Jeff Hill on how the next phase of CAADP will be different
Channel: Global Donor Platform for Rural Development
Date: 14/01/2015

CAADP turned 10, Malabo recommitted to Maputo, and the NPCA is commissioned to draw up a strategy – Jeff Hill of USAID is convinced that a number of system changes will now allow for a different handling of African agriculture issues. In CAADP partnership platform meetings he has never become tired of mooting his opinion: prioritise clear roles and responsibilities.
 
In this interview with the Platform the long-time member of the development partners’ task team (DPTT) appreciates the new roadmap. It was doing a good job of articulating the two core objectives that had to be given attention. One was the objective to facilitate and support technical change that could drive agricultural transformation and growth in a more comprehensive way. The other was focussing on identifying the system changes that would be required for making development work.
 
In a recent Platform interview NEPAD’s Estherine Fotabong had positively acknowledged the work of the CAADP donors. But she also threw the ball back to the donors on the issue of unclarified roles and responsibilities. Donors should really start speaking with one voice, she had said.
 
Jeff Hill now commented that the need for a focus on a key issue was important. He agreed that development partners needed to frame the areas where alignment could take place – especially in areas where they were committed most. Right now it was critically important for each organisation to clarify what the organisation and its leadership was committed to. Around that, donors would be able to then put in place processes to discipline how they as the development partners were able to align with and support those efforts.
 
“We do in fact welcome the opportunity to have discussions on alignment, but on this issue leadership is required from the African leaders”, the director of food and agriculture policy at USAID said.