By Suresh Chandra Babu, Irene Annor Frempong, and Kwadwo Asenso-Okyere. Presented at the ASTI-FARA conference Agricultural R&D: Investing in Africa's Future: Analyzing Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities - Accra, Ghana on December 5-7, 2011. http://www.asti.cgiar.org/2011conf

1. Enhancing Capacity for African Agricultural Research: Selected Models and Lessons Agricultural R&D—Investing in Africa’s Future: Analyzing Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities Accra, Ghana December 5-7, 2011

6. CAADP’s mutually reinforcing pillars/themes FARA is the lead institution for Pillar IV Agricultural Research Technology Dissemination & Adoption, and Capacity Strengthening 1 Increasing food supply and reducing hunger 1 2 3 4

10. Model for integration of research, extension, education and training under CAADP Pillar IV African Union AUC & AU-NPCA CAADP Increasing scale of domestic investments in agric. Productivity (African Govts) Aligned and coordinated support (Development Partners) Enhanced African Agricultural Innovation Capacity Improved productivity, competitiveness and markets GFAR, GFRAS GCHERA Research SROs, NARS, CGIAR Farmer empowerment PAFFO, PanAAC PANGOC Education RUFORUM, ANAFE REESAO, AAU Extension AFAAS Networking Support FAAP FARA Evolution and Reform of agric. institutions

20. Thank you for the attention www.fara-africa.org

21. Selected Indicators of Capacity Development in the Context of CAADP Process Selected Process Indicators / Programs ACCI CMAAE SCARDA Demand Driven The program was developed as a result of high need felt by the African agricultural research community The program emerged from several levels of regional consultations The program is a result an expressed need from the stakeholders of FARA through various consultations Needs Assessment The needs assessment revealed the critical need for breeders who could do adaptive research in various African crops. Needs assessment revealed the strengths and weaknesses of various faculties and how to bring the existing capacities together for generating quality capacity The needs assessment indicated the need of application of subsidiarity principles and for strengthening the institutional capacity in addition to individual capacity Capacity Delivery Mechanism Combined both the teaching and rigorous training by the University of Kwazulu-Natal and the practical training through mentors in the local institutions. This helps to address local problems and made the capacity develop highly relevant for the participants’ country Effectively used the African capacity although additional external support was sought to fill the gaps in teaching. The shared facility approach was efficient in increasing the quality of the program jointly. SCARDA’s approach to capacity development focused on strengthening the whole organization giving emphasis on filling the gaps in the skills of the individuals. This is in line with the CAADP process needs for capacity development

22. Selected Indicators of Capacity Development in the Context of CAADP Process Selected Process Indicators / Programs ACCI CMAAE SCARDA Contextualization of the capacity for local needs ACCI participants applied their knowledge to solving problems they faced in their own countries While the theoretical training was common to all the graduates in the applied areas of the program, the participants applied their skills to address the socio-economic problems of their countries Capacity developed under SCARDA was meant to directly influence the organization and management of the research organizations. Such contextualized approach helped to give individual attention to the participating organizations Ensuring utilization of capacity by local organizations The participants came from the research institutions in various countries who went back to their jobs for conducting Thesis research. Thus the capacity developed was used effectively by host institutions. While the capacity developed is of high quality, due to high demand for the applied economics capacity, the graduates have found placements that contribute to the agricultural development process in their countries. SCARDA strengthened the existing capacity without any adverse effect on capacity loss for the organizations. Mutual Learning and Sharing of Knowledge Sharing of knowledge on problems and solutions were facilitated by bringing students to Kwazulu-Natal for common training in methods of plant breeding The Shared facility approach brought students from various participating countries for specific learning goals. This helped in mutual learning among the participants. SCARDA programs provided adequate opportunities for mutual learning. Funding and Sustainability Depends on donor funding to support participation of the international students. Continues to depend on external sources of funding, although recently several self-sponsoring students and government sponsored student have joined the program Uncertainty in funding and the dependency on external resources for program implementation remain challenges for long term planning