170 likes | 314 Views
GCP/BGD/034/MUL National Food Policy Capacity Strengthening Programme (NFPCSP) Preliminary Findings of A Survey of Research Needs for Food Security in Bangladesh J. Mohan RAO* Adviser to FAO *University of Massachusetts and Institute of South Asian Studies-NUS, Singapore
E N D
GCP/BGD/034/MUL National Food Policy Capacity Strengthening Programme (NFPCSP) Preliminary Findings of A Survey of Research Needs for Food Security in Bangladesh J. Mohan RAO* Adviser to FAO *University of Massachusetts and Institute of South Asian Studies-NUS, Singapore 29 November 2006
Aims of the Research Needs Digest (RND) To assess research needs and take stock of research appropriate to enhancing food security in Bangladesh: • For policy-makers, researchers and civil society, to inform decisions about setting research priorities • For NFPCSP, to inform decisions about setting a research agenda for technical assistance and awarding grants
Methodology: Instruments The assessment is based on two instruments: • Interviews with individuals from • Government Departments • Research Institutes and Universities • Non-Governmental Organizations • International Organizations and Donors • Bibliographic Search for the period 1999-2006
Instruments (1): Interviews Personal interviews were conducted • with the aid of a simple questionnaire that defined and illustrated each dimension of FS • by eliciting from respondents research topics of importance from a national standpoint • in dialog form with interviewer asking supplementary questions or requesting clarifications • to get abstracts of each topic where possible
Instruments (2): Bibliographic The bibliographic search was conducted • with exclusive focus on research on Bangladesh done in Bangladesh & elsewhere • confined to the period 1999-2006 • based on search of relevant electronic data bases plus specific-source searches • using all relevant search words
Methodology: Classification The topics generated by the Interviews and titles from the Bibliographic search have been classified by the following criteria: FIRST, by principal dimensions of FS SECOND, by sub-dimensions or clusters
Classification: Principal Dimensions Considered Main 1. Production and Availability Dimensions 2. “Social” or Non-Market Access 3. “Economic” or Market Access 4. Utilization and Nutrition Cross-cutting 5. Governance and Institutions Dimensions6. Infrastructure 7. Environment 8. Women+other Disadv. Groups
Classification: “Clusters” or Sub-Dimensions • Clusters are chosen to partition the dimensions • Each Cluster groups issues closely related in both logic and experience • Please refer to the SURVEY form for the “Clusters” considered
Distribution of Clusters by Dimensions The 32 Clusters are distributed as follows:
Methodology: Rationale for Classification Scheme This method of classification • aims to create some order in what otherwise would be a chaotic jumble of hundreds of items • does not presume any priority or ranking among the clusters NOTE: Alternative clusterings are possible
The Progress So Far • >75 persons from >50 agencies interviewed • No. of respondent-identified TOPICS 251 • No. of bibliographic TITLES identified 582 FINDINGS • Findings from the Interviews and Bibliographic Search have been juxtaposed by cluster Please see the HANDOUTS
Frequency Distribution (%) Across DIMENSIONS: Interviews VS Bibliog.
Scope and Limitations • The intent is to focus on socio-economic research and socio-economic implications of scientific-technological research • There is wide but not necessarily statistically representative coverage of respondents • The dialog nature of interviews implies interviewer inputs may influence findings • The findings are still work in progress
The Way Forward A follow-up workshop in February will reflect feedback received here. It will also include • findings from interviews of another dozen persons including eminent national experts • cluster-wise analysis of topics and titles and further grouping into “sub-clusters” • consolidation of the findings into a digest to inform NFPCSP and the research and policy-making communities
Please Complete SURVEY Survey: Scoring Clusters on a 1-10 Scale • Please score each cluster on a scale from 1-10. [A cluster is a group of related issues.] • Your scores must reflect your sense of national research priorities over the coming 5-10 years • A score of 10 means "Very High Priority" and a score of 1 means "Very Low Priority“ • Please score as many of the clusters as possible • Feel free to seek clarifications from facilitators