Tracking Investments in Agricultural Research for Development- The WANA Region

PresentatioPresentation byn by

Samir Samir HabbabHabbab

Tracking Investments in Tracking Investments in Agricultural Research for Agricultural Research for

Development- Development- The WANA RegionThe WANA Region

Characteristics of Agriculture Characteristics of Agriculture Research 4 Development in Research 4 Development in

WANA RegionWANA Region

• The WANA region covers 24 countriesThe WANA region covers 24 countries• The WANA region is characterized by an arid and semi The WANA region is characterized by an arid and semi

arid environment. arid environment.

• Most countries of the Region have invested Most countries of the Region have invested heavily in irrigation over the past half century. heavily in irrigation over the past half century.

• The stakeholders in agricultural research and The stakeholders in agricultural research and development in the WANA region, suffer a lot in development in the WANA region, suffer a lot in accessingaccessing and and exchangingexchanging relevant agricultural relevant agricultural information and knowledge in a information and knowledge in a timely mannertimely manner

Characteristics of Agriculture Characteristics of Agriculture Research and Development in Research and Development in

WANA RegionWANA Region

Agricultural research in the WANA region is limited by:Agricultural research in the WANA region is limited by:• lack of investment, lack of investment, • insufficient monitoring and impact assessment, insufficient monitoring and impact assessment, • limited coverage of unfavorable agro ecologies, limited coverage of unfavorable agro ecologies, • poor incentives for research staff in some countries, and poor incentives for research staff in some countries, and • limited regional and international cooperation.limited regional and international cooperation.• A little support from the industry is available for research A little support from the industry is available for research

and development activities.and development activities. National research expenditures are below 2% of the National research expenditures are below 2% of the

agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP). agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Characteristics of Agriculture Characteristics of Agriculture Research and Development in WANA Research and Development in WANA

RegionRegion

In the fields of Technology, information, In the fields of Technology, information, knowledge and innovations in NENA region, knowledge and innovations in NENA region, there is a need to:there is a need to:

• Enhance the monitoring and evaluation system Enhance the monitoring and evaluation system and developing their researches. and developing their researches.

• Identify policies and improve decision makers Identify policies and improve decision makers and politician awareness on the importance and politician awareness on the importance and role of agricultural research and and role of agricultural research and innovation.innovation.


RegionRegion

• Search for a mechanism and activate it to link Search for a mechanism and activate it to link all the centers in the region with a viable all the centers in the region with a viable communication network for mutual communication network for mutual coordination, and to benefit from the expertise coordination, and to benefit from the expertise of each other collaboration.of each other collaboration.

• Creating an effective extension system for the Creating an effective extension system for the country to create linkages with farmers, country to create linkages with farmers, researchers and civil society organizations, and researchers and civil society organizations, and to facilitate technology transferto facilitate technology transfer


RegionRegion

• the AARINENA established a Regional the AARINENA established a Regional Agricultural Information System (RAIS), Agricultural Information System (RAIS), host the AARINENA-RAIS Secretariat. The RAIS host the AARINENA-RAIS Secretariat. The RAIS serves as an information repository and serves as an information repository and exchange mechanism at the regional level.exchange mechanism at the regional level.

• The RAIS stakeholders included National The RAIS stakeholders included National Agriculture Research Systems (NARSs), Agriculture Research Systems (NARSs), Advanced Research Institutions (ARIs), Non-Advanced Research Institutions (ARIs), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Governmental Organizations (NGOs), International Agriculture Research Centers International Agriculture Research Centers (IARCs), the private sector, farmers' (IARCs), the private sector, farmers' organizations, and development assistance organizations, and development assistance agencies.agencies.

The Role of AARINENA in Providing The Role of AARINENA in Providing Information on AR4DInformation on AR4D

• AARINENA retreat in November (2011), AARINENA retreat in November (2011), recommended the essential collective action at recommended the essential collective action at national level by all stakeholders to:national level by all stakeholders to:

• 1-1- monitor the implementation the post-monitor the implementation the post-GCARD1 actions for reporting at 2012,GCARD1 actions for reporting at 2012,

• 2- develop a baseline and M&E system for 2- develop a baseline and M&E system for tracking progress on the Status of AR4D in the tracking progress on the Status of AR4D in the NENA region, NENA region,

• 3- Strengthening AARINENA’s role and capabilities 3- Strengthening AARINENA’s role and capabilities to initiate and support regional collaboration. to initiate and support regional collaboration.


• Redesign financial flow mechanisms including Redesign financial flow mechanisms including competitive grants criteria such as potential competitive grants criteria such as potential development impact, alignment with policy development impact, alignment with policy objectives, inclusiveness (policy makers, objectives, inclusiveness (policy makers, farmers, private sector), participation and farmers, private sector), participation and transparencytransparency

• Expand regional networks to not only include Expand regional networks to not only include researchers but also farmer organizations and researchers but also farmer organizations and extension agenciesextension agencies


• Public investments in agricultural knowledge Public investments in agricultural knowledge systems is requested to promote interactive systems is requested to promote interactive knowledge networks; knowledge networks;

• Investment is in researches related to an Investment is in researches related to an innovation, information, knowledge, and innovation, information, knowledge, and education coalition.education coalition.

• Invest on data collection, compilation, analysis Invest on data collection, compilation, analysis and dissemination related to AR4D activities in and dissemination related to AR4D activities in the Region.the Region.

RecommendationsRecommendations

RecommendationsRecommendations

• AARINENA in collaboration with the NARS and AARINENA in collaboration with the NARS and international partners would international partners would develop a M&E systdevelop a M&E system for em for tracking progress on the status of AR4D in the NENA tracking progress on the status of AR4D in the NENA region, including the establishment of a baseline.region, including the establishment of a baseline.

• Strengthen AARINENA’s role and capabilities to initiate Strengthen AARINENA’s role and capabilities to initiate and support regional coordination, collaboration, and support regional coordination, collaboration, “matching” capabilities of different NARS and forming a “matching” capabilities of different NARS and forming a bridge between NARS and international agencies, bridge between NARS and international agencies, whenever appropriate.whenever appropriate.

THANK YOU THANK YOU For Your AttentionFor Your Attention

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Tracking Investments in Agricultural Research for Development- The WANA Region