We are working to make it easier for civil society organisations – both non-governmental organisations and farmer organisations – to be actively involved in influencing agricultural research systems in Africa.

Involving civil society organisations is a great way for scientists to understand the needs of small-scale farmers. Such organisations are important for shaping agricultural research because, to have a positive impact on small-scale farmers, the research needs to involve them at all stages: in determining needs, identifying problems and opportunities, designing and testing new possibilities, sharing results, and assessing the way the research is done and the results shared.

Incorporating small-scale farmers into research in this way will help to better serve their real needs and to discover and spread innovations that farmers themselves have been involved in developing.

Some civil society organisations are already involved in research in different areas, but they know little about what each other is doing and their efforts to influence the wider research agenda are not well coordinated. We want to help change that.

We are in a project called INSARD: INcluding Smallholders in Agricultural Research for Development.

Over the next two years, we intend to:

• Design a method that allows civil society organisations to participate effectively in regional and international discussions on agricultural research for development
• Create links between European and African civil society organisations that try to influence agricultural research policies and practices
• Help civil society organisations define research priorities and the best way to communicate these priorities to researchers and policymakers
• Start designing research interaction between scientists and civil society organisations, firmly based on small-scale farmers’ demands
• Work with key African and European research organisations and donors to strengthen demand-driven agricultural research and to increase funds for such research.

A South-North partnership

INSARD is a partnership between:

• ESAFF (Eastern and Southern Africa Small Scale Farmers’ Forum)
• ETC Foundation
• Gret, Professionals for fair development
• PELUM Association
• Practical Action
• REPAOC (Réseau des Plates-formes nationales d’ONG d’Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre)

This project is funded by the European Union. The contents of this webpage, and other project documents, are the sole responsibility of INSARD consortium partners and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.