Challenges and opportunities of trilateral co‐operation: Collaboration by the USA, Brazil and Mozambique on horticultural research, 2011–2015

Abstract

Motivation This article analyses the lessons learned through the lived experience of the 2011–2015 Trilateral Project of Technical Support to the Programs of Nutrition and Food Security (PSAL), a collaboration between US and Brazilian organizations working together in Mozambique with local partners. The PSAL project tested and adapted vegetable crop production, post‐harvest and processing practices and technologies; developed field infrastructure for research, extension and processing; trained scores of Mozambican researchers, interns, interviewers and extension technicians; and collected, organized and made systematic socioeconomic information publicly available. Purpose Trilateral co‐operation (TC) is an innovative model of development assistance involving collaboration by a traditional donor, a pivotal country and a host country. There is little documentation on how it works in practice. In this article, key questions were explored regarding three aspects of suggested best practices for TC: collaboration and co‐ordination; ownership and synergies; adaptive governance. Approach and Methods The project sought to experiment with and learn about practical mechanisms and strategies for effective implementation of TC, and to document benefits, challenges and lessons learned during the process. Drawing on dozens of interviews, anonymous individual surveys of project participants and discussions at the beginning and the end of the project, this article explores the principal challenges and gains from working in TC from the perspective of dozens of project participants. Findings Project participants reported that they improved many aspects of their technical capacity, and benefited from multidisciplinary learning through participation in TC, strengthening Mozambique’s institutional capacity to improve vegetable production. Policy implications and Conclusions The article concludes with recommendations for future TC projects: invest in communications and collaboration based on interdisciplinary trilateral teams; involve all levels of organizations as well as all participating actors in the whole value chain; address limitations, priorities and incentives in local institutions; and adopt innovative and adaptive governance strategies and mechanisms to address the evolution of complex trilateral interactions.

Research collaboration and knowledge development in Africa: the case of neonatal conditions

“…Also, the trust created can spread through the networks of individual scientists involved in RC, increasing the chances of meeting other scientists and in this way expanding professional ties (Newman, 2001). Scientists have cited increased networking as a benefit of RC (Currie-Alder et al, 2020;Munung, Mayosi, & de Vries, 2017;Schmink et al, 2020;Tierney et al, 2013;Welsh et al, 2008).…”

“…However, power imbalances have been observed in NSCs. Studies have reported the nonparticipation of Southern scientists in defining the research questions, planning and designing the various project components, deciding on the distribution of financial resources, and taking the lead (Costello & Zumla, 2000;de Schweinitz et al, 2009;Graef et al, 2019;Matenga et al, 2019;Nago & Krott, 2020;Schmink et al, 2020). Southern scientists usually provide access to local communities and collect the data, but in some RC their expertise is not sought after in analysing, interpreting and disseminating the results (Boshoff, 2009;Matenga et al, 2019;Nago & Krott, 2020;Owusu-Nimo & Boshoff, 2017).…”

“…The acknowledgement of the importance of RC is not limited to policy documents. The vast literature that examined the patterns (e.g., Boshoff, 2009;Owusu-Nimo & Boshoff, 2017), driving factors (e.g., Muriithi et al, 2018;Owusu-Nimo & Boshoff, 2017), effects (e.g., Zdravkovic, Chiwona-Karltun, & Zink, 2016Schmink et al, 2020, networks (e.g., Adams et al, 2014;, and asymmetries (e.g., Nago & Krott, 2020;Owusu-Nimo & Boshoff, 2017) related to IRC in Africa are also relevant to strength the role of RC in the continent (Vieira, 2022).…”

Research collaboration and knowledge development in Africa: the case of neonatal conditions

“…The acknowledgement of the importance of RC is not limited to policy documents. The vast literature that examined the patterns (e.g., Boshoff, 2009; Owusu-Nimo & Boshoff, 2017), driving factors (e.g., Muriithi et al, 2018;Owusu-Nimo & Boshoff, 2017), effects (e.g., Zdravkovic, Chiwona-Karltun, & Zink, 2016 Schmink et al, 2020), networks (e.g., Adams et al, 2014;, and asymmetries (e.g., Nago & Krott, 2020; Owusu-Nimo & Boshoff, 2017) related to IRC in Africa are also relevant to strength the role of RC in the continent (Vieira, 2022).…”

Knowledge Transfer Mechanisms: The Case of the Mozambique Agrarian Research Institute from 2013 to 2015

“…The role of agrarian research is to study, research and generate technological solutions that are applied not only in the context of food security but also in the context of agribusiness(Schmink et al, 2017). 2 Bulletin of the Republic, 2004.…”