Africa south of the Sahara

WAAPP drives spending growth

Strong investment growth

Donor-led investment growth

Despite decreasing government funding, agricultural research spending in Zambia grew by 70 percent during 2008–2014 as a result of a large influx of funding through a World Bank loan, associated with APPSA, and additional donor contributions. Despite this strong growth, as of 2014 Zambia only invested 0.51 percent of its AgGDP in agricultural research, half the 1 percent minimum recommended by the African Union and the United Nations.

Donor dependency at ZARI

Continuing growth

Agricultural R&D spending continued its growth path during 2011–2014. Total agricultural spending, adjusted for inflation, was three times higher in 2014 than in 2000. This growth was the result of increased government and donor support to NARO combined with the establishment of new universities. Consequently, the country’s 2014 research intensity ratio nearly reached the recommended 1 percent target set by the African Union and the United Nations.

Capacity strengthening at NARO

Severe underinvestment

Volatile research spending

Over time, agricultural research funding in The Gambia has been volatile and highly donordependent. Spending increased from 2010 with the initiation of activities under WAAPP to enhance the country’s research on rice and other cereals. The World Bank loan–funded project focuses on capacity building and technology generation and adoption. Limited growth in the country’s total number of researchers mostly stemmed from increased capacity within the government sector. Capacity in the higher education sector is very small.

Serious underinvestment

Volatility in yearly government and donor funding caused agricultural research spending to fluctuate during 2000–2014 and decline from 2010, despite additional funding from a World Bank loan through EAAPP. Underinvestment in agricultural R&D is serious. As of 2014, funding levels appeared to be rebounding, but Tanzania still only invested 0.29 percent of its AgGDP in agricultural R&D, well below the African Union and the United Nation’s recommended 1 percent target.

Serious capacity constraints

Declining government support

Increased investment

Continuing spending growth

Agricultural R&D spending grew by one-third during 2011–2014. At RAB, growth was driven by increased donor support, whereas at UR-CAVM it was driven by increased human resource capacity. The total number of researchers increased during 2011–2013, but sharply declined in 2014 due to a restructuring of RAB’s researcher classifications: an MSc degree is now the minimum requirement for scientists to qualify as researchers, so most junior researchers were reclassified as research technicians.