ANNEX

Summaries of documents to be reviewed

1. Paper on the use of institutional capacity analysis to support organizational change in the SCARDA project

SCARDA worked with target organizations (termed ‘focal institutions’) in ten countries in sub-Saharan Africa.  These are agricultural research or education institutes which play a pivotal role within their respective national agricultural research systems.  An approach was developed which was designed to enable them to identify their key capacity needs, prepare action plans to address them and put in place a learning and review process.  The paper describes the principles of this ‘institutional analysis’ approach, some of the tools that were used to apply it, and some lessons which emerged from the process.  It is anticipated that the paper will be of interest to other organizations wishing to embark on a similar process of organizational change and to a wider group of capacity development practitioners.

2. Guidance notes on tools and methodologies to identify capacity needs in multi-stakeholder agricultural research for development initiatives.

In its first phase, SCARDA developed an ‘institutional analysis’ approach to identifying capacity needs in agricultural research and education organizations in sub-Saharan Africa.  As the project progressed it became apparent that there is a similar need for tools and methodologies to identify capacity needs in which a range of actors (including research, education, agricultural extension, civil society, private sector, non-governments organizations, farmers’ organizations) engage in agricultural research for development to address issues of mutual interest.  The specific needs of different types of organization often differ but there are also common requirements.  The paper draws on the development and testing of tools and methods that were used in three commodity-based agricultural ‘innovation platforms’; goats in Botswana, sweetpotato in Rwanda and maize in Mali.  These innovation platforms have varying aims and different configurations of member organizations and the paper identifies lessons from the use of the tools and methods in the testing process.  The paper is intended as a resource document for organizations engaged in multi-actor agricultural research for development initiatives.  It is not designed to be a blueprint for action as needs assessment approaches should be tailored to the special requirements of a particular situation.

3. Three case studies on the design, application and outcomes of SCARDA interventions in three target agricultural training and research organizations.

SCARDA worked with ‘focal institutions’ in ten countries in sub-Saharan Africa to help them design and implement capacity strengthening programmes that would assist them to perform more effectively and deliver on their respective mandates.   The capacity strengthening interventions were designed to enhance both the management and quality of research and were underpinned by a process of organizational change.  Although it is too early to assess the impact arising from these interventions there is evidence of changes of mindsets and practice and examples of improvements in performance.  The papers document the design, application and early outcomes of capacity strengthening interventions in three contrasting focal institutions; the National University of Lesotho, the Agricultural Research Corporation in Sudan, and the National Agricultural Research Institute in Gambia.  Lessons are identified from the experience in each of these organizations and it is anticipated that these will be of interest to other research and education organizations in Africa and elsewhere.

4. Gender mainstreaming in the SCARDA target organizations

SCARDA was committed to mainstreaming gender and diversity in all of its activities, and this was set out in a gender and diversity strategy.  The strategy had two main elements: 1) integrating gender and difference into organisational and research management, and 2) building gender and difference into responsive, participatory agricultural planning, research and development.  The paper examines the lessons from efforts to mainstream gender and diversity in partner organizations in SCARDA and provides working examples of how key principles can be put into practice in capacity strengthening initiatives.  It is expected that the paper will contribute to supporting agricultural research and education organizations to mainstream gender and diversity in future capacity strengthening initiatives.

5. Postgraduate training conducted through SCARDA

SCARDA supported 78 MSc studentships for researchers identified by the ‘focal institutions’ with whom the project worked.  During the capacity needs assessment conducted at each focal institution priority research areas were identified in which the acquisition of new skills was considered likely to make a major contribution to enhancing organizational performance.  Suitable candidates were then identified, taking into account considerations of gender and age, and placed in the most suitable universities in sub-Saharan Africa.  In a small number of cases, students studied in a UK university, where it was considered that this would provide a clear comparative advantage.  Students were also given training in ‘soft’ skills and invited to participate in training workshops to improve their ability to write a strong research proposal. This broad approach was designed to ensure that, on completing their studies, students had the necessary expertise and support to make an immediate and effective contribution to the research of their respective organizations.  The paper describes the approach used and documents the lessons and outcomes that emerged.  The paper should be of interest to a wide range of research and education organizations interested in how best to enhance their skills base.

6. An analysis of the demand for agricultural graduates in the CORAF-WECARD, ASARECA, and CCARDESA sub-regions of Africa

Partners in SCARDA recognized that there are concerns from employers of agriculture graduates that they often lack the skills and mindsets need to meet current challenges.  Women are under-represented at all levels of agricultural education and there is an evident problem in building an understanding of how to mainstream gender issues and fully to engage women at all levels of agricultural development.  The paper provides a synthesis of the findings of three studies carried out to assess the evolving opportunities for agricultural graduates.  One focused on Mali, Congo, Ghana and Gambia; the second on Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Malawi, and Mozambique; and the third on Botswana, Lesotho, and Swaziland.  Employers and graduates were interviewed and lessons identified on current trends.  A set of recommendations was made for future action by educational organizations and other relevant stakeholders.  The paper should be of interest to organizations and individuals concerned about the changing needs of the job market for agricultural graduates and how teaching and training can be improved to meet these requirements.

7. Organizational change in the SCARDA target organizations

SCARDA supported a process of organizational change that was designed to enhance the performance of the ‘focal institutions’ with which the project engaged.  A common framework was used to support this process but the precise nature of the interventions varied according to the needs of the individual focal institutions.  The paper draws together the findings from case studies that were carried out to report on the organizational change process undertaken at three of the focal institutions (see 2. above).  Lessons are drawn on factors favouring or constraining organizational change and recommendations made for future initiatives.  The paper is likely to be of interest to organizations and individuals in the agriculture sector and beyond who are involved in a process of organizational change.