Presented by Gebisa Ejeta at the ISPC Science Forum 2016, Addis Ababa, 12-14 April 2016

1. Agricultural research for rural prosperity: Rethinking the pathways www.scienceforum2016.org
CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT FOR POVERTY REDUCTION
Gebisa Ejeta
Purdue University
13 April 2016

2. Agricultural research for rural prosperity: Rethinking the pathways www.scienceforum2016.org
Mobilizing Science
1. Improve linkages between the CGIAR and the
Advanced Research Institutions.
2. Promote linkages between the CGIAR and
institutions involved in product development and
deployment (NARS, SMEs etc).
1. Start a Science Forum to increase visibility for
science for development with donors, policy
makers, and other stakeholders.

3. Agricultural research for rural prosperity: Rethinking the pathways www.scienceforum2016.org
The Out-Cry about Observed R4D Impact:
• Massive amount of resources (internal and external) have been invested for Ag R4D
in Africa since independence.
• Foreign aid, equipment, education, research investments
• Some argue that R4D could not be as successful because massive efforts have not
hit 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 African
institutions”

4. Agricultural research for rural prosperity: Rethinking the pathways www.scienceforum2016.org
Why HICD?
We cannot continue to deliver Technical Assistance
a’ 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 by
strong and functional Public Institutions (PPP)!
Systematically building strong institutions, perhaps
slow, but it is the surest path for achieving SDGs!

5. Agricultural research for rural prosperity: Rethinking the pathways www.scienceforum2016.org
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 failure
to build and/or sustain local institutions.
This decline may be the greatest threat to the gains that
we have made in poor nations.
Considering current developments around the world, a
continent of literate, but unemployed youth is not good!

6. Agricultural research for rural prosperity: Rethinking the pathways www.scienceforum2016.org
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,… so
that the nation’s ability to evaluate, analyze, prioritize, and
address crucial issues that impede planned implementation
of development options.
It encompasses, individuals, institutions, communities, and
governments. For individuals, it implies programs beyond
training, mentors and mentoring….

7. Agricultural research for rural prosperity: Rethinking the pathways www.scienceforum2016.org
Human and Institutional Capacity Building:
Need be seen as vital to the many well-intentioned
programs, that governments, foundations, and
international agencies conduct.
HICD must also be recognized as the way to likely reduce
hunger and poverty, effect livelihood change, and ensure
sustainability.
In poor nations, nothing can be done, much less sustained
without local capacity!

8. Agricultural research for rural prosperity: Rethinking the pathways www.scienceforum2016.org
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, Delivery
Systems, Delivery Systems, Value-addition, Markets,
Support-Services, Policy-Making, Leadership,
Governance…..
The need is indeed great!

9. Agricultural research for rural prosperity: Rethinking the pathways www.scienceforum2016.org
Problems that Limit Capacity Building Potential in Poor
Nations:
Limited tertiary educational scholarships for students from Africa in Western
nations
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.

10. Agricultural research for rural prosperity: Rethinking the pathways www.scienceforum2016.org
HICD Successes:
Examples from Brazil, China, India
Public-Private-Partnerships in a growing Ag Sector
Programs vs Projects for catalyzing development

11. Agricultural research for rural prosperity: Rethinking the pathways www.scienceforum2016.org
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&D
Programming.
• Likening HICD to conducting workshops or virtual networks.
These thoughts undermine the critical importance of HICD as a
foundation for a functional R4D efforts.

12. Agricultural research for rural prosperity: Rethinking the pathways www.scienceforum2016.org
Recent Expansion in Higher Education in Africa:
The dawn of the 21st century brought about an interesting
opportunity 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 basic
knowledge and to offer some technical skills.
Limited opportunities for scholarships to Western universities
Great time to partner with African univ. & governments.

13. Agricultural research for rural prosperity: Rethinking the pathways www.scienceforum2016.org
The 3 R’s of Capacity Building:
“Recruitment—Retention—Reward”
Human beings respond to incentives.
Education that leads to high skills leads to economic
opportunity.
Excellence in higher education helps a country to be
technologically innovative, and economically
competitive!

14. Agricultural research for rural prosperity: Rethinking the pathways www.scienceforum2016.org
To fellow scientists, development practitioners, agency
grant officers, and professionals in the greater technical
assistance field,
It is not about us!
Reducing poverty in poor nations is fundamentally, the
responsibility of the countries themselves.
Internal resolve and commitment is key; but because the
need is enormous, and the benefit mutual for rich and
poor nations, a concerted effort is advised!!

15. Agricultural research for rural prosperity: Rethinking the pathways www.scienceforum2016.org
The Research for Development (R4A) Mantra and the Need for
Generating Impact: A more functional alignment is needed
• CGIAR operates with “International Public Good” as its official
research outcome, though it engages in the impact pathways
at places. Who then is responsible for next steps?
• Most NARS lack the capacity to develop locally adapted
products and technologies,
• Extension Services lack the capacity to meet to deliver
products and services to farmers,
• Private-sector, SMEs fledgling, not strong enough to step in to
deliver on the promise,
• Donor agencies continue to fund the CGIAR and others to
have their respective projects, unlinked to a path,
• The currency measured for CG accountability is IPGs, and not
the desired result (“developmental impact”).

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

17. Agricultural research for rural prosperity: Rethinking the pathways www.scienceforum2016.org
Thank you!