4.1Participants (applicants)

P[18]Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA)

Legal entityThe Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) is a not-for-profit inter-governmental sub-regional organization established in 1994. ASARECA comprises 11 member countries: Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda. It brings together scientists from the national agricultural research institutions (NARIs), national agricultural extension service providers and other strategic partners to generate, share and promote knowledge and innovation to solve the common challenges facing agriculture in the member countries. It also enables the member countries to work collectively to assist smallholder farmers to practice productive and profitable agriculture.ASARECA is headed by Dr. Fina Opio (the Executive Director), with support from Professor Francis Wachira (Deputy Executive Director). Mr. Enock Warinda, Head of Monitoring, Evaluation & Reporting is the authorised representative in this project (also African co-Leader of WP7).

Main tasksASARECA will mainly contribute to WP7 (Expected impact of IntensAfrica), as well as be actively engaged in WP2 (Towards a Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) on Sustainable Intensification Pathways of agrifood systems), and WP5 (Prompting Bi-Continental Governance for IntensAfrica). Within the Eastern and Central African sub-region, ASARECA plays a critical role of enhancing agricultural research and scaling out of proven technologies, innovations and management practices. The organization is also guided/governed by a team of Patron Ministers drawn from the 11 countries. These are the current ministers of agriculture, livestock and fisheries (whichever is applicable). These ministers are also supported by a strong team of Board of Directors, comprising: the Director Generals of all the 11 National Agricultural Research Institutes, as well as representatives from CGIAR, NGO, Extension Services, Private Sector, Universities, as well as Farmer Organizations. All the ASARECA team of scientists and researchers are involved in its core research themes, namely: natural resources management (especially promotion of climate smart agriculture), governance, efficient water resource management, integrated soil management, and staple crops program (engage in intensification and conservation agriculture). ASARECA is recognized as a leading regional organization that has 20 years of experience in several emerging issues, such as regional diseases.

Profile of staff members involvedEnock Warinda is the Senior Technical Officer and Head of Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning at the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and central Africa (ASARECA), a sub-regional organization that serves 11 African Countries. Enock attained his MPhil. degree in Forestry Economics and Management from Moi University, Kenya. He has over 17 years of experience in Monitoring and Evaluation. He is currently a PhD student (Agricultural Economics), focusing on impacts of selected projects on rural livelihoods.

Enock has in the past served as the Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Learning (MERL) Officer in Pact Inc. (based in Nairobi) where he was in charge of planning, monitoring, evaluation, reporting and learning of Pact Inc. programs, besides coordinating natural resources management program. He was also responsible for preparation of technical and progress reports for donors and other stakeholders.Enock has served as the M&E Program Officer at the Forum for Women African Educationalists (FAWE). He coordinated M&E activities in 34 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, where he also led in the development and application of M&E tools and reporting templates, leading to effective monitoring of girls education programs in sub-Saharan Africa. He has conducted baseline studies and synthesized findings, and drafted recommendations and lessons learned from program evaluation.

Enock has served as the M&E Program Officer at the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF). He was the team leader of M&E Officers from 7 coalition NGOs implementing the Conservation of Resources through Enterprise (CORE) program (funded by USAID). He has conducted data quality assessment (DQA) for education, development and business-related programs, besides maintaining and updating the central data repository. He has trained key project partners and local community members on basic M&E and reporting, besides coordinating end-of-project evaluations.

He has also served as the coordinator for socioeconomic & environmental M&E at the African Conservation Center, Nairobi. He was also the M&E Coordinator at Climate Network Africa (CNA), Nairobi, Kenya, where he coordinated workshops of African Environmental Organizations in local, regional and international activities aimed at protecting and improving environment in Africa, particularly with respect to global climate change.

Relevant publications, and/or products, services

(max. 5)1. Kinyau, M., Ley, G.J, Hella, J.P, Tenge, A.J. Opio, F and Rwomushana, I. (2013) Economic analysis of rice legume rotation systems in Morogoro, Tanzania. International Journal of Agricultural Policy and Research Vol.1 (2): 41-47

2. Muchane M.N., Karanja D., Wambugu G.M., Mutahi J.M., Masiga C.W., Mugoya C., and Muchai M., 2012. Land use practices and their implications on soil macro-fauna in Maasai Mara ecosystem. International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation Vol. 4(13), pp. 500-514

3. Mugerwa, S., Zziwa, E., Kabirizi, J. and Ndikumana, J., 2013. Environmental Assessment of Climate Smart Agricultural Interventions in Smallholder Crop-livestock Production Systems. Resources and Environment, 3(4): 91 99

4. Mugerwa, S, Kabirizi, J. M, Kigongo, J, and Zziwa, E., 2011. A cost-benefit analysis for utilization of poultry manure in cabbage production among smallholder crop-livestock farmers. International Journal of Agronomy and Agricultural Research (IJAAR), 1(2): 14-195. Semalulu O., D. Kimaro, V. Kasenge, M. Isabirye and P. Makhosi. 2012. Soil and nutrient losses in banana-based cropping systems of the Mt. Elgon hillsides of Uganda: economic implications. International Journal of Agricultural Sciences ISSN: 2167-0447 Vol. 2 (9), pp. 256-262, September 2012. International Scholars Journals.6. M. Barungi, D. H. Ngongola, A. Edriss1, J. Mugisha, M. Waithaka & J. Tukahirwa. 2013. Factors Influencing the Adoption of Soil Erosion Control Technologies by Farmers along the Slopes of Mt. Elgon in Eastern Uganda. Journal of Sustainable Development; Vol. 6, No. 2; 2013. Pages 9-25. Published by Canadian Center of Science and Education

Relevant previous projects or activities (max. 5)1. Scaling up establishment of collaborative national agricultural information and knowledge management platforms2. Croplivestock integration for sustainable management of natural resources in Eastern and Central Africa

3. Accelerated uptake and utilization of soil fertility management best-bets practices in Eastern and Central Africa sub-region

4. Making the best of climate adapting agriculture to climate variability in Eastern and Central Africa sub-region

5. Up-scaling integrated soil fertility management for improved livelihoods

6. Going to scale: enhancing the adaptive management capacities of rural communities for sustainable land management in the highlands of Eastern Africa

7. Integrated management options for sustainable lowland ricelegume cropping systems

8. Integrated technologies for drought mitigation and increasing smallholder sorghum productivity

9. Integrating pearl millet production practices with sustainable natural resource management for improved food security in drought stressed environments