Forum for Agricultural Research in AfricaForum for Agricultural Research in Africa
FARA’s evolution as a weaver of FARA’s evolution as a weaver of knowledge networksknowledge networks
Prof. Monty P. Jones
Executive Director, FARA
Informal stakeholder consultation
Improving the quality and effectiveness of development cooperation with African agricultural knowledge organisations
EC, Brussels, 20-22 March 2012
Presentation OutlinePresentation Outline
1. Background
2. FARA’s experience (one case particularly relevant for learning)
3. What worked well and less well and why
4. Funding (2008-2011); sources, level and mechanisms
5. Outlook for the future: challenges and opportunities
BackgroundBackground• Growth of African economies is hugely dependent on
performance of agriculture
-4
-2
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
1971 1975 1979 1983 1987 1991 1995 1999 2003 2007
Agriculture, Value Added (Annual Growth %) GDP Annual Growth Rate (%)
• Productivity growth is a key driver for agric. performance & poverty reduction—accounts for ½ of 6% CAADP target
FARA’s Value PropositionFARA’s Value Proposition
a strategic platform for networking to reinforce capacities of Africa’s agricultural research system
Improved performance of institutions & entire R&D system; better quality R&D
plans, policies & program designs
Improved productivity, competitiveness & Markets
FARA: single hub network (2002-2007)FARA: single hub network (2002-2007)
FARA started as (single hub network)
(i)provide African vision of AR4D
(ii)advocacy and resource mobilisation;
(iii)promote exchange of info, tech & HR
FARACORAF NARIASARECA
NGO
NARI
CGIARSec
ECOWAS
GFAR
Private Sector
Farmer's org
AfricaRice
IITA
ILRI
ICRAF AU
SADC
COMESA
ECCAS
APAARI FORAGRO
AARINENANARC
ICRAF
NARIS, FO, NGOs, PS
SSA CP RAILS DONATA SCARDA
Demanded greater understanding of constituents = NARS Assessment
FAAP
FARA: facilitating multi-hubs (2007-2012)FARA: facilitating multi-hubs (2007-2012)
Providing networking support functions
1.advocacy and policy;
2.access to knowledge and technologies;
3.capacity strengthening;
4.partnership and strategic alliances.
NARI
FARA
SADC-FANR
CORAF ASARECA
NGO
NARI
Private Sector
NARI
Farmer's org
CGIAR Sec
ECOWAS
GFAR
Private Sector
Farmer's org
AfricaRice
IITA
ILRI
ICRAF AUC
SADC
COMESA
ECCAS
APAARI FORAGRO
AARINENANARC
R D
SsSc
CAADP
ICRISAT
Testing & scaling out innovative approaches Institutional strengthening
NARS Assessment
SCARDAPiloting an innovative
approach for institutional strengthening
Evaluation & reflection
Scale out approach via e.g. CAADP Process
Enhancing R&D impactStakeholder
Consultations
SSA CPFormulate IAR4D &
assess its performance
Evaluation
Scale out approach via e.g. CAADP Processes,
CRPs, GCARD
Testing & scaling out innovative approaches Testing & scaling out innovative approaches Knowledge & Technologies
Consultations + scoping studies
RAILS + DONATATest innovative approaches for
knowledge management & technology dissemination
Co-creation & co-learning
Scale out approach via e.g. CAADP Process
Others
Jean Jacques Andrianaivofarmer Leader from Madagascar
(http://www.erails.net/MG/jean-jacques-a/)
• Linking universities, agribusiness and research (UniBRAIN)
• Safe Stewardship of biotechnologies (SABIMA)
• Strategic alliances with other regions & countries (Europe, Brazil, China)—PAEPARD
ImpactsImpacts• Achieved jointly with partners (AUC, NPCA, RECs, SROs,
CGIAR, actors in Research, Extension & Education; Farmer Organizations, private sector, DPs, etc)
• Impacts from pilots are to be replicated numerous times by scaling out
SCARDA focal institutions:• Positive changes outnumbered
negative ones 4:1
RAILS • (Initially ~3,000 stakeholders in 29
countries enhance capacity to communicate & access knowledge
DONATA• Farming communities expand
livelihood sources by ~50-100% in 21 countries
CAADP• 21 IPs aligned with FAAP principles
SSA CP Pilot site in Nigeria• 120% ↑ in yield of soyabeans
(0.9 – 2.0t/ha)
• Additional US$500/ha / season
• 150K farmer beneficiaries
What worked well What worked well (success factors)(success factors)
• Focusing on major constraints cutting across the region
• A common framework for the continent (the FAAP)
