Integrated agricultural research for development: lessons learnt and best practices

Abstract

Changing the ways of doing business – business unusual – will require innovative approaches to building the required capacities in integrated Agricultural Research for Development. This paper outlines ICRA’s (International Centre for Development Oriented Research in Agriculture) continuing initiatives to develop, promote and nurture capacities in what ICRA has traditionally called Agricultural Research for Development (ARD) in response to changing demands and expectations placed upon agricultural and rural development professionals and institutions. The generic multi-stakeholder approach to rural innovation that integrates research into the broader development agenda of improved livelihoods, sustainable rural development and reduced poverty encompasses alternative research for development paradigms such as INRM and IAR4D, all aimed at improving the relevance, effectiveness and efficiency of agricultural research for development. The hands-on, pragmatic yet innovative approach to capacity development in ARD is outlined along with the Centre’s current efforts to expand South-South-North partnerships involving educational as well as research and development institutions in response to the increasing demand for capacity development in IAR4D. This is illustrated with an on-going collaborative initiative with NARO and Makerere University in Uganda and efforts to expand the approach to other countries of the region and to build up a sub-regional, network for capacity building in IAR4D, well placed to respond to the needs of such Africa-wide programs as the SSA-Challenge Program are discussed.