Pre-GFAR 2003 CSO Workshop

Background and Rationale

In recent years, national governments have reduced their investment and activities in the agricultural and public sectors. This has paved the way for an enhanced and more extensive civil society involvement in activities previously carried out by these sectors, such as delivering social services, promoting grassroots development, and preventing environmental degradation. It has also resulted in an upsurge in establishment of CSOs, associations and federations with an increased capacity to engage people at the grassroots level. They are intricately involved in the production of public goods and services at the national, regional and global levels.

CSOs play a fundamental role in natural resource management by supporting local innovation, agricultural extension and development, education, and providing health services. They are also increasingly building networks and consortia around thematic and/or geographic interests to increase their impact through the exchange of ideas and information as well as in mobilizing grassroots support.

In the context of research priority-setting, the involvement of farmers and NGOs must be facilitated to ensure that the research agenda is responsive to the needs of the community. This calls for a more proactive CSO involvement in identifying approaches and models for specific development activities, drawing on their close knowledge of local communities and their needs. It is essential to provide opportunities to support citizen participation in advancing research-extension linkages.

It is thus important to ensure that civil society actors participate effectively in ARD at the national and inter-regional levels to ensure that their involvement is widespread and taken into consideration by decision-making bodies at these levels. This was one of the basic purposes for which the GFAR was established in 1996.

GFAR: Facilitating the Participation of NGOs and FOs in ARD

GFAR provides a common meeting place in which all stakeholder constituencies in ARD can participate and bring together their comparative advantages in the research and development process. As such, one of the mandates given to GFAR is precisely to facilitate the strengthening of stakeholder constituencies to ensure equal participation and involvement in various opportunities in ARD. The first GFAR external review conducted in 2000 highlighted the importance of this function:

"A key responsibility of the GFAR Secretariat is to assist stakeholders to further develop their constituencies. This is especially true for Farmers' Organizations, in view of their relative lack of a strong voice in agricultural research decision-making, and the need to redress this to make research much more demand-led, and also for NGOs in view of their large numbers and varied scope and goals."

(Kesseba, A., T. Dottridge and J. Russell. 2000. First GFAR External Review. GFAR, Rome)

The GFAR external review recommended that both these stakeholder constituencies continue to receive special assistance so as to strengthen their representation in GFAR. With support, FOs and NGOs can be better involved in national agricultural research. This clearly contributes to facilitating the transitions from National Agricultural Research Institutes (NARIs) to National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS), i.e. from state-led national agricultural research institutions to more open research systems where other stakeholders such as extension services, NGOs and FOs are involved.

The GFAR Secretariat has been working in close collaboration with CSOs in order to develop strategies to strengthen their capacity as effective stakeholders in ARD as well as representational mechanisms in decision-making bodies of ARD at the national, regional and global levels.

Pursuing these objectives improves the ability of NGOs and FOs to contribute to setting national and regional agendas. It will enable them to: (1) make their voices heard; (2) stimulate dialogue and reflection amongst themselves and with other stakeholders; (3) give them opportunities to determine roles and responsibilities; and (4) increase their capacity to propose and launch their own initiatives.

Objectives and Expected Outputs

The Pre-GFAR 2003 CSO Workshop was designed to provide an opportunity for CSOs to meet, discuss and exchange information on important developments in ARD. The workshop served as a means to further the shared goals of: (1) supporting CSO capacity-building; (2) improving communication within and among themselves; (3) enabling them to foster the development of their own mandates and strategic agendas; and (4) enabling them to determine mechanisms for better CSO representation in various governance and decision-making bodies at all levels.

More specifically, NGOs and FOs were given the opportunity to further refine their vision of ARD as distinct groups. NGOs and farmers were asked to reflect upon their distinct roles and responsibilities as well as the present mechanisms for representation. They were also asked to identify relevant ARD issues to be addressed at the conference by other stakeholder groups.

The expected outputs were: (1) an NGO and an FO vision statement of ARD and strategies to attain their vision; (2) articulation of the mandate of NGOs and FOs; (3) proposed mechanisms for better CSO representation; and (4) prioritization of critical ARD issues for more focused attention by GFAR.

