English

Strong donor dependency

Agricultural research in Mali is among the most donordependent in Africa. Strong reliance on short-term projects funded by donors and development banks, combined with modest levels of public funding, have driven significant fluctuations in agricultural research spending over time. Events like the 2012 military coup and unrest in the country’s north—which prompted a temporary freeze on aid—highlight the country’s vulnerability to funding shocks and, hence, its need to diversify its sources of agricultural research funding.

Inflation-driven spending decline

Since 2012, Malawi’s agricultural research spending has fallen substantially in inflation-adjusted terms in response to slowing economic growth, caused by a currency devaluation and a suspension of donor aid over corruption allegations. The country’s agricultural research intensity ratio declined as well; in 2014 agricultural research spending as a share of agricultural GDP was 0.53%, its lowest level since 2008.

Funding constraints at DARS

Declining research spending

Slower overall growth

Spending growth

Growth in agricultural research spending during 2000–2011 mostly stemmed from increased capacity at Ghana’s universities, whereas growth during 2011–2014 primarily resulted from salary increases at CSIR to institute parity with the higher education sector. Despite the increased spending, total agricultural researcher numbers actually contracted slightly during 2011–2014, mainly among researchers with BSc and MSc degrees.

Donor-driven research agenda

Positive signs of growth

Strong government support combined with a World Bank loan, associated with EAAPP, prompted agricultural research spending to rise by one-quarter during 2011–2014 (in inflation adjusted terms). Ethiopia’s pool of agricultural researchers expanded considerably; by about 900 FTE researchers during 2011–2014. This growth occurred evenly across EIAR, RARIs and higher education agencies.

Persistent underinvestment

Increased capacity

Declining spending

Economic constraints caused by declining global oil prices have had a negative impact on agricultural research spending in Congo in recent years. Between 2008 and 2014, spending declined by 28 percent, reversing the previously positive trend. In 2014, the country invested just 0.44 percent of its AgGDP in agricultural research, which is well below the minimum target of 1 percent recommended by the African Union and United Nations.

Institutional consolidation

Funding fluctuations

Government funding to public institutes, including agricultural research agencies, is heavily dependent on the country’s oil revenues, which fell sharply between 2012 and 2014. During that time, Chad’s agricultural research expenditures contracted by about 25 percent. In order to mitigate future funding shocks, it is important that research agencies continue to diversify their funding base, in particular by generating income internally through the sale of goods and services.

Serious underinvestment

Low research spending

Although agricultural research spending in Cameroon rose by 10 percent between 2012 and 2014 due to increased funding from the government and other organizations, the country’s agricultural research spending as a share of AgGDP (at 0.34 percent in 2014) remains well below the minimum 1 percent target recommended by the African Union and United Nations. Greater investment is needed, particularly in training, baseline surveys, databases, laboratory equipment, and infrastructure.

Capacity challenges