Genesis in $74m Southern African trade and investment project

Genesis Analytics is part of a consortium, led by Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI), that has been awarded the $74-million contract to manage USAID’s Southern Africa Trade and Investment Hub (SATIH) programme.

The purpose of the billion-rand SATIH programme over the next five years is to help a range of Southern African countries become competitive in agriculture and manufacturing. This in turn will help these countries succeed in global markets as well as enhance the region's food security.

Genesis will support the programme’s agricultural and trade component by working with the project team to increase global competitiveness in select agricultural value chains and regional trade in staple foods and agricultural inputs.

Genesis partner and Agriculture Trade Technical Advisor, Sydney Zharare, said: “SATIH will be critical in supporting regional food security through facilitating the movement of staple crops and agricultural inputs as well as increasing the competitiveness of the region’s key products on global markets.”

SATIH will have offices in Pretoria and Gaborone, and country representatives in Namibia, Mozambique, Malawi, and Zambia.

DAI’s Chief of Party Vanessa Adams will lead a team that also includes subcontractors Nathan Associates, Cross Boundary LLC, DevResult and Genesis Analytics.

Objectives of the project include:

· Commercialize agribusiness and consumer goods value chains to compete in regional and global markets.

· Use evidence and strategic communications to advocate for regional and national governments to increase regional trade and integration.

· Facilitate increased foreign and national investments and access to finance throughout Southern Africa, with an eye toward increasing exports and trade.

· Empower local champions and institutions—especially the private sector—to lead value chain competitiveness and regional integration initiatives.

· Integrate gender considerations throughout to maximize women entrepreneur's engagement and competitiveness.

Sustainability is central to the programme’s strategy. By strengthening the capacity of the Southern Africa Development Community, member states, and private and civil society actors; encouraging African ownership of interventions; and facilitating long-term partnerships among U.S. and Southern African actors, we will ensure that SATIH-supported institutions advance regional integration and international trade well beyond the contract end.