Link: http://www.fara-africa.org/our-projects/scarda/about-scarda/#block_755
SCARDA Rationale
The DFID-funded project for Strengthening Capacity for Agricultural Research and Development in Africa (SCARDA) began on 12th February 2007. SCARDA is a regional initiative that aims to overcome weaknesses that affect the capacity of NARS to conduct and manage agricultural research. The Secretariat is responsible for the overall coordination of SCARDA, which is being implemented in the three sub-regions of Sub-Saharan Africa through respective sub-regional organisations (ASARECA, CORAF/WECARD and SADC-FANR).
SCARDA Objective
This project aims to address research management capacity needs and to strengthen the professional development of agricultural scientists. It also aims to strengthen the institutional and human capacity of African agricultural research systems in order to ensure that they are better able to identify, generate and deliver research outputs that meet the needs of poor people. SCARDA Exit Strategy The need for continental interventions and facilitation in strengthening African institutional and human capacity will remain high in the African agenda. SCARDA will continue its activities as long as it has the continental added value of interventions to improve the capacity of African institutions to deliver research outputs.
SCARDA Outputs
The program had four outputs namely:
- Agricultural research management systems and managerial competencies to conduct high quality research strengthened in participating NARS
- The capacity of participating NARS to undertake quality integrated agricultural research for development strengthened
- The relevance of training programmes in agricultural universities to current market demand established
- SCARDA approach for capacity strengthening is validated
SCARDA Exit Strategy
The need for continental interventions and facilitation in strengthening African institutional and human capacity will remain high in the African agenda. SCARDA will continue its activities as long as it has the continental added value of interventions to improve the capacity of African institutions to deliver research outputs.
