Enhancing Capacity for African Agricultural Research: Conceptual Framework, Models, and Lessons

Forum for Agricultural Research in AfricaForum for Agricultural Research in AfricaForum for Agricultural Research in AfricaForum for Agricultural Research in Africa

Enhancing Capacity for African Agricultural Research:

Selected Models and Lessons

Agricultural R&D—Investing in Africa’s Future:Analyzing Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities

Accra, Ghana December 5-7, 2011


Overview of the PresentationOverview of the Presentation• IntroductionIntroduction

• The Context of CAADP Process and Capacity The Context of CAADP Process and Capacity DevelopmentDevelopment

• Three Case StudiesThree Case Studies

• Key LessonsKey Lessons

• ConclusionsConclusions


IntroductionIntroduction

• Key developments in CAADPKey developments in CAADP

• Capacity for achieving CAADP goalsCapacity for achieving CAADP goals

• Capcity of Pillar IVCapcity of Pillar IV

• The capcity Dilemma – Do the research with The capcity Dilemma – Do the research with external assistance or build capacityexternal assistance or build capacity

• How to accomplish both?How to accomplish both?

• What works? Why?What works? Why?


The Four Pillars of CAADPThe Four Pillars of CAADP

• The CAADP process is driven by the implementation of The CAADP process is driven by the implementation of four strategic pillars (CAADP, 2008). four strategic pillars (CAADP, 2008).

• These are: These are: • Extending the area under sustainable land Extending the area under sustainable land

management and reliable water control systems (Pillar management and reliable water control systems (Pillar I);I);

• Improving rural infrastructure and trade-related Improving rural infrastructure and trade-related capacities for improved market access (Pillar II);capacities for improved market access (Pillar II);

• Increasing food supply and reducing hunger (Pillar III); Increasing food supply and reducing hunger (Pillar III); and and

• Agricultural research, technology dissemination and Agricultural research, technology dissemination and adoption (Pillar IV). adoption (Pillar IV).


The CAADP ProcessThe CAADP ProcessKey elementsKey elements

•Engagement of the stakeholders Engagement of the stakeholders

•Evidence –based, Demand drivenEvidence –based, Demand driven

•ProgrammingProgramming

•Better enabling environmentBetter enabling environment

•Assessment, learning, adaptationAssessment, learning, adaptation


CAADP’s mutually reinforcing pillars/themesCAADP’s mutually reinforcing pillars/themes

FARA is the lead institution for Pillar IV

Agricultural Research

Technology Dissemination & Adoption, and Capacity Strengthening

11

Increasing Increasing food supply food supply

and and reducing reducing hungerhunger

11

22

3344


How Pillar IV contributes to CAADP’s visionHow Pillar IV contributes to CAADP’s vision

Pillar Frameworks

Frameworks for action

Agric. Sector Compacts & Investment Plans

Commitment, Partnership, Investment & Accountability

Knowledge Systems

Evidence based planning and

implementation

CAADP Vision

Hunger eliminated, and poverty and food insecurity reduced

through sustainable agriculturally-led development that preserves the natural resource base

Pillars I, II, III & IV

Effective policies, support services and actions


The specific objectives of Pillar IVThe specific objectives of Pillar IV• Develop technologies, policies and institutional innovations that Develop technologies, policies and institutional innovations that

provide solutions to poverty and resource degradation in Africaprovide solutions to poverty and resource degradation in Africa

• Test the adaptability of these options in a participatory and Test the adaptability of these options in a participatory and iterative fashion, from farm to regional scaleiterative fashion, from farm to regional scale

• Develop appropriate mechanisms for wide-scale dissemination and Develop appropriate mechanisms for wide-scale dissemination and adoption of technologies and for implementation of sustainable adoption of technologies and for implementation of sustainable and supportive policies and institutional optionsand supportive policies and institutional options

• Empower resource-poor farmers in Africa to manage their natural Empower resource-poor farmers in Africa to manage their natural resources and systems sustainablyresources and systems sustainably


Research, Technology Research, Technology Dissemination and AdoptionDissemination and Adoption

• Focuses on increasing Focuses on increasing agricultural productivityagricultural productivity

