Zimbabwe Agricultural Competitiveness Program SECOND QUARTERLY PROGRESS REPORT, YEAR TWO (JAN – MAR 2012)

The program is implemented by DAI and its subcontractor partners. The second quarterly progress report for year two (January to March 2012) highlights key achievements and challenges under the program's three components. Component 1 focuses on strengthening organizations and institutions for evidence-based advocacy. Key activities include strengthening institutions for advocacy, CIG strengthening, stakeholder consultation and meetings, and capacity building for evidence-based policy analysis, research, and advocacy. The program has made significant progress in this area, with the establishment of a regulatory management system inventory, database, and review. Additionally, capacity building activities have been conducted to enhance the skills of stakeholders in policy analysis, research, and advocacy. Component 2 aims to improve market infrastructure and institutions. The program has made progress in this area, with the development of quality standards, commodity exchange and warehouse receipt systems, market information systems, and producer and trade association development. The program has also established an agribusiness finance working group to facilitate access to finance for farmers and agribusinesses. Component 3 focuses on improving agro-business development services, agro-business skills, and agro-production and productivity. Key activities include the development of a farming as a family business manual, training of trainers in specific business areas, and monitoring trainings in the provinces. The program has also supported business service providers and business development service providers to enhance their capacity to deliver services to farmers and agribusinesses. The program has also made progress in environmental and gender issues. The environmental chapter highlights the importance of environmental sustainability in agricultural development, while the gender chapter discusses the need for gender mainstreaming in the program. The program has conducted organizational assessments, developed a gender manual, and conducted gender training workshops. Lessons learned from the program's first year have been documented, highlighting the importance of stakeholder engagement, capacity building, and institutional strengthening. Challenges facing the program include limited resources, inadequate infrastructure, and resistance to change from some stakeholders. The program has also made progress in networking and collaboration, with the establishment of a network of stakeholders and partners. The conclusion highlights the importance of continued support for the program to achieve its objectives. The budgetary chapter provides an overview of the program's budget for the second quarter of year two, while the annexes provide additional information on the program's activities, including event evaluation reports, adoption study questionnaires, and success stories.