Workshop Process

The workshop was formally opened by GFAR Executive Secretary, Olanrewaju Smith, who gave an overview of GFAR, its history and structure. It was followed by statements from Chebet Maikut from the International Federation of Agricultural Producers (IFAP) and Mariam Jorjadze from the (ELKANA - Biological Farming Association, FO and NGO representatives to GFAR Steering Committee, respectively. Samuel Bruce-Oliver and Oliver Oliveros from the GFAR Secretariat presented overviews of (1) the GFAR 2003 conference; and (2) the workshop, outlining the objectives and expected outputs.

The workshop was attended by 33 NGO and 15 FO participants from 37 countries representing all regions. The overall format of the two-day workshop was that of an initial presentation from NGOs and from FOs followed by a plenary discussion, followed by working group sessions, and then finally presentations of the conclusions and a discussion of the results in plenary. The first of two plenary sessions focused on issues and challenges to CSO engagement in ARD and the second on articulating an NGO and FO vision and identifying strategies to attain this vision.

In the first plenary session, presentations were made by Clive Lightfoot of the International Farming Systems Association (IFSA) as well as by Patrick Mulvany and Monica Kapiriri of the CGIAR NGO Committee and Aga Khan Foundation, respectively. It was followed by a 30-minute open forum to set the tone of discussion around issues related to consolidating the CSO constituencies. Participants then grouped themselves by region to deepen discussion and to share their experiences on CSO engagement in the ARD process in their region, guided by a set of questions proposed by IFSA.

In the morning of the second day brief statements were made on behalf of farmers and NGOs by David King (IFAP) and Fred Kafeero (Environmental Alert) respectively, on elements that should be considered in the subsequent deliberations in separate stakeholder groups on: (1) their vision statement; (2) factors influencing CSO engagement in ARD and proposed strategies to address challenges related to their engagement in the ARD process; and (3) mechanisms for CSO representation in various governance and decision/policy-making bodies.

Workshop Results and Outcomes

Experiences in Building Up the CSO Constituency at the Regional Level

In the afternoon of the first day, participants grouped themselves by region to discuss and share their experience in building up the CSO constituency within their respective regions. The discussion was guided by a set of questions from the presentation made IFSA. They shared experiences and discussed issues related to four main themes: (1) CSO engagement with research and extension services at the local level; (2) CSO engagement with agricultural research policy fora; (3) organizing the CSO constituency; and (4) facilitating communication among CSOs.

Asia-Pacific

Amidst increasing poverty and degradation of the environment in the region, there needs to be a research agenda that provides a stronger focus on poverty reduction and household food security; emphasizes biodiversity, ecological protection, natural resource management; addresses issues related to management of commons and the growing concern over conflicts over resources. This agenda presupposes a paradigm shift in which research should be undertaken. The shift calls for participatory action research, promotes blending of holistic with technical perspectives (e.g., integration of social with technical science). Of equal importance is to subject research into field relevance, recognizing that research should be a medium of empowerment and mediation.

There is a need to better organize the Asian CSO constituency in order to improve representation in various decision-making bodies and fora. In past decades, there has been an upsurge in the number of NGOs and this has led to competition amongst themselves (e.g. in mobilizing resources).It also makes consensus building more difficult among CSOs due to diversity of perspectives and interests. This necessitates the importance of improving the skills of CSOs in this respect. Additionally, it is sometimes difficult to identify which NGOs are truly representative and which are merely working for their own interest, thus the need to implement measures to ensure accountability.

Another important step to facilitate and systematize CSO engagement in policy dialogues is to conduct an inventory of initiatives and mechanisms involving CSOs in the region in order to have a clear picture of CSO activities, thematic focus and geographic coverage. It is strategically expedient to identify and build upon existing CSO networks in order to tap into the progress already made.

However, some NGOs and farmers groups are reluctant to collaborate with other stakeholders and there appears to be a mutual hesitancy to share openly. CSOs should recognize the varying viewpoints from other stakeholders, be more open to multiple channels, and forge partnerships that are more inclusive, notwithstanding differences in opinion and preferences. There is a need to break through these barriers and build bridges, formally and informally, among various development actors and maintain policy discussion platforms among stakeholders.

