21ST STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING 31 JULY AUGUST Shaping Tomorrow s Agriculture Today: Putting the GFAR Business Plan into Action

Transcription

1 GLOBAL FORUM ON AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH FORUM MONDIAL DE LA RECHERCHE AGRICOLE FORO GLOBAL DE INVESTIGACION AGROPECUARIA 21ST STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY 31 JULY AUGUST 2008 Shaping Tomorrow s Agriculture Today:

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3 Putting The GFAR Business Plan Into Action 1. Issues around the role and purpose of a Global Forum GFAR has four key areas of operation, identified as Strategic Objectives in the external review and business plan. Put concisely, these are: Advocacy and Shaping Tomorrow s Agriculture Institutions for Future Needs Fostering Innovative and Strategic Partnerships Agricultural Knowledge for All These are essential needs for global action yet over the last 10 years, GFAR has not so far delivered to anything like its intended potential. Much of the reason for this lies in a lack of common understanding and recognition of the role of a Global Forum and the implications of this for how organizations relate to the Forum in practice. This Global Forum is not a stand alone institution, or an organization with walls, it is a movement for change made up of the activities of its component stakeholder groups and their efforts and commitment in working together towards common goals in a global agricultural research for development system. This bigger picture perspective can be difficult for organizations to relate to in a world of competitive organizations and there have been many past misconceptions of GFAR. The Global Forum is not: An implementing agency A stand-alone institution A funding agency A research agency A regional agency Representative of any one stakeholder constituency The GFAR Secretariat Rather, it is: A Key link between science and society A Voice for the poor A Partnership for change A Catalyst for action A Platform for sharing and learning A common advocacy platform for agricultural research to sustainably meet the future needs of a growing population

4 The actions and behaviours of the stakeholders who come together in the Forum are key to its success. Following principles of subsidiarity, responsibility and accountability for specific action and impact sits with the constituent stakeholders, working from their different perspectives to deliver sustainable development outcomes. The resources of GFAR are thus not just those mobilized via the Secretariat for central support to processes of change, but encompass all investment in agricultural research for development and its mobilization towards better meeting the needs of the poor. By bridging across institutional walls, the GFAR mechanisms and networks create a neutral space for the exploration of ideas, concepts and development of innovative partnership. These in turn stimulate multistakeholder processes of institutional change and innovative partnership, leading to significant change in the generation and use of agricultural knowledge with a much stronger focus on development impact (see figure) The Global Forum on Agricultural Research The Global Forum & Action Research Learning & Scale-out Demand Partnership Evaluation The Forum Conceptualization Delivery Implementers Initiation Implementation In each of the key strategic areas of Global Forum operation, investment of time and resources is essential from all partners, with a coherence between national, regional and international considerations. This does not necessarily imply new resources are required before action, as a more coherent and integrated use of existing programmes, processes and linkages can create powerful change. 2

5 Prime responsibility for funding of resultant programmes sits directly with the implementing agencies themselves. The activities of the Secretariat and centrally-obtained funds help support these processes but it is essential that full ownership, responsibility and accountability of the processes of programme development sit with the stakeholders involved. Transaction costs entailed in the sort of small and fragmented projects commissioned to date are also far too high for a good rate of return and often give little coherent development impact. It would be far better to work to a (3 year?) programme of clear delivery around development impacts. Despite not being a research implementing agency, GFAR in general needs to move towards working to outcome-based planning processes that establish the path from generation of partnerships and ideas through to anticipated development impact. The scale of efforts through the Global Forum encompasses all relevant activities that follow GFAR principles, whichever organization is leading the specific activity. The Secretariat has never been intended to be an implementing body and specific activities of the Secretariat are focused on those areas considered by the Steering Committee to be highest priority within the frame of creating an effective global ARD system. This raises the question of recognition of the role of GFAR within processes of programme development. It is not appropriate to see the Forum as a managing entity yet there needs to be some form of recognition and acceptance of the role of GFRAR in catalyzing change? One way of looking at this is that GFAR mentors the processes of programme creation through quality assurance of partnership, seeking conformity to GFAR key principles. If the latter, this could operate as in effect a quality assurance system, a new compact towards achieving development outcomes through research. The Secretariat of GFAR requires sufficient supporting resources to be able to operate to the benefit of all. This is costed into the specific operational costs of GFAR. Due to budget constraints carried forward from previous years, the Secretariat is currently operating with just two technical staff, severely constraining its capacity to deliver more for the GFAR stakeholders across the vast range of international agricultural research issues. A larger Secretariat is patently required, but within this there is much scope for greater involvement of the constituent stakeholders in the central operation of the Forum itself, to meet both their specific needs and those of the Forum. It is requested that the Steering Committee members consider providing placement/secondment opportunities from their institutions or their wider constituencies, to work within the GFAR Secretariat, to the benefit of both GFAR and the institution concerned. 3

