9.1 Background
9.2 Training and Training Materials
9.3 Collaborative Research Networks Current strategy
9.4 Information Services
9.5 Publications Group
9.6 Overall Assessment of SPAN
ILRI's activities in training, information systems and networking are grouped in the programme directorate SPAN (Strengthening partnerships with NARS). The objectives of this programme are to strengthen the research capacity of those components of national agricultural research systems that seek to improve the productivity of livestock and crop-livestock systems and to provide mechanisms and systems to allow ILRI to function as a knowledge broker for livestock research and development. The programme has four units (Training and Training Materials, Information Services, Publications group, and Collaborative Research Networks).
Many NARS in developing countries, especially in Africa, are fairly young and still struggling to develop the human resources required to carry out research in agriculture. This is particularly true in livestock research, which, in comparison with crop research, has generally not received major attention from national programmes. The sustainability of national agricultural research systems is, in addition, threatened by an increasing dependence on external donor funding for their operations. The African situation has been singled out by the recent CGIAR Systems Review as needing particular attention.
Considering the above circumstances, ILRI has resolved to maintain a high profile (relative to sister CGIAR Centres) to its training, information and networking operations.
Current Strategy
The objective of the Training and Training Materials Unit is to develop regional and national capacities based on the needs of the NARS through technical and higher degree training of scientists. The Institute offers group training (for scientists and technicians) and individual training (student attachments, fellowships for students and scientists).
Primarily as a result of cuts in unrestricted funds, emphasis in the group training area has, over the past two years, been shifted from open training interventions to targeted programme and project-based training. To ensure relevance and effectiveness of training programmes, the research networks are used in sub-Saharan Africa to identify needs and priorities for group training activities. ILRI undertakes a post-training follow-up of trainees 6 and 12 months after training.
Development of training material resources is another major activity of the training unit These materials are used for group training and self-study programmes by NARS. The training unit designs and develops the materials in close collaboration with the scientists, who are responsible for the technical content
Achievements
From 1995 to 1998, a total of 269 scientists were trained in different technical areas of livestock research:
- 114 scientists through group training activities
- 85 through student attachments from training institutions
- 8 through attachments and fellowships of NARS scientists.
- 62 through graduate students and post-doctoral fellowships
From 1995 the ILRI postdoctoral programme ceased to be a training function, and is managed by the research programmes.
Group training activities covered the following topics:
|
|
Technical area |
Number of participants |
|
|
Females |
Males |
||
|
1. |
Animal genetics |
3 |
9 |
|
2 |
Biometrics Application and in crop-livestock systems |
19 (no information on gender) |
|
|
3. |
Data analysis and scientific writing/presentation |
- |
15 |
|
4. |
Germplasm health and management |
4 |
10 |
|
5. |
Agricultural information management |
8 |
20 |
|
6. |
Ruminant nutrition and Feeding Systems |
5 |
21 |
Most of the scientists in-group training activities were from Africa and Asia In contrast, graduate student attachments have benefited both developing and developed country nationals. Developed country nationals were mainly associated with collaborative projects funded by their countries. Two follow-up studies of ILRI training programmes were carried out in 1998; these were for the graduate fellows' programme and Small Ruminant Research Network training.
Three training manuals have been developed (Small Ruminant Production; Improvement of Livestock for Traction, Milk and Meat and; Nutrition of Ruminant Livestock). Supporting audio-visual materials have been produced on the diseases of small ruminants, the diagnosis of heat and pregnancy in cattle, and feed resources for ruminant livestock. Training materials on scientific writing were also developed. A project with the Swedish University of Agricultural Science to develop university-training resources on conservation and utilisation of animal genetic resources will start in 1999. These computer-based materials will be distributed to universities in developing countries, for training/teaching in conservation of animal genetic resources.
As a principal actor (and co-ordinator in 1998/99) in the IARC-NARS Training Group for sub-Saharan Africa, the Institute maintains the training database for all CGIAR centres active in SSA.
ILRI's Director General has, in late 1998, taken an active role within the Centre Directors Committee and with external partners, to build support and co-ordinate efforts in the preparation of the African Capacity Building Initiative (ACBI) suggested by the CGIAR System Review.
Assessment
As a legacy from its predecessor institutions, ILRI has a long-standing record of training, which has contributed significantly to human resources development in African NARS. Between the three institutions, a total of 3168 scientists have been trained. There is a high level of recognition among NARS of the Institute's training programmes. A majority of the NARS see training as one of the major contributions of ILRI in building the capacity of their organizations.
The decision of the Institute to focus on targeted training and to closely link its training efforts to the needs of its research partnership with NARS is a strategic one and should be maintained even if more resources should become available through the ACBI or any other programme.