– Contributes to CAADP goal of 6% annual growth in agricultural productivity through research, advisory services, education and training

Forum for Agricultural Research in AfricaForum for Agricultural Research in Africa

African Union

AUC & AU-NPCA

CAADPIncreasing scale of domestic investments in agric. Productivity (African Govts)Aligned and coordinated support (Development Partners)

Enhanced African Agricultural Innovation

Capacity

Improved productivity, competitiveness and

markets GFAR, GFRAS

GCHERA

ResearchSROs, NARS, CGIAR

Farmer empowerme

ntPAFFO, PanAAC PANGOCEducation

RUFORUM, ANAFEREESAO, AAU

ExtensionAFAAS

Networking Support

FAAP

FARA

Evolution and Reform of agric. institutions

Model for integration of research, extension, education and training under CAADP Pillar IV


Framework for African Agricultural Productivity Framework for African Agricultural Productivity (FAAP) (FAAP)

Principal elements of the FAAPPrincipal elements of the FAAP

Evolution and reform of agricultural institutions

and services

Aligned and coordinated

financial support

Increasing the scale of Africa's agricultural

productivity investments

04/12/23 1204/12/23 12


Reforms Integrated capacity strengthening

University impact has to be more development orientedUniversity impact has to be more development oriented

Students are taught

in critical & systemic thinking i.e. integration of disciplines and knowledge system

to build skills for facilitating interactive learning

Professors are encouraged;

Continuously situated

to change mindsets and build values that support new ways of thinking and learning

Students are taught

in critical & systemic thinking i.e. integration of disciplines and knowledge system

to build skills for facilitating interactive learning

Professors are encouraged;

Continuously situated

to change mindsets and build values that support new ways of thinking and learning


CAADP Capacity Development FrameworkCAADP Capacity Development FrameworkCore Principles under DiscussionCore Principles under Discussion

•Identifying gaps for capacity

•Mutual learning and sharing of knowledge

•Efficient approaches to capacity development

•Institutional and organizational capacities

•Adopting global standards but contextualizing to local needs

•Ensuring local use of capacity


Review of 3 ApproachesReview of 3 Approaches

• African Center for Crop Improvement - ACCI - African Center for Crop Improvement - ACCI - PhD program in Plant BreedingPhD program in Plant Breeding

• Collaborative Master’s Program in Agricultural Collaborative Master’s Program in Agricultural And Applied Economics –CMAAEAnd Applied Economics –CMAAE

• Strengthening the Capacity of Agricultural Strengthening the Capacity of Agricultural Research and Development in Africa (SCARDA)Research and Development in Africa (SCARDA)


African Center for Crop Improvement - ACCI African Center for Crop Improvement - ACCI - PhD program in Plant Breeding- PhD program in Plant Breeding

• The Challenge - lack of Plant breeders for improving productivity of agriculture

• The Approach – Good training in Methods – practical thesis work in host country

• Achievements – quality graduates doing research for their own countries

• Cost and funding – externally funded


Collaborative Master’s Program in Agricultural and Applied Collaborative Master’s Program in Agricultural and Applied Economics –CMAAE of the African Economic Research Economics –CMAAE of the African Economic Research ConsortiumConsortium

• The Approach: The Approach: bring together the scattered strength bring together the scattered strength of faculty and offer a collaborative programof faculty and offer a collaborative program

• Achievement: Achievement: successful in generating high quality successful in generating high quality capacity that is absorbed by the country institutionscapacity that is absorbed by the country institutions

• Improvement needed: Improvement needed: completion rates for thesis completion rates for thesis work work

• Cost Cost is relatively higher compared to other African is relatively higher compared to other African programsprograms

• Sustainability depends on continued external Sustainability depends on continued external funding although self supporting students are funding although self supporting students are increasing increasing

The challenge: huge demand for applied economists but weak faculties resulting in low quality analysts


Strengthening the Capacity of Agricultural Strengthening the Capacity of Agricultural Research and Development in Africa (SCARDA)Research and Development in Africa (SCARDA)

• The Challenge: institutional capacity for ARM and improvement of quality of science

• The Approach: Holistic, build on strength, participatory, learning, gender and social inclusion

