This is one of the crtical findings of the 2013 Global Food Policy Research.To substantiate this finding, the report referred to the fact that "no researchers with PhD and MSc degrees are active in Gunea-Bissau, for example. And in 2011, the National Agricultural Research Institutes in Burundi and the Gambia employed just one and two PhD level scientists respectively.
You are probably wondering as to how many Agricultural PhD holders in your country are employed or doing research. Indeed, that's how I felt when I came across this interesting piece of reading from one of the documents I collected from the CAADP @10 stock-taking event in Duban, South Africa from 17-21 March 2014.
This interesting piece of reading wealth is from "Chapter 5 from 2013 Global Food Policy Report, International Food Policy Research Institute, IFPRI". And as someone who loves sharing information with many friends, professionals and general public at large, especially those who did not have a chance to attend the event in Durban or those who might not get an opportunity to obtain the IFPRI report, I decided to work on this post. Information as they say is power and I need to empower fellow world citizens, especially those who need this empowerment.
The title of the reading piece is "increase in researcher quantity but not quality. It is says, Africa, South of the Sahara, SSA needs talented and well trained and highly motivated research staff to generate the high quality research outputs that are necessary to accelerate growth in the agricultural sector. It referred to the fact that during 2000-2011 research capacity increased by roughly 50% to an estimated 14 300 agricultural researchers in full time equivalents (FTEs). It says the participation of women scientists has increased in so many countries, the number of researchers with Doctorates (PhDs) and Masters of Science (MSc) degrees has also risen considerably in absolue numbers though average research qualifications varied across countries. The chapter confirmed that PhD holders in only five of 36 countries for which a complete set of degree level data was available (Botswana, Benin, Burkina Faso, Madagascar adn Senegal) exceeded 40% of the total number of researchers, whereas another 6 countries reported PhD shares of 10% or lower
Based on the findings that some smaller countries, Gunea Bissau for instance did not employ a PhD holder during the research or that Burundi and the Gambia only employed up to two PhD holders at the Agricutural Institutions, these findings highlight the necessity of the regional initiatives focussing on the needs and vulnerabilities of these countries and those facing the same situation but might not have undergone the same research that time.
This issue was among the key points that CAAP Partnership Platform in Duban emphasized and made a deliberate call to african leaders and the private sectors in various countries to invest in the science - innovation and technology - and not to allow the Science for Agriculture in Africa to be outsourced to international partners.
Another key point raised in the IFFRI report is the fact that long term public sectors recruitment restrictions have resulted in ageing pool of researchers in a number of countries. This trend has reportedly left many agencies in these countries highly vulenerable. As many senior staff approach retirement, mid-level researchers who can take on seniority roles and mentor the next generation of junior scientists are often lacking. In additional, low salary levels, poor conditions of service and subpar facilities have led to high staff turnover in some countries although evidence on the exact nature and scope of the turnover is sketchy.
But, to help address this information, the IFPRI report cited ASTI's collected detailed information on the age distribution of researchers by degree for 36 countries. And in 17 countries, then half of the researchers holding PhD degrees were older than 50, where as in 9 countries, the share of PhD holders older than 50 was higher than 70%. This situation is particularly worse in West Africa. This situation particularly highlights the needs to recruit and train the next generation of scientists.
When the author of this post read about this development, she thought about Namibia's Founding Father, Dr Sam Nujoma who has been advocating for young Namibians to study science - and he even use to mention the various fields that the young ones need to enrol for. At the same time, I also thought about Dr Nujoma's word that history must be told and documented so the young generation benefit from it - I was then thinking that aging scientists too need to share their knowledge with the young ones and prepare the upcoming scientists as part of succession planning for the various countries. This situation is however not only prevelent to the science community, it cuts accross the board, even to parastatals where training and development has been dormant over the years, signaling the death of new knowledge development at the institutional level as only individuals who attempt to get out of this situation manage to improve their skills and competencies at their own peril. Just look at the Namibia's situation according to the IFRI report. The share of PhD holders in total number of research % is 13.And the share of PhD holders older than 50 is 61%, the same as that of DRC. What does this tell Namibians, especially in the Science sector focusing on agriculture? The youth must also take up this matter serious as much as the seniors - because it is teamwork.
The good thing however is that fact that the drivers of the Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa as the author of this post heard them clearly in Accra last year and in Durban this year are very clear about including young people and women in this process so that they can get a buy -in and subsequently for them to own the process.
Coming back to the IFPRI report, it mentioned that given the high staff turnover, large numbers of retiring reseearchers and various recruitment restrictions, the radio R and D capacity growth over the past decade ahs largely been driven by the recruitment of junior researches, often only having a bachelor's degree, BSc particuarly during 2000-2008.
Do you know your country's total Agricultural PhD % holders and do you know their age category especially in view of succession planning - or next generation PhD holders' preparation? Have you infact thought about this situation that IFPRI has just outlined? I am sure as a compatriot and caring citizen of your country - you should be concerned for the future especially of science and agricultural development as many of the inhabitants of the world depend on this economy.
