The document outlines the tentative program for a stakeholder consultation on the Ethiopia Strategy Support Program's (ESSP) analytical agenda for 2008-09. The one-day workshop included 6 sessions on topics such as analyzing smallholder agriculture productivity, the impact of land certification, fostering the rural non-farm economy, knowledge management for rural policy, market research for the commodity exchange, and efficiency and governance of agriculture spending. Government ministers, researchers, and representatives from NGOs and donor organizations participated in presentations and discussions around developing the research agenda and priorities to inform rural development policy in Ethiopia.

1. Stakeholder Consultation on
the ESSP Analytical Agenda: 2008-09
Tentative Program
December 14, 2007, at the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR)
8:00 - 8:30 Arrival and Registration
8:30 – 9:00 OPENING SESSION
Chair: H.E. Ato Newai Gebre-ab, Chief Economic Advisor to PM, Executive Director EDRI
8:35 – 8:40 Opening remarks by ESSP Program Leader Dr. Eleni Gabre-Madhin
8:40 – 8:50 Keynote: H.E. Dr. Aberra Deressa
8:50 – 9:00 Overview of Workshop Proceedings Dr. John Okidi
9:00-9:55 SESSION 1: ANALYZING PRODUCTIVITY OF SMALLHOLDER AGRICULTURE IN ETHIOPIA
Chair: H.E. Dr. Aberra Deressa, State Minister of Agriculture
9:00 – 9:25 Dr. Mulat Demeke
9:25 – 9:55 Plenary Discussion
---- 9:55 – 10:10 COFFEE BREAK
10:10 – 11:05 SESSION 2: IMPACT OF LAND CERTIFICATION ON TENURE SECURITY
Chair: Dr. Solomon Bekure, Chief of Party, ARD Land Certification Project
10:10 – 10:35 Dr. John Pender
10:35 – 11:05 Plenary Discussion
11:05 – 12:00 SESSION 3: FOSTERING RURAL NON-FARM ECONOMY
Chair: H.E. Ato Newai Gebre-ab, Chief Economic Advisor to PM, Executive Director EDRI
11:05 – 11:30 Dr. John Okidi
11:30 – 12:00 Plenary Discussion
12:00 – 12:45 SESSION 4: KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT FOR RURAL POLICY
Chair: Dr. Solomon Assefa, DG, EIAR
12:00 – 12:20 Mr. Jordan Chamberlin
12:20 – 12:45 Plenary Discussion
---- 12:45 – 1:45 LUNCH
1:45 – 2:40 SESSION 5: MARKET RESEARCH FOR THE ETHIOPIA COMMODITY EXCHANGE
Chair: H.E. Ato Yaekob Yalla, State Minister of Marketing
1:45 – 2:10 Dr. Moti Jaleta
2:10 – 2:40 Plenary Discussion

2. 2:40 – 4:10 SESSION 6: EFFICIENCY AND GOVERNANCE OF AGRICULTURE SPENDING
Chair: H.E. Ato Mekonnen Manyazewal, State Minister MoFED
2:40 – 3:10 Dr. Alemayehu Geda & Dr. Tewodaj Mogues
3:10 – 3:40 Plenary Discussion
3:40 – 4:10 From the Community: NGO Panel on Governance and Accountability of Rural Spending
---- 4:10 – 4:25 COFFEE BREAK
4:25 – 5:00 CLOSING SESSION: FROM CONCEPT TO RESEARCH IMPLEMENTATION
Chair: Dr. Eleni Gabre-Madhin, Program Leader ESSP
4:25 – 4:40 Research Partner’s Perspectives
4:40 – 4:55 Civil Society Perspectives
4:55 – 5:10 Donor Perspectives
5:10 – 5:25 Final Remarks H.E. Ato Newai