By Judith Ugwumadu | 25 October 2013
The Department for International Development must ensure the findings from its agricultural research and development programmes get to farmers more quickly, the UK aid watchdog said today.
A review by the Independent Commission for Aid Impact concluded that better collaboration was needed between programmes if they are to help achieve the goal of eliminating hunger and improving nutrition across Asia and Africa.
DFID’s support to agricultural research, published by ICAI today, examined those programmes designed to address the challenge of increasing food and nutrition security.
Although food security and hunger had ‘significantly’ improved under DFID’s watch, it advised the department to create a plan to map out the steps and partnerships needed to reach its goals.
ICAI chief commissioner Graham Ward said: ‘The main challenge DFID faces is to ensure that its research innovations are delivered effectively to farmers in Africa and Asia and taken beyond pilot to scale. As part of this, DFID’s agricultural research and development programmes should collaborate better to accelerate learning and impact.’
The watchdog examined seven projects, including the funding of 15 international agricultural research centres.
It said that, with committed funding of £350m, it would support agricultural research from 2010 to 2015. The activities ranges from advanced science research in UK universities to projects developing and testing innovative ways to get research products such as new seeds or animal vaccines, into use by famers.
John Githongo lead commissioner for the report, added: ‘DFID is supporting important work with the potential to impact positively millions of lives.’
But the programme would have a greater impact on DFID’s overall objectives if it focused more on the needs of poorer farmers, especially women farmers, and poor people in urban areas, who need access to cheap food, Githongo said.
Responding to the findings, a DFID spokesman said: ‘Britain is backing new agricultural technologies and practices which are boosting food production and providing jobs for millions of people across the developing world.
‘This report makes clear that this work is well-managed, transparent and effective.’
However, he said ICAI’s review was limited as it examined just seven projects. ‘It did not fully document our achievements in turning research into real, tangible benefits for farmers.’
ICAI’s overall rating for the programme is green-amber, meaning the projects performed relatively well overall against the watchdog’s criteria for effectiveness and value for money.
