Improving JSR Practices at Country Level: Achievements and Gaps in

Southern Africa

Greenwell Matchaya, Coordinator for ReSAKSS Southern Africa (SA), International Water

Management Institute (IWMI), South Africa g.matchaya@cigar.org

What is a Joint Sector Review (JSR)?

A joint sector review (JSR) is one way of operationalizing the mutual accountability framework at country level

The JSR process creates a platform to:» assess the performance and results of the agriculture

sector» assist governments in setting sector policy and

priorities» assess how well state and non state actors have

implemented pledges and commitments (laid out in NAIPs, and other agreements)

Purpose and benefits of the Joint Sector Review

The primary purpose of a JSR is to determine and evaluate observed results of sector performance and their comparison with the intended results or targets

Therefore, the JSR:» allows diverse stakeholders to get insights into and

influence overall policies and priorities of the sector

» serves as a management and policy support tool for inclusive stakeholder planning, programming, budget preparation and execution, monitoring and evaluation, and overall development of the sector

Existing country JSRs need strengthening in terms of design, stakeholder inclusion, data analysis, dialogue and improved quality of implementation.

Principles of a Joint Sector Review

National ownership and leadership Relevance to NAIP or cooperation agreement Inclusive participation Commitment to results by all participants Impartiality and evidence-based Enhance national planning Sensitivity to gender Learning experience

What the JSR process does for a country

Describe and analyze the structure, conduct and performance (SCP) of the sector against mutually-agreed milestones and targets

Identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) in the sector

Based on the results and findings in the above, make recommendations for improving performance in the sector.

What is monitored in a Joint Sector Review Development results e.g. income growth, poverty and

hunger reduction, food and nutrition security, etc

Overall agricultural sector growth target, with specific subsector and commodity targets

Required financial and non-financial resources to effectively implement the plan

Policies, programs, institutions, and implementation processes

Linkages (including pathways to achieve the development results), enabling environment and assumptions

Roadmap for undertaking a Joint Sector Review

Set up a JSR steering committee chaired by Ministry of Agriculture

Establish JSR secretariat Develop terms of reference for the JSR Mobilize resources Constitute review team Undertake the review and dialogue Draw implementation and follow-up plan

for the recommendations from the JSR

CAADP-relevant “cooperation agreements”

CAADP Compact

(e.g. Burkina Faso)

CAADP Country NAIP

(e.g. Ghana METASIP)

GAFSP

(e.g. Rwanda)

Country Strategy Papers

(e.g. Tanzania)

New

Alliance Coop Framew

ork

(e.g. Mozam

bique)

Other Agreem

ents

(e.g. Senegal)

Outcomes and Lessons..

Country OutcomesMozambique Launched Joint Sector Review process was launched

in Maputo on 29th August 2013 and finalized in 2014.

Malawi ReSAKSS-SA/IFPRI in collaboration with the AUC NEPAD, and COMESA and the Ministry of Agriculture has finalized and validated JSR report at a workshop in Lilongwe in April 2014

Swaziland Launched and finalized in 2015, in collaboration with the AUC NEPAD

Zambia Launched and finalized in 2015, in collaboration with the AUC NEPAD

Outcomes

Countries are using outcomes of the JSR assessments as well as ATORs» to support policy review and dialogue

processes. In 2015, Malawi JSR followed the JSR

assessment recommendations by ReSAKSS

Swaziland’s demand for more technical support in M&E increased following JSR assessment that revealed gaps

Outcomes

JSR work has stimulated demand for more data and hence, strong M&E

Results from the JSR assessment reports used in compiling the New Alliance report for 2013-2014 in Mozambique

Countries demanding more work on linkages of policies, indicators of investments to development results

Outcomes -Malawi

• Recommendations from JSR assessments have helped country to set up ambitious agenda on the JSR process• Malawi has incorporated lessons from JSR Assessment

exercise into their JSR process• JSR processes were largely Ministry of Agriculture

focused but are now more inclusive following Mutual accountability process• However need to further enhance CSO and private

sector participation• Issues raised from JSR process delegated to technical

working groups under ASWAp for action

Outcomes-Mozambique

• Various Ministries report progress within their sectors at annual review.• Adoption of the CAADP Compact further strengthened

review process. Private sector involvement became stronger after adoption of CAADP• Implementation of the G8NA further strengthening the

process

Outcomes –Swaziland, Zambia

Finalized and validated in 2015 Generated demand for better data and M&E

systems Zambia finalized the assessment in 2015 Served as a basis for several sectoral

meetings in Zambia

Lessons

Political anchorage by African Union, NPCA is critical

Buy-in at country level is very important for rallying the Agricultural sector

Inclusivity from the beginning increases acceptability of recommendations

Political ownership/leadership by Ministry of Agriculture is key.

Consultativeness is also important

Lessons

• Inclusiveness is an issue: Government and DPs engage but NSAs are not fully engaged • Acceptance of JSR------Effective communication and

consultative approach informing stakeholders of the importance of JSR has helped to array the challenges• JSR team composition: best left to country to decide

but should include (private sector, academia, research, CSO, state etc.)• Data availability: sourcing data from private sector and

non-state actors has been a challenge. There is need to invest in data infrastructure. • SAKSS networks therefore are invaluable tool for data

collection and analysis

Future Plan for JSRs

1. Implementation of action plans by initial seven countries

2. Rolling JSR to next set of countries through a process lead by AUC/NPCA