ETHIOPIAN DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH INSTITUTE

1. ETHIOPIAN DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH INSTITUTE Policy and knowledge systems in agricultural development at the country level: Experience from Ethiopia Emily Schmidt REKSS Country Program Coordinator / GIS Specialist IFPRI-ESSP2 ReSAKSS Africa Wide Conference Addis Ababa, Ethiopia November 23-24, 2009

2. Background Phase I of the Ethiopia Strategy Support Program operated from September 2004 to June 2008. ESSP provided extensive technical and analytical support towards the establishment of the Ethiopia Commodity Exchange (ECX). Phase II of ESSP, which began in July 2008, places a greater emphasis on capacity strengthening, while continuing a program of policy-relevant research and analysis. • Collaborative research with the Ethiopia Development Research Institute (EDRI), working with the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA), and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MoARD) • Robust knowledge-management to contribute to policy dialogue, strategic priority setting, and evidence-based policy analysis. • Enhancing communications and institutional linkages between policy makers and other policy and research actors through joint seminars and other dissemination events. • Capacity strengthening and increased knowledge dissemination within the academic and policy research community. INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE – ETHIOPIA STRATEGY SUPPORT PROGRAM

3. Background In order to respond to Ethiopia’s growing development challenges, IFPRIESSP-II and its National Advisory committee identifies key activities and research initiatives: NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE (NAC) Ato Newai Gebre-Ab Chief Economic Advisor to the Prime Minister and Executive Director, EDRI Dr. Aberra Deressa State Minister, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MoARD) Ato Mekonnen Manyazewal State Minister, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED) Dr. Solomon Assefa Director General, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) Wro. Samia Zekaria Director General, Central Statistical Agency (CSA) Ato Bulbula Tulle Managing Director, Hawas Agri Business (Private Sector) Dr. Paul Dorosh Program Leader, IFPRI-ESSP-II INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE – ETHIOPIA STRATEGY SUPPORT PROGRAM

4. Robust knowledge-management • Strengthening of data dissemination through REKSS • ESSP2 Website • REKSS Hub • ESSP2 Newsletters • EDRI Communications Unit • EDRI Newsletter and Brochure • Capacity Strengthening • Ethiopian Development Research Institute • Joint research on rural non-farm clusters; EDRI SAM/CGE Analysis; and short-term policy analysis on cereal markets, inflation, and economic growth • Joint seminars and training on economic modeling (EDRI) • Financial support for PhD training in economic analysis (EDRI) • Central Statistical Agency • Support to GIS analysis (2007 census) • Creation of operational geo-database at CSA • Federal and regional GIS training • Ministry of Agriculture • Support to agricultural and food security policy analysis • Training on agricultural policy analysis INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE – ETHIOPIA STRATEGY SUPPORT PROGRAM

5. Enhancing communications and institutional linkages • Series of Conferences and Symposiums in different venues: • EDRI / IFPRI-ESSP2 Joint Seminar Series: on-going • ESSP Policy Conference 2009: “Accelerating Agricultural Development, Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction in Ethiopia”: October 22-23, 2009 • Symposium on the Structural Transformation of Ethiopia’s Economy: Future Directions for Development Strategy: October 24, 2009 • Lalibella Conference on Initial Results from the Ethiopia Rural Household Survey: October 25-28, 2009 • Working with other institutions towards consistent policy analysis: • Agricultural Growth Program: MoARD, World Bank, Canadian CIDA, ESSP2 • CAADP analysis: MoARD, Rural Econ Development and Food Secruity (REDFS) group • Poverty Mapping: MoFED, MoARD, ESSP2, WFP, World Bank • Find and download all EDRI / ESSP seminar series presentations on the internet: http://www.slideshare.net/essp2 INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE – ETHIOPIA STRATEGY SUPPORT PROGRAM

6. Enhancing communications and institutional linkages http://www.ifpri.org/book-757/ourwork/program/ethiopia-strategy-support-program INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE – ETHIOPIA STRATEGY SUPPORT PROGRAM

7. Policy and Knowledge Systems: Reaching our collaborating countries • Ethiopia has limited band width for internet communications. • So, what communication and dissemination mechanisms are working??!! • MANY! • Top 10 local policy and knowledge systems mechanisms: • National Advisory Committee 6. Joint research • Capacity Building * 7. Joint seminar series w/ EDRI • Brochure and Newsletters* 8. REKKS Hubs and Rural Nodes* • Database Management at CSA 9. Mixed media outputs • Strengthening EDRI Communications 10. Building on local expertise • and Dissemination Unit INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE – ETHIOPIA STRATEGY SUPPORT PROGRAM

8. Capacity Building • Allows for researchers to explore new datasets and specific analysis techniques in a learning environment • Allows a venue for data dissemination that is hands-on. • Presentations on research outputs using specific datasets and software programs are mixed with hands-on software training. • UPCOMING IN ESSP2 ! - Regional training using the 2007 census to understand geographic socio-economic patterns at a sub -national level! INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE – ETHIOPIA STRATEGY SUPPORT PROGRAM

9. Brochure and Newsletters • Excellent communication tool to share with other researchers and institutions • Encourages bi-monthly or quarterly updating within institutions • Incentivizes up-to-date web posting • Excellent evaluation tool – all accomplishments and important meetings • Find softcopies of our newsletters on the web: http://www.ifpri.org/book-757/ourwork/program/ethiopia-strategy-support-program INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE – ETHIOPIA STRATEGY SUPPORT PROGRAM

10. Rural Economic Knowledge Support Systems (REKSS) II EDRI IFPRI ESSP- II Primary Goals and Objectives • Collaborative research with varying institutions in Ethiopia • Robust knowledge management • Capacity strengthening and increased knowledge dissemination • Enhancing communications and instutional linkages Central Statistical Agency Goals and Objectives Vision The vision of the Central Statistics Agency (CSA) is to be a center of excellence in providing official statistics that can be used as an input for sustainable socio-economic development. Mission The mission of the CSA is to produce comprehensive, timely, reliable and standardized statistical information using scientific statistical methods; lead the country’s statistical system; become a center of official statistical training; and fulfill all users’ needs through ICT based data archiving, analysis and dissemination system. New Products! Rural Facilities and Services Atlas: 2007 • Ethiopia Development Research Institute Goals and Objectives • Conduct and promote high quality & objective policy research • Disseminate the results of policy research • Build professional excellence and capacity in socio-economic policy analysis • Develop policy research responsive to the needs of policy makers with rigorous analysis • Create a research agenda that examines both short, medium and long term issues • Serve as an effective forum for discussing development issues among key stakeholders EDRI Social Accounting Matrix

11. Policy and knowledge systems in agricultural development • Conclusions: • Building effect knowledge systems requires • Interacting with local counterparts on how policy and knowledge systems work • Facilitating opportunities for creative thinking • Taking into account constraints of country communications infrastructure • Using various methods of dissemination will reach a broader user group and allow for more concrete uptake (especially if paired with capacity building) • Training events • Video • CDs • Newsletters • Website • REKSS hub and rural nodes • Link with other local and international research institutions that are striving to bolster discussion and dissemination (you are not alone!) INTERNATIONAL FOOD POLICY RESEARCH INSTITUTE – ETHIOPIA STRATEGY SUPPORT PROGRAM