The Tanzania SERA Policy Project (SERA) of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Feed the Future Initiative (FtF) began in April 2011 and completed the third full year of operation on September 30, 2014. Feed the Future seeks to improve food security in Tanzania by increasing agricultural production and improving access to food. SERA Project is primarily focused on improving the policy environment for agriculture and on developing individual and institutional capacity to undertake policy analysis, advocate effectively for policy reforms, and implement policy reforms. The SERA Project works in partnership with the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania (GoT) and the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar (RGoZ) to provide evidenced‐based research to support policy reforms that alleviate constraints to growth in the agriculture sector and provide a more enabling economic environment. In support of this objective, SERA Project conducts and commissions evidence‐based policy research and develops the capacity of individuals and organizations to engage in policy analysis and advocate for policy reform. At the conclusion of the Project, we expect USAID will leave behind an improved policy environment and a legacy of enabling the GoT, RGoZ, and other stakeholders to initiate, develop, and utilize evidence‐based research in policy decisions and implementation.
The SERA Project works closely with the Southern Agriculture Growth Corridor of Tanzania Centre (SAGCOT) to identify policy issues critical to the commercialization of the agricultural sector. SERA Project also collaborates with other FtF Implementing Partners and the larger development community to leverage resources and increase effectiveness. This collaboration with other FtF implementing partners includes: the FtF NAFAKA Staples Value Chain Project on food security research and policy reform; the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service (ERS) on the development, piloting, and implementation of the Food Basket Methodology (FBM); and iAGRI on the sponsoring of the Policy Seminar Series atSokoine University (SUA). Collaboration with other development partners includes The World Bank on the collateral registry system, Michigan State University (MSU) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) on food security policies, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Cooperative (MAFC) Policy Resource Center. The SERA Project also supports member based organizations such as the Tanzania Seed Traders Association (TASTA) and the Agricultural Council of Tanzania (ACT).
Year 4 of the SERA Policy Project will see the conclusion of a number of important policy studies that are expected to influence GoT and RGoZ policy decisions. The SERA Project will also continue the capacity building activities to strengthen the institutions that implement policy reforms. Individual capacity building support will continue for the activities already initiated and the team will provide new support to selected individuals as opportunities arise.