A presentation by Ravi Prabhu at the Workshop on Defining a Strategic Agricultural Research Agenda on Post-Crisis/Post-Shock Recovery in Highly Stressed Systems, Nairobi, May 22-23, 2008
The Regional Plan for Collective Action in Eastern & Southern Africa: improving post-crisis recovery through agricultural research
1. The Regional Plan for Collective Action
in Eastern & Southern Africa
Improving post-crisis recovery through
agricultural research
Presented by Ravi Prabhu at the Workshop on Defining a Strategic
Agricultural Research Agenda on Post-Crisis/Post-Shock Recovery in
Highly Stressed Systems, Nairobi, May 22-23, 2008
3. Africa‟s development
agenda
Africa‟s Development Agenda
Articulated by AU/NEPAD in CAADP
(esp. Pillars 1 & 4)
Further interpreted by FARA (FAAP),
ASARECA – strategy and 7 new
programs, &
SADC-FANR – RISDP (and MAPP)
6% Agricultural growth target
10% investment in Agriculture target
4. CGIAR Shortcomings
Successive reviews – SSA Task Force,
Inter Academy Council highlighted
problems:
Overlaps
Gaps
Competing competencies
Lack of cohesion & synergy … resulting in
Inability to contribute effectively to Africa‟s
development agenda
5. CGIAR Response
Clear call for greater cohesion,
coordination and collective action
Many options discussed, including
adjusting present structure of CGIAR
Centers
Regional Plan process selected as
being the least risky, most promising
Does not preclude later adjustment to
structure, if required
6. Regional Plans
Two plans:
West & Central Africa
Eastern & Southern Africa
Common goal, principles
Emerged from extensive consultations
among Centers and Partners
Different emphases, arising from
consultations
7. Goal
To foster the emergence of a coordinated,
cohesive program of agricultural research that
produces clear economies of scale and scope at
low transaction costs,
in order to successfully address regional
priorities.
These priorities range from complex problems of
stagnant or falling agricultural productivity, poverty to
impacts of climate variation.
8. Operational space
The only form of CGIAR Collective Action focusing on
Intersecting Regional Goals with System Priorities
Regional Goals
System Priorities Available Capacities
9. Complex problems require a systemic
approach and collective action –
if many ‘mini green revolutions’ are to result
10. Regional Plan for
ESA
Three main outcomes drive the plan:
1. A clearer picture of the research in the region
(e.g. through an inventory of research)
2. A program of work that adds value and addresses both
regional & system priorities
(e.g. through the Flagship Programs)
3. A results oriented culture that is based on shared
knowledge, information and action
(e.g. through self-organising communities of practice of
concerned researchers)
11. Flagship Programs
Flagship 1: Integrated natural
resources management
Flagship 2: Markets, institutions,
information & the upscaling challenge
Flagship 3: Conservation, use and
enhancement of genetic resources
Flagship 4: Improving agricultural
livelihoods in high stress/unstable
environments
…
12. …current focii
F1: “Understanding and adapting to
drivers of change”; “observatories of
rural change”
F2: “Market Development as a
mechanism of pro-poor growth”
F3: “Towards common methods, tools
and approaches”
F4: CARRSS, Food Price Crisis,
Developing a strategic research agenda
13. Flagship 4
Improving impact of emergency response
on agricultural livelihoods in highly
stressed and unstable systems – 17 of 25
countries in the region!
Long a) Understanding the impact of „stress‟ on farming
systems, seed systems, livestock and social systems
b) Understanding the impact of aid on these systems to
avoid interventions that exacerbate the consequences of
future shocks
c) Shaping and sequencing the responses during
emergency, post-emergency and recovery phases and
identifying institutional models appropriate in fragile
states
Short
14. Workshop Aims
1. Develop a shared understanding of the nature of the
research, define its demand and scope
2. Identify/develop a theoretical framework to underpin
the research
3. Distill lessons from past research experiences
4. Identify a possible program of work, project
opportunities
5. Explore opportunities to develop a „community of
practice‟ as the mode for collective action
15. Conclusion
The Alliance of the CGIAR Centres,
created by the Centres to better deliver on
the CGIAR mission, is a new framework
and mechanism for collective action.
The Regional Plans are a concrete
expression of the Alliance‟s commitment
to Africa‟s development agenda.
Flagship 4 represents an opportunity to
speed up the process of recovery of
agricultural livelihoods and systems