Goals:
The overall goal of the PRAPACE network is to alleviate poverty by increasing and improving productivity of potato and sweetpotato (production, processing, distribution, marketing and utilization) for improved food security, nutrition and income as part of agricultural transformation to accelerate economic growth in the region.

Objectives:
The main objective of the network is to develop sustainable technologies which will promote market, economic growth as well as increase food security and nutrition, and help conserve natural resource base.

The specific objectives are to;

Improve mechanism for reaching farmers, processors, consumers and other users of improved technologies and foster linkages with diverse extension and development institutions for effective technology transfer and dissemination.

Improve the capacity for effective monitoring and evaluation within the national programs to facilitate impact assessment and improve future priority setting and research planning.

Improve the flow and exchange of advanced germplasm, scientific knowledge and technology relevant to a particular problem or research theme.

Accelerate the process of technology development in similar agroecologies through collaboration among member programs in regional coordinated trials.

Facilitate the spill-over from technology development efforts from one country to another and therefore reduce duplication of effort among national programs.

Provide a forum for peer review of research proposals and technical findings and improve the performance and productivity of scientists and technicians in national programs through a combination of regional, in-country, and on-the-job training.

Strategy:
Strategies to achieve the above objectives include;

(i) Pooling the limited resources existing in the individual countries and utilize them efficiently and cost-effectively through · utilization of existing resources in the region such as scientific human manpower and facilities so as to take advantage of the diverse agroecological zones (for wide and specific adaption) and the wide genetic resources of sweetpotato germplasm, and local and international technologies and expertise

(ii) Linkages in the East and Central Africa region and Madagascar, and with other regions in and outside the continent · strengthening collaborative research, capabilities and facilities

(iii) Comparative strengths and economies of scale in the region.