RESEARCH PROGRAM
Eight Programmes which form the basis of the COARAF/WECARD Operantional Plan have been identified through priorities delineated for the sub-region in the IFPRI study and the twelve month consultative process. They have been selected against key criteria which considered, size, resources needs and availability, technical coherence and the requirement of keeping programme numbers as small as possible. As the Operational Plan is implemented, the numbers and nature of the Programmes will be reviewed and their performance evaluated to determine whether or not they are appropriate. The new programmes [January 2008] fall into three broad categories:
Technical research – using an integrated approach based on systems and commodities, but employing new holistic and participatory methodologies:
1. Livestock, Fisheries and Aquaculture
2. Staple Crops
3. Non-Staple Crops
4. Natural Resource Management
5. Biotechnology and Bio-safety
6. Policy, Markets, Trade
7. Knowledge management
8. Capacity strengthening and co-ordination
Each of the Programmes delivers a set of Results which are sub-sets of those under the Operational Plan. This nesting means that all Programmes make some contribution through their projects, to each of the overall Result areas for sub-regional agricultural research under CORAF/WECARD. This is explained in Box 3 and illustrated further in Figure 7 below, which uses as an example two hypothetical projects which might be implemented under the Staple Crops Programme.