4 To empower and strengthen farmers and their organisations or groups into effective partners in agricultural development and enhancing thei r access to markets and negotiating skills ; 5 To facilitate regional capacity building of agricultural and natura l resources scientists in terms of training, development an d management; 6 To facilitate development of sustainable education, training an d learning systems that contribute to farmer-oriented innovation an d technology transfer systems for the region ; and 7 To promote co-operation, consultation and exchange of scientific an d technical information on best practices in agricultural research an d advisory services in the SADC region . ARTICLE 6 RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SADC SECRETARIAT 1 The SADC Secretariat shall provide overall strategic policy guidanc e and leadership to CCARDESA in order to ensure that the regional R& D agenda and priorities are consistent with the SADC mandate o n agriculture and food security . 2 CCARDESA shall operate as a semi-autonomous institutio n established under the principle of subsidiarity and shall focus o n technical coordination and related harmonization functions of facilitatio n of the regional R&D agenda . 3 CCARDESA shall submit Annual Reports to the States Partie s Ministers through the SADC Secretariat. 4 CCARDESA shall negotiate and sign a Memorandum of Understandin g with the SADC Secretariat to operationalise their mutual workin g relationship . ARTICLE 7 SEAT The Headquarters of CCARDESA shall be situated in Botswana . ARTICLE 8 EXISTENCE AND LEGAL STATU S CCARDESA shall exist as a Subsidiarity Organisation within SADC an d shall be a legal entity operating within the laws of each State Party . 2 CCARDESA shall enjoy such legal status and capacity as may b e necessary for the fulfilment of its objectives and the exercise of it s functions . In particular, CCARDESA shall have the capacity to : 1 (a) Enter into contract ; 6