Ghana - Agricultural Research

 ICRR 10722 Report Number : ICRR10722 ICR Review Operations Evaluation Department 1. Project Data: Date Posted : 08/10/2000 PROJ ID : P000928 Appraisal Actual Project Name : Agricultural Research Project Costs 29.5 26.3 US$M ) (US$M) Country : Ghana Loan/ US$M ) 22.0 Loan /Credit (US$M) 21.6 Sector (s): Research Cofinancing US$M ) (US$M) L/C Number : C2247 Board Approval 91 FY ) (FY) Partners involved : Closing Date 03/31/1997 03/31/1999 Prepared by : Reviewed by : Group Manager : Group : 2. Project Objectives and Components a. Objectives The main objective was to initiate a long -term process to strengthen Ghana's agricultural research system in order to generate improved technologies, thus contributing to national development objectives and growth in the agricultural sector. b. Components Components included: (a) research management development; (b) human resource development; (c) rehabilitation of research facilities; (c) improvement of library and information systems; (e) research program support. c. Comments on Project Cost, Financing and Dates The project was extended for two years . 3. Achievement of Relevant Objectives: The project achieved most of its objectives, particularly in establishing the institutional base for improved research management, rehabilitation of research facilities, provision of logistical support, establishment of library information systems and research program support . Overall, while ICR information is very limited, the initiation of a long -term process to strengthen the agricultural research system appears to have been achieved . 4. Significant Outcomes/Impacts: While attribution is difficult, the agricultural sector has grown at nearly four percent since 1996, and the production of maize increased by 70 percent between 1993 and 1997. Improved recommendations have been released for maize (including high lysine maize), cowpeas, soybeans, cassava, plantain, millet, sorghum, pineapples, and vegetables . More than 80 scientists were trained at the MSc and PhD level at local and external universities . Laboratories, equipment, and other facilities have been rehabilitated at all research institutes and to some extent at the national universities. A Ghana Agricultural Research Information System was established and intranet and internet systems were installed. Each of 17 commodity and factor research programs have national coordinating committees . A technical secretariat reviews research proposals for funding and quality assurance . To date, three of the seven agricultural research institutes have been subjected to external review . Five research/extension/farmer linkage committees for each of the major agro ecological zones in the country have been established . 5. Significant Shortcomings (including non-compliance with safeguard policies): There was a slow start related to lack of understanding of Bank procurement and disbursement procedures . There were initial problems in the establishment of the M&E system . The research strategic plan was late in presentation which, among other things, contributed to some trainees being unable to take up or complete their training fellowships. Because the project was implemented by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research under a ministry other than the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, reporting relationships were unclear . There were some delays in counterpart funding release . 6. Ratings : ICR OED Review Reason for Disagreement /Comments Outcome : Satisfactory Satisfactory Institutional Dev .: Substantial Substantial  Sustainability : Likely Likely Very limited evidence in the ICR. GOG commitment and the follow-on APL is promising, but GOG budgetary support prospects will be important. Proposed audit will review this. Bank Performance : Satisfactory Not Rated Not enough information in the ICR Borrower Perf .: Satisfactory Not Rated Not enough information in the ICR Quality of ICR : Unsatisfactory NOTE: NOTE ICR rating values flagged with ' * ' don't comply with OP/BP 13.55, but are listed for completeness. 7. Lessons of Broad Applicability: 1. Project governance and reporting responsibilities need to be made clear from the outset and have ownership . 2. Effective research management depends on an operational M&E system . 3.The early training of project implementation staff in Bank procurement and disbursement procedures is essential to minimize implementation delays which, in turn, threaten the completion of research programs which have a relatively long life cycle . 8. Assessment Recommended? Yes No Why? 1. The project is one of a package of 5 in the agricultural sector which would allow a useful sectoral overview. 2. The project appears to have gone well and may be an instructive example of better practice . 3. ICR information very limited, an audit would help to fill out the evidence . 9. Comments on Quality of ICR: Unsatisfactory. While it is commendable that the five ICR's in the sector were packaged together under a performance review report, this appears to have significantly short -changed the ICR's themselves. The ICR in this  case lacks a number of data tables, for example, on project financing and supervision resources . While brevity, where possible, is commendable, at about two and a half pages of text there is barely enough information to verify the ratings given. Some analysis of likely economic returns would have been useful . Bank and borrower performance sections are really just assertions .