This expert group aims to establish a network linking the international and the national Swedish resource bases for agriculture and development.
The entire purpose of this group is to build partnerships, linking individuals belonging to the Swedish resource base and their organizations working with agricultural R4D internationally and nationally, with the prime target to link the Swedish agricultural R4D resource base, by providing a set of mechanisms for exchanges for collaboration opportunities, primarily to the CGIAR system.
Often Swedish researchers abroad are unaware of other members of the Swedish resource base who are active in the international agricultural research community and CGIAR centers. There are a lot of unutilized opportunities that can be explored if there is a stronger collaborative link between Swedish researchers who work in the CGIAR system. Additionally, It will provide a better access for Swedish resource base to CGIAR’s local research networks. This Expert Group will build and strengthen linkages between the Swedish resource base active in the CGIAR research systemand the Swedish resource base in higher education and research institutions, addressing the agriculture for development agenda.
The ISARB Expert Group will address these issues by two main objectives:
- Establish a community of practice that connects the Swedish resource base for agricultural R4D in the CGIAR system with Swedish research institutions to strengthen research collaboration and to provide national researchers access to the CGIAR system.
- Share knowledge with policy makers, students and the public about the importance, challenges and opportunities in international agricultural R4D.
The main task for the ISARB Expert Group is capacity development, planned in three levels:
- During the 2016 ISARB is planning to organize for Swedish M.Sc. students to be welcomed to the different CGIAR centres involved in this Expert Group initiative.
- The second step is to include Swedish researchers and students, and other R4D professionals, into development and writing of a successful proposal.
Planned activities:
- Start-up meeting to plan and initiate the activities for the coming year, December 2015.
- International meeting in Stockholm in late February/early March 2016, to be combined with a one day seminar about international agricultural research for development. To this meeting other scientists, policy makers and donors will be invited.
- A one-day seminar and a second meeting in Stockholm, September 2016 to follow up on earlier work, to consolidate this Community of Practise initiative for further joint efforts, proposals, and publications.