The Centre for Coordination of Agricultural Research and Development for Southern Africa (CCARDESA) hosted the newly appointed Director of the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (FANR) Directorate at the SADC Secretariat, Mr Fahari Gilbert Marwa, on 17 July 2026 in Gaborone, Botswana, for a strategic engagement aimed at strengthening collaboration to advance agricultural research, innovation and resilient food systems across Southern Africa.
The meeting, led by CCARDESA Acting Executive Director, Mr Dagmore Tawonezvi, provided an opportunity to review ongoing collaboration, share strategic priorities and identify new opportunities for joint action in support of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) and the broader regional agricultural development agenda. Discussions focused on CCARDESA's mandate, achievements and flagship programmes, while also providing a platform to exchange views on FANR's strategic priorities and explore future areas of collaboration.
Welcoming the FANR Director, Mr Tawonezvi underscored the importance of strengthening collaboration with the FANR Directorate as CCARDESA’s parent institution within the SADC framework. He noted that the engagement provided an important opportunity to deepen mutual understanding of CCARDESA’s expanding portfolio while strengthening cooperation in resource mobilization, technical support to Member States and the alignment of regional agricultural priorities.
During the meeting, CCARDESA presented its mandate as the SADC subsidiary responsible for coordinating agricultural research and development across the region. The Centre highlighted progress made in implementing regional programmes on agricultural research and innovation, climate smart agriculture, soil health, digital extension, knowledge management, food systems resilience and policy support. It also showcased its role in facilitating technology generation and dissemination, promoting knowledge exchange and strengthening partnerships among Member States, regional institutions and development partners.
Mr Marwa commended CCARDESA for its broad regional footprint and the impact of its programmes, emphasizing the importance of translating research, innovation and knowledge into practical solutions that improve agricultural productivity and livelihoods across the region. He encouraged the Centre to continue providing technical leadership in priority areas such as soil health, fertilizer systems, agricultural innovation, food systems transformation and regional policy harmonization.
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The discussions identified several strategic areas for enhanced collaboration, including strengthening regional soil health initiatives, promoting climate resilient agriculture, improving agricultural extension systems, harmonizing seed and fertilizer systems, scaling proven agricultural technologies, enhancing knowledge management, generating evidence based policy recommendations and jointly mobilizing resources to support regional programmes.
Participants also explored opportunities to deepen cooperation in addressing transboundary animal diseases, strengthening regional food systems governance, advancing digital agriculture and artificial intelligence applications, and improving coordination of agricultural research and innovation across Southern Africa. The meeting further emphasized the importance of leveraging regional platforms and strategic partnerships to enhance the visibility, impact and sustainability of agricultural development initiatives.
The engagement marked another important milestone in reinforcing the longstanding partnership between CCARDESA and the SADC FANR Directorate. As both institutions continue working together, the strengthened collaboration is expected to enhance the coordination of regional agricultural development initiatives.
