Center for Agriculture and Food Policy

What Center for Agriculture and Food Policy does

The Center for Agriculture and Food Policy (CAFP) is a non-profit policy research organization headquartered at 05 Van Praagh Avenue, Milton Park, Harare, Zimbabwe. Established in 2020, CAFP operates as Zimbabwe's dedicated agricultural and food systems policy think tank, providing evidence-based research, advisory, and capacity-building services rather than commercial products. Its work is organized around three thematic areas (Poverty, Health, Food and Nutrition Security; Agricultural Transformation and Markets; and Technology and Climate Resilience) and four operational pillars (Research and Policy Development, Outreach and Strategic Alliances, Capacity Building, and Governance and Sustainability).

CAFP's core output is policy research publications, advisory consultations, and institutional capacity-building programs. Underlying technical capabilities include digital and GIS-based agricultural data platforms and ICT integration for agricultural data collection, applied primarily within the Technology and Climate Resilience thematic area. Since inception, CAFP has produced over 20 research publications, engaged 50+ partner organizations, and contributed to 10+ policy interventions.

The organization is funded through a partnership and grant model, with revenue derived from collaborations with international development partners including the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and UK Aid, alongside strategic alliances with the Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU) and the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA). CAFP does not sell commercial products or services; instead, it delivers value through direct policy engagement with government ministries, farmer organizations, and multilateral stakeholders in Zimbabwe's agricultural sector.

Name

Center for Agriculture and Food Policy

Legal name

Center for Agriculture and Food Policy

Website

https://cafp.org.zw

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Center for Agriculture and Food Policy is a Zimbabwe-based non-profit policy think tank, established in 2020, that produces evidence-based agricultural and food systems research, advisory, and capacity-building services for government policymakers, farmer organizations, and international development partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Policy Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (54172), Other Management Consulting Services (541618)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Research, Statistics & Policy Advisory (BPADAMAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Governance, Public Financial Management & Service Delivery Reform (BPADAEAD)

Keywords

• Agricultural policy research
• Food systems analysis
• Climate resilience research
• Rural development policy
• Agricultural transformation advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Harare

HQ country

Zimbabwe

HQ region

Africa

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Partnerships and Grants: CAFP is funded through strategic partnerships with international organizations (FAO, UK Aid) and development partners who provide grants and support for agricultural policy research initiatives

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CAFP provides evidence-based agricultural policy research, advisory services, and capacity-building programs aimed at sustainable agricultural transformation and food systems reform in Zimbabwe. The organization delivers its work through four operational pillars — Research & Policy Development, Outreach & Strategic Alliances, Capacity Building, and Governance & Sustainability — covering thematic areas such as poverty and nutrition security, agricultural markets, and climate resilience.