It is likewise important to reinforce grassroots-based activities that focus on addressing human behaviours to bring about lasting change, move beyond polemical discussions, and work towards improving the livelihood of small farmers as agriculture is dependent on their own survival.

Some of the concerns expressed by participants from the Asia-Pacific region are:

• governmental policies that impact on farmers' rights and interests
• creation of an enabling environment that will promote innovations as well as linkages between on-farm research and extension processes
• opening up of research institutes to involve non-traditional researchers such as extension workers, the private sector, farmers and NGOs
• promotion of the participatory research processes and its integration into the education system
• dissemination of successful practices and scaling-up of successful approaches
• research on natural resource management
• research on research approaches
• need for land reforms and tenurial security.

Central Asia and the Caucasus

The Central Asia and the Caucasus (CAC) region has traditionally been agriculture-based, with agricultural research conducted in a highly centralized, isolated manner, characterized by a high degree of specialization. With the majority of the population in rural areas, the agriculture sector remains the main source for employment.

The post-Soviet transition presented many challenges for the agriculture sector. Today, advancement of this sector is hampered by continuing deterioration of the natural environment as a result of ineffective and inappropriate use, slow reform in the agrarian sector and the influx of imported goods in the domestic market. Infrastructures are collapsing, thus forcing scientists and researchers to migrate to other countries. The agricultural knowledge in this region is under serious threat of loss. As well, there is a lack of coherent and systematic planning and management of agricultural systems. This is aggravated by lack of experience, expertise and knowledge of recent advances in agriculture. The tendency for people to be dependent on humanitarian aid is a self-perpetuating cycle of poverty that has a foothold in this region.

The current situation in the region has paved the way for the emergence of a strong NGO sector. NGOs are presently working towards creation of local fora and in assisting small farmers who constitute the majority of the rural labor force. However, there is a lack of coordination among NGOs in the region.

Some of the concerns expressed by participants from the CAC region are:

• capacity-building activities
• among all actors at all levels in the region
• creation of farmers' unions/associations
• empowerment of small farmers
• effective agricultural extension services
• improvement of communications technology and networking.

Latin America and the Caribbean

Presently the relationships between CSOs and both researchers and policy-makers are rather weak. Many research centres do not value the input of NGOs and farmers and often offer only a perfunctory endorsement of their views on research activities. One suggested strategy to increase farmer legitimacy in the eyes of research centres is to improve the quality of development proposals by farmers.

In the past, research demand has mainly been driven by market demands, which is not necessarily in the best interest of farmers. While the demands of the market are important, issues related to poverty, environment, food sovereignty and sustainability must be factored in. Above all, the impetus for agricultural research activities needs to originate from farmers themselves using a bottom-up process.

A historically weak political lobby has limited the control that farmers have in directing the course of ARD. In order to strengthen the influence of CSOs they need to first build stronger relationships between farmers and NGOs with better-articulated roles and responsibilities. The mobilization of public support will also assist in advancing the vision and agenda of farmers.

Farmers and NGOs are complementary stakeholders, but are nonetheless distinct groups in terms of their roles and responsibilities, composition and structure, agendas and mandates. Furthermore, the great diversity of agendas and players within each group also needs to be acknowledged, validated and incorporated in the overall vision and mandate of both farmers and NGOs.

Strengthening the capacity of NGOs and especially of farmers to engage in policy debates, including political lobbying, as well as mobilizing public support are critical in advancing the vision and agenda of farmers in ARD.

Some of the concerns expressed by participants from the Latin American and the Caribbean (LAC) region are:

• capacity-building of farmers, especially in the areas of training, organizational management, and information and technology
• strengthening of the political lobby
• integrating research, extension and farmers
• development of agricultural services for small producers
• micro-credit programs for farmers
• better representation of farmers in decision-making bodies at all levels.

Sub-Saharan Africa

In the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region, a number of national and regional NGOs and FOs exist; some are commodity-based while others are umbrella organizations whose membership goes beyond national borders. Generally, there are more active networks established in eastern, central and southern Africa, e.g. PELUM (Participatory Ecological Land-Use Management) Association. In West and Central Africa, the West and Central African Network of CSOs for the Promotion of Participatory Agricultural Research (WECANPAR) was formed in October 2002 to serve as a platform for discussion among CSOs in the sub-region. However, there is limited cooperation and communication among them.

