FEED THE FUTURE NIGERIA AGRICULTURAL POLICY PROJECT. Year 4 Qr and Annual

The project, which began on July 1, 2015, and is set to conclude on June 30, 2020, is implemented by Michigan State University (MSU) in partnership with the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD). The project's geographic coverage spans eight states in Nigeria, including Kebbi, Niger, Kaduna, Benue, Ebonyi, Cross River, Delta, Oyo, and Abuja (FCT). The project's primary objective is to strengthen the capacity of Nigeria's agricultural policy framework to address the country's food security challenges. To achieve this goal, the project focuses on three key components: (1) enhancing national agriculture and food security policy capacity, (2) policy-driven collaborative research and analysis, and (3) strengthening evidence-based policy process and promoting impact. During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018/19 (July-September 2019), the project made significant progress in various areas. In Component 1, the project conducted training courses for government officials and stakeholders on agricultural policy analysis and development. The scholars' program, which aims to build the capacity of Nigerian scholars in agricultural policy research, also made progress, with several scholars completing their research projects. In Component 2, the project conducted policy-driven collaborative research and analysis on various topics, including agricultural productivity, market access, and food security. The research findings were disseminated through various channels, including policy briefs, research reports, and stakeholder meetings. In Component 3, the project strengthened the evidence-based policy process by providing technical assistance to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) on policy development and implementation. The project also promoted impact by supporting the development of agricultural policies and programs that address the country's food security challenges. The project's monitoring and evaluation (M&E) plan was also updated during the fourth quarter, with the project team conducting regular monitoring and evaluation activities to track progress against project indicators. The project's management and administrative issues were also addressed, with the project team ensuring that all project activities were implemented in accordance with the project's work plan and budget. The project's progress report highlights several lessons learned, including the importance of building strong partnerships with government agencies and stakeholders, and the need for sustained support for agricultural policy research and analysis. The report also identifies areas where the project needs to improve, including the need for more effective communication and dissemination of research findings to stakeholders. The project's success stories are documented in Annex G of the report, which highlights several examples of how the project has made a positive impact on agricultural policy and food security in Nigeria. The report also includes annexes on various project indicators, including the number of research reports published, the number of participants attending project-organized research and policy events, and the number of individuals who have received USG-supported short-term agricultural sector productivity or food security training. Overall, the Feed the Future Nigeria Agricultural Policy Project has made significant progress in enhancing national agriculture and food security policy capacity in Nigeria. The project's focus on building strong partnerships, conducting policy-driven research and analysis, and promoting evidence-based policy process has contributed to the development of more effective agricultural policies and programs that address the country's food security challenges.