Product overview

CAFP is a policy think tank offering research and advisory services organized around four core operational pillars (Research & Policy Development, Outreach & Strategic Alliances, Capacity Building, and Governance & Sustainability) and three thematic research areas (Poverty/Health/Food & Nutrition Security, Agricultural Transformation & Markets, and Technology & Climate Resilience). The organization functions as a service-based consultancy rather than a software product platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Research & Policy Development Evidence-based agricultural policy research service that produces publications and policy recommendations to promote sustainable agricultural growth, reduce poverty, and strengthen food systems in Zimbabwe. Aimed at government agencies, policymakers, farmer organizations, and development partners.
• Outreach & Strategic Alliances Partnership-building and dissemination service that builds effective alliances for policy change through consultation, stakeholder engagement, and the dissemination of research findings to government, farmer organizations, and international development partners.
• Capacity Building Institutional strengthening service that builds policy research, analysis, and outreach capacity within partner institutions and agricultural stakeholders in Zimbabwe.
• Governance & Sustainability Governance advisory service focused on building trust, transparency, and accountability to support long-term financial sustainability of partner institutions and agricultural policy initiatives.
• Poverty, Health, Food & Nutrition Security Research Thematic research service addressing income generation, national and household food and nutrition security, production and productivity improvement, diet quality for vulnerable households, and crop and livestock productivity enhancement. Targets government, development partners, and rural communities.
• Agricultural Transformation & Markets Research Thematic research service focused on rural financial services, competitive input supply, investment attraction, value addition, export promotion, and land tenure and bankability to strengthen markets, institutions, and trade for agriculture-led economic growth.
• Technology & Climate Resilience Research Thematic research service on climate change adaptation and resilience, food systems and digital agriculture, green agriculture practices, ICT integration in agriculture, and digital/GIS-based agricultural data platforms.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20+ research publications informing agricultural policy
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFAO is listed as a key partner organization collaborating with CAFP on agricultural policy research and food systems transformation in Zimbabwe. The partnership supports evidence-based policy development for sustainable agriculture.
• Zimbabwe Farmers Union (ZFU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerZFU is a key partner representing farmer interests and collaborating with CAFP on policy research that affects agricultural communities and rural development in Zimbabwe.
• AMA (Agricultural Marketing Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAMA collaborates with CAFP on agricultural marketing policy, trade promotion, and market development initiatives for Zimbabwe's agricultural sector.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI): IFPRI is a globally leading CGIAR-affiliated agricultural policy research institute with deep work across Africa on food policy, markets, and resilience. CAFP operates in a comparable research niche but at a much smaller national scale, often as a country partner to IFPRI-led studies.
• ReSAKSS (Regional Strategic Analysis and Knowledge Support System): ReSAKSS supports CAADP implementation through data and policy analysis across Africa. Comparable in policy advisory function for agricultural transformation but operates as a continental/regional platform rather than a country think tank.
• Overseas Development Institute (ODI): ODI is a leading global development think tank with strong workstreams in agricultural policy, food systems, and rural livelihoods, including UK Aid funding channels. CAFP's UK Aid-funded model mirrors how ODI operates as a UK-linked, evidence-based development research organization.

Regional players

• Brooks Policy Research Centre (or comparable Zimbabwe policy think tank such as Zimbabwe Economic Policy Analysis and Research Unit - ZEPARU): ZEPARU is a Zimbabwe-based economic policy research and analysis unit producing evidence-based research on macroeconomic and sectoral policy issues, including agriculture. Comparable as a domestic Zimbabwean policy think tank with overlapping donor-funding dynamics and policy advisory mandate.
• Agricultural Research Council (ARC) of South Africa: ARC is South Africa's premier agricultural research institution covering crop production, climate adaptation, and food security. Comparable as a regional agricultural R&D and policy support entity working on climate resilience and digital agriculture themes.

Direct peers

• Tegemeo Institute of Agricultural Policy and Development: Tegemeo is a Kenyan policy research institute within Egerton University that conducts agricultural policy, market, and household-level research to inform government and donor programming. Directly comparable as an East African agricultural policy think tank with a similar mission to CAFP.
• Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN): FANRPAN is a multi-country Southern African agricultural policy network that conducts policy research and advocacy on food, agriculture, and natural resources. CAFP's profile fits squarely within FANRPAN's mandate and could either partner with or compete for similar regional mandates.
• Indaba Agricultural Policy Research Institute (IAPRI): IAPRI is a Zambian agricultural policy think tank that conducts evidence-based policy research on agricultural transformation, markets, and food security. Highly comparable as a national African agricultural policy research institute delivering applied research and policy advisory services.

Emerging players

• African Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET): ACET is a pan-African economic policy think tank working on agricultural transformation, value chains, and economic reform in Africa. Comparable policy think tank positioning on inclusive economic transformation with overlapping thematic areas on agriculture and markets.

Others

• Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (Food and Agriculture Organization country office): FAO - a CAFP partner - operates country offices across Africa delivering agricultural policy support, capacity building, and food security programs. Comparable as a funder/partner rather than competitor, but its country-level policy advisory function overlaps with CAFP's mandate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CenterforAgric1
• Facebookfacebook.com/CAFP2021
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cafp-zim

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Center for Agriculture and Food Policy