7/27/2019 Capitalization Consortium Burundi
1/19
1
Developing Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships on
Agricultural Research for Development
Improving the availability of quality potato seeds: building an
innovative consortium in Burundi
Photo : CAPAD
7/27/2019 Capitalization Consortium Burundi
2/19
7/27/2019 Capitalization Consortium Burundi
3/19
7/27/2019 Capitalization Consortium Burundi
4/19
4
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/7/27/2019 Capitalization Consortium Burundi
5/19
7/27/2019 Capitalization Consortium Burundi
6/19
6
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)
7/27/2019 Capitalization Consortium Burundi
7/19
7/27/2019 Capitalization Consortium Burundi
8/19
7/27/2019 Capitalization Consortium Burundi
9/19
9
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.
7/27/2019 Capitalization Consortium Burundi
10/19
7/27/2019 Capitalization Consortium Burundi
11/19
11
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.
7/27/2019 Capitalization Consortium Burundi
12/19
7/27/2019 Capitalization Consortium Burundi
13/19
13
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.
7/27/2019 Capitalization Consortium Burundi
14/19
14
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.pdf7/27/2019 Capitalization Consortium Burundi
15/19
7/27/2019 Capitalization Consortium Burundi
16/19
7/27/2019 Capitalization Consortium Burundi
17/19
7/27/2019 Capitalization Consortium Burundi
18/19
18
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
7/27/2019 Capitalization Consortium Burundi
19/19
19
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