Strengthening agricultural research in Africa : some neglected issues

African policymakers have not accorded priority to research, many programs are insufficiently focused, rational priority-setting systems are often lacking, and research resources are allocated inefficiently. Donor involvement has been heavy but largely ineffective because projects have been too narrowly focused, too short, uncoordinated, and overly demanding on national management resources. This article identifies several requirements for improved systems: (1) commitment to agricultural research at the highest policymaking level; (2) setting of clear research priorities; (3) external assistance based on a system-wide perspective, with a stronger focus on training and infrastructure, and a targeting of technical assistance to meet both recipient country needs and donor country expertise; (4) opportunities for small countries to borrow relevant research from larger systems; and (5) training of researchers to think in terms of systems rather than discipline. (Author abstract, modified)