6 2. Implications of these considerations for each area of operation 2.1 Global Advocacy for ARD: Shaping Tomorrow s Agriculture Today Key finding of GFAR External review: GFAR needs to focus more on fostering dialogue and debate on ARD issues and on advocacy The Forum provides the meeting place to discuss key issues Advocacy includes finding common ground among diverse perspectives, think tank functions, sparking new agendas for implementation among our partners and the GFAR platform as broker and advocate for the case for ARD, on behalf of and through all partners. Needs to develop connection to global political processes and bring together the global ARD community to help it to articulate key common concerns, informing investment policy and into global political platforms such as G8, OECD, UN etc Needs Coherent mechanisms for review and agreement on identified priorities Commitment from partners to create global platforms within the GFAR context Ability among constituencies to rapidly mobilize processes to develop informed opinion Engagement with partners outside ARD frame e.g. IT companies, food companies, Finance Ministries, Education Ministries Engagement with new development partners foundations, emerging economies China, India, Brazil etc Direct linkage to new mechanisms for funding research so that process drives subsequent research /delivery More frequent attention to research needs prioritization and engagement of stakeholder opinion in this. Mechanisms Position & policy papers prepared by Stakeholder communities, with diverse but clear, evidence-based opinions electronic forum including use of wikis to develop evidence base between diverse stakeholders rapid engagement with emerging issues and press releases representing coherent opinion Bottom-up processes of priority setting involving all constituencies Constituencies making preferential use of the global platform of GFAR (and regional platform of regional Fora) for meetings, debate and common advocacy on key issues 4

7 Essential ingredients for success Alignment among all partners on GFAR s role, and use of Forum as non-institutional movement within which they all have an equal voice. Focus on agricultural issues of global significance and prioritize among these for attention Future scoping: bringing together different scenarios and ways of examining these to guide future policy choices Strengthening of Regional Fora as broad-based fora for all Questions for consideration To what extent do the organizations represented in the Steering Committee recognize the role of GFAR as their common platform for advocacy for investment in agricultural research for development and as the neutral and open space for debate? What processes do they envisage using to mobilize their own efforts within the GFAR context? How can the advocacy value of the Forum be strengthened for each stakeholder group? What resources and mechanisms will they themselves bring to doing so? How would they wish to see recognition of their own efforts and the role of the Global Forum in this? Which stakeholder sectors require specific support attention? 5

8 2.2 Innovation Systems for the Future Key issue: from GFAR review and business plan: Shaping the international agricultural research for development agenda requires new capacities and new ways of working in ARD, with wider inclusion of civil society (NGOs, farmers, private sector) in the direction and implementation of agricultural innovation systems. Sustainability and value requires national agricultural research systems (all players) are engaged with the needs of intended beneficiaries and research processes are centred on the needs of the poor: farmers and consumers. Private sector and NGOs are now much stronger voices and actors in agricultural research for development than even 10 years ago at GFAR s formation GFAR needs to be fulfilling its role as the neutral broker between such relationships (As recommended in External review of GFAR) Needs International research organizations IARCs need to be driven by bottom-up processes, to be able to address issues of common concern and to clearly add value to national systems IARC activities understood and valued from the outset as fulfilling specific needs and other partners enabled and aligned to make use of these as they arise. Through its open, neutral and multi-stakeholder ownership, GFAR is well placed to establish the demand-end of international agricultural research, prior to programme implementation. Regularized demand processes: demand articulated on global and regional levels from constituencies is transformed into mobilizing involvement of others, development of innovative partnerships and conceptualization of international action From NARIs to National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) Issues include increasing the involvement of younger scientists (YPARD) and involvement of women (perhaps via the CGIAR gender and diversity programme?) in shaping agendas and institutions for tomorrow Engagement of other stakeholders in driving research demand and knowledge access is crucial From research to innovation systems: more attention is required to those making the interface between innovation from science and that from farmers and to participatory research processes that involve both Research value systems need to be adjusted from scientific outputs to development impacts Engagement of other research partners with public research institutions; requires innovation systems approaches into practice 6

