Policy and Agroforestry: Key Constraints and How ICRAF Might

Respond

Frank PlaceMarch 2012

Outline

• A very brief history of policy research at ICRAF• Policy constraints on agroforestry• Ways forward for ICRAF – your ideas

Importance of Policy Research

• Policy changes are potentially game changers – huge impacts, both direct and indirect

• But:– Likelihood of success?– What is our role as CGIAR researchers?

I was here when….

• More and coordinated from the mid 1990s to early 2000s – managed under a single theme; a new region gave it vibrancy

• In mid 2000s we received flexible EU funding for policy first used in Environmental Services Theme and then GRP6

• But policy research was to be diffused in different GRPs

My 1st day at ICRAF

Where we are now…..

• Policy relevant research is prolific at ICRAF, but research on policy effects and policy options less so, as noted by a 2009 EU review:

“However, cutting-edge, theory-based yet potentially applicable policy research has to be implemented at scale in the Centre. In particular there is need to deepen research on policies and institutional arrangements and options……”

Part 2

Policy Constraints Affecting Agroforestry

Policy Constraints – How do We Know?

• There are many documents listing policy constraints for agroforestry

• Where is the hard evidence?• Lacking a systematic body of

quantitative evidence ….. from a variety of stakeholders….

Collaborative effort to synthesize information

• In 2011 ICRAF joined efforts with FAO, CIRAD and CATIE

• To review, compile and generate evidence on policy related constraints to agroforestry

• Case studies from 17 countries and 66 key informant interviews

Common Broad Policy Constraints

• Low policy awareness of agroforestry and focus on conventional agriculture

• Land and tree tenure, including forest regulations

• Neglect of tree germplasm• Lack of recognition of environmental services• Agroforestry as an orphan across sector

and administrative level

1. What is the problem?

2. Who is affected? Who is to blame? Who’ll have to pay?

3. What behavioural change by whom is desirable, or needed?

4. Through what policies could such behaviour al change be manda ted or made attrac tive?

5. What existing rights, responsibilities and incentives have to change and who has authority to change them?

6. Why would this work? Why didn’t it work before?

7. How would we define, monitor and measure success?

Policy research questions follow along different phases of policy development

Studies often are related to a single segment

Unpacking ‘the problem’ related to tenure in an African context

• The complexity of the issue is evident:

• pluralistic rights systems• state laws, interpretations and implementation• national vs local level authority• varying degrees of authority by customary leaders• cumbersome procedures for acquiring titles • new policies and instruments that are not fully

disseminated• various primary and derived modes of acquisition• unclear / varying dispute resolution procedures• informal land markets operating to varying degrees• some vulnerable groups like women, migrants• different rights over land and trees on the land

Researching importance of tenure and tenure security

Security variablesPerceptions of land rights – breadth, keystone rights, bundles, individualization / restrictionsIncidence of disputeMode of land acquisitionPossession of formal title or certificate

Other tenure related variablesAccess to land / farm sizeFragmentation of holdingLand market activityUse of land as collateral

Tenure related variables used in African research at ICRAF

Tree tenure is particularly interesting

• Customary Systems:– Rights to trees may differ by method of establishment,

inheritance system, functional use, season, species– Tree planting still used to claim long-term rights to some

lands

• Legal Systems– Tree management often governed by forestry regulations

which are inhibiting

Just imagine the discussion held about rights over this tree

What would we say to African leaders about tenure and its effect on investment?

There are some results that seem to hold consistently – link between weak rights and tree planting of women

There are many results that are country or site specific – effects of titling and rights on investment

Some results are in opposition --- difficult to make conclusions

Identifying Problems is one thing…

• Finding good solutions is another…

• We often have a long list of things not to do, but policy makers will ask what can be done….

• And contributing to policy outcomes is yet another major challenge….but now we are to be scrutinized more closely for policy outcomes

ICRAF Policy Successes

ICRAF has contributed to policy reforms in the past, witness:• Tenure reform pilots in Indonesia• Local level by-law reforms in Africa• Various decrees related to agroforestry in

Africa• Climate change policy in

UNFCCC and Philippines

Part 3

Towards More Strategic Policy Research at ICRAF

Strategy / Opportunism• In the realm of supporting policy processes,

opportunism is a reality; but what should be our criteria here?

• Strategic thinking is needed at the same time – beginning with what policy outcomes are of highest priority

ICRAF

GRPs

Regions

CGIAR Research Programmes

At Which Level (s) ?

Our Current Policy Structure

• The Agroforestry Policy Initiative - ICRAF wide

• Some policy foci, notably in GRP6 and ASB thematically and southeast Asia regionally

• Engagement with CRP6 and CRP2 which have strong policy emphases

API Proposed Objectives• Objective 1: contribute to knowledge on the potential of

agroforestry to improve livelihoods and the environment at global, region and national levels and, raise awareness on the influence of policies in the attainment of agroforestry goals to improve agriculture, increase incomes and generate ecosystems services

• Objective 2: Facilitate policy reforms that support the widespread practice of agroforestry at different scales

• Objective 3: Facilitate the exchange of information among institutions and individuals with an interest in agroforestry policy and stimulate efforts to review and analyze policies that affect the practice of agroforestry

API Proposed Outcomes

• Stimulation of policy reform and new policy formulation processes that consider agroforestry, especially at national level

• Greater articulation of the role of agroforestry in policy making under global conventions

• Increased inclusion of agroforestry in global and regional agricultural initiatives and increased funding for agroforestry in national programmes

• Greater use of agroforestry science in the reform of national policies, regulations and guidelines

• Agroforestry research priorities that are better prioritized and coordinated towards meeting policy needs

Facilitating Policy Reforms has Multiple Pathways…….

• Policy constraints which are global and of particular importance to agroforestry – tree tenure, PES, tree germplasm…..

• National policy environments of particular countries of importance --- e.g. India

• Key international policy processes – e.g. the UNFCCC, CAADP/Comesa

Let’s Discuss

• How can we best advance strategic thinking on policy research?

– Which levels? What process is needed? Who coordinates?

• What do you see as main weaknesses to overcome? How can we foster better synergies within ICRAF?

• How can the API best help ICRAF and GRPs and regions achieve policy goals?