Capitalization Consortium Burundi

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Developing Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships on

Agricultural Research for Development

Improving the availability of quality potato seeds: building an

innovative consortium in Burundi

Photo : CAPAD


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INTRODUCTION

The PAEPARD Programme

The PAEPARD Programme or Platform for a partnership between Africa and Europe in the area of

agricultural research for development is financed by the European Commission and aims at

consolidating collaboration between Africa and Europe in the area of Agricultural Research for

Development. The second phase of the programme, which is on-going (PAEPARD II, 2010-2013),

particularly aims at promoting research partnerships which are more balanced and more suited to

the demand of research users , who are also called non-researchers , by encouraging the

involvement of the latter in agricultural research partnerships. Thus, the PAEPARD platform brings

together European and African partners belonging to various stakeholder families : research

institutions, private sector organizations, producer organizations (POs) and non-governmental

organizations (NGOs)1.

In order to meet this objective, several activities were undertaken by PAEPARD. One of them is a

process of open calls for proposals ( calls for development assistance of multi-stakeholder partners

which encourage demand-oriented agricultural innovation and research ). This process aims at

supporting stakeholders from various families desirous of developing an agricultural research

partnership for development. The approach is based on the observation that the partnership-

building phase is essential for the development of projects which meet demand but are often given

little attention by financial backers. The support of the PAEPARD sought to bridge this gap by

enabling stakeholders from various families to come together at a meeting to launch the partnership

and to get support in terms of facilitation.

Objective of the StudyThis document aims at capitalizing lessons drawn from the training experience of a consortium made

up of various stakeholders involved in the potato seed sector2

in Burundi. At the initial stages of its

formation, this consortium was supported by the PAEPARD programme, as part of the tender process

defined above. The experience related here should provide lessons on the factors which encourage

the formation of multi-stakeholder partnerships which are balanced and suited to the demand of

producers. This is not an actual evaluation of the stages of the formation of the consortium. Although

it was finalized in September, 2013, this study was carried out between July, 2012 and March, 2013.

MethodologyThis study is based on (i) a review of the literature relating to potato seed production in Burundi and

the project at issue here and (ii) meetings with the partners involved in the consortium under study.

The consulted literature and meetings held are listed in the annexes. In addition, the study was

submitted to the members of the consortium for comments and validation.

1For more information on the PAEPARD partners and project, see http://paepard.org/,

http://paepard.blogspot.com/, or the CSA website: http://www.csa-

be.org/spip.php?page=collaborer&id_article=736&id_mot=1792

The term seed refers to potato tubers meant for asexual reproduction, and not for grains; it is a misuse of

language established by usage.
http://paepard.org/http://paepard.org/http://paepard.blogspot.com/http://paepard.blogspot.com/http://www.csa-be.org/spip.php?page=collaborer&id_article=736&id_mot=179http://www.csa-be.org/spip.php?page=collaborer&id_article=736&id_mot=179http://www.csa-be.org/spip.php?page=collaborer&id_article=736&id_mot=179http://www.csa-be.org/spip.php?page=collaborer&id_article=736&id_mot=179http://www.csa-be.org/spip.php?page=collaborer&id_article=736&id_mot=179http://paepard.blogspot.com/http://paepard.org/


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because it was accompanied by an invitation to submit a new proposal after the previous one had

been improved), the project was accepted during the second call of the PAEPARD with a better score.

Consequently, the partners got financial assistance in order to organize a workshop aimed at arriving

at a joint definition of a partnership project. Besides, the PAEPARD procedure provides for support in

terms of external validation for the establishment of the partnership. This is how, on the basis of a

reserve of facilitators trained to this effect by the PAEPARD, two facilitators were assigned to the

Burundian consortium to facilitate the establishment of the partnership.

