Measuring Food Policy Research Capacity: Indicators and Typologies

52 Pages Posted: 16 Apr 2013

See all articles by Suresh Chandra Babu

Suresh Chandra Babu

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Paul Dorosh

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)

Date Written: April 1, 2013

Abstract

Addressing emerging global poverty, hunger, and malnutrition challenges requires prudent evidence-based policymaking at the country level. Capacity for generating evidence remains a major constraint in the policy process in developing countries. We surveyed 30 countries to measure the capacity of their individuals, organizations, and policy process system to undertake food and agricultural policy research. Our Food Policy Research Capacity Index, constructed using measures of human capacity (PhD full-time equivalent researchers per million rural residents), human capacity productivity (publications per PhD full-time equivalent researcher), and strength of institutions (the government effectiveness pillar of the Worldwide Governance Indicators), showed substantial variation across countries, with the Republic of South Africa, Colombia, and Ghana scored far higher than countries with similarly sized rural populations such as Liberia, Laos, Burundi, and Afghanistan. Initial analysis showed that the index is strongly positively correlated with the Global Food Security Index and negatively correlated with the Global Hunger Index. Further work is planned to refine the indicators, particularly with regard to the effects of country size (population) and quality of the underlying data.

Keywords: agricultural research, Capacity building, Capacity strengthening, Food policy, Indicators, Policy research, Typology, Africa, Asia, Africa south of Sahara

Suggested Citation

Babu, Suresh Chandra and Dorosh, Paul, Measuring Food Policy Research Capacity: Indicators and Typologies (April 1, 2013). IFPRI Discussion Paper No. 01263, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2251266 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2251266

Suresh Chandra Babu (Contact Author)

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) ( email )

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Paul Dorosh

International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) ( email )

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Washington, DC 20005
United States
+1 202-862-5600 (Phone)
+1 202-467-4439 (Fax)

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