CCARDESA

CCARDESA CCARDESA is a sub-regional organisation with a mandate to coordinate agricultural research and development in Southern Africa.
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CCARDESA participated in the WATDEV Regional Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, represented by the Chairperson of the Human R...
17/06/2026

CCARDESA participated in the WATDEV Regional Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, represented by the Chairperson of the Human Resources Committee, Dr Tsepa Mathabo. A key highlight of the meeting was the unveiling of the WATDEV Toolbox, a resource designed to support knowledge sharing, learning, and the scaling of best practices in water and development initiatives. The toolbox aligns closely with CCARDESA's mandate of promoting knowledge management and evidence-based decision-making through regional knowledge platforms, Communities of Practice, digital tools, and ICKM networks across the SADC region.
CCARDESA remains committed to strengthening knowledge coordination and regional collaboration to advance climate resilience, sustainable development, and agricultural transformation in Southern Africa.

CONSULTANCY OPPORTUNITYCCARDESA invites qualified and experienced consultants to submit their Expressions of Interest (E...
17/06/2026

CONSULTANCY OPPORTUNITY
CCARDESA invites qualified and experienced consultants to submit their Expressions of Interest (EOIs) to provide Facilitation Services for the Workshop on the Co-design of the RAENS Information, Communication and Knowledge Management (ICKM) Framework and the Revision of the CCARDESA ICKM Strategy.

📍 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

Consultants with proven experience in workshop facilitation, knowledge management, strategy development, and stakeholder engagement are encouraged to apply.

For detailed Terms of Reference and submission requirements, visit
https://www.ccardesa.org/assignment-title-facilitation-services-workshop-co-design-raens-ickm-framework-and-revision

CLOSING DATE: 30-06-2026

🌾🔥 Scientists from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Japan's National Agriculture and Food Research Orga...
17/06/2026

🌾🔥 Scientists from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Japan's National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), and research partners have discovered a gene that helps rice plants "escape" heat stress during flowering — one of the most critical stages for grain production.

The gene, known as EMF3 (Early Morning Flowering 3), enables rice plants to flower earlier in the day when temperatures are cooler, protecting fertilization and helping maintain yields even under extreme heat conditions.

As climate change continues to threaten agricultural productivity and food security, innovations like this offer new hope for developing climate-resilient crop varieties that can withstand rising temperatures while sustaining farmer livelihoods.

This discovery is particularly significant for regions vulnerable to heat stress, including Southern Africa, where strengthening food systems resilience remains a top priority.

🔗 Read the full story: https://www.ccardesa.org/scientists-discover-heat-escape-gene-could-safeguard-rice-yields-warming-climate

🌱 Long after project support ended, the impact continues.Farmer Field Schools (FFS) introduced through the World Bank-fu...
15/06/2026

🌱 Long after project support ended, the impact continues.

Farmer Field Schools (FFS) introduced through the World Bank-funded Agricultural Productivity Programme for Southern Africa (APPSA) are still transforming lives in Leribe, Lesotho. By empowering farmers with practical skills, improved production techniques, and peer-to-peer learning, the initiative has boosted agricultural productivity, strengthened household food security, increased incomes, and enhanced resilience to climate and economic shocks.

The experience from Leribe demonstrates how investing in farmer knowledge and capacity can create sustainable change that endures well beyond the lifespan of a project.

📖 Read the full story:
🔗 https://www.ccardesa.org/where-change-took-root-lasting-legacy-farmer-field-schools-leribe-lesotho

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Department of Agricultural Research Lesotho

📢 Save the Date | Food and Microbiota in Africa (FAMA) Closing WorkshopWe are pleased to share an invitation to the Food...
15/06/2026

📢 Save the Date | Food and Microbiota in Africa (FAMA) Closing Workshop

We are pleased to share an invitation to the Food and Microbiota in Africa (FAMA) Closing Workshop, taking place on 30 June 2026 from 08h30–16h30 (SAST).

This hybrid event will bring together researchers, policymakers, development partners, and other stakeholders to reflect on the achievements of the FAMA initiative, share key findings and lessons learned, and discuss future opportunities for collaboration and research on food systems, nutrition, and microbiota in Africa.

📍 Venue: Life Sciences Auditorium, University of the Western Cape (UWC), Bellville, South Africa

💻 Virtual Participation: Zoom (link shared upon registration)

🔗 Register here: https://forms.gle/GJNY7NdLbpnJ8zPZ7
We look forward to engaging with you as we celebrate the milestones and impact of the FAMA initiative.