However all is not as doom and bleak despite what you just read now because according to the same report, there have also been many positive developments in various countries to address the matter. In an attempt to for instance half the staff turnover some countries have put up new measures including large scale recruitment after years of neglect, the boosting of scientists and support salaries to more competitive levels, increases in retirement age, improved benefit packages and the establishment of performance appraisal systems and promotion opportunities based on merit rather than seniority. And the list of positive developments continues.
The report is packed with interest and must-read information - and I am recommending that you google it and get the full insight package as I was basically teasing you and creating your appetite in this area which directly affect all of us.
IFPRI's flagship report examines the major food policy issues, developments and decisions of 2013. It puts into perspective the year's food policy successes and setbacks and suggests how to advance policies that will improve the food situation for poor people in developing countries. For more information on the 2013 Global Food Policy Report, go to http://www.ifpri.org/gfpr/2013
You are probably wondering as to how many Agricultural PhD holders in your country are employed or doing research. Indeed, that's how I felt when I came across this interesting piece of reading from one of the documents I collected from the CAADP @10 stock-taking event in Duban, South Africa from 17-21 March 2014.
 |
This interesting piece of reading wealth is from "Chapter 5 from 2013 Global Food Policy Report, International Food Policy Research Institute, IFPRI". And as someone who loves sharing information with many friends, professionals and general public at large, especially those who did not have a chance to attend the event in Durban or those who might not get an opportunity to obtain the IFPRI report, I decided to work on this post. Information as they say is power and I need to empower fellow world citizens, especially those who need this empowerment.
The title of the reading piece is "increase in researcher quantity but not quality. It is says, Africa, South of the Sahara, SSA needs talented and well trained and highly motivated research staff to generate the high quality research outputs that are necessary to accelerate growth in the agricultural sector. It referred to the fact that during 2000-2011 research capacity increased by roughly 50% to an estimated 14 300 agricultural researchers in full time equivalents (FTEs). It says the participation of women scientists has increased in so many countries, the number of researchers with Doctorates (PhDs) and Masters of Science (MSc) degrees has also risen considerably in absolue numbers though average research qualifications varied across countries. The chapter confirmed that PhD holders in only five of 36 countries for which a complete set of degree level data was available (Botswana, Benin, Burkina Faso, Madagascar adn Senegal) exceeded 40% of the total number of researchers, whereas another 6 countries reported PhD shares of 10% or lower
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This issue was among the key points that CAAP Partnership Platform in Duban emphasized and made a deliberate call to african leaders and the private sectors in various countries to invest in the science - innovation and technology - and not to allow the Science for Agriculture in Africa to be outsourced to international partners.
 |
Another key point raised in the IFFRI report is the fact that long term public sectors recruitment restrictions have resulted in ageing pool of researchers in a number of countries. This trend has reportedly left many agencies in these countries highly vulenerable. As many senior staff approach retirement, mid-level researchers who can take on seniority roles and mentor the next generation of junior scientists are often lacking. In additional, low salary levels, poor conditions of service and subpar facilities have led to high staff turnover in some countries although evidence on the exact nature and scope of the turnover is sketchy.
 |
But, to help address this information, the IFPRI report cited ASTI's collected detailed information on the age distribution of researchers by degree for 36 countries. And in 17 countries, then half of the researchers holding PhD degrees were older than 50, where as in 9 countries, the share of PhD holders older than 50 was higher than 70%. This situation is particularly worse in West Africa. This situation particularly highlights the needs to recruit and train the next generation of scientists.
 |
The good thing however is that fact that the drivers of the Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa as the author of this post heard them clearly in Accra last year and in Durban this year are very clear about including young people and women in this process so that they can get a buy -in and subsequently for them to own the process.
Coming back to the IFPRI report, it mentioned that given the high staff turnover, large numbers of retiring reseearchers and various recruitment restrictions, the radio R and D capacity growth over the past decade ahs largely been driven by the recruitment of junior researches, often only having a bachelor's degree, BSc particuarly during 2000-2008.
Do you know your country's total Agricultural PhD % holders and do you know their age category especially in view of succession planning - or next generation PhD holders' preparation? Have you infact thought about this situation that IFPRI has just outlined? I am sure as a compatriot and caring citizen of your country - you should be concerned for the future especially of science and agricultural development as many of the inhabitants of the world depend on this economy.
However all is not as doom and bleak despite what you just read now because according to the same report, there have also been many positive developments in various countries to address the matter. In an attempt to for instance half the staff turnover some countries have put up new measures including large scale recruitment after years of neglect, the boosting of scientists and support salaries to more competitive levels, increases in retirement age, improved benefit packages and the establishment of performance appraisal systems and promotion opportunities based on merit rather than seniority. And the list of positive developments continues.
The report is packed with interest and must-read information - and I am recommending that you google it and get the full insight package as I was basically teasing you and creating your appetite in this area which directly affect all of us.
IFPRI's flagship report examines the major food policy issues, developments and decisions of 2013. It puts into perspective the year's food policy successes and setbacks and suggests how to advance policies that will improve the food situation for poor people in developing countries. For more information on the 2013 Global Food Policy Report, go to http://www.ifpri.org/gfpr/2013
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