Diplomatic Desk:
An initiative has been undertaken to formulate a new ‘Results-Based Monitoring and Evaluation’ framework to ensure accountability, data-driven decision-making, and effective investment outcomes within Bangladesh’s National Agricultural Research System (NARS).
To this end, the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations recently organized a workshop involving key stakeholders from various NARS institutions. The workshop featured detailed discussions on indicators for measuring the performance of agricultural research and development (R&D) activities, the collection of data and evidence, and information sharing among the institutions.
The organizers stated that this initiative aims to create a coordinated roadmap through stakeholder participation. This will strengthen the link between agricultural research investments and tangible outcomes, enabling research-based knowledge and innovations to be effectively utilized for agricultural development.
Dr. Kabir Uddin Ahmed, Director General of the Bangladesh Sugarcrop Research Institute (BSRI), attended the workshop as a special guest, while Xiaokun Shi, FAO Representative in Bangladesh, was present as a guest of honor. Dr. Md. Abdus Salam, Executive Chairman of BARC, presided over the event.
The workshop was organized under FAO’s AsTP* project. Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, this project is being implemented in close collaboration with BARC and other relevant stakeholders.
According to the organizers, strengthening the systems for coordinated performance evaluation, evidence generation, and data sharing among NARS institutions will allow for a clearer assessment of the effectiveness of agricultural research investments. Simultaneously, it will help effectively highlight the contribution of research toward the transformation of Bangladesh’s agriculture and its long-term development goals.
