Partnerships

The project involves a wide range of partnerships among:
• national agricultural research institutes and universities (NARS)
• Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
• the private sector
• extension services
• farmers and end-users
• policy makers
• international research centers, and
• donors
The role of these partnerships is briefly reviewed below, together with their contribution to the impact and sustainability of the project.

The NARS partners take the lead in implementing activities at the national level. National work plans are developed, and results are reviewed in National Coordination and Planning Meetings. Selected national scientists are responsible for management and coordination of specific components of the research program.

At the regional level, the network established among the researchers has had considerable success in reducing the potential risks inherent in implementing a multinational multi-institutional adaptive research and technology transfer program. The personal and professional relationships established among scientists have enhanced the institutional linkages generated by the project activities and as a result an enduring network between researchers within and among countries has been established. The strength of the networking and the commitment of the national scientists are demonstrated by the fact that it has continued throughout recent periods of disruption and conflict in the region. The focus on transfer of technology and experience between countries requires a flow of information between scientists; consequently, the project supports regional technical and scientific workshops that bring together scientists and farmers to discuss specific topics, and exchange visits between scientists from different countries.

Examples of partnerships with local or international NGOs include:
• In Tunisia: Representatives of the Farmers' Union (UTAP) attend the National Coordination meetings of the project and participate in various in-country and regional training courses. In Lebanon: The project has promoted the establishment of an association of herders and sheep owners.

• In Morocco: The project collaborates with an Italian NGO, "Comité Européen de Formation en Agriculture", in the rehabilitation of rangeland, and with another private group Recherche/Développement", in the mass production of feed blocks.

• In Algeria: The project collaborates with a community-based professional association of cactus (Opuntia sp.) growers with membership reaching more than 270 farmers.

Each national program determines the most appropriate mechanisms for involvement of the private sector. The extent to which the private sector may become involved depends on the nature of the technology developed by the project.

The national extension services have been involved in the project from the outset. They are regarded as partners in the adaptive research and technology transfer program and are closely involved in the participatory research and technology development with farmers. The knowledge gained of both the technologies produced by the project and farmers' objectives and constraints supports the wider dissemination of the project's results.

The project recognizes that involving farmers in both the research planning and implementation ensures that appropriate solutions are developed. The involvement of farmers has shifted over the life of the project from simple on-farm testing to participatory adaptive research and their wider involvement in the planning and evaluation of project activities. Representative farmers and/or community leaders participate in the national planning meetings. The concerns expressed by farmers on both technical and policy issues are considered in planning future activities.

ICARDA and IFPRI provide technical support and training to the project through their research scientists who work closely with their NARS partners. In addition, to support the research on policy and property rights, ICARDA and IFPRI have signed a Memorandum of Understanding which governs the joint appointment under the project of two international scientists specialized in policy and property rights research.These scientists operate from ICARDA base.

The project is fortunate in having been supported by two donors, AFESD and IFAD, who were involved early on in the formulation and development of the project and have continued to be actively involved in monitoring the project's progress and supporting its regional approach. More recently, IDRC (International Development Research Centre), the Ford Foundation, the Systemwide Programme on Property Rights and Collective Action (CAPRi) and the Forum Euro-Mediterraneen des Instituts Economiques (FEMISE), supported by the EU (European Community), have contributed to the project, providing co-financing for specific activities in policy and property rights research.