Policy, Innovation Systems and Impact Assessment  (Leader: Aliou Diagne)

Rationale

• The program “Policy innovation systems and impact assessment” under its new structure will deal principally with two major research themes in line with theme 4 and theme 5 of GRISP. Thus, the first will relate to “Extracting more value from rice harvests through improved quality, processing, market systems and new products” while the second theme will involve the “Technology evaluations, targeting and policy options for enhanced impact”.
  The primary recipients of the new program “Policy innovation systems and impact assessment” research outputs are NARES researchers, policy analysts at Government Ministries, policy analysts and advisers in donor countries, and the international development research community. The target beneficiaries include policymakers, producer groups and farmers’ organizations, development partners, rural entrepreneurs, and all rice stakeholders.

Goal

• to enhance income and food security in Africa through sustainable rice sector development engendered by the widespread adoption of rice technologies, improved farming practices, favorable policies, effective institutions and programs

• improve the livelihoods of rural and urban populations through strengthened partnerships, effective learning mechanisms and better functioning rice innovation systems.

Purpose

• generate evidence-based knowledge and information that support the development of demand-driven rice technologies, policies and institutions to improve livelihoods, nutrition and economic development.

• Increase the effectiveness of processes shaping the development and dissemination of sustainable technologies

Outputs

• Partnerships, regional rice development strategy and pro-poor rice policy

• Rice knowledge and decision support tools creation and dissemination to smallholder rice farmers and stakeholders through modern ICT tools

• Profitable, diversified and sustainable rice-based systems to enhance the food security and income of smallholders farmers

• Capacity building of NARS, national agricultural statistics and national policy analysts in evidence-based policy analysis and impact assessment

• Ex-post Impact assessment and strategic planning: Ex-post impact assessment of technological, policy, institutional and social changes in the rice sector and strategic planning of R&D interventions

• Partnerships and networks to promote rice sector development

• Mechanisms for pro-poor seed system development

• Agricultural education tools and learning pathways

• Strategies and tools to strengthen the rice value chain