APA

About APA

The Africa Centre of Excellence in Agricultural Policy Analysis (APA) is a permanent Centre of the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR). It was established in 2022 with support from the World Bank under the ACE II Additional Financing initiative. In July 2026, the LUANAR Council approved its institutionalisation, so APA now operates as a Centre within the University, working with LUANAR’s Faculties and Departments.
APA’s role is to strengthen agri-food systems transformation by producing policy-relevant evidence, driving digital innovation and building high-level human capital. It connects universities, government ministries, the private sector, civil society and regional partners.

APA's Specific Objectives:

Apart from the main objectives, APA has the following specific objectives

Objective 1

To enhance agri-food systems related education and training using trans-disciplinary approaches and applied research

Objective 2

To strengthen university linkages to the regional agricultural sector

Objective 3

To establish university partnerships with private and public entities related to agri-food systems both within and outside the region

Vision and Mission statement of APA

Our vision is to be a leading beacon of excellence in agricultural policy analysis, recognized globally for our contributions to the transformation and sustainable advancement of agri-food systems.

Our Mission is to empower and equip stakeholders within the agricultural sector with advanced knowledge, skills, and innovative tools for navigating and enhancing agri-food systems transformation.

Key Areas of ACE II AF-APA

Teaching and Learning

APA is meant to support local and international postgraduate students in agricultural and applied economics, extension and rural innovations, as well as applied data science with the aim of transforming and advancing knowledge and skills in the agricultural sector.

Capacity Building

APA is geared towards empowering stakeholders with knowledge and skills needed to navigate the complexities of agri-food systems through its community of practice, research boot camps, and short courses in agricultural economics, extension, rural innovation, and big data analytics.

Collaboration and Partnerships

APA strives to provide evidence-based and actionable policy recommendations on critical issues affecting agri-food systems by collaborating with leading local and international universities and other practitioners.

Policy engagement and dialogue

APA generates high quality research and knowledge products that facilitate policy engagement, calibration, and dialogue at local and international levels, leveraging different expertise within the University and like-minded stakeholders to influence policy decision-making in the agricultural sector

Centre’s Mandate

APA started with agricultural policy analysis. As a permanent Centre, it now also works in applied data science, artificial intelligence and systems intelligence. It supports evidence-based decisions across agriculture, tourism, mining and manufacturing, and in related areas such as One Health, the environment, climate resilience and trade.

CARP-E Projects

Community Action Research Projects for Enterprise Development (CARP-E) is an APA initiative that translates research into practical, community-driven solutions to improve Malawi’s soybean and groundnut value chains.
Building on RUFORUM’s Community Action Research Projects model, CARP-E promotes collaboration between LUANAR, farming communities, government, private sector, NGOs and development partners to address agricultural challenges and strengthen entrepreneurship.

P.O. BOX 219, Lilongwe, Malawi.
+265 996 545 274
apa@luanar.ac.mw

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