A project formulation workshop therefore ensured that future partners were brought together in

order to develop a common potato project. The workshop also presented the opportunity for the

development of a common vision on the issues and modalities of the partnership, mobilization of

relevant stakeholders, a more specific definition of the project (targeted outcomes, working plan as

well as distribution of roles and responsibility to each stakeholder) and the identification of financing

strategies. It was during this workshop that a sixth stakeholder was identified to participate in the

partnership (COPROSEBU). This workshop led to the preparation of a draft logical framework.

A technical committee set up during the workshop then prepared a detailed programme presented

in the following table.

The following table states the various stages and the corresponding schedule.

Date Description

December, 2011 Launch of the first request for support of PAEPARD;

January, 2011 Submission of a project by the consortium, led by the CAPAD;

February, 2011 Partial rejection of the project (and invitation to re-submit an improved projectduring the second PAEPARD call);

July, 2011 Submission of an improved project by the consortium, led by the CAPAD;

September, 2011 Selection of the project by PAEPARD;

May, 2012 Project formulation workshop financed by PAEPARD;

June, 2012Technical committee meeting for the formulation of a detailed programme

(logical framework), and

July-September, 2012 Drafting of the detailed programme (logical framework)


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quality obtained and the positive selection techniques should ensure a reduction in the cost

constraints faced by producers of certified seeds.

In the estimation of the partners of the consortium, this innovative project is linked to another

major innovation: the fact that it is backed by the producers organizations and structured from

the village level right up to the national level. The partners of the consortium believe that the main

advantages are as follows (sometimes expressed in view of the generic constraints encountered in

this type of project):

Consideration of the needs and constraints of small-scale producers right from the designstage of the programme;

Contrary to projects backed by institutions which sometimes involve administrativebottlenecks and a lack of motivation on the part of staff, the main motivation of the leader

should ensure that member producers benefit directly from the results. This factor should

promote the success of the project and the achievement of tangible results;

Assistance to producers directly involved in the project, monitoring of results as well as focuson needs, constraints and factors for success right up to the steering committee;

The possibility of disseminating positive results for the benefit of producers who have notbeen directly involved in the project, thereby overcoming the constraints relating to the

rolling out of the benefits beyond the direct beneficiaries often selected close to the seed

centres;

The legitimacy of the CAPAD vis--vis the government and financial backers, therebyfacilitating the quest for appropriate financing for multi-stakeholder projects;

These benefits are linked to the characteristics of the CAPAD, particularly structuring from the base

(producers) up to the top (national level) and upward and downward mechanisms for the

dissemination of information based on the various levels of structuring and facilitating an in-depth

knowledge of the needs and constraints of producers.


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Identified Risks

The main risks for the smooth running of the partnership as identified by the members of the

consortium are as follows:

- lack of time and involvement of the various partners,- non-fulfilment of commitments,- high mobility of the staff of the organizations involved.

To reduce these risks, the partners are considering the following solutions: regular planning

meetings, reminder of the rules of the game by the facilitator, follow-up on the issue by two persons

for each partner and a strong role as a linchpin by the leader. Finally, the partners think that with

time, knowledge of the mutual constraints will facilitate collaboration.

ProspectsThe main challenge for the consortium is the financing of the formulated programme. A prospect for

the consortium is the widening of the platform initiated by the consortium; and its implementation is

an objective of the project. Besides, the partners think that if it succeeds, this pilot-platform can

serve as an example for the launch of other multi-stakeholder platforms.

Addendum

Although it was finalized in September, 2013, this study was conducted between July, 2012 and

March, 2013. Today, the situation has evolved and would need a new assessment through another

study which could complement this one.

However, one can briefly state access to financing by certain partners, but difficulties were

encountered in the financing of the programme in its entirety. Indeed, some members of the

consortium accessed funds which enabled them to implement some programme activities. However,

these funds do not take the activities of other members on board. Consequently, it is impossible to

operate the multi-stakeholder platform in its original form and to ensure the success of the project in

its entirety. However, the initiatives of some of the stakeholders who have benefitted from funds

could lead to interesting results in terms of a research-FO partnership; the monitoring of these could

then lead to further lessons in this area.