Likewise, CSO engagement in various policy fora is not systematic and is often achieved only by invitation from fora or workshop organizers. This obviously has implications in terms of legitimacy and ownership of CSO participation in determining ARD agenda, focus and scope. It is thus important to boost networking among existing organizations in the region to enhance awareness of each other's activities. This is deemed particularly useful in forging collaboration and building synergy, which naturally contributes to realizing a shared vision on ARD.

Notwithstanding efforts aimed at linking CSOs involved in ARD in the region, a truly multistakeholder African forum/platform is lacking as no effective dialogue among African NGOs and FOs is taking place to date. Such a platform can serve as an interface not only between NGOs and FOs but also with other stakeholders in the (sub-)region. There is also a need to work towards enhancing existing FOs and NGOs and promoting the involvement of all stakeholders in priority-setting, decision-making and planning of research and technology activities.

Improved communication and capacity-building activities among CSOs is key in order to maximize the potential human resources and expertise available in the region. Building a strong alliance focused on common ground rather than areas of divergence is the way to move forward.

Some of the concerns expressed by participants from the SSA region are:

• enhancement of existing effective CSOs rather than creation of new bodies
• legitimacy and ownership of organizations
• promotion of CSO involvement in priority-setting, planning and decision-making
• construction of alliances among CSOs based on commonalities
• dissemination of success stories to farmers.

West Asia and North Africa

In the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region, NGO and FO representation in institutions involved in ARD at the country level is insufficient. Encouragingly, in the last decade governments in such countries as Libya, Tunisia and Morocco have started to recognize the importance of engaging CSOs in the formulation and implementation of agricultural policies. However, CSO engagement in ARD has yet to be fully adopted as public funds are not sufficient to allow a more engaging process between governments and CSOs.

While public research is working towards addressing national agricultural concerns, it does not always respond to the priority needs of the farmers. Sufficient funding for research and the dissemination of research results need to be greatly improved. NGOs are also hindered by minimal resources to carry out their activities and maintain their core staff.

Given the above situation, CSOs are calling on their respective governments to put in place mechanisms to improve CSO representation in various decision-making bodies in ARD to a significant level. There is a recognized need to lobby for increased public expenditure in ARD. To be able to do this, farmers and NGOs will first have to: (1) organize themselves as a constituency group in a transparent manner and should carry out their activities in accordance with their respective national laws; (2) coordinate their activities with other ARD stakeholders to maximize resources for greater impact; and (3) build their capacity in the areas of negotiation, communication and leadership capacities, to enable them to establish partnerships with various actors in ARD.

The need for FOs and NGOs to be open and engage in a fruitful dialogue with governments and other actors and build mutual trust and confidence is important in fostering partnerships. FOs and NGOs should coordinate their efforts with governments and local development councils to voice complaints and recommendations regarding research and extension. Toward this end, interactive meetings, workshops and joint learning activities should be organized for the stakeholders to learn from each other, share experiences and discuss priority ARD issues in a participatory manner. The importance of a bottom-up participatory process is critical for the identification of research priorities.

Some of the concerns expressed by participants from the WANA region are:

• capacity-building activities, including enhancing negotiation, communication and leadership skills
• promotion of contract research
• mobilizing researchers and encouraging them to meet farmers' needs
• strengthening the FO constituency and addressing the issue of their representation and involvement in scientific research
• private sector involvement in agricultural research and extension
• improvement of information and communications technology
• facilitating involvement and training of students in agriculture as well as fostering linkages with researchers, extension workers and teachers.

Farmers' Organizations Report

Farmers' Vision of Agricultural Research for Development

The vision of farmers for ARD is to create a world free from hunger, a world free from poverty and a world where natural resources are managed in a sustainable way. This is a vision that requires a public policy approach and cannot be determined only by the free play of market forces.

Farmers have a central role in realizing the objective of food security, poverty elimination and sustainable management of natural resources, and are indeed motivated to meet these challenges.

Factors Influencing FO Engagement in Agricultural Research for Development

• Structure

Farmers need to be considered as equal partners in the development process, along with governments, NGOs, the private sector and other civil society partners. At present, however, farmers are unequal partners. Millions of farmers throughout the world do not have a voice in decisions that affect their lives, including those decisions in the area of ARD.