9 Challenges of Stakeholder engagement in Global research programmes EC funding is supporting GFAR to help ensure effective representation and engagement of other constituencies in the challenge programmes and similar processes of the CGIAR. Others, such as Gates Foundation, have created direct programme development linkages with countries and specific partners, as other ways, including the Forum mechanism, are seen as too bureaucratic or too internally competitive. Doesn t necessarily always need new resources, but better and more open use made of existing funds for research-demand articulation. Mechanisms have been explored with the CGIAR, whereby partnerships catalysed by GFAR could lead into larger programmes supported through the funding access mechanisms of the Consultative Group. Essential ingredients for success in stimulating institutional change Use of new mechanisms to stimulate innovative partnership Use of communication to create a movement for change Reevaluation of institutional reward systems to create incentives for partnership Impact determination for innovation systems Ensure governance representatives are real and backed by processes of engagement, not token representation Key questions Need to attract young professionals back into agriculture as a career what key drivers, incentives and approaches will do so? How can intended beneficiaries more directly drive research agendas and training agendas? Which bodies and institutions to engage in these agendas? Why isn t stakeholder engagement considered as essential as scientific quality by scientists and by the current system? How do the roles of the Regional Fora align with GFAR in this connection? Common values how is the NARS concept really perceived and understood by other stakeholders? Do we need a summary basis that is clearer in practice? 7

10 Fostering innovation systems 2.3 Fostering innovative partnerships The DURAS programme has shown the value of funding mechanisms in stimulating new forms of partnership. Links with other funding bodies are being developed in this area towards a series of GFAR high level think tank meetings in Key questions What funding mechanisms/funding orientations are required to mobilize system change at national level. How in practice to engage effectively with bilateral support mechanisms? The new research landscape - role of the larger NARS? How to effectively involve GFAR processes in S-S learning with China, India, Brazil and Russia? Development of true regional fora from regional organizations will take time and commitment to build up trust and working relationships between the different stakeholders involved. How in practice to better engage diverse perspectives farmer, private input & output and consumer/manufacturer, large and small NGOs into Regional Fora around key themes? How to scale out learning on local innovation from PROLINNOVA into the formal research sector Global Partnership Programmes Fostering innovative and strategic partnerships has been a key area of operation, via the Global Partnership Programmes. The principles by which these have been formulated are undoubtedly successful. Global Partnership Programmes are fostered under the mechanisms and networks of GFAR but are not managed by GFAR, they are recognized as part of the global effort without requiring programme funding to pass directly through the GFAR Secretariat. The approach has great potential value in hastening the learning and uptake from ARD. However the external review of GPPs also pointed out a number of concerns: The lack of a common definition being consistently applied to GPPs has meant that many have been set up without following common principles. As a result, there have been varying expectations of the process and of the role of the GFAR Secretariat. In a number of cases, GPPs once established have gone off on their own path, without completing the loop of learning expected so that others can benefit from their processes and findings. This has also been a significant problem in terms of being able to demonstrate causality and the benefit of actions supported directly via the GFAR frame. 8

11 The original principles for Global Framework Programmes/Global Partnership Programmes were: Addressing agricultural issues of critical importance to Agricultural Research for Development Build on on-going activities, based on principles of subsidiarity Promote innovative collaborative research based on an open nucleus principle, open to all partners at any time. Facilitate the gathering of a critical mass of researchers and of a research capacity drawing from all constituencies in key areas of strategic importance Promote action-oriented research for development networks that bring together all stakeholders and promote synergies, complementarity and learning processes from the interaction. If the programmes themselves are being managed and funded from outside the GFAR or Regional Fora Secretariats they still need to have an element of GFAR identity if the Forum process is to be recognized and valued. The use of GFAR as a Brand defining a set of values is crucial here, but so also is its recognition as a) providing the catalysis for the programme but b) having a mentoring but no direct managerial function in the programme. GFAR is not the only international mechanism in ARD and is not an implementing mechanism. Can we envisage a system, as has been discussed with the Science Council, whereby the GFAR GPPs create active and diverse partnerships that then feed into Challenge Programmes implementing research on key issues? (At present neither is as effective as it should be). Key questions for consideration: What does being a GFAR GPP actually mean in practice to those taking part? How to establish an identity in which the role of GFAR is recognized? How to demonstrate the value-added of GFAR as a mechanism for partnership? How to ensure feedback and learning from the processes? 9

