Pan Africa Bean Research Alliance
R. Buruchara1, R. Chirwa2 , M.M. Abang1 and J.C Rubyogo2
1 International Center for Tropical Agriculture, Kawanda Research Station, P.O. Box 6742, Kampala-Uganda
2 International Center for Tropical Agriculture, Chitedze Research Station, P.O. Box 158 Lilongwe Malawi
WHAT IS PABRA? MODES OF OPERATION
The Pan Africa Bean Research Alliance is a consortium of African-owned CIAT s role is in strategic research (the production of public goods
regional bean networks consisting of National Agricultural Research that address key cross – cutting issues) on mutually agreed topics,
Systems (NARS) from 28 countries in sub- Saharan Africa, the where CIAT has a comparative advantage. NARS and other partners
International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and a number of implement the rest of the research and development activities in the
donor organizations. The regional bean networks are Eastern and bean value chains (Fig 4.).
Central Africa Bean Research Network (ECABREN) covering 9 countries,
Southern Africa Bean Research Network (SABRN), covering 11 countries PABRA s R4D agenda is facilitated by CIAT and implemented by
and a new network: West and Central Africa Bean Research Network network partners, which include: NARS, NGOs, GOs, Community
(WECABREN), covering 10 countries (Fig 1). based organizations, selected rural communities, private
entrepreneurs (seeds and other complementary input suppliers and
PABRA s focus is to improve bean productivity, utilization and grain traders) and farmers – with the support from the Sub-Regional
commercialization for the benefit of the urban and rural poor. The Organizations.
ultimate goal is to enhance food security, income generation and health
of poor communities in a gender equitable manner.
PABRA’s Links with Partners for
Complementary and Efficient Use of Resources
10
Figure 4: Linkage among PABRA partners
Development
9 CIAT NARES: Partners and End Users /
Scientists Scientists Beneficiaries
Policy makers
11
Technology Technology adaptation and Catalyze links and
Fig 1: Pan-Africa Bean Research Alliance Fig 2: PABRA’s networks and facilitator development + priority policy support partnerships to reach users.
setting • Engage partners for • Provide tools and methods
(PABRA) Member Countries (28) Identify key research adaptive research to for wide impact ; skills and
constraints /opportunities develop/refine technology knowledge enhancement
• Catalyze teams for across multiple countries • Raise awareness
strategic and applied work • Test approaches to upscale • Test and use technologies
HOW DOES PABRA OPERATE? • Publish /share results to
feed into future work
fast, widely + with equity.
• Publish and share results
NETWORK GOVERNANCE
The networks are autonomous and each one is managed by a network
coordinator who closely work with the sub-regional organizations THE BEAUTY OF PARTNERSHIPS
(SROs): the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in PABRA facilitates collaborative research within and between the
Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA), the Southern Africa Development networks by providing a forum for building and maintaining linkages
Community s Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Unit (SADC/ to multiple partners. These collaborative linkages are maintained and
FANR) and for the upcoming network, the West and Central African strengthened through joint priority-setting, planning, agreed division
Council for Agricultural Research and Development (CORAF/WECARD). of responsibilities, joint implementation of activities, and joint
Each network is governed by a steering committee (SC), which is reporting. Collaboration is based on national members interest and
composed of the NARS team leaders, and additional participants from on comparative advantage. In this way, research technologies are
the universities, NGOs, farmers organizations and the private sector. shared among countries and significantly contribute to scaling up and
wider distribution efforts. Through this partnership, PABRA facilitated
All networks implement the same log frame under PABRA. Activities in seed access to 7.5 million farmers between 2003-2008 and more than
the annual work plan are developed using bottom-up approaches, 4 million between 2009-2010. In Malawi alone, the collaboration with
whereby national bean program work plans are reviewed and approved Demeter Agriculture Ltd (Fig. 5.) has resulted in scaling-up and use of
by the regional network SC. Work-plans of the 3 networks are small packs, reaching almost 0.5 millions households with seed of
consolidated into the PABRA work plan and budget, for approval by the improved varieties in 2 years.
PABRA steering committee.
Public-Private Partnership in Bean Seed Production and
Distribution
 High quality seed, from
trusted sources availed
to over 0.5 m small
holder farmers in 2
years
 Seed available at outlets
nearest to farmers
 Packed in ‘risk free’ sizes.
Figure 5 : Demeter Agriculture With agronomic advice
Figure 3: Members of PABRA Steering Committee 2011 packing bean seeds in small packs