This chapter proposes a network-based framework to analyze and evaluate participatory and evidence-based policy processes. Four network based performance indicators are derived by incorporating a network model of political belief formation into a political bargaining model of the Baron–Grossmann–Helpman type. The application of our approach to the CAADP reform in Malawi delivers the following results: (i) beyond incentive problems, i.e.
There have been repeated calls for a ‘new professionalism’ for carrying out agricultural research for development since the 1990s. At the centre of these calls is a recognition that for agricultural research to support the capacities required to face global patterns of change and their implications on rural livelihoods, requires a more systemic, learning focused and reflexive practice that bridges epistemologies and methodologies.
Here, it is described a new participatory protocol for assessing the climate-smartness of agricultural interventions in smallholder practices. This identifies farm-level indicators (and indices) for the food security and adaptation pillars of CSA. It also supports the participatory scoring of indicators, enabling baseline and future assessments of climate-smartness to be made. The protocol was tested among 72 farmers implementing a variety of CSA interventions in the climate-smart village of Lushoto, Tanzania.
The Farmer Field School (FFS) approach has been very successful and witnessed a strong expansion in many areas beyond crop production. Notwithstanding this success, the adoption of FFS in national extension often remains problematic and FFS activities have often been implemented in the margin of national institutions with strong reliance on donor funding. The creation of an enabling environment for institutional support is essential for expanding the effort, improving quality, and strengthening impact and continuity of the FFSs.
This report reviews the evidence of impact of capacity strengthening on agricultural research for development (AR4D) in developing countries. The study was commissioned by DFID as part of the documentation process of the project Strengthening Capacity for Agricultural Research for Development in Africa (SCARDA).
Esta tesis expone un análisis de la cadena de valor del cacao, en su contexto internacional - nacional, y de la cadena de valor de una organización de segundo grado, como UNOCACE, en un marco de tiempo de diez años (2002 – 2012). Los elementos de estudio se basaron en la metodología de acción colectiva de Julio Berdegué y la plataforma RURALTER. Con el fin de exponer el rol determinante de la acción colectiva en las cadenas productivas.
This paper outlines key areas of intervention that are identified as the core of FAO's strategy on strengthening Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) across multiple areas of work (e.g. research and extension, agroecology, biotechnology, green jobs, resourcing etc.) for achieving sustainable rural development.
El proyecto “Alianza para la Creación de Oportunidades de Desarrollo Rural a través de Relaciones Agroempresariales” (ACORDAR) tiene como objetivo contribuir a incrementar los ingresos, asegurar empleo permanente y fortalecer las capacidades comerciales de 5400 familias pobres del área rural en 44 municipios, en alianza con los gobiernos municipales y el sector privado.
El presente estudio es una herramienta técnica para orientar los esfuerzos de las redes nacionales de innovación tecnológica en Honduras, y tiene como objetivo identificar la problemática y la agenda para la innovación tecnológica de los actores de la cadena de maíz en el país.
This study examined the trend in climate in Ghana, how smallholder horticultural farmers perceive this changing climate and how they are responding to its perceived effects. A survey of 480 resource-constrained horticultural producers was conducted in two municipalities of Ghana. Descriptive analysis and Weighted Average Index were employed to rank identified adaptation strategies and challenges. The results showed that farmers are already experiencing increasing temperature and declining rainfall patterns consistent with trends of observed climate changing in the last two decades.