Setting donor research agendas

1998 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 5-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Freeland
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
International Development ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Research Programme ◽  
Research Strategy ◽  
International Agricultural Research ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Research Programmes ◽  
Or Organization

This paper uses the United Kingdom (UK) government's Department for International Development (DFID) centrally funded renewable natural resources research strategy (RNRRS) programme as an example to answer the key questions of: (i) what research; (ii) why conduct research; and (iii) why set an agenda?Donor research organizations may fund research through various channels. DFID funds research through its multilateral programmes (e.g. to the system of International Agricultural Research Centres which constitute the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research); as components of its bilateral development programmes with individual countries (e.g. assistance to the development of the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) and the Kenyan National Agricultural Research Programme) and sometimes through projects with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), as part of the Joint Funding Scheme. Research funded through these avenues is, however, part of a larger agenda to which the DFID has agreed but not necessarily set. In the interests of pursuing strategic and wider research objectives, the outputs of which may later be applied through development programmes, DFID also has a centrally controlled fund for research, which is not specific to any one country or organization. The part of that research programme relevant to natural resources is called the RNRRS (Research Task Group, 1994). Other donors have similar centrally funded research programmes and it is these to which the title refers and for which it is appropriate that the donor organization sets its own agenda.

scholarly journals The Role of Donor Agencies in Promoting Standardized Project Management in the Spanish Development Non-Government Organizations

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1490
Author(s):  
Agustín Moya-Colorado ◽  
Nina León-Bolaños ◽  
José L. Yagüe-Blanco
Keyword(s):  
Project Management ◽  
International Development ◽  
Management Practice ◽  
Development Cooperation ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Governmental Organization ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Funding Mechanisms ◽  
Donor Agencies

Project management is an autonomous discipline that is applied to a huge diversity of activity sectors and that has evolved enormously over the last decades. International Development Cooperation has incorporated some of this discipline’s tools into its professional practice, but many gaps remain. This article analyzes donor agencies’ project management approaches in their funding mechanisms for projects implemented by non-governmental organizations. As case study, we look at the Spanish decentralized donor agencies (Spanish autonomous communities). The analysis uses the PM2 project management methodology of the European Commission, as comparison framework, to assess and systematize the documentation, requirements, and project management tools that non-governmental organizations need to use and fulfill as a condition to access these donors’ project funding mechanisms. The analysis shows coincidence across donors in the priority given to project management areas linked to the iron triangle (scope, cost, and time) while other areas are mainly left unattended. The analysis also identifies industry-specific elements of interest (such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals) that need to be incorporated into project management practice in this field. The use of PM2 as benchmark provides a clear vision of the project management areas that donors could address to better support their non-governmental organization-implemented projects.

Democratization, Nationalism and Regional Security in the Southern Caucasus

1997 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 399-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Neil MacFarlane
Keyword(s):  
International Development ◽  
The United States ◽  
Regional Security ◽  
Political Rights ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Pressure Groups ◽  
Democratic Reform ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Independent States

FOR SOME YEARS NOW, WESTERN ACADEMICS AND POLICY-MAKERS HAVE embraced the cause of democratic reform in Central and Eastern Europe. To take but one well-known example, President Clinton in the 1994 State of the Union Address cited the absence of war among democracies as a reason for promotion of democracy around the world. Assistance to former Warsaw Pact and newly independent states has been made conditional to varying degrees on the acceptance of democratic change. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the European Union, the United States Agency for International Development and associated non-governmental organizations have unleashed armies of promoters of democracy throughout the region to: observe elections; monitor human rights; draft new constitutions and laws defending civil and political rights; train judges and police personnel; and organize and assist political parties, media and non-governmental pressure groups. In short, they have sought to transplant the fabric of civil society and democratic institutions. These armies have landed on terrain often quite foreign to them and have often displayed little sensitivity to the social, economic and political context in which they are operating. This may have contributed to results other than those intended.

Increasing the economic benefits from agricultural research: the case of enhancing the diffusion of a pasture weed technology

2004 ◽  
Vol 44 (8) ◽  
pp. 779 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. T. Vere ◽  
R. E. Jones ◽  
P. M. Dowling
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Process ◽  
Technology Development ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Research Programme ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Research Programmes ◽  
Diffusion Enhancement ◽  
Australian Wool ◽  
Temperate Pastures

