ASARECA undertakes a comprehensive and holistic approach to the identification and strengthening of the different types of Agricultural Research for Development capacities and competencies at the systemic, organizational, and individual levels to support the attainment of inclusive and sustainable agricultural transformation in the Eastern and Central Africa member countries. To be effective, this approach involves a process of consultation between the National Agricultural Research Systems and all other relevant capacity strengthening stakeholders including universities, private sector, farmer organizations and civil society among others.

Partnerships are the foundation for capacity development. The two are part of one process of mutual learning and competence development. Capacity development helps to make partnerships exploit and deliver their benefits.

Our approach to capacity development involves continuous assessment of capacity development needs of National Agricultural Research Systems in Eastern and Central Africa, scouting for opportunities, and designing and implementing activities to address needs.

The goal of the intervention area is to ensure effective capacity for implementing Agricultural Research for Development in the Eastern and Central Africa sub-region.

The main objectives are to: i) design and implement innovative capacity development interventions to build the capacity of National Agricultural Research Systems to implement Agricultural Research for Development in the Eastern and Central Africa sub-region; ii) improve our understanding of successes and failures in capacity development and partnerships projects; iii) document and disseminate best practices in capacity development in the sub-region; and iv) build skills for conducting partnerships and organisational analysis within ASARECA and National Agricultural Research Systems in the sub-region.