Therefore, a key demand of the farmers' groups is that farmers be represented in the decision-making bodies that establish priorities for agricultural research. Farmers should be represented in the governing structures of agricultural research centres, networks and platforms at all levels - community level, national centres, regional and sub-regional networks, IARCs and the international centres of the CGIAR.

It is crucial that farmer representation be done through FOs for legitimacy of the input of farmers. Farmer representatives must be credible and accountable to the people they represent.

The involvement of farmers in setting research priorities is important to ensure a demand-driven agenda for agricultural research, and to avoid farmers simply validating the agenda of researchers. Involvement of farmers is also important to balance the influence of multinational companies who may direct the research agenda in their own commercial interests.

• Partnership

Effective participation of farmers in research institutions, platforms and networks requires that farmers be organized. It is therefore essential to establish partnerships to build the capacity of FOs. Farmers must be able to express their needs effectively and to do so they must have analytical capacity and leadership skills. If farmers do not have the capacity to contribute in a significant way to research priority-setting, implementation and monitoring, then it is only false participation.

NGOs are valued partners in the capacity-building of FOs. However, in order to secure the sustainability of partnerships, the role and mission of each partner must be defined clearly. The role of FOs is to represent the views of their members on policy issues. The role of their NGO partners is one of facilitation and advice. On policy questions the farmers must speak for themselves.

A principal need of farmers is to link extension services to research. In many countries, governments are no longer providing adequate extension services to farmers and it is becoming the role of FOs to take over these responsibilities for their members. Partnerships are required for the development of such extension services, including farmer field schools, research-user platforms and public/private research centres.

GFAR is a strategic platform where farmers can coordinate with research institutions and other stakeholders at all levels in order to share knowledge, information and new technologies. Farmers should seek ways to actively engage with GFAR in order to benefit from its comparative advantage.

The media should also be embraced as a partner for FOs, communicating views and information from farmers to other groups as well as to the general public. Television, radio and print provide an easy, cost-effective method for promoting and sharing the view of farmers to other stakeholders in ARD and the larger community as a whole.

Government is an essential partner for farmers in the area of agricultural research. Public funding of research is essential to ensure that knowledge remains within the public domain. Farmers are disappointed with the decline in public funding for research, and call on GFAR to join them in advocating the reversal of this decline.

Governments also provide an enabling environment or policy framework within which agricultural research and development takes place. For farmers, it is critical that government policy be coherent, stable and facilitate the development of agriculture in the areas of taxation, land or credit policy, among others. For example, technology will not reach the farmer without credit for technology transfer. However, funding of FOs must be channeled directly to the target group. When channeled through national governments, much of the funding does not actually reach the intended recipients, the farmers.

At the international level, trade policy is important for the development of agriculture in a global and more liberal market environment. Developing countries should be able to protect their agriculture against the dumping of subsidized farm products in their countries and from other negative effects of liberalization that disrupt their local markets.

• Types of research

Since small-scale farmers make up the vast majority of farmers in the world, agricultural research and development must focus on their needs. Research should seek to improve the livelihoods of farmers and be adapted to their needs. It should build on local knowledge, and add value to local resources. Farmers are innovators, researchers develop new tools. We need to bring the two closer together.

Research programs should be conceived with a long-term perspective of at least ten years. Furthermore, these research programs should be linked to the vision of the type of agriculture society wants to promote, i.e. what type of research for what type of agriculture?

Strategies to Attain Vision on Agricultural Research for Development: Recommendations for GFAR Business Plan 2004-2006

Farmers consider the following priorities critical to the attainment of the vision and addressing the challenges in ARD. They are based on a demand-driven agenda centred on the needs of small farmers. At GFAR 2003 the FO constituency requested that these priorities be included in the GFAR Business Plan 2004-2006. Broadly, they fall into five categories: advocacy and representation, capacity-building, information dissemination, sub-regional activities, and new research areas.

