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

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 Presentation
Introduction
The Context of CAADP Process and Capacity Development
Three Case Studies
Key Lessons
Conclusions

Introduction
Key developments in CAADP
Capacity for achieving CAADP goals
Capcity of Pillar IV
The capcity Dilemma – Do the research with external assistance or build capacity
How to accomplish both?
What works? Why?

The Four Pillars of CAADP
The CAADP process is driven by the implementation of four strategic pillars (CAADP, 2008).
These are:
Extending the area under sustainable land management and reliable water control systems (Pillar I);
Improving rural infrastructure and trade-related capacities for improved market access (Pillar II);
Increasing food supply and reducing hunger (Pillar III); and
Agricultural research, technology dissemination and adoption (Pillar IV).

The CAADP Process
Key elements
Engagement of the stakeholders
Evidence –based, Demand driven
Programming
Better enabling environment
Assessment, learning, adaptation

CAADP’s mutually reinforcing pillars/themes FARA is the lead institution for Pillar IV Agricultural Research Technology Dissemination & Adoption, and Capacity Strengthening 1 Increasing food supply and reducing hunger 1 2 3 4

How Pillar IV contributes to CAADP’s vision Pillars I, II, III & IV Effective policies, support services and actions 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

The specific objectives of Pillar IV
Develop technologies, policies and institutional innovations that provide solutions to poverty and resource degradation in Africa
Test the adaptability of these options in a participatory and iterative fashion, from farm to regional scale
Develop appropriate mechanisms for wide-scale dissemination and adoption of technologies and for implementation of sustainable and supportive policies and institutional options
Empower resource-poor farmers in Africa to manage their natural resources and systems sustainably

Research, Technology Dissemination and Adoption
Focuses on increasing agricultural productivity
Contributes to CAADP goal of 6% annual growth in agricultural productivity through research, advisory services, education and training

Model for integration of research, extension, education and training under CAADP Pillar IV African Union AUC & AU-NPCA CAADP Increasing 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 Research SROs, NARS, CGIAR Farmer empowerment PAFFO, PanAAC PANGOC Education RUFORUM, ANAFE REESAO, AAU Extension AFAAS Networking Support FAAP FARA Evolution and Reform of agric. institutions

Framework for African Agricultural Productivity (FAAP)
Principal 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

Reforms Integrated capacity strengthening University 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

CAADP Capacity Development Framework
Core 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 Approaches
African Center for Crop Improvement - ACCI - PhD program in Plant Breeding
Collaborative Master’s Program in Agricultural And Applied Economics –CMAAE
Strengthening the Capacity of Agricultural Research and Development in Africa (SCARDA)

African Center for Crop Improvement - ACCI - 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 Economics –CMAAE of the African Economic Research Consortium
The Approach: bring together the scattered strength of faculty and offer a collaborative program
Achievement: successful in generating high quality capacity that is absorbed by the country institutions
Improvement needed: completion rates for thesis work
Cost is relatively higher compared to other African programs
Sustainability depends on continued external funding although self supporting students are increasing
The challenge: huge demand for applied economists but weak faculties resulting in low quality analysts

Strengthening the Capacity of Agricultural 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

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 Remarks
Capacity development needs a long term investment
It is possible to build capacity while implementing programs
( ACCI, CMAAE, SARDA)
Use of existing strengths can speed up the process (CMAAE)
Host institutions needs to mentor participants after training
( ACCI, SCARDA)
Locally identified capacity gaps, demand driven program with sustained funding can be successful

Thank you for the attention www.fara-africa.org

Selected Indicators of Capacity Development in the Context of CAADP Process 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

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

by ASTI on Dec 08, 2011

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