WHO WE ARE

The Sector Network Rural Development Africa is a community of practice of local and international GIZ staff working in the area of rural development in Africa. It constitutes a profound knowledge sharing hub and stands for a solid promoter of capacity development. SNRD Africa covers all aspects of rural development, sustainable natural resources management and the impacts of climate change. In this context, sustainable economic development and good governance are considered critical factors for the successful overall development of a region.

  • It is our goal to keep sector network members up to date with the latest facts

  • We are set out to seize all opportunities opening up to us

  • We aim to tackle the challenges of contemporary rural development — together

  • Striving to anticipate critical developments in the sector

Joint efforts on sustainable development goals and methods within SNRD promote the introduction of innovative and standardised approaches across programmes and countries. New, collaboratively developed approaches, as well as the transfer or adaptation of already existing ones, allow for substantial reductions in programme development costs. Moreover, the collaboration between sector projects within Germany or bilateral and regional programmes facilitates communal and individual study initiatives, workshops and other outputs. They all draw from the rich knowledge of SNRD’s experienced experts, who work on a diverse range of programmes across Africa and Germany.

SNRD Africa is looking at a wealth of experience. From the time it was launched in Lesotho in 1995, it grew into a substantial network, which today comprises 70+ projects and programmes in 26 African countries, and some based in Germany. Altogether more than 400 staff and consultants contribute to the successful outcome of its operations.

SETTING

As a network, SNRD Africa operates in a very diverse environment. Besides the many agriculture ministries of the partner countries, these three organisations are of critical importance to us:

GIZ logo

To most of the individuals who link up with one another via SNRD Africa, the Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit is their institutional home

SNRD Asia logo

We have strong ties to SNRD Asia, being our sister network

Welt ohne Hunger logo

The special initiative One World, No Hunger of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) guides the international food security efforts of German Development Cooperation. Therefore it has provided the overall conceptual direction of SNRD Africa in recent years

SNRD Conference

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Beyond the active virtual exchange throughout the year network members meet in person every two to three years in Africa to get an enhanced look and feel of what is important to others and has been developed in terms of learning experiences and changes in approach or use of tools. The meeting provides a perfect opportunity for a personal onboarding of new colleagues. The layout of the future strategic direction of SNRD Africa is also something that is discussed in detail.

Collaboration

Inclusive Agribusiness

This working group promotes market-oriented agricultural development through the creation of viable agribusiness ventures

Climate and Nature

This working group promotes the improvement of livelihoods while conserving natural resources in the context of climate change

Digital Transformation

This community of practice is for everyone working in the area of information and communications technologies for agriculture (ICT4Ag) in developing countries

Food and Nutrition Security

This working group aims at good nutritional status — an outcome and a enabler of sustainable development. All forms of malnutrition have impact on human health and economic performance

Policies for Rural Development

This working group shares and promotes best practices and lessons learned from policy advisory services for agricultural public and private sector partners, rural development and food security policies

Gender-Transformative Approaches

The aim of this working group is to accompany and drive this process so that we move from gender sensitivity to a gender-transformative approach in our work.

Agriculture Technical Vocational Education and Training

This CoP is a forum for everyone working on ATVET-related projects in developing countries as well as for the experts dealing with connected themes at the sector departments in Germany

Contract Farming

This new CoP is a reaction to heightening interest in receiving information and assistance with inclusive contract farming on the side of projects and programmes

Rural Employment

This community of practice aims to attract thematic GIZ experts and external consultants to work on job creation for youngsters in rural areas in Africa

Steering Group

Rita Weidinger, project leader of the Market-Oriented Value Chains for Jobs and Growth in the ECOWAS Region (MOVE) Project is speaker of SNRD Africa currently.

Deputy speakers Lucie Pluschke, Kenya and Jens Knickenberg, Belgium support her in this role.

The steering group furthermore comprises Kirsten Focken, representing the GIZ Africa Department, Jochen Renger, representing the Sectoral Department, Christel Weller-Molongua, representing the GloBe Department, the six working group speakers and tandem partners, the coordination of the sector networks at GIZ head office, Martina Wegner as well as the SNRD secretariat managed by Aileen Zander and Janice Kanyire Annyaah.