GFAR should actively promote farmer representation in policy-making bodies related to agricultural research, and in the governance structures of national agricultural research institutes, sub-regional and regional networks, and the individual centres of the CGIAR system. To ensure accountability, these representatives should be named by national FOs and international networks. The establishment of a farmers' desk in agricultural research centres and research networks at all levels would provide farmers with a direct entry point into research bodies by which they may address their concerns. The decline in public funding for ARD is another serious concern of farmers and GFAR should advocate a reversal in this decline. GFAR should also lobby all national governments to ratify the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, which grants farmers' rights, benefit-sharing and protection of indigenous knowledge.

Capacity-building is among the activities that GFAR should feature predominantly in the GFAR Business Plan 2004–2006. The four areas on which GFAR should concentrate on are: (1) leadership training; (2) advocacy and policy representation; (3) information and communications technology (ICT); and (4) extension services including farmer field schools, research centres funded through public/private partnerships, and research-user platforms.

Another aspect that GFAR should focus more attention on is facilitating effective dissemination of information to FOs, including information on developments in modern biotechnologies. This is crucial for farmers to be well informed on the latest developments in ARD and will aid in the networking of FOs.

At the sub-regional level, the next GFAR business plan should include an increased coordination of the activities of national research institutes in addition to exchange visits and study tours for farmers so that they may share best practices.

Three specific new and emerging research areas should receive special attention by GFAR: (1) agriculture and energy; (2) evaluation of the impact of globalization on the livelihoods of small farmers in developing countries; and (3) study of the cost to developing countries of meeting health, sanitary, phytosanitary and traceability requirements for exports of food and farm products to the markets of developed countries.

To facilitate the implementation of these strategies, regional focal points were nominated at the workshop (Box 1). These focal points are expected to play the role of intermediary between GFAR and farmers in their respective regions as well as promote dialogue on issues related to ARD.

Non-governmental Organization Report

NGO Vision of Agricultural Research for Development

The vision of the NGOs is a future ARD led by small-scale farmers and characterized by (1) a strong focus on household food security and poverty reduction; (2) conservation of biodiversity; (3) sustainable natural resources management; (4) reduced/prevented conflicts over resources; (5) effective and inclusive partnerships; (6)enhanced democratization with particular attention to social and gender equity and empowerment; and (7) enhanced good governance.

The focus on small farms and small-farmer households must remain at the core of the NGO strategy. Any future impact on household food security in rural areas is going to come primarily by bringing about small increases across larger numbers of farmers.

In articulating the vision, the following elements must be considered: (1) significant visibility of the central role of farmers and their influence on ARD which also allows for mutual learning with multistakeholder groups; (2) an ARD that builds on a shared vision by all stakeholders and on existing practices and knowledge; (3) an ARD that stimulates innovation by farmers and natural resource users, and which integrates local and outside knowledge through research-extension-farmer partnerships; and (4) an agriculture that builds better and stronger mechanisms for multistakeholder partnerships in decision-making on the research agenda.

The definition of small-scale farmers includes crop and mixed farmers, livestock keepers, fisher folk and forest communities. At the same time the multifunctional nature of farming - in terms of ecosystems, production and social services - is recognized.

Factors Influencing NGO Engagement in Agricultural Research for Development

• Structure

While NGOs are recognized as important stakeholders in agriculture, criteria still need to be developed to ensure legitimacy, transparency and accountability. Representation of NGOs in governing bodies must be increased while feedback mechanisms need to be put in place to ensure effectiveness of representation.

Existing NGO structures should be examined, and in some cases restructured, in a democratic and participatory manner created and recognized by NGOs themselves. Mechanisms for genuine partnerships in decision-making and sharing of information must be built into governance structures.

The identified strategies for improving the legitimacy of the NGO voice are: (1) involvement in GFAR, CGIAR, etc; (2) seek out and incorporate the mandate of civil/social movements; (3) coordinate with NGOs engaging with United Nations processes at the regional level; and (4) foster the development of democratic NGO networks in ARD at all levels.

The NGO constituency as a whole needs to mobilize itself, particularly at the national level, as well as increase links with other actors and social movements for advocacy. Successful local initiatives must be scaled up and advocated to research institutions to serve as a model for new projects, partnerships or innovations.

The direction of ARD must be driven by the demands of the small-scale farmer, while steps should be taken to ensure inclusiveness, particularly of women, the poor and minority groups. Additionally, it is essential to ensure participation of researchers, extension workers and farmers in a multistakeholder collaboration process, especially at the grassroots level. The end result of this collaboration is that national agricultural research systems will become fully functional systems inclusive of all stakeholders.

