1. Strengthening Capacity of Farmer Based Organisations in SADC

2. Study Objective The objective is to strengthen the capacity of farmer-based organisations in policy analysis and advocacy in order to enhance their role in policy priority setting and communication for decision making in rural development

3. Study Objective (Ctnd) The study will contribute to household food security through increased agricultural production and improved availability of staple foods

4. Study Background The projected originated from the agricultural recovery, food security and trade policy dialogue hosted by FANRPAN in Gaborone, Botswana in March 2003 One of the major recommendations was the need to strengthen farmer-based organisations such as commodity associations, smallholder farming organisations and agribusiness associations

5. Partnerships FANRPAN partnered with the Southern African Confederation of Agricultural Unions (SACAU) SACAU is made up of eight national farmer unions from Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe

6. Completed Activities A workshop on policy advocacy and representation capacity of farmer organisations in the SADC region was held in July 2004 in Namibia An information and communication strategy has been developed for SACAU, which identifies key objectives and actionable strategies to be implemented over a three year period

7. Completed Activities Policy papers have been completed on: –Current status of farmer organisations in the region –Policy advocacy among farmer unions