Dr Madzivhandila confirmed as substantive FANRPAN CEO and Head of Mission
The Board of Governors of the Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) is pleased to confirm the appointment of Dr Tshilidzi Madzivhandila as the substantive Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Head of Mission, based at the Regional Secretariat in Pretoria, South Africa. This appointment is with effect from the 23rd of June 2020. The Board is satisfied that since taking over as the CEO ad interim in March 2019, Dr. Madzivhandila has successfully managed to deliver against the targets set by the Board, in the process, stabilizing the Regional Secretariat and instilling renewed sense of purpose amongst the staff.
Dr Madzivhandila joined FANRPAN in February 2011 as the network’s Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist before becoming the Director for Policy and Research in 2014, and directly contributed to the crafting of the network’s 2016 to 2023 strategic plan. This participation in the network’s strategy formulation, coupled with his over 20 years’ experience in research, policy analysis, and monitoring and evaluation, and policy advocacy positioned him favourably to spearhead its unpacking and implementation.
Dr Madzivhandila’s perfect combination of direct hands-on operational experience of FANRPAN and the other public and international development entities where he has worked, and his impeccable set of qualifications, makes him the ideal candidate to take FANRPAN to the next level, noting that the network’s mandate remains relevant today, as it was more than 20 years ago. A holder of a PhD degree in Economics from the University of the New England, Australia, Dr Madzivhandila specialized in the evaluation of public policies and programmes. He also earned a Masters’ degree in Development Studies from the University of Free State, and a Bachelors’ degree in Agricultural Management from the University of Limpopo. To ensure that he is well-rounded for positions of responsibility, Dr Madzivhandila also excelled in other disciplines and earned professional qualifications that include the Advanced Program in Marketing Management from the University of South Africa, and the Diploma in Higher Education from the University of the Limpopo.
To remain current and connected, Dr. Madzivhandila is a member of various professional associations that include the Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA); the South African Monitoring and Evaluation Association (SAMEA); and the Pool of International Experts for the Food & Business Applied Research Fund (ARF) of the NWO-WOTRO Science for Global Development. He has several journal publications, and presents his work at national and international conferences. Dr Madzivhandila is a staunch believer in the pivotal role that the development of individual and institutional capacity can play in transforming Africa’s agriculture. To that end, he commits a considerable portion of his time towards the development of a cadre of agriculture experts by supervising research studies conducted by post-graduate students.
Dr Madzivhandila believes that networks such as FANRPAN will contribute meaningfully to the continent’s agricultural transformation agenda by establishing and nurturing effective relationships, partnerships and strategic alliances with like-minded key players in the private, public, and civil society sectors.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Mzansi Agriculture Talk.
