capacity development for poverty reduction

Agricultural research for rural prosperity: Rethinking the pathways www.scienceforum2016.org

CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT FOR POVERTY REDUCTION

Gebisa EjetaPurdue University

13 April 2016


Mobilizing Science

1. Improve linkages between the CGIAR and theAdvanced Research Institutions.

2. Promote linkages between the CGIAR andinstitutions involved in product development anddeployment (NARS, SMEs etc).

1. Start a Science Forum to increase visibility forscience for development with donors, policymakers, and other stakeholders.


The Out-Cry about Observed R4D Impact:

• Massive amount of resources (internal and external) have been invested for Ag R4Din Africa since independence.

• Foreign aid, equipment, education, research investments

• Some argue that R4D could not be as successful because massive efforts have nothit the fundamental problem, the cultural and behavioral cord.

• Human and Institutional Strengthening Efforts more ad hoc

• Is something wrong with the Ag Sector. Can we learn from our Health Colleagues,how to mobilize more effectively.

• The limited drive to excellence for lack of models/examples: “A catch 22 for Africaninstitutions”


Why HICD?We cannot continue to deliver Technical Assistancea’ la Disaster Assistance (via NGOs, CSO, FBO, CBO,etc.); not sustainable!

The mobile telephone technology is encouraging,but not too good a model for Ag Development!

The Private Sector works better if complemented bystrong and functional Public Institutions (PPP)!

Systematically building strong institutions, perhapsslow, but it is the surest path for achieving SDGs!


HICD is a serious concern and agenda for poor nations,whether they realize it or not.

General decline in the human capital base, and the failureto build and/or sustain local institutions.

This decline may be the greatest threat to the gains thatwe have made in poor nations.

Considering current developments around the world, acontinent of literate, but unemployed youth is not good!


CAPACITY BUILDING IN RESEARCH FOR DEVELOPMENT:Education & training are central to development efforts.

CB entails enhancing the scientific, technical, organizational,managerial, and policy making capacity of personnel,… sothat the nation’s ability to evaluate, analyze, prioritize, andaddress crucial issues that impede planned implementationof development options.

It encompasses, individuals, institutions, communities, andgovernments. For individuals, it implies programs beyondtraining, mentors and mentoring….


Human and Institutional Capacity Building:

Need be seen as vital to the many well-intentionedprograms, that governments, foundations, andinternational agencies conduct.

HICD must also be recognized as the way to likely reducehunger and poverty, effect livelihood change, and ensuresustainability.

In poor nations, nothing can be done, much less sustainedwithout local capacity!


Human and Institutional Capacity Needs:(Goal: Science-based agricultural development)

The capacity of Individuals, Programs, Institutions,Communities, and Nation need to be built up.

Education, Research, Production-Systems, DeliverySystems, Delivery Systems, Value-addition, Markets,Support-Services, Policy-Making, Leadership,Governance…..

The need is indeed great!


Problems that Limit Capacity Building Potential in PoorNations:

Limited tertiary educational scholarships for students from Africa in Westernnations

CGIAR programs linked with NARS only as rare grant opportunities allow,mostly on IPG mode,

Few if any CG and other Developing Projects are embedded within NARS

Current R4D efforts more in project mode than “Programs”

Major Donors fund CGIAR and NGOs directly, but rarely fund NARS

The need for wealthy nations to elevate capacity building as a policy tool and to integrate it with diplomacy and defense as a linchpin of national security.


HICD Successes:

Examples from Brazil, China, India

Public-Private-Partnerships in a growing Ag Sector

Programs vs Projects for catalyzing development


Decline in Investments for Capacity Building :

• Too costly for an agency to sponsor capacity building Programs.

• It can be handled as supplements to multi-year R&DProgramming.

• Likening HICD to conducting workshops or virtual networks.

These thoughts undermine the critical importance of HICD as afoundation for a functional R4D efforts.


Recent Expansion in Higher Education in Africa:

The dawn of the 21st century brought about an interestingopportunity for CB in Africa.

Many universities built in short period of time.

Students came in large numbers.

African universities struggling and hard-pressed just to provide basicknowledge and to offer some technical skills.

Limited opportunities for scholarships to Western universities

Great time to partner with African univ. & governments.


The 3 R’s of Capacity Building:

“Recruitment—Retention—Reward”

Human beings respond to incentives.

Education that leads to high skills leads to economicopportunity.

Excellence in higher education helps a country to betechnologically innovative, and economicallycompetitive!


To fellow scientists, development practitioners, agencygrant officers, and professionals in the greater technicalassistance field,

It is not about us!

Reducing poverty in poor nations is fundamentally, theresponsibility of the countries themselves.

Internal resolve and commitment is key; but because theneed is enormous, and the benefit mutual for rich andpoor nations, a concerted effort is advised!!


The Research for Development (R4A) Mantra and the Need forGenerating Impact: A more functional alignment is needed• CGIAR operates with “International Public Good” as its official

research outcome, though it engages in the impact pathwaysat places. Who then is responsible for next steps?

• Most NARS lack the capacity to develop locally adaptedproducts and technologies,

• Extension Services lack the capacity to meet to deliverproducts and services to farmers,

• Private-sector, SMEs fledgling, not strong enough to step in todeliver on the promise,

• Donor agencies continue to fund the CGIAR and others tohave their respective projects, unlinked to a path,

• The currency measured for CG accountability is IPGs, and notthe desired result (“developmental impact”).


Food for thought: two key messages, going forward:

1. Institutions are indeed vital, but they need to interconnected. There is great need to bring donors, CGIAR, ARIs, NARS, the Private sector to start a new dialogue to revisit the IPG mandate of CGIAR and their implications on developmental impact.

1. An Impact Pathway vision is great. For greater success, R4D professionals and their institutions need to worry about the next one or two steps in the discovery to delivery continuum (pathway) to generate success.


Thank you!