Feed the Future: Building Capacity for African Agricultural Transformation (Africa Lead II) Quarterly Report: April-June 2014

The program is implemented by DAI and is sponsored by the USAID Bureau of Food Security. The program's overall goal is to increase agricultural productivity and food security in Africa. The program is divided into three components: Establishing and Improving Effectiveness of Institutional and Organizational Architecture, Strengthening Capacity to Manage and Implement the Policy Change and Alignment Process, and Promoting the Effective Participation of Non-State Actors (NSAs) in the Policy Process. Component One focuses on developing an action plan for strengthening the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) institutional capacity at the continental, regional, and country level. Task 1.1 involves developing an action plan for strengthening CAADP institutional capacity, while Task 1.2 involves identifying key food security institutions, assessing their institutional capacity, and providing assistance to strengthen core skills and overall performance. Component Two focuses on strengthening capacity to manage and implement the policy change and alignment process. Task 2.2 involves strengthening institutional architecture for improved policy and evidence-based policy reform. Component Three focuses on promoting the effective participation of NSAs in the policy process. Task 3.1 involves building capacity and legitimacy of NSA groups to engage in the CAADP policy process, while Task 3.2 involves strengthening business leadership capacity of African farmer groups to engage in policy processes. The program also places emphasis on knowledge management, learning, and communications. Task 1 involves providing buy-in services, while Task 2 involves providing program services. Monitoring and evaluation are also critical components of the program, with Task 3 involving establishing baselines and annual performance targets, and Task 4 involving producing a final M&E plan. During the third quarter of the program, from April 1st to June 30th, 2014, several accomplishments were made. In East and Southern Africa, the program organized the Joint African Union Conference of Ministers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and provided logistical support to the AUC 23rd Ordinary Summit in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. The program also organized the CAADP Agribusiness meeting in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, and the NSA/CSO work planning meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In addition, the program developed curriculum for leadership training to local government authorities in Tanzania and prepared for Super Champions Training of Tanzanian Members of Parliament in Dodoma. The program's results framework, which outlines the program's expected outcomes and indicators, is presented in Annex I. The indicators performance tracking table (IPTT) is presented in Annex II. The program's buy-in summary is presented in Annex III. The program's theory of change for increased agricultural productivity and food security is presented in Figure 1. The program's acronyms are listed in the acronyms section.