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More General Lessons

The programme prepared by the partners comprises various types of activities which combine

research and development (the line between the two is sometimes being hazy because producers

are involved in activities which can be described as research work, while researchers are also

involved in activities which can be described as development work). Collaboration is, therefore, notlimited to the joint definition of research issues, but rather the evaluation of all the constraints of

the seed system in order to find solutions at various levels.Thus,the programme is not based on

the premise that the effectiveness of research solely depends on the relevance on the issues it

raises, but tends to place research in a broader system which must be overhauled completely in

order to attain the desired development results. The mainstreaming component here is a producer

organization interfacing with the various stakeholders.


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ANNEXES

Annex 1. Introduction of the Consortiums Partners

Type of

Stakeholder

Description

Producer

Organization

CAPAD, Confederation of Agricultural Producers Associations for Development

CAPAD is an organization which was initiated in 2000 and officially established in 2003

with the objective of reducing poverty through the development of sustainable

agricultural practices, the promotion of a farmers movement which is capable of

influencing public policies and an increase in the number of producers by

professionalizing agriculture and stock breeding4. It is an ASBL whose members are food

and market gardening cooperatives (the main crops concerned are potato, cassava,

vegetables, rice, maize, groundnuts, tomatoes, wax bean, sorghum and banana). These

cooperatives are themselves made up of producer groups (about 2,000 groups) which

have more than 17,000 households in all.

Public Institute for

Applied

Agricultural

Research.

ISABU, Burundi Institute of Agronomy

The Burundi Institute of Agronomy which was established in 1962 is a public institution

under the Ministry of Agriculture and Stock Breeding (MINAGRIE). ISABU s mission is to

promote the scientific development of agriculture and stock breeding in Burundi. It

relies on funds from the public sector and external development sources (World Bank,

EU, and CTB)5. It is the main agricultural research body in Burundi and accounts for

about 60% of the total number of researchers and expenditure in the area of

agricultural R&D6. However, like the other research establishments in the country, this

body is characterized by inadequate technical staff (only 21 permanent researchers in

2009)7. Its programme is structured around four main thrusts: plant production, animal

production, agricultural production systems and rural socio-economics. The activities of

the researchers focus on quality seed production in particular8

(in potato, production of

strains and pre-basic seeds as well as varietal selection).

Public University

Research Institute.

FACAGRO, Faculty of Agronomy of the University of Burundi

The Faculty of Agronomy which was established in 1976 is pursuing a dual objective in

the areas of training and development. It has five laboratories, with each devoted to an

area of research: agronomy (plant material and chemical soil analysis), plant biology

(biology and microbiology), zootechnics (livestock feed and diseases), phytopathology

and entomology (plants and plant pests); plant biotechnology (vitro-culture and viral

treatment)9.

Private vitro-plant

production body.

PHYTOLABU

PHYTOLABU is a private in vitro culture laboratory which specializes in the mass

production of vitro seedlings of various crops for commercial purposes. It is one of the

4CAPAD 2009. Strategic Planning 2010-2012.

5Application form of the PAEPARDs call.

6UNESCO 2009. Brief status of the national scientific and technical research system of the Republic of Burundi.

UNESCO, Scientific Policy and Sustainable Development Division. Available at

http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001865/186518e.pdf.7

Idem8

ASTI2011. Indicators relating to Agricultural Science and Technology. Burundi, evaluation of agriculturalresearch in the public sector. Seehttp://www.asti.cgiar.org/pdf/Burundi-Fr-Note.pdf9

UNESCO 2009. Idem
http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001865/186518e.pdfhttp://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001865/186518e.pdfhttp://www.asti.cgiar.org/pdf/Burundi-Fr-Note.pdfhttp://www.asti.cgiar.org/pdf/Burundi-Fr-Note.pdfhttp://www.asti.cgiar.org/pdf/Burundi-Fr-Note.pdfhttp://www.asti.cgiar.org/pdf/Burundi-Fr-Note.pdfhttp://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001865/186518e.pdf


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Annex 4. Interviews conducted

In all, 8 interviews were conducted. The list of these interviews is provided below. Questions were

asked on the following issues:

- Role in the partnership and project- Motivation to participate in the partnership;- Value addition vis--vis other similar projects;- Evaluation of the PAEPARD support;- Constraints and risks of the partnership, and- Any others, depending on the interviewed partner: choice of partners, link with other similar

projects.

