Pakistan Strategy Support Program – Third Quarter Report – FY 2015

The program is a flexible country-led and country-wide policy analysis and capacity strengthening program, providing analytical support on economic policies affecting agricultural growth and food security. The core purpose of the program is to contribute to pro-poor economic growth and enhanced food security through strengthened national capacity for designing and implementing evidence-based policy reforms. PSSP's objectives are highly consistent with those of the Vision 2025, which was promulgated by the Planning Commission under the current GOP. PSSP held several meetings with the Planning Commission to work toward supporting the new GOP's strategic priorities. The program's five primary research and capacity building priorities are: agricultural production and productivity, water management and irrigation, macroeconomics, markets, and trade, poverty reduction and job creation, and a Competitive Grants Program. In addition to generating policy-relevant research, PSSP aims to improve policy analysis and advocacy, and build the capacity of researchers in selected GOP and non-government institutions through capacity strengthening, feedback, and outreach, and policy advisory programs. The program is linking Pakistani researchers and institutions through targeted efforts to develop knowledge-sharing networks. Training activities are currently progressing with the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), the Planning Commission, and civil society organizations. PSSP's five primary research and capacity building priorities are being addressed through various activities. The program is conducting research on agricultural production and productivity, water management and irrigation, macroeconomics, markets, and trade, poverty reduction and job creation, and a Competitive Grants Program. PSSP is also building the capacity of researchers in selected GOP and non-government institutions through capacity strengthening, feedback, and outreach, and policy advisory programs. The program's activities during the third quarter of FY 2015 (April-June 2015) are summarized below. The activities are presented in a manner that highlights their contribution to the Development Objective and the three Intermediate Results (IRs) found in PSSP's Activity Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan. The program's research and capacity building priorities are being addressed through various activities, including research on agricultural production and productivity, water management and irrigation, macroeconomics, markets, and trade, poverty reduction and job creation, and a Competitive Grants Program. PSSP's research and capacity building priorities are being addressed through various activities, including research on agricultural production and productivity, water management and irrigation, macroeconomics, markets, and trade, poverty reduction and job creation, and a Competitive Grants Program. The program is also building the capacity of researchers in selected GOP and non-government institutions through capacity strengthening, feedback, and outreach, and policy advisory programs. The program's activities during the third quarter of FY 2015 (April-June 2015) are summarized below.