Australian Centre for International and Agricultural Research

ACIAR's bilateral work will continue to implement key programs under the Food Security through Rural Development initiative. Ongoing country programs will operate in developing countries in the Asia Pacific region, and southern Africa. Initiatives to support the Food Security initiative through sustainably enhancing agricultural productivity and profitability are:

• Implementation of the 'Sustainable intensification of maize legume cropping systems in eastern and southern Africa' project, with partnerships in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania with input from the Republic of South Africa, focusing on lifting the productivity of maize-legume systems through introduction of productive varieties and strengthening value chains;
• Identifying opportunities for developing high-value agricultural, forestry and fisheries products in the Pacific through the Pacific Agribusiness Research for Development initiative, focusing on developing high-value agricultural, fisheries and forestry products in Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji, with expansion into Tonga, Samoa and Kiribati;
• Improving the productivity of rice-based farming systems in South Asia and South East Asia, concentrating on adapting existing technologies to improve yields of staple crops in Laos, Cambodia and Bangladesh; and
• Climate change adaptation in the rice-based farming systems in the Mekong and South Asia through the integration of seasonal climate forecasting and crop modelling with locally adapted staple crop varieties and more efficient water resource management.

ACIAR will continue to align its investment of resources with the broader priorities of the aid program, focusing on poorer countries and, in particular, lagging regions within developing countries. Priorities for 2010‑11 include:

• Improving livelihoods of smallholder farmers engaged in coffee‑based farming systems, aquaculture, vegetable and cocoa production in Papua New Guinea through technology innovation and improving marketing within a socio-cultural context that reduces constraints to adoption;
• Contributing to poverty reduction in Indonesia through a focus on policies and systems relating to livestock health and production, competitive horticulture and aquaculture industries, and agribusiness systems;
• Managing the research and extension component of the AusAID-funded Cambodian Agricultural Value Chain program, and linkages to project activities to help farmers diversify their agricultural activities while strengthening their rice production base; and
• Enhancing productive and competitive horticulture and livestock systems in Pakistan, improved crop varieties in East Timor, sustainable agricultural practices in Iraq's cropping sector and stronger supply and marketing chains for Philippines horticulture and aquaculture producers.

Expanded multilateral funding will be provided primarily on an unrestricted basis to the CGIAR in accordance with the ongoing reform process of the CGIAR system.

Priorities for future funding will be set in consultation with the Donor Fund Council once the reforms are finalised. In the interim period, ACIAR will allocate both restricted and increased unrestricted funds to individual centres in accordance with the current approach.

Total funding provided to the CGIAR is estimated at $23.4 million including total anticipated allocations.

Training programs will develop the skills of partner country research scientists involved in ACIAR projects, through formal training courses, and informal project activities and interactions, including:

• Continuing two fellowship schemes, the first of which offers developing country scientists post-graduate study opportunities in Australia and the second via short-term research management training of outstanding leaders; and
• Continued support through the Crawford Fund for training activities, including master classes which complement ACIAR training and projects.

ACIAR will communicate the results from its research activities via electronic media and publications raising awareness of research and development activities through:

• Scientific publications produced and disseminated, including through the ACIAR website, CD-ROMs and in hard-copy formats; and
• Implementing a website strategy that supports and encourages project and stakeholder collaboration and interaction.

ACIAR will commission independent studies of the impacts arising from projects through the ACIAR Impact Assessment program, working closely with AusAID's Office of Development Effectiveness;

Five major studies of projects or suites of projects will be undertaken to assess their impacts, including a major program in Papua New Guinea, and impacts emerging from past animal health and International Agricultural Research Centre activities; and

An adoption study will be conducted to determine levels of adoption based on a large research project completed in 2006‑07.