Village Level Studies (VLS) program of ICRISAT has been an avenue for learning and capacity building for researchers. Objective of the study is to trace researchers (from 1975 – 2013) who availed research opportunities through VLS.

1. March2015
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Tracer study of VLS researchers
Jaison Davis, R Padmaja, Rosana Mula and Cynthia Bantilan
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, India
Objectives
Village Level Studies (VLS) program of ICRISAT has been an avenue for learning and
capacity building for researchers. Objective of the study is to trace researchers (from
1975 – 2013) who availed research opportunities through VLS. Specifically, information
sought through this study is:
a. How diverse were the VLS researchers?
b. How they benefitted from the research exposure and opportunities provided
through VLS?
c. How their association with VLS contributed in expanding the stock of scientific
knowledge?
d. Did the VLS training and the resulted capacity building lead to any organizational output?
e. How the capacities built through the VLS benefitted a wider community?
Data and Methods
Data Source
• ICRISAT Learning Systems Unit (LSU) Database and VLS Databank
• 227 prospective respondents; Tracked 120 (using email IDs).
Methodology
• Tracer study methodology
• Survey designed as PDF forms; Also as online SurveyMonkey questionnaire.
Survey
• Sent through emails; Followed up to 4 times after the initial email
• Survey dissemination over September to November 2014.
Response Rate
• 47 out of 120.
Initial Observations from the Study
Researchers from Across the Globe
• From more than 40 institutions and 30 nations
Influence on Human Capacity Building
NutriƟon and health
18%
Community
development 2%
Natural resource
management
4%
InsƟtuƟons and markets
16%
Village dynamics
9%
Poverty dynamics
5%
Risk and vulnerability
11%
Technology assessment 4%
Gender studies 3%
Policy studies
10%
MigraƟon 2%
Labor
markets
8%
Study on agriculture and crops
8%
Broad themes under which VLS researchers did their research
Contributions to Stock of Knowledge
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Strongly agree Agree Disagree No response
Increased own capacity of VLS researchers to do high quality research (%)
• Respondents indicated their research relevant for themselves (87%) and their
institutions (77%)
• Training facilitated identification of new research problems (67%) and contributed in
refinement of research methodologies (65%)
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Strongly agree Agree Neutral/ indifferent No response
Percentage of respondents acknowledging the VLS training as
influenƟal in enrichment of stock of knowledge
• Publications (As provided by 19 respondents)
• 24 articles (Journals like: Journal of Development Economics, Econometrica,
and Agricultural Systems)
• 2 books; 1 MPhil Thesis; 1 book chapter.
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
Strongly agree Agree Neutral/ indifferent Disagree No response
Percentage of respondents acknowledging the VLS training as
influenƟal in prioriƟzing work/research at their home, host or other insƟtuƟons
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Strongly agree Agree Neutral/ indifferent Disagree No response
-
Percentage of respondents acknowledging the VLS training as
influenƟal in sƟmulaƟng policy dialogues at governmental/non-governmental level
Organizational Impacts
20%
26%
34%
9%
11%
Percentage of respondents acknowledging
the VLS training as influenƟal in securing
employment within 3 years of training
Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral/ indifferent
Disagree
No Response
6%
23%
46%
14%
11% Strongly agree
Agree
Neutral/ indifferent
Disagree
No Response
Percentage of respondents acknowledging
the VLS training as influenƟal in availing
promoƟons within 3 years of training
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Latest known careers of (who were once) VLS researchers
Analysts /
Economists
/ Other
Researchers
Director / VP of
an OrganisaƟon /
Entrepreneurs /
Managing Partners
FAO
Officials
and
Researchers
Government
Officials
at NaƟonal
Level
In CGIAR
System
Managers NaƟonal
PoliƟcian
/ Minister
PhD
Students
Professors /
Academicians
Social
Entrepreneurs
The World
Bank
Official and
Researchers
Under-graduate
/ Graduate
Students
With Other
Agricultural
Research
InsƟtutes
VILLAGE DYNAMICS IN SOUTH ASIA
Funding support:
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Influence on Career • Respondents indicated that their training and research led to bring new initiatives
beneficial to rural communities (17%) and strengthening capacities in the villages (19%).
Limitations and Way Forward
Limitations
• Limitations of online survey methods in generating details
• Higher chances of subjectivity in responses
• Length of period (1975 – 2013) covered by the study
• Difficulty in quantifying long-term impact of any training
• Difficulty in quantifying impact of stock of knowledge.
Way Forward
• Surveys by contingent valuation methodology; Case Studies.
References
• ACIAR Impact Assessment Series 44 (Gordon and Chadwick, 2007)
• ACIAR Impact Assessment Series 58 ( Davis, Jeff et al. 2008)
• Effective Development Group 2006. Master classes, training courses and award
program, Vietnam tracer study (October2006). ATSE Crawford Fund: Melbourne.