A regional initiative to strengthen seed systems and food crisis preparedness in Burundi, Comoros, Somalia, and South Sudan has made significant progress in building resilience and improving local food security. The project, titled Strengthening Emergency Preparedness and Response to Food Crisis (SEPAREF), was implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) with funding from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and in collaboration with government ministries across the four countries. The initiative aimed to address food security vulnerabilities worsened by global supply disruptions linked to the Russia–Ukraine war by strengthening seed system foundations, improving input markets, and advancing digital early warning platforms.
To consolidate achievements and plan the next phase, a regional validation workshop was held from 4 to 6 March 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya. The meeting brought together technical teams from FAO, AfDB, National Agricultural Research Systems, ministries of agriculture and finance from the participating countries, and private sector representatives. Participants reviewed project outcomes and explored ways to integrate advances in seed systems and digital early warning tools into permanent national infrastructure.
Under the SEPAREF initiative, over 956 tonnes of Early Generation Seed, valued at USD 1.7 million, were produced, increasing access to climate- and drought-tolerant crop varieties. The project also rehabilitated irrigation and seed storage facilities, supported over 250 seed out-growers, and strengthened local production capacity. In partnership with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the Technologies for African Agriculture Transformation (TAAT), national research institutions enhanced their capacity to ensure high-quality seed technologies reach smallholder farmers. Institutional gains included the establishment of national seed councils, digital early warning systems, and coordination mechanisms for crisis preparedness, benefiting over 160,000 registered farmers with timely advisory services and early warning information.
During the workshop, Pascal Sanginga, Regional Manager for Agriculture and Agro-Industries at the African Development Bank, emphasized the need to scale up the initiative to enhance food and nutrition security, create jobs, and reduce grain import costs. While successes were celebrated, participants noted ongoing challenges such as limited government budgets, donor dependency, and restricted access to capital for seed enterprises. Stakeholders committed to using the workshop as a strategic design platform to transform lessons learned into a structured roadmap for a multi-country seed security and resilience programme.
FAO representatives highlighted the importance of sustaining project gains through financial sustainability, embedding seed certification systems, harmonizing digital early warning tools within national structures, and strengthening public–private partnerships to scale seed enterprises. The workshop concluded with firm commitments to develop a follow-on regional programme, aiming to transform SEPAREF’s achievements into public goods, expand seed security, and enhance resilience across participating African nations.
