Implementation and Coordination of Agricultural Research and Training (ICART)

ICART is a five-year regional project, funded under the 9th European Development Funds (9th EDF), implemented by the SADC Secretariat, within the Agricultural Research and Development Unit of the FANR Directorate. The project runs from January 2006 to December 2010 and is valued at Euro 15 million.

The regional research programme of actions will enable NARS in the 14 SADC countries to enhance their national efforts in order to improve incomes of small-scale farmers, processors, traders and other beneficiaries while maintaining the natural resource base. By addressing common regional researchable constraints and opportunities in agriculture, the programme will also improve the capacity of NARS to manage regional initiatives, thereby making a major contribution to the long-term sustainability of regional research as well making important inputs to the SADC rural development sector.

As listed in the Financing Agreement,  signed in November 2003, there are 6 Result areas as follows:

1. SADC has the regional capacity to coordinate agricultural research and training
2. Research Networks are established in accordance with the research priorities for the SADC region
3. The Competitive Fund System (CFS) has improved performance of  the regional agricultural research and training programme
4. Competitively funded research projects provide results and outputs to meet rural development needs
5. A regional information system is operating
6. The scholarship fund has strengthened the regional training capacity

ICART Project support ranges from strengthening capacity for appropriate technology generation to empowerment of researchers and development practitioners to organize into knowledge sharing networks. The NARS which involve public sector agricultural research and training institutions particularly the public research and extension departments, faculties and colleges of agriculture and related disciplines, private sector research and technology generation companies, professional agriculture-related organizations, civil society and other players are supported through in-country and cross-border activities. The project comprises four distinct components across which activities are planned.

1. Institutional support to the SADC Secretariat to enhance regional capacity to coordinate agricultural research and training:
Support is extended to the Research and Development Unit of FANR in the form of Technical Assistance staff and funding for regional consultative processes to enhance regional capacity to coordinate agricultural research and training, specifically to: (i) promote regional integration of agricultural research activities by developing a strong articulation between the different levels of research implementation (national, sub-regional and regional) and; (ii) play a role as the Sub-Regional Organisation (SRO) member of the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) to coordinate the Agricultural Research and training in the SADC region. The project supports an annual meeting of Directors of Research and Extension, Deans of Faculties of Agriculture and related disciplines and other technical meetings, and a stakeholders meeting every 2 years. The Project also supports FANR in developing Monitoring and Evaluation tools and methods that (i) promote accountability for resource use and the achievement of interventions through the assessment of results, effectiveness, processes and performance of the various project components; (ii) document, provide feedback on and disseminate lessons learnt among the various project components; and, (iii) provide a basis for decision-making on strategies, project management and to improve knowledge and performance.

2. Strengthening of research networks:
 Support is extended to FANR to define, identify and fund networking activities. This is meant to facilitate the re-invigoration of existing and emergence of new regional networks in the process. A Situation Analysis, through a series of meetings and in-country workshops, would provide essential information on individuals and key institutions in agricultural research and training in the SADC region, partly as a starting point for networking. This way the project would promote regional synergy and set the basis for establishing comprehensive regional information-sharing networks. In tandem with the Situation Analysis, a Network Strategy would be developed to provide guidelines on the strengthening of research networks, and perhaps stimulate the establishment of others around particular themes.

3. Implementation of regional research and training projects through a mechanism of Competitive Grant Funds:
These Competitive Grant System (CGS) has been established to improve the performance of agricultural research interventions in the SADC region. The CGS is aimed at helping the region to redirect technology development on emerging priority areas linked to national policies and client-identified constraints; promote NARS reform by requiring competition; promote demand-driven research; foster partnerships through joint proposal preparation with stakeholders and; improve quality of proposals and promote innovation. Grants are provided on a competitive basis to researchers to work together within the context of partnering institutions. Two competitive grants: the Competitive Regional Agricultural Research Fund (CRARF) and the Regional Training Programme (RTP) fund are supported. CRARF funded projects are selected on basis of targeting: reducing poverty by making agriculture more competitive to raise poor farmers’ incomes; offsetting the high rate of natural resource degradation with a focus on soil, water and biodiversity; and developing effective policy options, institutional and farmers’ organizations to support agricultural production and link farmers to product markets. The RTP supports post-graduate training at the Masters Degree level and short-term technical training.

4. Information Communication and Training:
Support in this area includes the establishment of a sub-regional interactive information system and a sub-regional newsletter, and the development of electronic information sources, databases and an operational website. Capacity building in communication, information and knowledge management are also given attention.