The evolution and impacts of ACIAR’s forestry research program over three decades

Bartlett, Tony

doi:10.1080/00049158.2016.1184603

Cited by 18 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 43 publications

(46 reference statements)

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“…Projects had well-defined approval processes, which included the requirement to provide the evidence base for the intervention and regular review and monitoring to inform implementation. Projects often explicitly built on the outcomes and learnings of previous projects, at times on the learning of several decades in a particular country or research area (Bartlett, 2016b).…”

Section: What the Case Study Showedmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…All of these can be risks and can have significant impacts on the success of ACIAR projects. This is not to say some of the learnings were not available (see Bartlett, 2016b). Partner sensitivities might (partially) explain the lack of discussion of country and institutional risks and learnings in formal documents, but the more limited use of learning in other areas suggests learning frames were weaker.…”

Section: What the Case Study Showedmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Conceptualizing learning in the public sector: the importance of context

Jarvie

Stewart

2018

Intl Jnl Public Sec Management

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Purpose Given the importance of context in shaping learning, the authors argue that there is a need for research aimed specifically at elucidating organizational learning in a public sector environment. To address this need, the purpose of this paper is to present both critical and practical insights into the nature of public sector learning, based on a detailed mapping of learning in a knowledge-based public sector organization. Design/methodology/approach A purposive case study is employed to explore learning in a knowledge-based organization facing few of the known impediments to learning. Findings Learning occurred in a range of ways, through both formal and informal mechanisms. Four learning sites were observed: project, program, operational and strategic. Little use was made of formal evaluation products. Learning was constrained by mental models and organizational context and was, thus, found to be strongest in areas relating to the agency’s core business and dominant professional expertise (international agricultural research). Research limitations/implications The findings of the study are based on the learning experience of a single public sector organization in the applied research and development sector. Further work is needed on public sector organizations operating in a variety of situations to determine the generalizability of the patterns reported here and to develop and validate the mapping approach employed in the study. Practical implications The mapping approach enabled parts of the organization that were not included in the learning conversation to be identified. The involvement of the researchers also precipitated learning activities and consciousness, suggesting that practically-oriented research may be a useful learning catalyst for small organizations. Originality/value Learning in public sector organizations is usually approached through the “lens” of models developed in business settings. Mapping learning provides a way of showing what is learned, how it is learned, and its relationship to the public sector environment, characterized by legislation, political variables and ministerial oversight. This approach offers a way forward in the understanding and development of public sector learning.

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Section: What the Case Study Showedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: What the Case Study Showedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conceptualizing learning in the public sector: the importance of context

Jarvie

Stewart

2018

Intl Jnl Public Sec Management

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“…These projects involve capacity building and research activities and, where relevant, develop an understanding of the farming and forestry systems as well as policy settings to enhance the prospects that the knowledge and technologies developed will be adopted. Over a 30-year period, ACIAR has invested over AUD 100 million to fund 150 forestry research projects, with the greatest number of projects implemented in Indonesia, Vietnam and Papua New Guinea (Bartlett, 2016b).…”

Section: The Australian Centre For International Agricultural Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…ACIAR's forestry projects in Indonesia have covered a broad range of themes in the context of forest-based development described above; they have included technical, social and policy aspects of plantation and smallholder forestry systems (Mendham and Hardiyanto, 2011;Rohadi et al, 2012), climate change (Irawan and Tacconi, 2009) and value adding of timber and non-timber forest products (Cunningham et al, 2011;Purnomo et al, 2014). From 1987 to December 2015, ACIAR completed 21 forestry research projects in Indonesia (Table 1), representing about one-fifth of all forestry projects commissioned by ACIAR over three decades (Bartlett, 2016b). An ACIAR impact study of 12 completed ACIAR forestry projects in Indonesia (Lindner, 2011) reported high returns on investment overall, but evidence of impact from only some of the projects.…”

Section: Aciar's Support For Forestry Research In Indonesiamentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Affecting the Relative Success of Collaborative Forestry Research Projects in Indonesia