Networking was adopted by ILRI as a mechanism to increase collaboration with and among NARS research scientists, by creating a critical mass of scientists and establishing common priorities for livestock research. While ILRI uses networking as a principal strategy for strengthening NARS in SSA and has established three networks for this purpose, the emphasis for ASIA and LAC is to work through multi-partner projects involving NARS and other institutions and where necessary, use existing networks. The objective of each network is to strengthen research and development, training and information exchange for improved and sustainable animal production. Support for network activities is through special donor funded projects. Network activities include identification of regional research priorities, implementation of research activities, training and sharing of information through publication of research results and scientific meetings.
The role of ILRI in the networks is as follows:
· ILRI is the implementing agency for the networks· ILRI and the network steering committee work together to secure project funds for the network operation
· Each network coordinator is jointly identified by the steering committee and ILRI, and then employed by ILRI, using network project funds
· ILRI works to build linkages between its own research agenda and portfolio of projects and those of the networks.
In general, ILRI's input in the networks focuses on mobilisation and management of resources, co-ordination of activities, providing technical backstopping and training, (please refer to Box 9.1).
Achievements
Currently there are three networks in SSA based on sub-regional associations; SADC, ASARECA and CORAF. The networks, established in the past 1½ years, but as yet not fully funded, replaced the former three disciplinary-based networks, which are currently being phased out. Formal agreements have been signed between ILRI and each of the networks.
· The networks have been able to strengthen linkages between livestock research scientists in SSA.· The networks have so far been successful in mobilising financial support for agreed activities.
· Networks have generated scientific information that complements national research programmes.
· Participation of the networks in characterisation and evaluation of forage germplasm from the ILRI genebank, has led to the adoption of some of the forages by farmers in several countries.
· Work on characterisation of small ruminant genetic resources in East and Southern Africa is in progress as an agreed activity in the network. This work is expected to contribute significantly to information and knowledge on sheep and goats.
· Through the networks, ILRI has conducted several training activities on different aspects of livestock production related to network activities and training manuals have been developed.
Assessment
ILRI argues that the deficiency of technical and scientific skills continues to be a major factor influencing performance of the NARS, and that constraints in availability of resources for technical operations have limited the NARS ability to carry out research. The Institute has therefore resolved to put substantial effort in the resolution of these constraints. This is done through network related NRS staff training and through efforts to secure donor funding for network activities. Research grants amounting to US$ 500,000 have supported network activities in participating countries during the period 1996-1998. The current structure of the networks, based on the regional NARS associations, is expected to offer enhanced possibilities to attract donor funding as they meet the current demands by donors for increased regional collaboration and ecoregional emphasis.
While the Panel commends the achievements of the networks in enhancing regional collaboration among NARS scientists and in providing necessary backstopping to these activities, it is concerned about the apparent loose linkage between ILRI's research portfolio and the one of the networks. The Panel urges ILRI to ensure that its involvement should only occur if the Institute's core research ties in with the research agreed in the network. The Panel is aware of ILRI's attempts to achieve this (e.g. by suggesting ILRI scientists as members of the network steering bodies; by appointing a task force, composed of ILRI scientists, to advise on ILRI's involvement in networks). The Panel believes that these are valuable instruments to achieve such closer links; it believes, however, that this objective would be much more easily achieved if the network co-ordinators reported to ILRI's Research Department
Box 9.1 ILRI and the Networks
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NARS - ILRI Collaborative Research Networks: a brief review. Evolution of the networks. The International Livestock Centre for Africa adopted networking as a mechanism to increase collaboration with and among NARS researchers in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to address constraints to improving sustainable productivity of livestock in mixed crop-livestock farming systems. Networking would avoid duplication of research, create a critical mass of national scientists, and establish shared regional agendas of research priorities. Between 1989 and 1991 NARS and ILRI created three pan-African disciplinary networks: African Feed Resources Network, Cattle Research Network, and Small Ruminant Research Network. An external review considered the achievements of three networks in 1994. The review coincided with plans to establish ILRI and, more particularly, with initiatives from the Special Programme for African Agricultural research (SPAAR), NARS and donors to establish sub-regional organizations (SROs) for promoting agricultural research in SSA. The external review concluded that the networks had been successful in building capacity and collaborative research but less so for technology transfer. The panel also recommended that the network members respond to the emergence of the new SROs. There are now three multi-disciplinary networks, each aligned to one of the SROs: ASARECA, CORAF and SACCAR.. The networks are associated with ILRI, but are owned by the NARS and SRO. The objective of the ASARECA, CORAF and SACCAR Networks. The overall objective of each network is to strengthen research and development, training and information exchange for improved and sustainable market-oriented animal production. Governance of the networks. Each network has a steering committee, comprising one representative from each country of the SRO, from ILRI, and the donor community. The network co-ordinator is an ex-officio member. The steering committee reports to the Committee of Directors (CD) of the SRO, which is the overall governing body of the SRO, responsible for approving regional priorities and programmes for