1. Capacity for Agricultural
Transformation- Issues, Challenges,
and Lessons
Suresh Babu
ReSAKSS- Asia Conference,
Siem Reap, Cambodia

2. Capacity
Strengthening
Cutting poverty
Ending hunger
soon
Research Communications

3. Capacity Strengthening
Strategy
Objectives
I. Capacity Strengthening through global
research programs
II. Generate research-based knowledge in
the form of International Public Good
III. Develop capacity through national,
regional and global collaborations

4. Methods
• Collaborative research: Malawi, Mozambique
• Group training: Nigeria, Ghana, Ethiopia
• Training of trainers: University lecturers
• Research Cycle – South Asia and East Africa
Network
• 1-on-1 hands on training
• E-learning
• Institutional Strengthening
• Food and Agricultural System
Page4

5. CapacityBuilding withCSA:
PopulationCensusAtlas
• Collaboration between ESSP and CSA
• Atlas launched in Addis November 2010
• In-depth training on GIS and data base management

6. Ethiopia Strategy Support
Program
Capacity Building
GIS Training 2009
 CGE Course
Ceremony 2009
CGE Paper Authors
EEA Conference 2010

7. EthiopiaStrategySupportProgram
CapacityBuilding
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
People Person Days
Workshops/Conferences
Seminars
Hands-On Training
ShortCourses
Training Courses

8. Does Training Strengthen
Capacity?
DevelopingaFrameworkforCapacityDevelopmentinGhana
• Human Resources Department
• MOFA/ IFPRI
• Research Based Evidence
• Collaborate policy makers and analysts
• Address current and emerging issues
• Monitor and Evaluate the effects of policy
• Knowledge management
• Capacity development
• Fragmented – piecemeal

9. What does AGRODEP want to
achieve?
Why AGRODEP:
• African countries have experienced a remarkable economic recovery
since the start of the century
• Africa is simultaneously undergoing an important policy renewal
process
• This process fuels a growing demand for locally based, policy-
relevant research
Therefore there is a need for:
• a mechanism that helps to mobilize a critical mass of modeling
experts within Africa’s policy research and analysis community,
• broaden access to innovative research methodologies, and
• facilitate partnership with the global research community.
www.agrodep.org
9

10. Regional Strategic Analysis and Knowledge
Support System (ReSAKSS) is a knowledge
management platform
Strategic analysis to inform policymakers
Knowledge management systems to ensure that
the strategic analysis and other relevant
knowledge products are translated into public
goods
Capacity strengthening through support for
the country CAADP Roundtables,
establishment of country SAKSS
programs/nodes

11. Architecture of country SAKSS
• A structured network of
policy-making, research
and implementation
partners
• made up of 3 distinct but
interrelated components:
Node, Network, and
Oversight Body
• institutionalised within
relevant country structures
(ministries, planning units,
research institutions,
knowledge management
organs, etc.)

12. CREATING A PATHWAY FOR TECHNOLOGY ACCESS!
Empowers partner countries to build and
implement functional regulatory systems by
providing:
1. Independent expertise – science and policy
2. Capacity building
3. Credible information to policy makers,
stakeholders, end users and key opinion
leaders for informed decision making
4. Experts are regulators from govt. and
industry, scientists, lawyers and economists

13. Capacity Strengthening
Research – Key Needs
• Capacity Needs Assessments
• Institutional Capacity Reviews and Assessments
• Capacity Measurements – Capacity Development
Indicators
• Capacity Strengthening Methods – What works
and why?
• Capacity Monitoring and Evaluation
• Impact Assessment of Capacity Strengthening
projects

14. Net-Map showing information
flows and critical actors

15. Central Asia

16. South Asia

17. E-Learning-Asia

18. Lessons Learned
• Sustainability of capacity depends on leadership
• Bridge the gap between theory and practice
• share the experiences in capacity strengthening
• understand the institutional, resource and
human capital constraints
• Curriculum should be reviewed and revised
• Establish enabling environment and institutions
• Continuous dialogue between the researchers,
trainers, and policymakers
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19. Concluding Remarks
• Capacity development is a long term continuous
process
• Individual, institutional and policy environment
go hand in hand
• Training alone is not enough
• Knowledge management, participation,
transparency are important to make impact
• Strategic approach needed to capacity
development, management, utilization and
maintenance

20. Thank You