Module 2 - Ecuador: Strategic International Alliances for Capacity Building and Research

One innovation introduced while supervising research projects was the formulation of a “reference group” made up of members of the target group, other scientists, local industrialists, and extension workers, which guided the project’s implementation and ensured its relevance. A survey examining how a sample of these groups functioned indicated that their value was closely linked with the commitment of individual members and that it may be useful to form the groups when individual research projects are being designed.

Competitive selection of projects to be financed also allows participating institutions to provide cofinancing, thus increasing total funding available for research and strengthening the overall system.
The emphasis on partnerships and joint proposals, particularly between public and private sector organizations, promotes greater awareness of reciprocal capabilities and contributes to better-informed proposals.

The CRGP approach has helped researchers start to see themselves as competitors for resources rather than passive recipients of research grants, which in turn has improved awareness of the need to accommodate research to national, regional, and sectoral demands.

Because CRGPs are not naturally self-sustaining, the establishment of a competitive, demand-driven system beyond the project phase must be an integral part of project planning.