Addressing the research–development disconnect: lessons from East and Central African Highlands

Abstract

A growing concern about the limited impact of agricultural research and development on natural-resources management (NRM) and livelihoods in the highlands of East and Central Africa led to the establishment in 1995 of the African Highlands Initiative, with a mandate to develop methodologies for integrated NRM and institutionalise them in partner organisations. Emerging lessons show that a combination of innovative approaches is necessary for enhanced uptake of NRM practices. These approaches include working with strategic partners and multi-disciplinary teams; involving multiple stakeholders; adopting appropriate entry points based on farmers' priorities; and use of linked technologies with complementary and synergetic effects.

Remédier à la fracture entre les recherches et le développement : enseignements des zones montagneuses d'Afrique de l'Est et centrale

L'inquiétude croissante suscitée par l'impact limité de la recherche et du développement agricoles sur la gestion des ressources naturelles (GRN) et les moyens de subsistance dans les zones montagneuses de l'Afrique de l'Est et centrale a abouti à l'établissement en 1995 de l'initiative Gestion des ressources des hautes terres en Afrique avec le mandat de mettre au point des méthodologies pour la GRN intégrée et de les institutionnaliser sous la forme d'organisations partenaires. Les enseignements émergents montrent qu'il est nécessaire de suivre des approches innovantes pour améliorer l'adoption des pratiques de GRN. Parmi ces approches figurent le travail avec des partenaires stratégiques et des équipes pluridisciplinaires ; la participation de parties prenantes multiples ; l'adoption de points d'entrée appropriés basés sur les priorités des agriculteurs; et l'utilisation de technologies associées avec des effets complémentaires et synergétiques.

Abordando a desconexão entre pesquisa–desenvolvimento: lições da região leste e central das Terras Altas Africanas

Uma preocupação crescente relativa ao impacto limitado da pesquisa agrícola e desenvolvimento sobre a gestão de recursos naturais (NRM) e meios de subsistência nas terras altas da região leste e central da África levou à criação em 1995 da Iniciativa das Terras Altas Africana com um mandato para desenvolver metodologias para a NRM integrada e institucionalizá-las em organizações parceiras. Lições que estão surgindo mostram que uma combinação de abordagens inovadoras é necessária para um maior entendimento das práticas de NRM. Essas abordagens incluem o trabalho com parceiros estratégicos e equipes multidisciplinares; o envolvimento de múltiplos stakeholders; a adoção de pontos de entrada apropriados com base nas prioridades dos produtores rurais; e o uso de tecnologias interligadas com efeitos complementares e sinergéticos.

Resolviendo la contradicción entre investigación y desarrollo: lecciones del Altiplano Oriental y Central de África

La Iniciativa del Altiplano Africano surgió en 1995 como una reacción ante el poco impacto de la investigación y el desarrollo agrícola en la administración de los recursos naturales (ARN) y los medios de vida en África Oriental y Central. Su mandato consistía en elaborar metodologías para la integración e institucionalización de la ARN en las actividades de las contrapartes. Las lecciones iniciales demuestran que una cultura de ARN puede llevarse a la práctica más fácilmente combinando diversos métodos innovadores. Ejemplos de esos métodos son el trabajo con contrapartes estratégicas y con equipos multidisciplinarios; la participación de distintos actores; la elección apropiada de puntos de inicio dependiendo de las prioridades de los campesinos; y el uso de tecnologías que produzcan efectos complementarios y sinérgicos.

Keywords:

• Labour and livelihoods
• Methods
• Technologies
• sub-Saharan Africa

Notes

AHI is an eco-regional programme of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, hosted by the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF). Until September 2007 it was also a network of the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in East and Central Africa (ASARECA).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jeremias Mowo

Jeremias Mowo is the Regional Representative for ICRAF Eastern Africa Programme and Regional Co-ordinator for the African Highlands Initiative (AHI), having studied Soil Science at Wageningen University. He has wide experience in integrated natural-resource management research for development.

Chris Opondo

Chris Opondo is a doctoral student at Wageningen University with a master's degree in Anthropology and Sociology from Nairobi University. He has conducted postgraduate studies in rural policy, project planning, monitoring, and evaluation at the Institute of Social Studies, The Netherlands. <[email protected]>

Adolf Nyaki

Adolf Nyaki, Director of Mlingano Agricultural Research Institute in Tanga, studied Soil Chemistry and Fertility at Manitoba University. He has worked for more than 32 years in various aspects of natural-resource management. <[email protected]>

Zenebe Adimassu

Zenebe Adimassu is a Senior Researcher with the Ethiopia Institute of Agricultural Research, and a doctoral student at Wageningen University, where he already holds a master's degree in Erosion and Soil and Water Conservation. <[email protected]>