Recently discourse has grown about the importance of partnerships for adding value to agriculture research, strengthening policy capacities, and enhancing food policy impact on global food security and poverty reduction. However, the literature on partnerships specifically focusing on food policy research impact is still mostly emerging. This paper contributes to our understanding of food policy–research partnerships and provides a review of the theory and empirical literature about the factors that contribute to effective food policy–research partnerships. The literature points to the emergence of organizational partnerships as primarily driven by subjective perceptions about potential partners, the complex and uncertain external environment, access to resources through partnership and expectations of potential impact of the partnership. Perceptions that are found to be important include trust, mutuality of partner goals, legitimacy of partner and the perception that partnering will achieve more than what one organization can accomplish independently through cost sharing, lower transactions costs and increased competitiveness. Effectively implementing each phase of the partnership cycle, from scoping to reviewing and revising, with effective communication throughout all phases, is critical to achieve high quality and impactful food policy–research partnerships.

Subsistence production: a sign of market failure. Commercialization cannot be left to the market. Household effects of commercialization. Nutrition effects of commercialization. Policy action needed.

The Global Food Policy Report is IFPRI’s flagship publication. This year’s annual report examines major food policy issues, global and regional developments, and commitments made in 2015, and presents data on key food policy indicators. The report also proposes key policy options for 2016 and beyond to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. In 2015, the global community made major commitments on sustainable development and climate change. The global food system lies at the heart of these commitments—and we will only be able to meet the new goals if we work to transform our food system to be more inclusive, climate-smart, sustainable, efficient, nutrition- and health-driven, and business-friendly.

The SAGE Encyclopedia of World Poverty, Second Edition addresses the persistence of poverty across the globe while updating and expanding the landmark work, Encyclopedia of World Poverty, originally published in 2006 prior to the economic calamities of 2008. For instance, while continued high rates of income inequality might be unsurprising in developing countries such as Mexico, the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reported in May 2013 even countries with historically low levels of income inequality have experienced significant increases over the past decade, including Denmark, Sweden, and Germany. The U.N. and the World Bank also emphasize the persistent nature of the problem. It is not all bad news. In March 2013, the Guardian newspaper reported, “Some of the poorest people in the world are becoming significantly less poor, according to a groundbreaking academic study which has taken a new approach to measuring deprivation. The report, by Oxford University’s poverty and human development initiative, predicts that countries among the most impoverished in the world could see acute poverty eradicated within 20 years if they continue at present rates.” On the other hand, the U.N. says environmental threats from climate change could push billions more into extreme poverty in coming decades. All of these points lead to the need for a revised, updated, and expanded edition of the Encyclopedia of World Poverty. Key Features: 775 evaluated and updated and 175 entirely new entries New Reader’s Guide categories Signed articles, with cross-references Further Readings will be accompanied by pedagogical elements Updated Chronology, Resource Guide, Glossary, and thorough new Index The SAGE Encyclopedia of World Poverty, Second Edition is a dependable source for students and researchers who are researching world poverty, making it a must-have reference for all academic libraries.

The impact of the formalization of collective rights to land and forest in Peru is linked to a clear perception of tenure security: 80% of those surveyed consider their rights are stronger since titling, although this percentage is higher in men (85%) than women (75%). 83% of the members of communities analysed in Madre de Dios consider that livelihoods have become more constrained since titling took place. Despite progress, only 35% of those surveyed in Madre de Dios and Loreto say they participate in forest management. Titled communities are more actively involved (39%) than untitled ones (13%), and men more so than women. 51% of those surveyed in the communities analyzed in Madre de Dios feel that the formal rules and legislation on the use of resources are well known, clear and fair. The percentage drops significantly amongst women.

An examination of technology transfer in agricultural research collaborations Public-Private Collaboration in Agricultural Research: New Institutional Arrangements and Economic Implications examines the impact of the private-sector takeover of the field, and what it means for funding, research, technology, and more. Beginning with U.S. agricultural research financing, the discussion moves on to cover plant and animal research investments, collaborating institutions, and the international significance of technology spillover and transfer. From intellectual property rights and the CRADA Model to seed generation and other agricultural technology, this book offers a thought-provoking overview of global collaboration at this critical intersection of science and human welfare.

The evaluative study focuses primarily on PIM’s external partners; this includes partnerships where PIM is engaged by another organization as a service provider and trusted advisor. The objective is to undertake an in-depth analysis of PIM partnerships and to elicit lessons on the key factors contributing to their success in achieving outcomes. The aim is to generate: (1) an inventory of partnerships; (2) an understanding of the motivations for partnership formation, and of the partnership dynamics in promoting innovations and policy change; and (3) an assessment of strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities to foster stronger future partnerships. This evaluative study serves the dual purposes of accountability to CGIAR partners and funders and of learning. The primary intended users are CGIAR researchers and partners. The findings and lessons learned will also provide input into the implementation of new initiatives under One CGIAR.

In 2015, IFPRI commemorated its 40th anniversary. For the past four decades, the Institute has worked tirelessly to provide research-based policy solutions to bring an end to hunger and malnutrition. The impact of IFPRI’s research travels far beyond its walls. This past year witnessed substantial gains in food and nutrition security on the global stage, and IFPRI was proud to contribute to these shared global achievements.

Capacity challenges thwart economic growth and development. Efforts to strengthen capacity can benefit from past lessons and documented best practices. This note uses IFPRI’s capacity-strengthening activities as an example to provide an overview of best practices for one of the key elements of capacity development: monitoring and evaluation (M&E). The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) defines capacity strengthening as the “process through which individuals, organizations, and societies obtain, strengthen, and maintain capabilities to set and achieve their own development objectives over time.”1 Using the UNDP definition, this note explains the concepts of monitoring and evaluation and outlines how to conduct M&E of capacity-strengthening activities, including how to assess inputs, outputs, outcomes, and impact at the individual, institutional, and system levels.

Managing the ability of agriculture to meet rising global demand and to respond to the changes and opportunities will require good policy, sustained investments, and innovation - not business as usual. Investments in public Research and Development, extension, education, and their links with one another have elicited high returns and pro-poor growth, but these investments alone will not elicit innovation at the pace or on the scale required by the intensifying and proliferating challenges confronting agriculture. Experience indicates that aside from a strong capacity in Research and Development, the ability to innovate is often related to collective action, coordination, the exchange of knowledge among diverse actors, the incentives and resources available to form partnerships and develop businesses, and conditions that make it possible for farmers or entrepreneurs to use the innovations. While consensus is developing about what is meant by 'innovation' and 'innovation system', no detailed blueprint exists for making agricultural innovation happen at a given time, in a given place, for a given result. The AIS approach that looks at these multiple conditions and relationships that promote innovation in agriculture, has however moved from a concept to a sub-discipline with principles of analysis and action. AIS investments must be specific to the context, responding to the stage of development in a particular country and agricultural sector, especially the AIS. This sourcebook contributes to identifying, designing, and implementing the investments, approaches, and complementary interventions that appear most likely to strengthen AIS and to promote agricultural innovation and equitable growth. It emphasizes the lessons learned, benefits and impacts, implementation issues, and prospects for replicating or expanding successful practices. The information in this sourcebook derives from approaches that have been tested at different scales in different contexts. It reflects the experiences and evolving understanding of numerous individuals and organizations concerned with agricultural innovation, including the World Bank. This information is targeted to the key operational staff in international and regional development agencies and national governments who design and implement lending projects and to the practitioners who design thematic programs and technical assistance packages. The sourcebook can also be an important resource for the research community and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).