• Achievements: MSc, ARM, Short professional skills, gender mainstreamed

• Implementation: Over ambitious, time consuming, subsidiarity principle, delayed M&E

MSc Graduates (SCARDA& PSTAD) 118

1-5

6-11

Strengthening key competencies in agricultural sciences and research management

Strengthening ICT

Competencies

ICT competencies in 34 countries

Strengthening competencies in • Biotechnology Stewardship• Data Analysis• IAR4D Total: 462

41-80

1-40

81-140


• Demand driven

• Needs assessment / Institutional Analysis

• Effective delivery mechanisms

• Contextualize for local needs

Lessons from Case studies

•Ensure local use of capacity

•Mutual Learning and Sharing

•Funding and sustainability


Concluding RemarksConcluding Remarks• Capacity development needs a long term investmentCapacity development needs a long term investment

• It is possible to build capacity while implementing programs It is possible to build capacity while implementing programs ( ACCI, CMAAE, SARDA)( ACCI, CMAAE, SARDA)

• Use of existing strengths can speed up the process (CMAAE)Use of existing strengths can speed up the process (CMAAE)

• Host institutions needs to mentor participants after training Host institutions needs to mentor participants after training ( ACCI, SCARDA)( ACCI, SCARDA)

• Locally identified capacity gaps, demand driven program with Locally identified capacity gaps, demand driven program with sustained funding can be successful sustained funding can be successful


Thank youThank you for the attentionfor the attention

www.fara-africa.org


Selected Process Indicators / Programs

ACCI CMAAE SCARDA

Demand Driven The program was developed as a result of high need felt by the African agricultural research community

The program emerged from several levels of regional consultations

The program is a result an expressed need from the stakeholders of FARA through various consultations

Needs Assessment

The needs assessment revealed the critical need for breeders who could do adaptive research in various African crops.

Needs assessment revealed the strengths and weaknesses of various faculties and how to bring the existing capacities together for generating quality capacity

The needs assessment indicated the need of application of subsidiarity principles and for strengthening the institutional capacity in addition to individual capacity

Capacity Delivery Mechanism

Combined both the teaching and rigorous training by the University of Kwazulu-Natal and the practical training through mentors in the local institutions. This helps to address local problems and made the capacity develop highly relevant for the participants’ country

Effectively used the African capacity although additional external support was sought to fill the gaps in teaching. The shared facility approach was efficient in increasing the quality of the program jointly.

SCARDA’s approach to capacity development focused on strengthening the whole organization giving emphasis on filling the gaps in the skills of the individuals. This is in line with the CAADP process needs for capacity development

Selected Indicators of Capacity Development in the Context of CAADP Process


Selected Process Indicators / Programs

ACCI CMAAE SCARDA

Contextualization of the capacity for local needs

ACCI participants applied their knowledge to solving problems they faced in their own countries

While the theoretical training was common to all the graduates in the applied areas of the program, the participants applied their skills to address the socio-economic problems of their countries

Capacity developed under SCARDA was meant to directly influence the organization and management of the research organizations. Such contextualized approach helped to give individual attention to the participating organizations

Ensuring utilization of capacity by local organizations

The participants came from the research institutions in various countries who went back to their jobs for conducting Thesis research. Thus the capacity developed was used effectively by host institutions.

While the capacity developed is of high quality, due to high demand for the applied economics capacity, the graduates have found placements that contribute to the agricultural development process in their countries.

SCARDA strengthened the existing capacity without any adverse effect on capacity loss for the organizations.

Mutual Learning and Sharing of Knowledge

Sharing of knowledge on problems and solutions were facilitated by bringing students to Kwazulu-Natal for common training in methods of plant breeding

The Shared facility approach brought students from various participating countries for specific learning goals. This helped in mutual learning among the participants.

SCARDA programs provided adequate opportunities for mutual learning.

Funding and Sustainability

Depends on donor funding to support participation of the international students.

Continues to depend on external sources of funding, although recently several self-sponsoring students and government sponsored student have joined the program

Uncertainty in funding and the dependency on external resources for program implementation remain challenges for long term planning

Selected Indicators of Capacity Development in the Context of CAADP Process

Enhancing Capacity for African Agricultural Research: Conceptual Framework, Models, and Lessons

Technology

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