OrganizationDate of

Interview

Type of

InterviewPerson(s) interviewed

CAPAD28/07/12

26/07/13Face-to-face Annick SEZIBERA , Secretary-General of CAPAD

CAPAD 19/10/12 Face-to-face

Jean-Marie NDAYISHIMIYE , Technical Coordinator

of the CAPAD

Pierre Claver NAHAYO , Officer in charge of the

tubers unit and of the monitoring of the PAEPARD

consortium within CAPAD

FACAGRO 20/10/12 Face-to-face Jean NDIMUBANDI, Dean of FACAGRO

ISABU 21/10/12 Face-to-face

Astre BARARYENYA, Officer in charge of potato

research at ISABU

Dvote NIMPAGARITSE, Director Production at

ISABU

CRA-W 11.02.13 By Telephone

Jean-Louis ROLOT, Officer in charge of research and

development programmes and of the potato desk

of the Improvement of Species and Biodiversity

unit at CRA-W

PHYTOLABU 11.03.13 By TelephoneGiovanni FORGIONE, Director-General of

PHYTOLABU

COPROSEBU 12.03.13 By TelephoneStanyslas HAKIZIMANA, President of the

COPROSEBU Producers Group


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Annex 5. Consulted Literature

Project Documents and Reports

CAPAD 2009. Strategic Planning 2010-2012. CAPAD 2012. Report on the conduct of activities towards the celebration of the Potato Day in

the Great Lakes region, 2012 edition, held in Kayanza, Burundi, from 7 to 10 May, 2012.

Document of the Participative Development of Potato Cultivation Technologies andPromotion of Gender and Environmentally-Friendly Innovations Project, PAEPARD.

PAEPARD form for the request of assistance for the development of multi-stakeholderpartnerships which promote demand-oriented agricultural innovation and research.

Works and Articles

Bryan J.E. 1983. On-farm seed Improvement by the Potato Seed Plot Technique. CIP,Technical Information bulletin 7, 1983.

FAO 2008. Production de plants de pomme de terre indemnes de maladies. Anneinternationale de la pomme de terre. Available at

http://www.potato2008.org/fr/pommedeterre/plants.html.

Gildemacher et al. 2007. Slectionner les meilleures plantes pour amliorer la semence depomme de terre. AGRIDAPE, September, 2007 - Volume 23 n 2.

Kinyua Z.M. 2011. Overcoming seed potato quality constraints to tackle food insecurity andpoverty in Eastern and Central Africa in the 21

stCentury. ASARECA. Available at:

http://www.asareca.org/content/overcoming-seed-potato-quality-constraints-tackle-food-

insecurity-and-poverty-eastern-and

Nederlohof et al. 2011. Putting heads together. Agricultural innovation platforms in practice.Bulletin 396, KIT Publishers, 192p.
http://www.potato2008.org/fr/pommedeterre/plants.htmlhttp://www.potato2008.org/fr/pommedeterre/plants.htmlhttp://www.asareca.org/content/overcoming-seed-potato-quality-constraints-tackle-food-insecurity-and-poverty-eastern-andhttp://www.asareca.org/content/overcoming-seed-potato-quality-constraints-tackle-food-insecurity-and-poverty-eastern-andhttp://www.asareca.org/content/overcoming-seed-potato-quality-constraints-tackle-food-insecurity-and-poverty-eastern-andhttp://www.asareca.org/content/overcoming-seed-potato-quality-constraints-tackle-food-insecurity-and-poverty-eastern-andhttp://www.asareca.org/content/overcoming-seed-potato-quality-constraints-tackle-food-insecurity-and-poverty-eastern-andhttp://www.potato2008.org/fr/pommedeterre/plants.html