Policy & Enabling Environment

The Policy Analysis Group (PAG) in Tanzania was established in 2013 as an informal and voluntary community of practice dedicated to strengthening evidence-based agricultural policy dialogue and reform processes. Its formation was driven by the need to improve coordination among organizations engaged in agricultural policy research, advocacy, and development programming, while reducing duplication of efforts and ensuring coherence in policy recommendations. PAG has since become an important platform for generating, synthesizing, and communicating policy evidence to support agricultural transformation and food system development in Tanzania. It also serves as a key organizer of the Annual Agricultural Policy Conference (AAPC), which is held in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and other Agricultural Sector Lead Ministries.  

The composition of PAG reflects its multi-stakeholder nature. Membership is drawn from agricultural policy projects and programmes, government institutions, universities, research organizations, local and international think tanks, development partners, and private-sector support organizations. Over the years, members have included institutions such as the former Southern Agriculture Growth Corridor of Tanzania (SAGCOT) which transformed to the Agriculture Growth Corridors of Tanzania (AGCOT), the Agricultural Markets Development Trust (AMDT), Agricultural Non-State Actors Forum (ANSAF), Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF), REPOA, Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC), FAO-MAFAP, Agricultural Sector Lead Ministries, and several donor-funded agricultural initiatives. PAG membership has generally ranged between 20 and 27 organizations, with the ASPIRES programme currently serving as the Secretariat.  

The primary function of PAG is to promote evidence-based agricultural policymaking by facilitating policy research dissemination, policy dialogue, stakeholder coordination, and consensus building. The group provides a forum for sharing research findings, identifying policy gaps, harmonizing policy messages, and supporting legislative and regulatory reform processes. Through policy briefs, technical discussions, engagement with government institutions, and the Annual Agricultural Policy Conference, PAG contributes to monitoring policy implementation, assessing reform progress, and generating recommendations for improving agricultural competitiveness, investment, food security, and rural development. Recent engagements with presidential commissions and sectoral councils further demonstrate PAG’s growing role as a trusted source of policy analysis and advisory support within Tanzania’s agricultural sector.