For enquiries, please contact: [email protected]

This morning, Jean-Marc Bouvet, Regional Director for Southern Africa and Madagascar at CIRAD, paid a courtesy call on C...
10/06/2026

This morning, Jean-Marc Bouvet, Regional Director for Southern Africa and Madagascar at CIRAD, paid a courtesy call on CCARDESA to strengthen collaboration and explore possible revisions to the existing MoU to address emerging priorities. The CCARDESA team was led by Executive Director Cliff Sibusiso Dlamini.
CCARDESA and CIRAD have worked closely together on agricultural research, innovation, and resource mobilization. CIRAD has also supported CCARDESA by seconding Dr Jérôme Queste, whose expertise has helped strengthen partnership development and fundraising efforts. The meeting reaffirmed the commitment of both institutions to deepen collaboration and jointly advance sustainable agricultural development, innovation, and climate resilience in Southern Africa.

CONSULTANCY OPPORTUNITYCALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTERESTCCARDESA invites qualified and experienced consulting firms to su...
09/06/2026

CONSULTANCY OPPORTUNITY
CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

CCARDESA invites qualified and experienced consulting firms to submit Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for the Recruitment of an Executive Director for the CCARDESA Secretariat in Gaborone, Botswana.
Interested firms with proven experience in executive search and recruitment are encouraged to apply.

CLOSING DATE: 22/06/2026

For detailed Terms of Reference and submission requirements, visit https://www.ccardesa.org/assignment-title-engagement-firm-recruit-ccardesa-executive-director-ccardesa-secretariat-botswana

🌍🇲🇬 Madagascar Launches the Update of Key Agricultural Sector StrategiesThe Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty...
09/06/2026

🌍🇲🇬 Madagascar Launches the Update of Key Agricultural Sector Strategies

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, in collaboration with the Ministry of Livestock and the Ministry of Fisheries and the Blue Economy of Madagascar, has officially launched the study to update the Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Sector Programme (PSAEP) and the National Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Investment Plan (PNIAEP) through the Food Systems Resilience Programme (FSRP), a World Bank-funded initiative.

The initiative forms part of the implementation of the Kampala Declaration under the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and aims to provide Madagascar with an updated strategic framework to guide the development of the agriculture, livestock, and fisheries sectors over the next decade.

The review will help address emerging challenges, including climate change, evolving policy priorities, and rising production costs, while supporting increased productivity, value addition, market access, and food systems resilience.

🔗 Read the original story in French:
https://www.ccardesa.org/psaeppniaep-lancement-de-la-mise-jour-des-cadres-strategiques-du-secteur-agricole-de-lelevage-et-de

🌍📱 Africa is taking a major step towards a connected digital agriculture future!From 3–5 June 2026, the African Union Co...
08/06/2026

🌍📱 Africa is taking a major step towards a connected digital agriculture future!

From 3–5 June 2026, the African Union Commission (AUC) convened Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Food Systems Resilience Programme (FSRP) implementing countries, development partners, and key stakeholders in Lilongwe, Malawi, to advance the harmonisation of digital agriculture strategies across Africa.

As countries invest in digital advisory services, farmer registries, climate information systems, market platforms, and agricultural data systems, the need for alignment has never been greater. The workshop focused on creating a common framework that promotes interoperability, stronger data governance, improved farmer services, and regional integration.

The meeting also contributed to the development of an AU–REC–Member States Policy Alignment and Implementation Roadmap, which will guide the rollout of the African Union Digital Agriculture Strategy and support the transformation of Africa's agri-food systems through coordinated digital investments.

🔗 Read the full story:
https://www.ccardesa.org/auc-convenes-recs-and-fsrp-implementing-countries-advance-digital-agriculture-harmonisation-africa



African Union | SADC | Malawi Government | IGAD Secretariat | Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa - FARA |

Celebrating the Year of Pastoralists and Rangelands
05/06/2026

Celebrating the Year of Pastoralists and Rangelands

Address

Red Brick Building , Ground Floor, Plot 4701, Mmaraka Road
Gaborone

Opening Hours

Monday 07:30 - 16:30
Tuesday 07:30 - 16:30
Wednesday 07:30 - 16:30
Thursday 07:30 - 16:30
Friday 07:30 - 16:30

Telephone

+2673914997

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