East and Southern Africa root crops research network (ESARRN)

The evaluation covered the period FY87-12/88. Despite a slow start-up due to protracted negotiations for securing approval to locate in Lilongwe, the project is being well implemented by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. Significant progress has been made in training, genetic material distribution, and strengthening of national programs, and it is expected that outputs can be achieved by the PACD. The project"s co-funded collaborative network approach is a cost-effective means of in-service training and of fostering cross-border cooperation between national research programs. Some activity levels have changed from the original proposal, but this was expected since regional networks must be responsive to the different initiatives and resource levels of their collaborators. On the negative side, baseline data were inadequate for making a quantitative assessment of project accomplishments; research-extension linkages are weak; and available improved genetic material is not being adqeuately tested and distributed to all member countries. Further, insufficient national-level research funding is a major constraint on the project. Several lessons were learned. It is imperative that adequate, reliable baseline data be collected prior to embarking on a major research effort. The absence of this data inhibits meaningful evaluation efforts and impairs the ability of donors, host countries, and researchers to make informed judgments during project implementation. Regional networks that cut across national and linguistic barriers are an effective means of fostering collaboration and cooperation among national programs. However, a regional approach can only be effective if there is commitment at the national level to fully participate in the network. Furthermore, national governments must demonstrate commitment by allocating sufficient resources to develop and maintain national research programs. Twenty recommendations are listed.