Encouragement of effective research and development partnerships through a process of competitive funding in Nepal

Abstract

The provision of research and development funds on a competitive basis can be used to lever change and paradigm shifts in organizational behavior. The establishment of such a fund in Nepal followed four years of a project-based demonstration. Criteria for the awarding of grants have been tailored to encourage multiple-stakeholder applications to address the demand-driven requirements of the rural poor, who are the main clients for the fund. Key criteria include multi-disciplinary and participatory methodologies, client demand, poverty and gender focus, sustainability, upscaling and environmental issues. Examples of successful partnerships in completed and currently funded projects are given. These cover crops and livestock based activities and include partnerships between public sector research and NGOs, public sector research with communities and NGOs, and public sector research and extension with farmers’ groups.