Preface to the First Edition

All Sourcebook material is available on the World Bank Web site that links with additional key sources of information, such as other Web sites, readings, and manuals.

Preparation of the Sourcebook

The Sourcebook draws on a wide range of experience from donor agencies, governments, institutions, and other groups active in agricultural development. However, in this first edition of the Sourcebook, the initial contributions draw heavily from World Bank experience, especially the “communities of practice” represented by the Bank’s various thematic groups. Approximately two-thirds of the AINs and most of the IAPs originate from within the Bank. In the future, it is hoped that these will be complemented by more contributions drawn from the wealth of experience in other international development agencies and in countries, possibly as a major activity of the newly formed Rural Donor Platform (a multidonor initiative) that is intended to share experiences and coordinate donor actions. Although the Sourcebook seeks to share experience of both successes and failures—providing cautionary guidance on investment strategies to avoid repeating past mistakes—there is a much greater interest in sharing successes than failures, and this is reflected in the content.

What is not Covered

Thematic topic coverage is not always comprehensive, as materials were assembled on a pragmatic basis, depending on available materials, and on specialists willing to contribute original notes. The modules generally address the priority issues within a thematic area or areas in which operational guidance is needed, but there are important gaps that should be filled in future editions.

The Sourcebook also focuses on design of agricultural investment programs at the country level, and does not address important regional and global issues for the sector. Likewise, investment programs are the unifying element throughout the Sourcebook, although policy issues specific to those programs are also covered. The contents are also specifically focused on agricultural investments, recognizing that rural development and rural poverty reduction requires a much broader approach, and that even successful agricultural performance requires investments in areas such as rural infrastructure.

The Sourcebook, and the AINs in particular, therefore address public sector investment opportunities for agricultural development and how these might be approached. A companion publication in the World Bank’s Directions in Development series, will be oriented to broad policy issues, and the sequencing and integration of different types of investment within a coherent agricultural sector strategy.

The Sourcebook as a Living Document

The Sourcebook is expected to expanded and updated, as experience is gained with new investment initiatives. Most module overviews and investment notes should be valid for a number of years. Individual modules can be used as stand-alone documents, and it is expected that several modules will be developed into their own Sourcebook—this is already occurring for the “Irrigation and Drainage” Module. The useful life of an IAP will be less, as most are based on recent experience and have been subjected to limited evaluation. Readers are encouraged to check on current status by contacting the person named in each profile.