The process of enhancing the diffusion of a new technology attempts to shorten the time between the completion and adoption of an agricultural research programme, as well as to increase the overall level of adoption. The economic benefits of introducing a new technology are influenced by the technology development lag, the adoption lag and the maximum, or ceiling, level of adoption. Technology diffusion embodies these issues and concerns the uptake of a new technology across a population of potential adopters. Diffusion enhancement is now considered to be a desirable component of pasture research programmes in Australia. This paper evaluates the economic benefits of enhancing the diffusion process for new technology in the management of Vulpia, which is a prominent annual grass weed of Australian temperate pastures. Differences in economic benefits were calculated for a range of scenarios, by varying the values of the main elements of the diffusion process relative to those of a base scenario which represented the most optimistic adoption expectations for the technology. The discounted total benefits to the Australian wool industry, calculated for a 15-year period from reducing Vulpia in temperate pastures, were between A$31.9 million and A$287.3 million, according to differences in the pasture's Vulpia content. While the 2 main time components of the diffusion process both had strong effects on the potential benefits, the technology lag had a much larger influence than the adoption lag. This result emphasises the importance of agricultural research programmes that are able to quickly diffuse such technologies to the potential adopters.

MANAGING AN AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH PROGRAMME FOR POVERTY ALLEVIATION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: AN INSTITUTE WITHOUT WALLS

2006 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. M. STIRLING ◽  
D. HARRIS ◽  
J. R. WITCOMBE
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Crop Improvement ◽  
Research Programme ◽  
Research Strategy ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Renewable Natural Resource ◽  
The Impact

There is no one widely accepted method of managing international agricultural research and numerous different models exist. Here we review one in particular, referred to as the ‘institute without walls’, from the perspective of the UK Department for International Development's (DFID) Renewable Natural Resource (RNR) Research Strategy (1990–2006). We begin with a brief history of the RNR Research Strategy from 1990 to 2004. We then draw on nearly 15 years experience of managing one of the programmes within the RNR Research Strategy to assess critically the impact of externally and internally imposed organizational and management changes on the performance of the DFID Plant Sciences Programme (PSP). The current RNR Research Strategy (1995–2006), with its emphasis on demand-led research, has greatly increased the relevance and effectiveness of DFID's natural resources research. A comparison between the PSP in 2004 and the early 1990s inevitably concludes that the programme has been transformed: unlike in 1991, research is now firmly demand-driven, much is based in developing countries and farmers are benefiting from the research. Over time, the outputs of the long-term strategic research have been applied in practical plant breeding and participatory crop improvement programmes. Key to the success of the PSP has been the provision of continuous, long-term funding which has allowed projects time to develop and produce outputs of real value to end users. Alongside this, the ability of the PSP to build long-term, in-country partnerships has ensured the effective adoption of its research outputs. We conclude that the successes of the PSP have largely derived from (i) identification of research that is clearly demand driven, (ii) continuous long-term funding that has allowed research to move from the strategic to adaptive phase, (iii) continuity of management, and (iv) the flexibility to develop a wide range of partnerships, both in-country and overseas, based on their ability to deliver.

scholarly journals Analysis on the Islamic Ruling of Taking Commission from the Donation Collection

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Khadijah Amira Abdul Rashid
Keyword(s):  
Document Analysis ◽  
Islamic Perspective ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Or Organization

The practice of giving donation to those in need is a very common thing among society in Malaysia. As a result, there are various parties that act as a collector agent either as an individual or organization. However, there is confusion among the collector regarding on taking the commission other than there is no specific commission rate to be given to the collector of the donation. The purpose of this study is to analyze the Islamic ruling of taking commission from the donation collection according to Islamic perspective. In addition, it also aims to study whether the contract of ijarah, ji’alah and wakalah comply with the Islamic ruling of taking commission taken from the donation collection. The methodology of this study is qualitative with the approach of document analysis. The finding shows that the contract of ijarah, ji’alah and wakalah are comply with Islamic ruling of taking commission taken from the donation collection. However, it is necessary to set the commission of coin limit which can be taken by the collector to avoid the misuse or malpractice of the donation. Further research need to be done to identify the factors that influence the setting of commission of coin limit especially by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Malaysia.

Graduated Sovereignty and Tanzania’s Mineral Sector

Utafiti ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-280
Author(s):  
Christine Noe
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
Multinational Firms ◽  
Mineral Sector ◽  
Resource Governance ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
The Government ◽  
External Forces ◽  
External Actors ◽  
Ownership Rights

Abstract The process through which state sovereignty over natural resources is gained and lost serves as a precondition for other external actors to acquire rights and to appropriate wealth. These external institutions are multinational firms and non-governmental organizations that do not rely on sovereign entities. By building on the concept of graduated sovereignty, the example of Tanzania’s mineral resource demonstrates how ownership rights shift, creating different impacts on the ground. Analysis of historical and contemporary changes in Tanzania’s mineral laws serves as a basis for revealing the ways in which sovereignty is differentiated or graduated within a national territory, given current global relations. Since neither global resource governance nor market conditions are static or predictable, the government of Tanzania responds differently to external forces over time. Tanzania’s most recent national decisions follow the model of neoliberal flexibility and maximisation of profit from natural resources. Consequently, more complex issues of local resource rights have remained unattended over the years of policy and legal reform, resulting in discriminatory treatment and marginalization of different groups in Tanzanian society.

