Institutional Assessment and Reform of the National Agricultural Research System of Swaziland

Donor: EU, FAO and the Government of Swaziland.

Duration: April 2011- February 2012

Purpose: To generate an array of information, that will sharpen our understanding of the performance and developmental progress of the Swaziland National Agricultural Research System and to recommend best ways to improve its performance. The specific objectives were:

• Review the overall role and appropriateness of the national research system and its research programmes in terms of its relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and impact (DAC criteria), as well as responsiveness to smallholder farmers.
• Undertake institutional and organizational assessment of the research system and its institutions as well as regarding the future structure and governance of the national research system.
• Review and assess the scope and appropriateness of the existing mandate of the Agricultural Research Department, MoA; funding of the national research system over recent years; potentials/options for competitive and performance-based approaches to research grant funding; existing human resource capabilities and define the human capacities needed for a renewed national research system
• Review the need for a national agricultural research policy, taking into account existing national and regional agricultural sector policies and the analysis, direction and proposals contained in the assessment of the national extension system.
• Develop an overall strategic framework and proposal for national research policy, capacity development programme and a framework for investment in the national research and innovation system over the next five years.

Methodology of the Assessment. To understand the role and appropriateness of the National Agricultural Research System, the team (a) reviewed relevant literature (b) identified the institutions making up the NARS (c) and conducted series of consultative meetings, focus group discussions and expert consultations with the management, key staff and stakeholders of the institutions. The review and consultative meetings and discussions focused on (a) institutions and organizations making up NARS; (b) organizational, governance and management arrangements of each; (c) mandate, programme of activities, outputs and impacts of each, (d) funding – source, amount, adequacy for each; (e) HR capacity – quality and quantity and motivation for each, (f) interactions, linkages and coordination among themselves; (g) appropriateness in contributing to national development objectives and priorities, (h) appropriateness in addressing farmers and other beneficiary needs. All these were done in terms of relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability, and impact.

Based on the above, the team identified strengths, weakness and challenges that must be addressed or overcome in order to create an effective research system.

Conclusions and recommendations for reforming the system were drawn and a draft strategy and road map for the creation of the National Agricultural Research Institute of Swaziland, its priority research for development programme and resource envelope and resource mobilization plan and road map for implementation were proposed based.

Full details of the report are contained in Otim-Nape et al, 2011 available with FAO, Mbabane or the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of Swaziland.