• Partners

Farmers are at the core of research; nevertheless, farmers cannot work in isolation and partnerships and collaboration among agricultural stakeholders are crucial for a coherent and holistic path towards participatory ARD that is relevant to all those affected. Partnerships can be formed from local to global levels and take many forms. Regardless of the level or form, they must be based on reciprocity and equal interaction by all parties, and be built on mutual trust and learning, as well as on a common vision and methods for working towards that vision. Due consideration of the local situation is vital for forging new and effective partnerships.

There is a need to review and rethink implementation strategies; across the world, civil society is moving away from technology-based, technician-based and centre-based strategies towards farmer-led and people-centred approaches. New opportunities have become available in those countries where local governments have been empowered and where devolution has taken place. The space and potential for partnerships have expanded but such work is not necessarily the easier path, although it is probably the most cost-effective approach to achieve wide impact.

An enabling environment must be fostered that allows for and stimulates innovation by farmers and active multistakeholder learning of farmers' good practices. This environment includes supportive policies, social recognition and capacity-building.

There exists a wide range of players with which NGOs can forge partnerships, some of whom are already formal stakeholders of GFAR. Identified partners include: facilitating agencies, donors, FOs, research institutes, training and education institutions, governments (federal and local), the private sector, media, intergovernmental agencies, consumers, community-based organizations, networks of NGOs and farmers, etc.

• Types of research

The challenge of alleviating poverty requires a rethinking of the very role of research itself since many of the conventional approaches will no longer hold. The lack of access to productive assets severely limits choices and decisions about the farmers' lands, crops and livelihoods. Amidst the growing resource conflicts, agricultural research must now confront and address serious policy questions related to resource reforms, tenurial security and resource management, which impact on the lives of the rural poor.

ARD is a broad topic that comprises multiple research methods performed by a variety of players. Landowners, tenants and landless peasants, small-scale family farmers and small-scale processors both rural and urban, fisher folk, crop producers and livestock farmers among others all make up the patchwork of people involved in farming. Not only do farmers contribute to production, they serve other functions including social services, resource management, training, research and ecosystem services. The future of ARD must be directed by input from these players and others.

Research methods are equally varied; however, particular support should be given to a participatory systems approach, agro-ecosystems and farming systems. Also key is the promotion of an enabling political, social and economic environment for the less-vocal stakeholders in ARD. In many instances institutional change is a requisite before true progress can be made. At the same time it is important to apply guiding principles that recognize the capacity of local innovation and integrate indigenous knowledge.

Some of the priority issues that have been identified include: good governance management and conflict resolution, institutional change, social capital, market linkages, microfinance, effects of globalization, intellectual property rights, capacity-building and reducing the communication divide.

It is also recommended that the CSO Declaration for Durban, May 2001 be fully endorsed.

Strategies to Attain Vision on Agricultural Research for Development: Recommendations for GFAR Business Plan 2004-2006

There is a need for an enhanced social science dimension of ARD. Among the identified research areas which CSOs deem important for GFAR to take into account in formulating the next three-year business plan are:

• support to participatory systems research
• research on governance and management
• institutional change
• conflict resolution over resources
• research on multiple-stakeholder collaboration processes
• inclusion of minority groups in the research process, gender equity and democratization
• market linkages and rural microfinance

Many extension systems are either being privatized or are decaying from neglect and reduced public funding. Farmer-to-farmer approaches and appropriate social organizations such as farmer associations may offer the best results. As the conventional systems have failed to protect small farmers, their natural resources and the consumers, more interest is being generated in farmer-to-farmer systems. However, donors and their partners must make investments in alternative systems and capacity-building.

The basic challenge for agricultural research centres is institutional change. With the reduced public spending on public agricultural research, research centres are now forced to raise questions on their continuing relevance, approaches and impact. Research cannot be separated from development questions.

To facilitate the implementation of these strategies, regional focal points were nominated at the workshop (Box 2). These focal points are expected to play the role of intermediary between GFAR and NGOs in their respective regions as well as promote dialogue on issues related to ARD.