scholarly journals Key Determinants on Non-Governmental Organization’s Financial Sustainability: A Case Study that Examines 2018 FIFA Foundation Social Festival Selected Participants

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauricio Córdova Paredes ◽  
Ferran Calabuig Moreno ◽  
Manuel Alonso Dos Santos
Keyword(s):  
Nonprofit Organizations ◽  
International Development ◽  
Financial Sustainability ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Sport For Development ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Global North ◽  
Mixed Approach ◽  
The One

The main purpose of this article is to map determinant attributes that define and enable financial sustainability in sport non-governmental organizations associated with international development (SNGDOs). An exploratory case study examined through a two staged mixed approach the 48 organizations, chosen by FIFA Foundation to participate at the 2018 World Cup Russia 2018 Social Festival, mirroring football from a different dimension, distant to the competitive perceptions normally assigned to this sport. The main outcome was to note that Global South countries SNGDOs´ financial sustainability is dependent on international aid agencies funds whilst in the Global North there is higher leverage on corporate partnerships. Financial sustainability should not be seen as an isolated topic in the management agenda of SNGDOs in the quest of new sources of income. This is rather a process of construction and assessment that implies on the one hand a wider approach on stakeholder expectations and on the other an overall strategical re-definition towards collaborative value creation. In view of the broad extension of nonprofit organizations, this study contributes to the still unexplored field of sport for development. Moreover, this academic exercise proposes a critical view of contrasting results through dependency theory. Some biases may exist within the consideration of a particular context, and the specificities of the examined organizations in the case study.

INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH AS A SOURCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS: CHALLENGES AND POSSIBILITIES

2007 ◽  
Vol 09 (01) ◽  
pp. 103-119
Author(s):  
MICHAEL NELSON ◽  
MYWISH K. MAREDIA
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
Impact Assessment ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Agricultural Research ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Chain Reactions ◽  
International Agricultural Research ◽  
Ex Post ◽  
High Yielding Varieties ◽  
Global Statistics

This paper deals with conceptual and methodological issues arising in ex post environmental impact assessment of agricultural research. It presents a case study of approaches used (and not used) and challenges associated with the ex post assessment of environmental impacts of research supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). The paper illustrates the difficulty of tracking the global effects of agricultural research on natural resources due to a diffused and complex set of decision variables effecting intensification and expansion of land in agriculture, primarily in developing countries. The central point in ex post impact assessment concerns costs and benefits (in terms of relevant budget constraints and time frame for decision) of in-depth empirical versus qualitative analysis. Within this context we conclude that the empirical counterfactual approach ("with" and "without" research) is not an option. As a second best alternative, it is inferred from cases and global statistics that: in specific instances the introduction of high yielding varieties did have unintended impacts on natural resources, in part due to policy distortion and in part due to unforeseen chain reactions in the ecosystems. But on net balance, increased yields attributable to international agricultural research have had positive environmental impacts in the form of net land saving.

Chinese NGOs at the interface between governmentality and local society: An actor-oriented perspective

2020 ◽  
pp. 0920203X2094209
Author(s):  
Qing Liu ◽  
David A. Palmer
Keyword(s):  
International Development ◽  
Social Relations ◽  
The State ◽  
State Agencies ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Local Society ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
Anthropological Study ◽  
Chinese Ngos

The relations between society and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have been relatively neglected in the field of China NGO studies, which remains largely wedded to a state–NGO problematic within a state–society framework. In this anthropological study of an NGO’s post-Wenchuan earthquake recovery programme, we adopt an actor-oriented approach to identify the main lines of tension between the strategies, rationalities, and techniques deployed by the different actors in the field. Focusing on NGO–society relations, we take the NGO not as an incarnation of society vis-a-vis the state, nor as an incarnation of the state vis-a-vis society, but as a key link in a shifting chain of state and non-state actors that aims to introduce to local society an assemblage of techniques, discourses, and values for the promotion of self-government. This ‘international development package’ is a specific form of what social scientists have theorized as ‘governmentality’. In this case study, the modalities of participation and cooperative self-government promoted within this development package are in tension with local values, social relations, and political structures. The case shows that dynamic tensions between the actors are mediated by the deployment of practices of governance that circulate between international institutions and networks, state agencies, NGOs, and local authorities and actors.

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