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Volatile spending growth

Namibia’s agricultural research spending was volatile during 2001–2014, mostly due to fluctuations in the government’s contributions to DARD, the country’s main agricultural research agency. In 2014, Namibia invested about 3 percent of its AgGDP in agricultural research, which is not uncommon for arid countries with small populations. After a short period of decline in the early 2000s, the country’s total number of agricultural researchers rose steadily, mostly in response to growth at the Fisheries Department and at UNAM-FANR.

Spending and capacity increase

Constant spending levels

Agricultural research in Mauritius is mostly funded by the government, supplemented by limited donor and specific project funding, and revenues from the sale of goods and services. Government funding primarily covers salaries and day-to-day operations. Total agricultural research spending (adjusted for inflation) has fluctuated somewhat over time but remained fairly stagnant during 2000–2014. The country’s intensity ratio is high, reflecting the dominance of sugar research.

Capacity concerns

Spending volatility

Compared with many other countries in West Africa, crop and livestock research play a relatively minor role in Mauritania given its arid climate. IMROP, which focuses on fisheries research, accounted for the bulk of the country’s agricultural research spending in 2014. IMROP’s funding, which has fluctuated considerably over time due to the expiration and renewal of various fisheries treaties with the European Union, was the main driver of significant longterm volatility in the country’s total agricultural research investment.

Strong donor dependency

Agricultural research in Mali is among the most donordependent in Africa. Strong reliance on short-term projects funded by donors and development banks, combined with modest levels of public funding, have driven significant fluctuations in agricultural research spending over time. Events like the 2012 military coup and unrest in the country’s north—which prompted a temporary freeze on aid—highlight the country’s vulnerability to funding shocks and, hence, its need to diversify its sources of agricultural research funding.

Inflation-driven spending decline

Since 2012, Malawi’s agricultural research spending has fallen substantially in inflation-adjusted terms in response to slowing economic growth, caused by a currency devaluation and a suspension of donor aid over corruption allegations. The country’s agricultural research intensity ratio declined as well; in 2014 agricultural research spending as a share of agricultural GDP was 0.53%, its lowest level since 2008.

Funding constraints at DARS

Declining research spending

Slower overall growth

Spending growth

Growth in agricultural research spending during 2000–2011 mostly stemmed from increased capacity at Ghana’s universities, whereas growth during 2011–2014 primarily resulted from salary increases at CSIR to institute parity with the higher education sector. Despite the increased spending, total agricultural researcher numbers actually contracted slightly during 2011–2014, mainly among researchers with BSc and MSc degrees.

Donor-driven research agenda

Positive signs of growth

Strong government support combined with a World Bank loan, associated with EAAPP, prompted agricultural research spending to rise by one-quarter during 2011–2014 (in inflation adjusted terms). Ethiopia’s pool of agricultural researchers expanded considerably; by about 900 FTE researchers during 2011–2014. This growth occurred evenly across EIAR, RARIs and higher education agencies.

Persistent underinvestment