Sensitization and capacity building workshop on MAFAP methodology in Ghana
The objectives were to explain the MAFAP methodology and to share preliminary findings on incentives/disincentives analyses for nine commodities. Twenty three participants from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Ministry of Finance and the Science and Technology, Policy Research Institute (STEPRI-CSIR) attended the workshop and provided inputs on how to address some of the data gaps and improve commodity analyses.
From the discussions, there is a demand to establish a policy monitoring system in Ghana and to strengthen the linkages between the various divisions of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Ministry of Finance and STEPRI-CSIR to improve on data for food and agricultural policy analysis and monitoring.
It was also decided to strengthen the partnership between MAFAP and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture including the budget Unit the of PPMED and the Statistics and Research Directorate (SRID). The focus will be on consolidating existing analyses for the nine products already covered through better data and on initiating activities for two new products (poultry and cattle).
On 13th and 14th of November, staff from STEPRI CSIR and the Ministry of Finance participated in training sessions on public expenditure methodology and showed great interest and good capacity to perform MAFAP type public expenditure analyses. Good partnership was built between the Ministry of Finance and STEPRI to carry out the work, and it is expected it will be extended to the PPMED and the Budget Unit of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the STEPRI team has already started analyzing public expenditure and preliminary results are expected by March 2013.