12 The Secretariat proposes the following basic principles for Global Partnership Programmes to be supported through the GFAR mechanism: For consideration all such programmes must be prepared to a high standard, following the GFAR principles of open partnership, subsidiarity, complementarity, inclusiveness and involvement of all stakeholders. In practice this will mean that they: 1. Build on on-going activities and strong institutional commitments to conceptualize and address inter-regional or global concerns. 2. Are endorsed by partners in the regions concerned as aligning with their highest agricultural development priorities 3. Involve more than one region and link with the regional fora concerned 4. Include financial resource commitment from the regions concerned 5. Set out a clear pathway by which development impact will subsequently be obtained and show a specific focus on how the poor will benefit from the activity 6. Are developed and championed by a multistakeholder group, responsible and accountable for the implementation of the programme and ensuring that GFAR principles are maintained throughout 7. Directly involve partners from both research and wider society, representative of diverse backgrounds and perspectives and adding value to what the bodies concerned could achieve by themselves 8. Work to cross-link related initiatives initiated and developed by the partners concerned 9. Demonstrate impact on individual and institutional behaviours in opening research systems out to new partners and perspectives 10

13 2.4 Knowledge for All The Global Forum on Agricultural Research has a critical role to shape the flow of information, knowledge, skills and technology in shaping the agriculture of future. Due to increasing market orientation and the need to participate in globally competitive markets, growing constraints and barriers in the availability and access to resources and increased risks from environmental changes, agriculture is becoming more knowledge intensive. Knowledge from outside that available locally in agricultural communities is a critical input for agricultural development and progress and for sustainable livelihoods and an improved quality of life for agricultural communities. Sharing and exchange of knowledge through social networks and communities of practice are vital for agricultural innovation and its rapid spread. The fostering of agricultural innovation systems requires new and innovative ways in information management, communications and knowledge mobilization and in enabling learning for agricultural communities. New information technologies, especially cellular telephony with 3G applications and the Internet, made accessible through broadband wireless systems, as also conventional technologies applied in new ways such as community radio and DTH and cable TV networks offer ever increasing potential to be harnessed for spread of information and knowledge and enabling learning in rural areas and for agricultural communities. GFAR had identified 4 main issues for intervention under its ICM4ARD GPP to enable greater equity in access to agricultural information and knowledge globally. These included: The need to strengthen the capacity of NARS leaders to advocate, articulate appropriate policies and strategies, attract more resources and greater investment for further development of ICT enabled NAIS and lead further development of agricultural information systems (AIS); Capacity development, in terms of infrastructure, institutions and human skills, among stakeholders to ARD to create, manage, share, exchange and use scientific and technical information, technology related information, research and research management information, extension, outreach and market information etc. for agricultural innovation and development; Greater integration of national and regional agricultural information systems and easier access to them, especially websites, through a GLOBAL.RAIS Web Ring and cohesive activities for improved management and more seamless sharing and exchange of information, experience and knowledge in agricultural information management through a Knowledge Network; The need to establish appropriate governance structures such as task forces and steering committees for global, regional and sub-regional AIS of GFAR, AARINENA, APAARI, CACAARI, FARA, ASARECA, CORAF, SADC and FORAGRO to promote and support more equitable access, sharing and exchange of agricultural information through ICT enabled AIS. GFAR, with emergence of the need to enable learning for rapid innovation, as identified during the GFAR 2006 Triennial Conference and the GFAR retreat at Alexandria should 11

14 now also consider enabling learning opportunities, especially through open, distance, technology mediated approaches for agricultural communities to acquire new knowledge and skills for the community s progress as a component of a transforming approach to agricultural extension and a key process to link agricultural research, education and extension effectively to benefit farming. GFAR s focus in improving agricultural education and learning for improving agricultural productivity and the emerging market oriented agriculture globally is proposed by the GFAR Secretariat to be: a. To contribute to reorienting agricultural education and learning systems that effectively contribute to agricultural research and innovation; b. Strengthen or build afresh the necessary Institutional capacities so that educational systems can be effective in agricultural research and innovation; and c. Transform educational and learning processes to satisfy the need for knowledge and skills useful both for agricultural research and innovation GFAR s role in improving agricultural education and learning is proposed to be: a. Advocate at the global, regional and national levels, increased and improved investment in agricultural education and learning by national governments and by donor agencies b. Bring about collaborative partnerships in enabling Institutional capacities including education policies, strategies, structures and standards, framing and implementation of appropriate curricula and building human capacities in managing and delivering agricultural education and learning c. Bring about greater sharing and exchange of educational content especially electronic and digital content d. Improve the governance of agricultural education systems, especially evaluation and certification of courses and students The proposed GFAR actions in the area of agricultural education and learning and in improving linkages between agricultural research, education and extension are: d. Mapping of the various actors and investments in agricultural education and learning at global, regional and national levels e. Developing a global agenda that provides direction for global interventions in improving agricultural education and learning systems f. Facilitating collaboration and cooperation among all actors and supporters of activities that contribute to improving agricultural education and learning systems g. Assessing and reporting the impact of global interventions in improving agricultural education and learning systems. 12