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Following the adoption of the Global Plan of Action (GPA) and the State of the World’s Plant Genetic Resources Report, several informal consultations catalyzed by IPGRI , FAO and the Nordic Gene Bank (NordGen now)were held particularly during the FAO Commission meetings. These efforts culminated to the preparatory meeting held in Kampala, Uganda from 3-5 November 1997 to establish Eastern Africa Plant Genetic Resources Network (EAPGREN) funded by Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida). After a gestation period of 5 years developing the project and tracking funding, the network was established in May 2003 and operationalized at regional level in 2004. EAPGREN is a regional joint project of National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) of the ASARECA member countries viz. Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Sudan and Uganda. Within these countries, there are national focal persons for the network which undertake the activities at national level and represent the national program in the regional EAPGREN processes.

Measuring multiple values of dryland systems provides a means for valuing, comparing and making policy decision based on various benefits of ecosystem services, and can be a powerful tool to support wise use and management of dryland environment.

This project explored possibilities of increasing productivity of rice systems in the region through various management options focusing on integration with legumes.

Smallholders crop-livestock farming in Eastern and Central Africa is characterized by low productivity due to low and erratic rainfall.Water development for agricultre is a priority, but poorly designed and planned irrigation undermines efforts to improve livelihoods and exposes people and environment to risks. The objective of the study was to introduce and evaluate socially desirable gender-appropriate water harvesting and irrigation strategies to reduce poverty through effective development and management of water harvesting and irrigation in ECA region.

Objective: To assess the consumer demand for quality and safety of dairy products in the ECA region.

The regional policy note shows how investment in drylands has to take into account the potential for complimentary uses that can increase the income of local inhabitants of drylands beyond the revenues of a single undertaking. Activities that allow for other compatible uses are also the ones that provide a higher value in terms of biodiveristy conservation and long term sustainability.

The case study on the Mara ecosystem shows how biodiversity can be incorporated into Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) schemes that favour local communities. Conservancy models replicated around Maasai Mara National Reserve provide direct income or social services to local pastoralists.

The case study on Tarangire Ecosystem, Tanzania, points to the positive feedback between pastoralism and biodiversity conservation and how land use changes and investment options can either drive to sustainable income for local population or to poverty, lack of options and immigration.

A source of practical information on managing Plant, Human, Animal and Environmental health
It is a great resource of scientifically and practically sound information for strengthening sustainable development of farmers and rural communities in Africa by allowing them to access, use and share information developed in the 4-H (Plant, Human, Animal and Environmental health) areas. 

Gender responsive participatory variety selection protocol: Understanding men and women preferences in the Zombo highland cassava breeding trials

ASARECA Member Countries Re-Affirm Commitment to Finance Regional Collaboration in Agricultural Research for Development

This is the final version of the Environmental Management Framework for the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA). It has to be observed by all ASARECA Programmes and/or activities implemented by the Association and/or its partners.

Gender issues in agricultural research occasion dynamic sets of opportunities and constraints that influence research effectiveness. The project Sustainable Intensification of Maize-Legume cropping systems for food security in Eastern and Southern Africa (SIMLESA) was implemented in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania to increase farm-level food security and productivity, in the context of climate risk and change. ASARECA led the gender mainstreaming activities in SIMLESA by conducting capacity building and
supporting instrumentation, data management and dissemination.

PROCEEDINGS OF SIMLESA POLICY FORUM 27-28 October 2015 Laico Lake Victoria Hotel Entebbe, Uganda.

Kimenye L, Bombom A. 2009. A booklet with 40 abstracts of best-bet research outputs generated by former ASARECA research networks (NPPS) and their NARS partners in the East and Central African region. They represent a collection of well tried and tested technologies and approaches that have potential for up scaling to improve livelihoods. The abstracts, which have been grouped into 9 thematic clusters, give brief accounts of the key outputs generated and lessons learnt.