Education and Research in Agriculture (ERA) Q3 2012 – Quarterly Report (APR-JUN)

The project is part of the Feed the Future program and aims to strengthen agricultural education, training, and research institutions (AETR) in Senegal. The project has three main components: Agricultural Education, Applied Research and Outreach, and Project Management and Policy Support. The Agricultural Education component focuses on strengthening AETR institutions to produce high-performing and market-oriented graduates. The component has achieved several results, including the development of a comprehensive 31-day study tour for 22 participants from AETR partners and the private sector to the United States and East Africa. The study tour allowed participants to learn from ongoing research and collaboration interventions led by Virginia Tech, Tuskegee University, the University of Nairobi, and Makerere University. Through the study tour, participants gained field-level experience in areas such as university-led partnerships with smallholder farmers, private sector involvement in value chain and seed management practices, and novel approaches to ensure students graduate with the skills necessary for their local market or to engage in commercial enterprises. As a result of the learning gained during the study tour, participants are now developing several new project ideas that will be applied in Senegal to improve food security goals. The Applied Research and Outreach component focuses on strengthening AETR institutions to promote innovative research solutions to public and private clients. The component has achieved several results, including the development of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between USAID/ERA and the University of Connecticut to collaborate on research and outreach activities. The MOU aims to strengthen the capacity of AETR institutions to conduct research and provide outreach services to clients in farming communities and the private sector. The Project Management and Policy Support component focuses on strengthening the management and administrative system of target AETR institutions. The component has achieved several results, including the development of a Performance Monitoring Plan (PMP) to track progress towards project objectives. The PMP aims to ensure that project activities are aligned with project objectives and that progress is regularly monitored and evaluated. The USAID/ERA project has also achieved several cross-cutting results, including the development of a database on agricultural sector human resources and the recruitment of a Grant Officer to support project activities. The project has also implemented several activities to promote gender and equity in agriculture, including the development of a gender and equity strategy and the implementation of training programs for AETR staff on gender and equity issues. Overall, the USAID/ERA project in Senegal has made significant progress towards its capacity-building goals, including the strengthening of AETR institutions, the promotion of innovative research solutions, and the strengthening of project management and policy support. The project has also achieved several cross-cutting results, including the promotion of gender and equity in agriculture. The project has also identified several lessons learned, including the importance of building strong partnerships with AETR institutions and the private sector, the need for ongoing training and capacity-building for AETR staff, and the importance of monitoring and evaluating project progress regularly. The project has also identified several constraints, including limited resources and capacity, and the need for ongoing support from USAID and other stakeholders. The project has planned several activities for the next quarter, including the organization of restitution workshops to prioritize and fine-tune new project ideas developed by participants in the AKIS study tour, the development of a gender and equity strategy, and the implementation of training programs for AETR staff on gender and equity issues. The project will also continue to monitor and evaluate progress towards project objectives and will make adjustments as necessary to ensure that the project remains on track to achieve its capacity-building goals.