaO/IAEA agricultural support efforts. Over its history, the network adapted to regional crises involving actors like Intergovernmental Authority on Development and donors like the United States Agency for International Development and the European Union.
ASARECA’s mandate centers on strengthening national agricultural research systems across member countries to enhance food security and rural incomes. Objectives align with continental strategies such as the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme and involve promoting technology generation, enhancing linkages with institutions like the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics and CIMMYT, and fostering policy uptake through engagement with bodies like the East African Community and the African Development Bank. The institution prioritizes crop, livestock, fisheries, forestry, and natural resource management, reflecting priorities articulated by actors like the African Union Commission and research funders including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Governance is executed through a General Assembly of member institutions and a Board comprising representatives from national research institutions and partner organizations. The Secretariat, based in Entebbe, manages operations and liaises with regional bodies such as the East African Legislative Assembly and international centers like the CGIAR consortium. Leadership roles have interacted with figures from organizations including the Rockefeller Foundation research networks and advisory inputs from universities like Makerere University and University of Nairobi. Technical advisory committees draw expertise from institutions such as Sokoine University of Agriculture and Egerton University.
Programs span crop improvement, livestock systems, natural resources, climate-smart agriculture, and value-chain development. Projects have partnered with institutes like the International Potato Center and ILRI, and with ministries of agriculture across Ethiopia, Sudan, and South Sudan. Major initiatives have included seed systems with collaboration from National Agricultural Research Organisation partners, fisheries work engaging WorldFish, and maize breeding linked to CIMMYT networks. Projects frequently coordinate with regional mechanisms such as the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources.
Research outputs emphasize participatory varietal selection, integrated pest management, and socio-economic studies involving universities like Makerere University, University of Dar es Salaam, and Haramaya University. Capacity-building efforts target scientists and extensionists through training modules co-developed with CTA (Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation)-linked programs and professional networks such as the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services. Graduate training and fellowships have been facilitated in partnership with institutions like Wageningen University and research chairs funded by donors such as the UK Department for International Development.
ASARECA maintains partnerships with international centers in the CGIAR system, multilateral banks such as the African Development Bank, bilateral donors including the Government of Norway and Norad, and regional organizations like the Intergovernmental Authority on Development. Collaborations extend to civil society networks, private-sector firms, and research universities including University of Addis Ababa and University of Khartoum. Strategic alliances have been formed with entities such as USAID programs, EU regional projects, and philanthropic organizations like the Rockefeller Foundation.
Funding sources include competitive grants from multilateral donors, core funding from member institutions, and project-specific contracts with agencies such as the European Union and USAID. Financial management follows donor reporting guidelines and audit requirements akin to practices by institutions like the International Development Research Centre and the World Bank. Budgeting aligns with strategic plans and program priorities set by the Board and Secretariat, with procurement and fiduciary oversight comparable to standards used by the African Development Bank.
ASARECA has contributed to varietal releases, strengthened seed systems, and promoted climate-resilient practices across member states, with uptake documented in cases involving partners like ILRI, CIMMYT, and IITA. The network’s role in coordinating regional research agendas has influenced national policies and fostered cross-border collaboration under mechanisms like the East African Community protocols. Criticisms have included concerns about donor dependence similar to debates around CGIAR funding, challenges in scaling local innovations, and governance transparency issues echoed in reviews of regional research platforms associated with bodies like the African Union. Ongoing evaluations involve stakeholders such as national science councils and international evaluators from organizations like the OECD.
Category:African research organizations