Impact assessment of IFPRI’s capacity-strengthening work, 1985–2010


Book Description

Strengthening national capacities for undertaking, communicating, and using evidence-based food policy analysis has long been one of the International Food Policy Research Institute’s (IFPRI’s) major objectives. To that end, IFPRI has engaged in different kinds of capacity strengthening that include formal training, (policy) networks, country strategic policy support, research collaboration with individuals and organizations, institutional development, support to university degree programs, visiting fellows, and training of postdoctoral fellows.




IFPRI country programs: Lessons from case study successes


Book Description

This study was undertaken as part of a larger learning exercise to assess the outcomes and impacts of the International Food Policy Research Institute’s country programs. It reports on in-depth probing of selected successful research contributions to policy outcomes in order to determine if there are any common approaches and actions taken by country program leaders that helped to foster the successes. The selection of case studies was not comprehensive— there were many more identified by country program leaders—nor random, because we desired to have samples from all the countries with country programs. A semi-structured interview approach was followed by the authors and guided by a list of questions (found in Appendix B). The results showed that important factors making successful contributions to policy were building high credibility with local policy makers and donors, having direct access to senior policy makers, partnering with the right people, conducting research on issues over the longer term and not just responding to crises, organizing conferences and meetings around research evidence, and strengthening national capacity for policy research.




Capacity Needs Assessment of CIFOR, ICRAF and their partners for the implementation of the CGIAR Research Program on Forestry, Trees and Agroforestry (FTA)


Book Description

The CGIAR Research Program on Forests, Trees and Agroforestry (FTA), led by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), focuses on the sustainable management of forests, trees and agroforestry systems. Strengthening the capacity of forestry, trees and agroforestry research, policy and implementing institutions and their staff is critical to FTA’s mission and is embedded in its work. Capacity development is a long-term process whereby individuals, organizations and their networks improve their systems, resources, skills and knowledge. This becomes reflected in their capacity to perform functions and solve problems to better address national and sub-national development objectives. Capacity development enables research and development organizations, individuals, and their networks to achieve impact.This capacity needs assessment was conducted in 2018 to identify the capacity needs of World Agroforestry (ICRAF) and CIFOR to achieve the research objectives and targets specified in the FTA II proposal 2017–2021, including the amended FP2 proposal. The capacity needs assessment focused on four key areas for analysis: partnerships, networking, resource mobilization and human resource capacities. The analysis and recommendations contained within this document result from data collated from more than 70 interviews conducted with flagship and cluster leaders and key actors within the FTA II management teams and partner organizations.




Taking stock


Book Description

Marking IFPRI’s 40th year, this report draws on external sources of evidence to review the Institute’s policy influence and impact to date and provides recommendations to improve. The external evidence includes citations data, external program and management reviews commissioned by CGIAR, and a series of independently conducted impact assessment studies of many of IFPRI’s research programs and projects between 1995 and 2015. The report also reviews recommendations as to how IFPRI might improve its impact.




Balancing international public goods and accountability


Book Description

The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) has undertaken research programs on agricultural STI policy since 1995. This study assesses the impact of this body of research outputs and support services in terms of three complementary analyses: (1) an evaluation of the potential impact of the complete body of research using implicit or explicit impact pathways, (2) two case studies that assess the actual impact of particular research outputs, and (3) a more traditional bibliometric analysis. Movement along the impact pathway, in turn, requires different types of research products—evolving from problem framing to methodology development, then to case studies, and finally to context-specific policy recommendations—all within the logical stages of the impact pathway. How far IFPRI operates along this impact pathway produces a basic tension between the CGIAR’s mandate to produce international public goods (IPGs) and the increasing focus on accountability through impact in the use of international public funds.




Capacity Development Plan of Action 2020-2021


Book Description

The Forest, Trees and Agroforestry (FTA) Capacity Development (CapDev) Plan of Action for 2020/2022 specifies a set of objectives and activities that are aligned to CIFOR, ICRAF, Bioversity International and FTA’s CapDev strategies. It benefits from the analyses of the CGIAR–IEA CapDev evaluation findings and recommendations; CIFOR and CGIAR System Management Board’s responses to the same; a capacity needs assessment of CIFOR, ICRAF and their partners for the implementation of the CGIAR Research Program on Forestry, Trees and Agroforestry (FTA) Phase II, 2017–2021; lessons learned during the implementation of IFPRI’s Capacity Strengthening 1985–2010; ICRAF’s Capacity Development Strategy 2013–2018; Bioversity International’s Gender Research Fellowship Programme and Forest Genetic Resources Training Guide; and a literature review. It is a living document and will change to reflect changes in strategies of FTA Centers and the CGIAR.




Assessing Low-Carbon Development in Nigeria


Book Description

The Federal Government of Nigeria has adopted an ambitious strategy to make Nigeria the world’s 20th largest economy by 2020. This book analyzes options for Nigeria to achieve these development objectives and pursue low-carbon development in the sectors agriculture and land use, oil and gas, power, and transport.







World Water and Food to 2025


Book Description

A thirsty world; Alternative futures for water; Consequences of key policy changes; Implications for the future.




Shock Waves


Book Description

Ending poverty and stabilizing climate change will be two unprecedented global achievements and two major steps toward sustainable development. But the two objectives cannot be considered in isolation: they need to be jointly tackled through an integrated strategy. This report brings together those two objectives and explores how they can more easily be achieved if considered together. It examines the potential impact of climate change and climate policies on poverty reduction. It also provides guidance on how to create a “win-win†? situation so that climate change policies contribute to poverty reduction and poverty-reduction policies contribute to climate change mitigation and resilience building. The key finding of the report is that climate change represents a significant obstacle to the sustained eradication of poverty, but future impacts on poverty are determined by policy choices: rapid, inclusive, and climate-informed development can prevent most short-term impacts whereas immediate pro-poor, emissions-reduction policies can drastically limit long-term ones.