cgiar priority-setting-guidelines-part 2

Priority setting in agricultural research

Guidelines for defining a problem-based, impact driven research agenda

OutlineIntroductionOverview of priority setting methodsApplication of priority setting methods in the CGIARTowards a framework for priority setting Structure of regional priority setting – some basic

stepsSupporting the agenda to make the process workLinking regional priorities to global prioritiesResearch planning, priority setting, budgeting cycleConclusionsReferences

Introduction♦ Changing demands on agricultural

research and growing scarcity of research resources

♦ Research priorities – consistent with♣ scientific potential♣ clients needs♣ national priorities♣ broader policy context

Simple, transparent procedures lacking

Overview of priority setting methods♦ Formal or informal priority setting

exercises♣ set research agenda♣ guide allocation of research resources♣ improve quality and efficiency of research

♦ Research priorities set across♣ commodities, regions, disciplines,

technology types, research problems

♣ different levels – national, institute, research program, project

Supply driven and demand driven approaches

Supply driven and demand driven approaches

♦ Precedence♦ Congruence♦ Scoring♦ Benefit-cost♦ Economic surplus

♦ Participatory

Approaches♦ Precedence

♣ level of funding in the previous year as a basis for the following years allocation of resources

♦ Congruence♣ rank alternative research themes or areas

on the basis of a single measure

♦ Scoring♣ rank alternative research programs,

themes, or project according to multiple criteria

(Contd…)

Approaches

♦ Benefit-cost♣ This model uses efficiency as the main

criteria for ranking alternative research themes (generation and adoption of technologies, annual benefits and costs, NPV, IRR)

♦ Economic surplus♣ enhancement of benefit-cost; price

responses to increased productivity induced by investment in research and technical change

Application of priority setting methods in the CGIAR

Center: ILRI

Level Purpose/Objective

PS Method Used

Criteria Outcome

Program Strategy Review

Integration of scoring, economic surplus, and benefit cost

Economic impact, poverty alleviation, environmental impact, international public good, and capacity building

A Ranking of 26 research themes


Center: ICRAF

InstituteResource allocation to regions


PS Method Used

Criteria Outcome

Medium Term Plans

Congruency Population, extent of poverty, severity of environmental problem

Regions Medium Term Plans

Consultative for a; modified delphi, and scoring

Regional dimensions, food security, conservation, adoption and income generation

Resource allocation to research themes within three research programmes


Center: IRRI


PS Method Used

Criteria Outcome

InstituteMTP Congrue

ncyBenefits of research, usefulness in increasing basic knowledge, institutional viability and capacity, probability of success

Resource allocation by rice ecosystems

Eco-system

MTP Expert judgement

Current and anticipated knowledge and capacity; strengthening NARS; building on past achievements

Resource allocation by programs

ProgramMTP Benefit

cost analysis

Efficiency, probability of success, international public good, alternative suppliers of research, maintaining IRRI’s niche, IRRI’s capacity

Resource allocation by projects


Center: IITA

Level

Program

Purpose/Objective

PS Method Used

Criteria Outcome

Annual Plan

Scoring Six research demand criteria and seven research supply criteria

Ranking of research themes within projects


Center: CIMMYT

Level

Program Ranking of research themes by ecological and geographical regions

Purpose/Objective

PS Method Used

Criteria Outcome

Congruency (a combined index of three criteria)

Efficiency, share of global poor, extent of subsistence cultivation


Center: CIFOR

Listing of 9 centre projects and associated resource allocations

Level

Program

Purpose/Objective

PS Method Used

Criteria Outcome

Strategic review of mission and objectives

Consultation and peer review

Policy focus, partnership research, inter-disciplinarity


Center: ICRISAT

Ranking of 32 Centre Projects (all falling in 10 Centre Outputs)

Level

Program

Purpose/Objective

PS Method Used

Criteria Outcome

Aligning centre objectives (MTP) with the new CGIAR paradigm

Scoring Researchability, alternative suppliers, comparative advantage, impact potential and practicality

Towards a framework for priority setting

1. GLOBAL - As the most urgent problem that must be resolved or the most promising opportunities that may be pursued to support the development of the agricultural sector.

2. REGIONAL - As the agenda of most important research strategies which will contribute to regional development.

3. As a series of prioritized research projects that contain clear estimates of resource requirements, identification of partners, and translation of the research strategy into concrete projects with outputs, purpose etc.

Structure of regional priority setting – some basic steps

1. Initiate regional planning 2. Develop bottom-up regional priority setting3. Development of an information database – idea generation4. Based on understanding of poverty, the vision for agricultural

research in the regions and ideas for research, regional research teams need to identify opportunities for regional research

5. Set regional priorities6. Elaborate research ideas into research strategy, define key

pillars of the strategy7. Translate research priorities into planning and resource

allocation decisions8. Reflect critically to improve action

Supporting the agenda to make the process work

Sources of fundingSupport regional representatives and regional/global teams to implement the regional /global agenda

Linking regional priorities to global priorities

Logframe

Research planning, priority setting and budgeting cycle

1. Develop a regional/global information database2. Generate ideas for regional/global research3. Present regional /global research issues4. Review regional/global research issues based

on outcome of mid-year review5. Set regional/global research priorities6. Translate research priorities into budgets7. Develop consolidated regional/global research

budget8. Regional/Global review9. Present regional priorities/regional projects for

global consolidation

Conclusions

Combining bottom-up demand driven approaches with top down supply driven approaches for priority settingFramework for integrating global, regional priority setting and budget processClarify linkages between research planning, priority setting and resource allocationProblem-based, impact driven research agenda

References

Alston, J., G. Norton and P. Pardey, (1995), Science under Scarcity: Principles and Practices for Agricultural Research Evaluation and Priority Setting. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press

Janssen, W., A. Kassam and A. de Janvry (2001), “A Regional Approach to Setting Research Priorities and Implementation: Towards Satisfying National, Regional and International Concerns?” TAC Secretariat.