Eswatini launches STOSAR II to strengthen agriculture and food systems

The Government of Eswatini in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, and the European Union (EU), today launched the second phase of the project Support Towards the Operationalization of the SADC Regional Agricultural Policy (STOSAR II).

STOSAR II (2025–2028) is a EUR 10 million initiative funded by the EU under the Development of Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture (DeSIRA) programme. The project builds on the achievements of STOSAR I (2018–2024) to accelerate the transformation of agriculture and food systems across the 16 SADC Member States, including Eswatini.

In Eswatini STOSAR I supported the strengthened of sanitary and phytosanitary capacity which includes: QGIS, KoboCollect, and other tools for data collection, analysis, storage, and reporting - further strengthening the country’s ability to generate reliable information for decision-making and market access and enhanced laboratory infrastructure,  Building on these successes, STOSAR II will focus on four priority areas:

1. Agricultural Information Management Systems (AIMS): Improving national agricultural data and knowledge platforms for evidence-based policymaking.
2. Market Access: Strengthened Plant and Animal Health by tackling transboundary pests and diseases and enhancing Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) systems to strengthen trade opportunities.
3. Food and Nutrition Security (FNS): Supporting monitoring and early warning systems to guide timely policy responses.
4. Inclusive Value Chains: Expanding opportunities for women, youth, and SMEs to participate in sustainable and climate-smart markets.

The initiative supports the implementation of the SADC Regional Agricultural Policy (RAP), adopted in 2013 to advance sustainable agricultural growth, food and nutrition security, and regional integration. The RAP is closely aligned with the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), launched in 2003, and the CAADP Strategy 2026–2035 under the Kampala Declaration of January 2025.

Through this alignment, STOSAR II contributes to food security, climate resilience, inclusive growth, and agro-industrialization in Eswatini and across the region.

Quotes: 

“Eswatini is committed to aligning with regional frameworks such as the SADC Regional Agricultural Policy (RAP), which seeks to harmonize and strengthen agricultural development, food and nutrition security, trade, and sustainable management of natural resources across the Southern African region,” Principal Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture.

“FAO is proud to partner with the Government of Eswatini, SADC, and the EU in delivering STOSAR II. By investing in agricultural information systems, plant and animal health, food security monitoring, and value chain development for market access, this initiative will help transform Eswatini’s agriculture into a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable sector,” Patrice Talla, Subregional Coordinator for Southern Africa and FAO Representative for Eswatini.  

“The STOSAR II initiative comes at a time when the need for robust Sanitary and Phytosanitary Systems (SPS) frameworks has never been more urgent – and this is specifically the case for Eswatini as the country respond to the current Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak,” EU Ambassador, Karsten Mecklenburg.

Notes to Editors

About STOSAR II: STOSAR II is a EUR 10 million initiative (2025–2028) funded by the EU under the DeSIRA programme and implemented by FAO in partnership with the SADC Secretariat and Member States. It builds on STOSAR I (2018–2024), which strengthened agricultural information systems, addressed transboundary pests and diseases, and supported market access.

About DeSIRA: The Development of Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture (DeSIRA) is an EU initiative that supports research and innovation partnerships for climate-smart, sustainable, and inclusive agri-food systems.