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Authors:

Nienke Beintema, George Essegbey, and Roland Asare

Year:

2016

Publisher

International Food Policy Research Institute and Science and Technology Policy Research Institute

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Spending growth

Growth in agricultural research spending during 2000–2011 mostly stemmed from increased capacity at Ghana’s universities, whereas growth during 2011–2014 primarily resulted from salary increases at CSIR to institute parity with the higher education sector. Despite the increased spending, total agricultural researcher numbers actually contracted slightly during 2011–2014, mainly among researchers with BSc and MSc degrees.

Donor-driven research agenda

Since 2000, actual government funding to CSIR has been well below approved budgets. Government funding barely covers salary costs, leaving CSIR almost entirely dependent on (volatile) donor and development bank funding to finance research activities. Given that donors and development bank priorities often override national priorities, high donor dependency can potentially lead to imbalances in CSIR’s research agenda.

Staffing challenges at CSIR

The 2012 salary increases successfully curtained high staff turnover within CSIR, but the high share of researchers in the older age brackets, and especially among those with PhD degrees, is an area of serious concern at CSIR and within the higher education agencies. Training opportunities are limited, although CSIR has instituted a system whereby senior researchers mentor their younger colleagues. Developing sound training and succession plans will be key to filling existing and anticipated staffing gaps at CSIR.

Capital investments needed

Capital investments are totally inadequate at CSIR. Although government funding was allocated, no disbursements were made in 2010 and beyond to date. This obviously has serious repercussions for the council’s infrastructure, including laboratory and office space, communications and scientific equipment, vehicles for field work, and so on. CRI was the only institute to receive funding for the construction of a biotechnology laboratory associated with its research on roots and tubers under WAAPP.