SAGA Progress Report and Workplan

SAGA
B16 MVR Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853
(607) 255-8931
Fax (607) 255-0178
saga@cornell.edu

SAGA PROGRESS REPORT (12/03-12/04) &
UPCOMING WORKPLAN (1/05-12/05)

ANNEX
TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION

We are completing the end of the third year of SAGA. In this semi-annual report, which also serves as the basis for discussions at our annual Advisory Board meeting, we focus on the work during the previous six months, and the plans for the months ahead. There are three major sections of the report, corresponding to the research, technical assistance, and competitive grants portions of SAGA.

II. RESEARCH

Most of this section is organized by the activities being planned and implemented in the countries and regions of SAGA’s focus—Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, the West African region. Overall, the SAGA research team is pleased with the progress made to date, especially given the adversity of budgetary shortfalls and uncertainty of future funding. The new participation and engagement of PASSN (Poverty Analysis and Social Safety Net) in SAGA has been instrumental in SAGA’s survival, and we are excited about our new partners in this effort. Along with the continued support arranged through the efforts of Rita Aggarwal and her colleagues to generate support for SAGA from the Africa Bureau and the IEHA (Initiative to End Hunger in Africa), we are hopeful that we can once again return to a focus on our research and institution building, along with a renewed emphasis on integrating the results of our efforts in the policymaking arena.

In reviewing the details of activities and plans below, in terms of process, progress, and research emphasis, other exogenous events, in addition to the delay in funding, will condition the nature and scope of our work for the remainder of SAGA. First, we still face uncertainty over future resource flows—although, the extension of SAGA through 2007 enables us to continue to take a deliberate approach to planning and implementing our work and afford opportunities for undertaking exciting opportunities in the years ahead. Second, the past few months have witnessed the demise of SISERA (Secretariat for Institutional Support for Economic Research in Africa). We are disappointed with this decision, which we feel was ill-advised. However, we also feel that our mandate to support and assist the technical capacity and policy relevance of African research institutions is not diminished. We therefore continue to put a premium on developing collaborative efforts with African research institutions.

In the remainder of this section of the progress report, we summarize accomplishments and activities during the past year, with a focus on the previous six months since the prior progress report. We then present a description of planned activities over the next year, again, with a focus on the next six months.

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.

III.

IV.

V.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

IX.

Ghana
Kenya
Madagascar
South Africa
Uganda
West Africa
Multi-Country

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

COMPETITIVE SMALL RESEARCH GRANTS

CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS

RESEARCH OUTPUT

SAGA WEBSITE

QUESTIONNAIRES

APPENDIX

Attachment 1: Accra Newspaper Coverage of Ghana Conference
Attachment 2: Table of Contents for South African volume of papers
Attachment 3: Agenda for EPRC Uganda conference
Attachment 4: Proposal for Community Schools/Distance Learning
Attachment 5: Small Grants Program- Table of Deliverables

Return to 2004 SAGA Annual Report and Workplan for 2005

Return to SAGA Progress Reports