Measuring Impact

Research that works for developing countries and Australia

 

Training and capacity building

Building capacity of agricultural research institutes in partner countries is one of ACIAR’s key priorities. The main priority of the program is enhancement of the research capabilities of institutions and individuals involved in ACIAR projects. Much of this is done in conjunction with individual projects through ‘on-the-job’ training, where either developing-country scientists visit Australia or Australian specialists visit partner countries to present a training program.

ACIAR also offers several specialised training activities: John Allwright Fellowships, small grants for fellowship returnees, John Dillon Memorial Fellowships and shortterm cross-program training courses.

John Allwright Fellowship

John Allwright Fellowships are awarded to partner-country scientists involved in ACIAR-supported collaborative research projects to undertake postgraduate training, usually at the Masters or Doctoral level, at Australian universities. The studies add value to the topic or theme of the ACIAR project in which the awardee is engaged, but do not directly form part of the project. Fellows spend up to 50% of their project period on fieldwork in their home country.

There is an increased recognition by the Australian aid program of the capacity-building benefits provided to partner countries and the impact on Australia–regional relationships through support of postgraduate training in Australia.

A list of past and present John Allwright fellows is available here.

Returnee award

Small grants are available for John Allwright Fellows when they have completed postgraduate studies and returned to employment in their home country. This follow-on funding scheme provides grants of up to $10,000 for an activity that continues, or is related to, the ACIAR project research and their associated postgraduate work. The funding is primarily aimed at developing small-scale research projects in the returnee’s institution, which may catalyse longer-term support and ongoing international collaboration.

A survey of participants in the returnee award was undertaken in 2006, and the results are published in Building on the John Allwright Fellowship Scheme.

John Allwright Alumni Association

ACIAR is maintaining linkages with all of the former John Allwright Fellows, once they have returned to their home countries, through a ‘John Allwright Alumni Association’. Alumni keep involved with ACIAR in many ways, including leadership role in projects and assisting in the delivery of short ACIAR-sponsored in-country training courses. They are also invited to in-country functions including, among others, country consultations, training activities and impact assessment meetings.

John Dillon Fellowships

John Dillon Fellowships provide a career development opportunity in Australia for outstanding mid-career agricultural scientists and economists from ACIAR partner countries. The aim is to develop the leadership skills of Fellows in the area of agricultural research management, agricultural policy and/or extension technologies through exposure to Australian agriculture across a range of best practice organisations involved in research, extension and/or policy-making.

Cross-program training

Short-term ‘cross-program’ training activities for staff associated with active ACIAR projects are also provided. Most of these activities are directly managed by ACIAR, but some activities are managed by the ATSE Crawford Fund www.crawfordfund.org. The Crawford Fund also supports short technical training placements for developing-country scientists in Australia.