Sasakawa Africa Association Expands Impact Through Partnerships, Innovation, and Field-Level Action

The Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) Ethiopia continues to broaden its contribution to agricultural transformation through a wide range of recent engagements that highlight its growing role in partnerships, resource mobilization, policy support, digitalization, infrastructure development, and knowledge visibility. Building on more than three decades of experience in scaling agricultural innovations, SAA is strengthening its position as a trusted partner that connects institutions, ideas, and investments with practical action to support inclusive and resilient agricultural development across Ethiopia.

Strengthening Partnerships and Mobilizing Resources

A key feature of SAA’s recent work has been its continued effort to build and strengthen partnerships with national and international institutions such as AGRA, SNV, FWGA, and IFPRI. These collaborations are creating stronger institutional linkages, attracting technical and financial support, and opening opportunities for joint action in agricultural development. Through such partnerships, SAA is not only implementing projects, but also connecting development partners, government institutions, research organizations, and farming communities around shared priorities and practical solutions.

Contributing to National Policy and Strategy Development

SAA’s recent engagement also reflects its growing contribution to national agricultural policy and strategic direction. SAA is actively involved in the development of Ethiopia’s Regenerative Agriculture Strategy and the Pluralistic Agricultural Extension Policy led by the Ministry of Agriculture. This important role shows that SAA’s contribution goes beyond field implementation to include support in shaping the frameworks that will guide future agricultural transformation in the country. By bringing practical field experience into these national processes, SAA is helping ensure that policy and strategy development remain grounded in the realities and needs of farmers and local agricultural systems.

Advancing Digitalization and Innovation

In the area of digitalization, SAA continues to embrace new approaches that improve agricultural services and knowledge delivery. Through its contribution to OpenAgriNet, led by the Agricultural Transformation Institute, SAA has supported efforts to promote interoperable digital data systems that strengthen coordination, service delivery, and market access.

SAA has also shared its experience in digital extension and farmer communication, particularly through the use of the Amplio Talking Book, which has become an important tool for reaching farmers with timely and practical agricultural information. This reflects its commitment to combining long-standing grassroots engagement with emerging digital solutions to increase efficiency and impact.

Supporting Infrastructure and Field-Level Action

SAA’s partnerships continue to produce concrete results on the ground. In the Amhara Region, SAA launched the AGRA-funded RE-GAIN Project, aimed at reducing postharvest losses in teff and wheat. It is also working in partnership with IFPRI, EIAR, and FRI to provide climate-resilient inputs and climate information services in conflict-affected areas of the Amhara Region to help strengthen community resilience. In collaboration with SNV, SAA is also engaged in the RA-PURE Nexus Project in the Sidama and South Ethiopia regions.

In Sidama Region, SAA handed over a small-scale irrigation facility funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan to the local community, strengthening agricultural infrastructure and supporting more reliable crop production. These initiatives demonstrate SAA’s practical approach to development by combining partnership-building with direct support for infrastructure, productivity, and resilience at the community level.

Showcasing SAA's activities at the Japanese National Day Reception

Increasing Visibility Through Platforms, Publications, and Knowledge Sharing

SAA has also made important progress in raising the visibility of its work through national and regional platforms, newsletters, and publications. At a national symposium hosted by EIAR and the University of Bern, SAA shared lessons from three decades of scaling innovations for food and nutrition security. At the National Cooperatives Symposium, Bazaar, and Exhibition, organized by the Ethiopian Cooperatives Commission and the Addis Ababa Cooperative Commission, SAA showcased its contribution to strengthening cooperatives and promoting farmer-centered agricultural development.

Participation in the 5th Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Week of Ethiopia further created opportunities for visibility, networking, and collaboration with institutions working in agriculture and rural development. Likewise, participation in the Japanese National Day Reception helped increase SAA’s visibility, strengthen relationships, and showcase its work to a broader audience of partners and stakeholders.

Beyond events, SAA has also expanded the visibility of its work through knowledge products and publications. Through the EBR newsletter, SAA promoted soybean-related interventions and shared experiences demonstrating the crop’s potential to improve productivity, income, and nutrition. In addition, SAA shared its experiences with the Amplio Talking Book and findings from its work on avocado postharvest loss through publications in national and regional journals. These efforts have helped broaden awareness of SAA’s innovations, generate learning, and position SAA as a credible source of practical knowledge in the agricultural sector.

SAA booth at the IGAD–AFAAS workshop on climate-smart agriculture

Engaging in Regional and International Learning

SAA has also remained active in regional and international exchange platforms. Through its participation and exhibition at the IGAD–AFAAS workshop on climate-smart agriculture and at JICA’s international SHEP workshop, the Association had valuable opportunities to showcase its experience, exchange lessons, and learn from other practitioners. These engagements continue to strengthen SAA’s technical visibility and reinforce its role in broader agricultural development dialogue.

SAA exhibiting at JICA’s SHEP International Workshop

A Growing Role in Ethiopia’s Agricultural Transformation

Overall, SAA’s recent activities reflect a broad and balanced approach to agricultural development. By strengthening partnerships, mobilizing resources, contributing to policy development, expanding digital innovation, supporting infrastructure, and increasing the visibility of its work through publications and learning platforms, SAA continues to reinforce its role as a key actor in Ethiopia’s agricultural transformation.