• Strong buy-in by stakeholders across the value chain and at all geographical scales
• Partnerships for action
• Funding: availability + stability especially for core functions (MDTF)
Challenges & whyChallenges & why
• Fragmentation (stakeholders, geog scale--subsidiarity)
• Low absorption capacities of stakeholders
• Funding: shortfalls + competition among partner institutions
• High transaction costs of working thru partnerships
Why
• Challenges reflect state of Africa’s science & innovation and are the focus of FARA interventions
• New approaches & partnerships require incubation period to build trust and accountability among partners
Expenditure (2008-2011)
Core funds managed through MDTF;
TBAs: Bilateral agreements
11.5m
15.9m
19.3m17.2m
68%81%
75% 60%
1.2 1.0
4.75.3
7.8
11.5
15.9
19.4
17.2
24.4
21.5
22.5 23.2 23.8 24.5 25.1
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Milli
ons U
S$
1.2 1.0
4.75.3
7.8
11.5
15.9
19.4
17.2
24.4
21.5
22.5 23.2 23.8 24.5 25.1
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Milli
ons U
S$
1.2 1.0
4.75.3
7.8
11.5
15.9
19.4
17.2
24.4
21.5
22.5 23.2 23.8 24.5 25.1
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Milli
ons U
S$
MDTF2
Core (bilateral)
MDTF1
TBAs
TBAs
MDTF1
TBAs
Core (bilateral)
FARA’s funding (2003-2018): Expenditure, budgeted & projected
Expenditure (actuals) Budget Projection
2012 and beyond: looking into the future with increase 2012 and beyond: looking into the future with increase number of networks, knowledge hubs and stronger linkages number of networks, knowledge hubs and stronger linkages
among institutionsamong institutions
NARI
FARA
CCARDESA
NARI CORAF ASARECA
NGO PanAAC
NARI
EAFF
CGIAR Sec
ECOWAS
GFAR
PrivateSector
ROPPA
AfricaRice
IITA
ILRI
ICRAFAUC
-NPCA-DREA
SADC
COMESA
ECCAS
APAARI FORAGRO
AARINENANARC
R
D
Ss
Sc
NASRO
NARI
PAFFO
SACAU
AFAAS
ANAFE
CAADP
U
RUFORUM
Sb
ICRISAT
FARA Secretariat weaving knowledge networks (2012 and beyond)
NASRO
CORAF/WECARD
CCARDESA
ASARECA
GFARCGIAR
AUC
AFAAS
PAFFOANAFE
RUFORUM
NGOC
ECOWAS
SADC
COMESA
ECCAS
NARC
Connect
Catalyze
Comm
unicat
e
Knowledge&Innovation
Advocacy&Policy
Opportunities&
Investments
Capacities&
Institutions
FARA
EAFFROPPA
SACAU
PanAAC
Interface
AfricaRice
IITA
ILRI
ICRAF ICRISAT APAARIFORAGRO
AARINENA
SRO
Political body
International research
Global forum
Farmer organisation
Education
Extension
Agribusiness
LEGEND Non-governmental organisation
PROPAC
CIP
CIMMYT
Catalyze
Knowledge&Innovation
Advocacy&Policy
Opportunities&
Investments
Capacities&
Institutions
Africa’s agriculture science and innovation landscape
Going forward Going forward …1/2…1/2
• FARA set to develop a new MTOP (2014 – 2018) & refresh its strategic plan
• Envisaged rolesConnecting (including
observatory & think tank) Catalyzing & Communicating • Future networking support
to focus on:1. Advocacy + policy
2. Knowledge & innovation
3. Capacities & Institutions
4. Opportunities & Investments
• CAADP: deepen integration of PIV with other pillars;
Central Africa
• Education & Extension
• Agric. Science agenda (CGIAR--CAADP)
NSF Focus Connect Catalyze Communicate
1. Advocacy & Policy
Sustained investments in CAADP Pillar IV
Policy makers with science & devt community
Investments in agricultural innovation
Policy options for increased investment
2. Knowledge and innovation
Competitiveness in a knowledge-based economy
Knowledge resources with all innovation actors
Effective innovation processes
Knowledge & innovation to relevant actors
3. Capacities and Institutions
Building Africa’s innovation capacity
CS institutions with users and policy makers
CS within CAADP
Required changes and effective approaches
4. Oppor-tunities and investments
Identify priority opportunities & risks for R&D attention
Foresight actors, think tanks with investors
Policy & innovation for emerging issues
Required actions on emerging issues
Going forward …2/2
Available funding in millions of US$ (2012-13) & Available funding in millions of US$ (2012-13) & Projected funding requirements for 2014-18Projected funding requirements for 2014-18
Forum for Agricultural Research in AfricaForum for Agricultural Research in Africa
Thank YouThank You
www.fara-africa.org
