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Meet the New: SADC FANR Director - Mr. Fahari Marwa
8 July 2026
Mr. Fahari Marwa is the Director – Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (FANR) at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, where he provides strategic leadership for regional initiatives that advance sustainable food systems and agricultural transformation, natural resources management, environmental sustainability, climate resilience, and regional integration across the SADC region.
With over 20 years of experience in agriculture, regional integration, and sustainable development, Mr. Marwa has built a distinguished career leading the development and implementation of policies and programmes that strengthen food systems, enhance agricultural productivity, and promote inclusive economic growth.
Prior to joining the SADC Secretariat, he served as Principal Agricultural Economist at the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat, where he headed the Agriculture, Food Security and Rural Development Department. In this role, he led regional initiatives on agricultural policy harmonization, food systems transformation, agricultural trade, and food and nutrition security across the EAC Partner States.
Mr. Marwa began his career as an Agronomist with Alliance One Tobacco Tanzania Ltd., where he gained practical experience in agricultural extension, contract farming, sustainable crop production, supply chain management, and smallholder farmer development. He subsequently served as a Programme Analyst with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Representation in Tanzania, supporting programmes on agricultural development, food security, and sustainable rural livelihoods. He later joined the Tea Board of Tanzania as Principal Inspection Officer, contributing to policy implementation, regulatory oversight, and the competitiveness of Tanzania's tea industry.
Throughout his career, Mr. Marwa has worked closely with governments, regional economic communities, development partners, research institutions, civil society, and the private sector to strengthen agricultural value chains, foster regional cooperation, and build institutional capacity.
Mr. Marwa holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education and Extension and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Agribusiness, both from Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania.
As Director FANR, Mr. Marwa is committed to advancing sustainable food systems and agricultural transformation, environmental sustainability, climate resilience, conservation and nature-based economies, and regional integration. Guided by the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP), the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Kampala Declaration, and the African Union Agenda 2063, through this integrated agenda, he seeks to strengthen food and nutrition security, promote the sustainable management of natural resources, enhance climate resilience, conserve biodiversity, advance Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) and nature-based tourism, and foster inclusive economic growth and resilient livelihoods across the SADC region.
Prior to joining the SADC Secretariat, he served as Principal Agricultural Economist at the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat, where he headed the Agriculture, Food Security and Rural Development Department. In this role, he led regional initiatives on agricultural policy harmonization, food systems transformation, agricultural trade, and food and nutrition security across the EAC Partner States.
Mr. Marwa began his career as an Agronomist with Alliance One Tobacco Tanzania Ltd., where he gained practical experience in agricultural extension, contract farming, sustainable crop production, supply chain management, and smallholder farmer development. He subsequently served as a Programme Analyst with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Representation in Tanzania, supporting programmes on agricultural development, food security, and sustainable rural livelihoods. He later joined the Tea Board of Tanzania as Principal Inspection Officer, contributing to policy implementation, regulatory oversight, and the competitiveness of Tanzania's tea industry.
Throughout his career, Mr. Marwa has worked closely with governments, regional economic communities, development partners, research institutions, civil society, and the private sector to strengthen agricultural value chains, foster regional cooperation, and build institutional capacity.
Mr. Marwa holds a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Education and Extension and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Agribusiness, both from Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania.
As Director FANR, Mr. Marwa is committed to advancing sustainable food systems and agricultural transformation, environmental sustainability, climate resilience, conservation and nature-based economies, and regional integration. Guided by the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP), the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Kampala Declaration, and the African Union Agenda 2063, through this integrated agenda, he seeks to strengthen food and nutrition security, promote the sustainable management of natural resources, enhance climate resilience, conserve biodiversity, advance Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) and nature-based tourism, and foster inclusive economic growth and resilient livelihoods across the SADC region.
