AGRICULTURAL CONSULTATIVE FORUM FOSTERING CONSULTATION, NETWORKING AND POLICY ANALYSIS AMONG AGRICULTURAL SECTOR STAKEHOLDERS

INTRODUCTION ACF Existed since 1998 ACF is now a registered stakeholder Forum ACF is now a registered stakeholder Forum

BACKGROUND Market Liberalisation and Reforms ASIP introduced in 1996 as main tool Transition to private sector-driven agricultural sector Mid-term review of ASIP in 1998 Noted public sector dominance

BIRTH OF ACF To re-focus ASIP on fostering Private - Public Sector partnerships Forum to engage stakeholders in processes of policy formulation Later transformed from ‘ASIP - CF’ to ‘AGRICULTURAL - CF’ to focus on long-term agricultural development issues

Participation Need for all sector stakeholders to be involved during all stages of the programme cycle. This ensures ownership of a demand- driven and sustainable development process Development not only brought by Govt. but needs active participation of stakeholders

OBJECTIVES OF ACF To facilitate continuous consultation among stakeholders in agricultural sector To advise on formulation, updating, designing and operationalisation of Agricultural Policy To develop and constantly review the principles governing actions of stakeholders affecting the agricultural Sector To provide a framework for greater understanding and broader commitment to the agricultural sector goals, thus reducing the likelihood of duplication and inconsistency among stakeholders

OUTPUTS OF THE ACF Expert Issue-based Reports Institutionalised Consultative Mechanism Forum Meetings and Seminars Advisory Notes on specific issues

ACF MEMBERSHIP Good Diversity of membership 45 Members Vibrant membership Interest Group membership Each Member plays specific role ACF is not a lobby group for stakeholders but a Forum for consensus building Supported by a Full-time Secretariat

ACF MEMBERSHIP INSTITUTIONROLES GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES Agriculture & Cooperatives Finance & National Planning Local Government & Housing Lands Gender in Development Policy, Regulation and Services Resource mobilisation Decentralisation Land tenure Gender issues AGRI-BUSINESS FORUM Agricultural services delivery National Assembly Legislation FARMERS Beneficiary mobilisation AGRO-BASED NGO FORUM Agricultural services delivery Private Public Sector Partnership Private Public Sector Partnership Agricultural services delivery DONORS Funding and advisory

ACF SECRETARIAT ACF supported by a small lean Secretariat –Co-ordinator –Programmes Officer –M&E officer Support staff –Accountant –Office Orderly –Driver

FINANCING ACF Basket funding –U–U–U–USAID –R–R–R–Royal Netherlands Embassy –R–R–R–Royal Norwegian Embassy –G–G–G–GTZ –S–S–S–Stakeholder Contributions

EMERGING ISSUES Complexity and Diversity of the sector stakeholders Duality of the sector Institutional vacuum in agro-services Dependency syndrome Poverty Alleviation vs. Development Low competitiveness Mistrust between private and public sector

ACHIEVEMENTS OF ACF POLICY DOCUMENTS –Input into National Agricultural policy –Input into Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper -Input into agric marketing plan –Input into input marketing plan –Input into the irrigation plan –Input to The Fifth National Development Plan STAKEHOLDER PROJECTS –Links to Food Security Research Project –FANRPAN

ACHIEVEMENTS OF ACF Enhanced continuous consultation amongst agricultural sector stakeholders. Increased sense of ownership of the agricultural sector policy initiatives and development projects. Strengthened public/private sector partnerships. Influenced agricultural policy through Advisory Notes. Being considered as a model by other sectors in the region, i.e., Environment, Tourism and Natural Resources sector

STAKEHOLDER PERCEPTIONS OF ACF ROLE Acknowledge importance of ACF Emphasise the need for ACF to adjust to emerging issues Extend focus beyond agricultural Production More stakeholder driven in-depth analysis Strategic links and alliances with others – FSRP, Millers, other line Ministries. Participate in MACO taskforces

FUTURE OF ACF Improve role of private sector Key role in monitoring of the PRSP/FNDP Policy advisory even at regional level ie Through COMESA, and NEPAD/CAADP

Conclusion Stakeholder consultation is a non-negotiable in Zambian agricultural development