Research for Agroecology Network Southern Africa (RAENS)

Introduction

RAENS (pronounced RAINS) is a project designed to establish a robust, innovative, and sustainable multi-actor transdisciplinary agroecology research and knowledge network in Southern Africa. It seeks to strengthen existing initiatives, showcase the potential and scalability of agroecology, facilitate shifts in agricultural training and research towards agroecological and regenerative ways of producing food, fibre, and fodder, and inform policy, thereby creating an enabling landscape for agroecology uptake, research, and training.

Aim

The specific objectives, to be addressed by the four components of this project are:

Establishing a research network to improve coordination of agroecology research in the region, in collaboration with farmer organisations, extension workers, market actors, civil society groups and other grassroots practitioners. Members of the research network will undertake farmer-led agroecological research at pilot sites in the five member countries (South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania). Regional communities of practice (COPs) will also be created on key agroecology topics.
Developing a learning network, to develop the next generation of agroecology scholars and practitioners in the region. This will include development of agroecological curricular materials for various levels of teaching, as well as supervision of students.
Knowledge management, to increase the availability and awareness of agroecological knowledge materials, methodologies and tools.
Providing evidence-based policy analysis and advice, to contribute to an improved policy environment for gender-sensitive agroecological transitions at local, national and regional levels.

Project Scope and Timeline

The RAENS project runs from 2025-2028. It is a Southern African regional network, with a focus on the SADC region. It’s implementation is primarily in Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, with scope for new members to join from other parts of the region.

Farmer tending to his coffee nursery. Photo by Axel Fassio/CIFOR-ICRAF

Modality

The overarching objective of creating a regional multi-actor research network in the SADC region is to facilitate shifts in agricultural training, research, policy, practice and markets towards agroecological approaches that lead to increased uptake of agroecology and nutrition-sensitive practices in agricultural production, local trade, consumption and policy. To do so, the project seeks to ensure that farmers, NGOs and other support groups, market actors, extension agents, policy makers and other relevant actors in the agri-food system have the necessary skills, knowledge, support and enabling environment, to transition towards agroecology.

The expected outcomes are:

Improved coordination of agroecology research and sharing of experiences in the region through the research network, in collaboration with farmer organisations/unions, extension agents, market actors and other grassroots practitioners.
A growing number of agroecology scholars and trained practitioners in the region are equipped with skills, knowledge and relevant tools.
Increased availability and awareness of agroecology knowledge materials, methodologies and tools including innovations of regional actors.
An improved policy environment for gender-sensitive agroecological transitions at local, national and regional levels.

Partners

The RAENS project is coordinated by CCARDESA and involves a group of eight implementing partners:

University of Cape Town (UCT), South Africa (Project Lead)
Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), Malawi
Sokoine University of Agriculture (SUA), Tanzania
Marondera University of Agriculture, Science and Technology (MUAST), Zimbabwe
The Zambia Agricultural Research Institute (ZARI)
Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF), Malawi
Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Switzerland
Young Professions for Agricultural Development (YPARD), Germany