Bartlett

2018

Eur J Dev Res

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The success of research for development projects is of keen interest to project funders and participating researchers, and underpins project impact. This paper reports a qualitative investigation of factors identified by project researchers as affecting relative success in ten collaborative forestry research projects in Indonesia. Interviews with 33 project participants identified 30 factors that influence project success. The most frequently identified factors were scientists' commitment and collaboration; collaborative scoping and design; funding and equipment; effective communications and networks; implementation flexibility, monitoring and review; and skills mix and time allocations. The relative success of projects was evaluated through an analysis of project records, and examination of three projects of different relative success provided evidence of relationships between relative success and the identified success factors. As most of the success factors relate to project design or implementation, this knowledge can assist funders, research managers and project staff to improve project success. Le succès de la recherche pour les projets de développement est d'un vif intérêt pour les bailleurs de fonds et les chercheurs qui y participent, et sous-tend l'impact des projets. Cet article rend compte d'une enquête qualitative sur les facteurs identifiés par des chercheurs comme les clés d'un succès relatif dans dix projets de recherche forestière en Indonésie. Des entretiens avec 33 participants du projet ont permis d'identifier les 30 facteurs qui influent sur le succès du projet. Les facteurs les plus fréquemment identifiés étaient l'engagement et la collaboration des scientifiques; la démarche collaborative dans l'identification et la conception du projet; le financement et l'équipement; une communication et des réseaux efficaces; la souplesse de mise en oeuvre, le suivi et la révision du projet; et la diversité des compétences et la répartition du temps. La réussite relative des projets a été évaluée au moyen d'une analyse des documents du projet et l'examen de trois projets différents ayant eu un succès relatif a permis de fournir les preuves d'une corrélation entre le succès relatif du projet et les facteurs de succès identifiés. Comme la plupart des facteurs de réussite se rapportent à la conception ou à la mise en oeuvre du projet, cette connaissance peut aider les bailleurs de fonds, les directeurs de recherche et le personnel de projet à améliorer le succès des projets.

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“…ACIAR projects seek to generate knowledge, technologies and capacity to achieve better decision making, changed agricultural practices and policies that, in turn, generate positive scientific, economic, social or environmental impacts (ACIAR 2014). Under ACIAR's forestry program, about three-quarters of its 101 projects completed over a 30 year period have related to aspects of agroforestry and smallholder planted forests (Bartlett 2016a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring transformational outcomes from donor investments in agroforestry research for development

Bartlett

2020

Agroforest Syst

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While many agroforestry research projects contribute to improving food security, livelihoods and management of natural resources, few have had a significant role in achieving transformational development outcomes. Evaluating the achievements and impacts of multiple research for development (R4D) projects improves understanding of how and why different development interventions work or don’t work. This paper evaluates the relative success of 15 completed agroforestry R4D projects, funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, and analyses key success factors and other aspects that have contributed to differential project success. The evaluation found that six projects had achieved both high achievement of planned activities and had high impacts. The two key success factors considered by project scientists to have the greatest influence on project success were “good leadership and project management” and “collaborative scoping and design”, but the factor “links to impact pathways and user benefits” was also found to be a determinant of high achievement-high impact projects. The paper examines aspects of three most successful agroforestry projects, implemented in Eastern Africa, Vietnam and Papua New Guinea, that have enabled these projects to contribute to transformational development outcomes. These aspects included the development of simple farmer-friendly, locally-appropriate agroforestry technologies, the existence of supportive government policies and programs including effective mechanisms for dissemination of germplasm and tree-growing knowledge to farmers, the engagement of non-government organisations and private sector entities, and the willingness of the donor to invest in value-added product development, effective value-chains and market research.

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The evolution and impacts of ACIAR’s forestry research program over three decades

Cited by 18 publications

References 43 publications

Conceptualizing learning in the public sector: the importance of context

Conceptualizing learning in the public sector: the importance of context

Factors Affecting the Relative Success of Collaborative Forestry Research Projects in Indonesia

Exploring transformational outcomes from donor investments in agroforestry research for development

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