PARI (Program of Accompanying Research for Innovation)
Dr. Getachew Abate Kassa
To a large extent, hunger is still a poverty-related problem. In order to achieve enhanced production and higher incomes in a small-farm agricultural system, productivity, organization, marketing and processing along the entire agricultural value chain require significant and sustainable improvement. In other words, locally adapted innovations are needed for the sustainable development of the whole agricultural and food sector.
In Africa, there is an increasing emphasis on the role of innovation in development. Innovation for sustainable and high agricultural growth forms an important part of this ambition. The German Government has acknowledged this innovation potential and wants to support the improvement of food and nutrition security and sustainable agricultural value chains in Africa through Agricultural Innovation Centers (AICs) in 12 African countries.
The main goal of the PARI is to contribute to sustainable agricultural growth, and food and nutrition security in the AIC countries of Africa and in India through independent scientific advice. Related goals are to:
- promote and support the scaling of proven innovations in the agri-food sector in collaboration and partnership with all relevant actors,
- support and enhance investments in the AICs through research, and thereby
- contribute to the development of the agri-food sector in Africa and India through the identification, assessment and up-scaling of innovations.
The PARI’s main components are:
1. Accompanying research with future-oriented impact analyses including :
- Methodology and concept for strategic analysis and visioning
- Baseline studies
- Modelling the direct and indirect impacts of potential innovations
- Institutional analysis of the AICs and their role in the national agricultural innovation system.
2. Research-based design and assessment of technological and institutional innovations, including:
- Identification of promising innovations (“top-down“ innovations)
- Screening and identifying innovations generated by farmers and other actors in the value chains (“bottom-up“ innovations)
- Focus on youth and women farmers.
The PARI brings together partners from different countries and research institutions to contribute to sustainable agricultural growth, and food and nutrition security in Africa and India as part of the AIC initiative supported by the German government.
The PARI is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.