research and technology development. Using the priorities agreed by the CD, the steering committee agrees network projects and activities. The role of ILRI in the networks. · ILRI is the implementing agency for each of the networks. · ILRI and the steering committee work together to secure project funds for the complete network operation, including administration and management of network activities. · Each network coordinator is jointly identified by the steering committee and ILRI, and then employed by ILRI, using, network project funds. The work plan of each coordinator is set by the steering committee. · ILRI works to build linkages between its own research agenda and portfolio of projects and those of the networks. ILRI Networking within sub-Saharan Africa and in other regions. The NARS in SSA include a wide spectrum of large and small institutions, with diverse skills and capacity. However, in comparison to other regions of the world NARS in SSA remain relatively weak. The recent CGIAR System Review has recognised this. Even for those NARS with strong capacity for crop research, the capacity for animal agriculture, and especially for crop-livestock systems research, is weak. There is no other animal agriculture networks operating in SSA. For these reasons, ILRI continues to give priority to the implementation of animal agriculture networks in SSA. There are existing animal agriculture networks in other regions of the world, or networks that can easily include livestock. ILRI will not duplicate existing activities. ILRI's chosen method of operation in Asia and LAC is through multi-partner projects with NARS and other institutions. These projects include many of the general objectives of networking. Consequently ILRI sees no need at the present to establish new animal agriculture networks. |
ILRI inherited two libraries from ILCA and ILRAD. The libraries have continued to provide information services for NARS and other related organizations. In 1997, ILRI developed a strategy to reposition the Institute to meet its global information mandate. The strategy, which is forward-looking and pragmatic, was reviewed and endorsed by a CCER in 1997. ILRI is currently in the process of implementing the strategy and significant progress has been made with respect to the (electronic) integration of the Addis Ababa and Nairobi libraries, and with the production of CD-ROMs of ILRI literature.
Within the parameters of the strategy, the Institute plans to devolve some aspects of the dissemination of information to sub-regional centres and national organizations to both transfer the responsibility for these services for NARS scientists to NARS information systems and to free up ILRI resources for other information services. Work is also in progress with regard to the development of knowledge products using new information technology tools. Plans are under way, in partnership with FAO, to develop an Internet-based platform for worldwide information on research and development in animal agriculture.
Assessment
The information service provided by ILRI is much appreciated by the NARS and other users; ILRI is certainly the core world knowledge source on African animal agriculture research. The needs of the NARS for these services in developing countries will continue to grow as funding for library facilities in roost of the national research organizations has dwindled to an almost non-existent state. ILRI's broadened mandate and constituency also adds to its responsibility in this area. The plans to reposition the information services to meet this demand are commendable. The financial requirements for implementing the technical aspects of the strategy are relatively moderate. The efficiency gains are thus expected to be large.
The Publications group based in the Addis Ababa campus performs a service function to the Institute by providing translations, editing, type setting and production services (both conventional and electronic). Translation services are available for English and French. The group is responsible for publishing Annual Reports, newsletters, technical publications and training materials. A database of ILRI publications, based on records of the unit, is maintained by the Information Services. ILRI publications are distributed to 865 and 253 libraries in developing and developed countries, respectively.
Assessment
The Publications group together with Information Service maintains linkages with NARS and other partners and also plays a major role in ILRI's outreach efforts.
ILRI maintains a printing press in the Addis Ababa campus. However, the volume of printing work generated internally is not sufficient to fully utilise the capacity of the press. The group has been very enterprising in selling its services to relevant institutions on a cost-recovery basis. Such 'commercialisation' of ILRI's services in the open market needs to be addressed very carefully, given the legal status of the Institute as a non profit organization. With the proposed increase in the use of electronic services and technologies, internal requirements are likely to decrease further. The Panel believes that there are considerable opportunities for efficiency gains for the Institute in this area
ILRI has maintained a high profile to its activities directed towards strengthening the technical and scientific capacity of NARS through training at various levels. This-contribution is widely acknowledged in the African livestock research community, which so far has been the main target of these efforts. Similarly, ILRI's livestock information services are very much appreciated, and the Panel highly commends ILRI for these achievements.
While ILRI's new information strategy convincingly and strategically positions the Institute in the context of its global livestock research mandate, its policies with regard to the networks lack the same strategic rigour. The Panel suggests that ILRI programmes/projects together with regional priorities should provide the basis for collaborative activities with the networks.
The recommendation in Chapter 5, with regard to the integration of ILRI's Training and Information Services and of its networking and general institutional partnership development in the Research Department, is designed to drive these activities and services more explicitly by the research needs of the Institute.
The Panel believes that there is a very urgent need to emphasise, in the context of the global mandate of the institute, the design of appropriate policies for the building of research partnerships across the entire spectrum from governmental research organizations, to the private sector and non-governmental research institutions.
The Panel strongly urges the Institute to address apparent redundancies between its Publications group and the Public Awareness Activities in the office of External Relations.
