Programme Overview

The Monitoring and Analysing Food and Agricultural Policies (MAFAP) programme is a leading policy support initiative at FAO that works with countries in Africa to strategically prioritize, reform and implement policies on food and agriculture.

 

By monitoring and analysing public budgets and trade and market policies, MAFAP guides governments to repurpose their agricultural support to accelerate the transformation of agrifood systems.

 

The team also collaborates with policymakers to identify priorities for policy and investment reforms in key commodity value chains, and supports with implementating policy changes so that agrifood systems can deliver affordable healthy diets to all and inclusive markets for farmers.


MAFAP main objectives

Collect, assemble and use targeted and policy-relevant data, including prices, market access costs and public expenditure, in support of the food and agricultural sector, as well as policy decisions

Collect, assemble and use targeted and policy-relevant data, including prices, market access costs and public expenditure, in support of the food and agricultural sector, as well as policy decisions

MAFAP uses a wide set of policy relevant data to deliver high-quality policy analyses. This includes data as varied as prices (at farm-gate, wholesale, retail and border levels), access costs (such as costs of transport, storage, levies, margins etc.), public expenditure and key food and agricultural policy decisions. The data is provided by Ministries of Finance, Agriculture, Bureaus of Statistics, and international databases. In selected countries, MAFAP will also pilot the primary collection of ‘real-time’ or near real-time geographically-specific price and cost data. This data is a key element to enhance the quality of MAFAP’s analysis of both policy ‘problems’ and related potential policy ‘solutions’.

Consolidate and strengthen national policy monitoring systems to measure policy effects and identify current policy 'problems' that affect the competitiveness of agricultural producers

Consolidate and strengthen national policy monitoring systems to measure policy effects and identify current policy 'problems' that affect the competitiveness of agricultural producers

MAFAP is consolidating its ongoing support to the establishment of policy monitoring systems in developing countries. In addition, it is upgrading its methodology for policy monitoring and analysis to clearly identify and assess policy-motivated and structural disincentives faced by consumers, traders and farmers, especially smallholders.

Articulate policy options and assess respective ex-post and ex-ante analysis to support suitable government reforms

Articulate policy options and assess respective ex-post and ex-ante analysis to support suitable government reforms

Based on partner Governments’ policy priorities, commitments and demand, MAFAP supports Government policy analysts to articulate the costs and benefits of alternative policy reform options. As a result, MAFAP strengthens the capacity of governments to better assess, approve and implement informed policy choices.

Engage national stakeholders and development partners in policy dialogue, as part of a more inclusive policy reform process.

Engage national stakeholders and development partners in policy dialogue, as part of a more inclusive policy reform process.

MAFAP partners with various advocacy organizations to actively engage the private sector, farmers, civil society, donors and other stakeholders in policy dialogue around key food and agricultural policy problems and solutions. MAFAP believes only inclusive policy processes can deliver sustainable change.