Strengthening Agricultural and Nutrition Extension (SANE) Annual Report FY 2017-2018

The project aims to give families and communities in Malawi the freedom and opportunity to lift themselves out of food insecurity and malnutrition. The SANE Activity was awarded as USAID Cooperative Agreement Award No. AID-612-LA-15-00003 to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as prime implementer. The project's main purpose is to strengthen the agricultural and nutrition extension services in Malawi. To achieve this goal, the project focuses on three key results: improving the policy environment, strengthening the coordination and capacity of extension service providers, and institutionalizing linkages between extension and research. The project also aims to improve service access and quality, as well as build the capacity of extension service providers. The project's theory of change is based on the assumption that improved policy environment, coordination, and capacity of extension service providers, and institutional linkages between extension and research will lead to improved service access and quality, and ultimately, improved agricultural productivity and nutrition outcomes. The project's annual achievement towards targets is measured through a set of performance indicators, which are tracked and reported on a regular basis. In terms of implementation, the project has established a number of structures and systems to support its activities. These include the District Agricultural and Extension Services System (DAESS), which is a decentralized system for delivering extension services at the district level. The project has also established a number of partnerships with local organizations and institutions to support its activities. The project's accomplishments in the past year include the development and implementation of a new enabling extension policy, the finalization and implementation of the Agricultural Sector Food and Nutrition Strategy, and the support of farmer participation in policy dialogue. The project has also made progress in strengthening the coordination and capacity of extension service providers, and institutionalizing linkages between extension and research. In terms of project management, the project has a number of personnel, including a director, deputy director, chief of party, and a number of technical specialists. The project also has a number of partners, including the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Catholic Relief Services Malawi, and the Malawi Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. The project's monitoring, evaluation, and learning system is designed to track progress towards its targets and make adjustments as needed. The project's result 1, policy environment improved, has seen significant progress in the past year. The enabling extension policy was adopted, the Agricultural Sector Food and Nutrition Strategy was finalized and implemented, and farmer participation in policy dialogue was supported. The project's result 2, coordination and capacity of extension service providers strengthened, has also seen significant progress, with the implementation of District Strengthening Action Plans and the improvement of capacities and coordination within DAESS. The project's result 3, institutional linkages between extension and research strengthened, has also seen significant progress, with the establishment of research-extension linkages and the improvement of capacities and coordination between extension and research institutions. The project's priorities for the upcoming year include continuing to strengthen the policy environment, coordination, and capacity of extension service providers, and institutionalizing linkages between extension and research. In conclusion, the SANE Activity is a project that aims to strengthen the agricultural and nutrition extension services in Malawi. The project has made significant progress in the past year, including the development and implementation of a new enabling extension policy, the finalization and implementation of the Agricultural Sector Food and Nutrition Strategy, and the support of farmer participation in policy dialogue. The project's accomplishments are a testament to the hard work and dedication of the project team and its partners.