The Centre for Agricultural Research and Development (CARD) proudly participated in the 12th ANAPRI Annual Stakeholders’ Conference held in Kigali, Rwanda, from 3–6 November 2025 as a member of the African Network of Agricultural Policy Research Institutes (ANAPRI). The conference was held under the theme “Driving Africa’s Food Systems Transformation: Strategic Investments, Resilient Policies, and Global Partnerships,” which sought to explore how African countries can unlock the transformative potential of their food systems while navigating the challenges posed by global turbulence.

This year’s theme came at a crucial time when Malawi and other African countries are grappling with persistent and interlinked challenges affecting their agrifood systems. Climate shocks, land degradation, market volatility, and limited fiscal space continue to constrain agricultural transformation and food security. Participants agreed that addressing these challenges requires not only sound investments and policies but also stronger institutions and partnerships that connect evidence generation with action. The conference therefore provided a timely platform for policymakers, researchers, development partners, and private sector actors to share lessons and shape new strategies for building resilient and inclusive food systems across the continent.

One of the most engaging sessions, titled “Applying Systems Thinking and Foresight for Africa’s Agrifood Transformation,” highlighted the importance of embedding foresight and analytical tools into national planning, budgeting, and monitoring frameworks. The discussion emphasized that foresight is not about predicting the future, but about preparing for it — by institutionalizing learning, coordination, and adaptability within policy systems. Participants underscored the need to integrate foresight into national development planning processes such as the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the National Agricultural Investment Plans (NAIPs), so that long-term scenario analysis informs resource allocation and investment priorities.

The session also drew attention to the emerging role of Local Analysis Networks (LANs) — collaborative national platforms that connect researchers, universities, think tanks, and government departments to strengthen the use of evidence in policy decisions. LANs enable governments to systematically translate data and foresight analysis into planning and budgeting, ensuring that policy processes remain adaptive and responsive to changing realities. Through such networks, countries can institutionalize systems thinking and foster continuous dialogue between evidence producers and policy users.

The Centre for Agricultural Research and Development (CARD) was represented at the conference by Dr. Chiyembekezo Chafuwa and Mr. Joseph Kanyamuka, both Research Fellows at the Centre....