APPLIED PARTICIPATORY PRIORITY SETTING IN INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL-RESEARCH - MAKING TRADE-OFFS TRANSPARENT AND EXPLICIT

This paper describes an ex-ante multi-objective framework (economic ef ficiency, equity, internationality and sustainability) for assessing r esearch priorities at an international agricultural research center. W ith its supply-side methodological orientation it complements the Tech nical Advisory Committee/Consultative Group on International Agricultu ral Research demand-side analysis and thus represents a step forward i n formulating research agendas. The distinct advantage of the framewor k described here is that at a time of intense competition for scarce f unds, it makes explicit the benefits that would flow from additional i nvestments to an institute as well as the opportunity costs correspond ing to reductions. This kind of information is useful for the TAC adn the CGIAR Secretariat in making decisions about allocating scarce rese arch resources across CGIAR centers. The methodology used in setting r esearch priorities for ICRISAT's (International Crops Research for the Semi-Arid Tropics) 1994-98 Medium Term Plan provides clear criteria f or establishing choices among competing research activities, is analyt ically rigorous, draws on scientists' empirical and intuitive knowledg e base, and is transparent and interactive. Research themes identified are impact-oriented, projecting clear milestones against which progre ss can be measured and evaluated ex-post. Thus, assumptions about pros pective yield increases, research lags, probabilities of success, and adoption lags and ceilings can be tested against actual delivery of a new research-induced technology. This forms an integral part of the re search evaluation process and facilitates revising priorities in the l ight of such experiences.