SAGA Progress Report

SAGA
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SAGA Progress Report
October, 2003

II. RESEARCH

Most of this section is organized by the activities being planned and implemented in SAGA countries. During the previous six months, we concentrated our attention both on further defining the research agenda and on moving forward the process in terms of implementation of the research themes in the various SAGA countries.

Overall, the SAGA research team is pleased with the progress made to date. We have put a premium on a deliberate approach that is consistent with our commitment to institutional strengthening, quality in the research, and policy relevance.

In reviewing the details of activities and plans below, in terms of process, progress, and research emphasis, it is clear that there is considerable variation across countries. This comes as no surprise. It reflects not only the influence of local political events on the pace and focus of work (e.g., the political turmoil that previously gripped Madagascar and still adversely affects Côte d’Ivoire), but also the nature of the institutional context, particularly in terms of the strength and capacity of the Secretariat for Institutional Support for Economic Research in Africa (SISERA) and other local institutions with whom we are partnering. Similarly, the choice and selection of thematic areas and the nature of the research process itself, which are specific to each country and capture the results of the demand driven process, influence the pace and direction of progress. For example, in a number of cases, particularly where the institutional framework is weaker for conducting applied and policy relevant research, it requires greater time and effort to both organize and develop the research agenda. It is in these same countries/regions where the availability of data is also most limited. Consequently, collection of further survey is required in some instances to enable the research teams to address the salient policy questions identified in consultation with various stakeholders and policy-makers, both in and out of government. To the extent that additional data are required, we have also been actively engaged in augmenting financial resources to cover those costs, given the expense of such efforts.

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