ACIAR is well recognised and regarded for its longstanding partnerships and support for a significant and diverse portfolio of collaboration throughout the Indo-Pacific region. This portfolio covers research on productivity, resilience, sustainability and equity in agriculture, forestry and fisheries systems to reduce poverty and improve livelihoods.

The on-ground work we support with our partners in the Indo-Pacific region is dominated by bilateral and regional research projects underpinned by longstanding country partnerships. During 2020–21, approximately 200 projects will be active in our operational area. These projects are collaborations between Australian and international scientists with in-country partners, and brokered by ACIAR research program managers, across 10 areas of research.

The projects are varied in design, execution and outcomes. Very broadly, projects range from research or investigations conducted by a group of partners across a number of field sites, taking several years to develop new knowledge, technology or methodology to small research activities where an individual agency or specialist may conduct a desktop or scoping study over 12 months.

When establishing research projects, research program managers work closely with the Country Network to:

• ensure that the research aligns with in-country priorities
• build connections and relationships with in-country organisations and institutions.

The Country Network guides the development and regular adjustment of the strategic direction of our research investments with our key country partners.

This chapter describes our research collaborations with each region and country in 2020–21. Our work is organised around the four regions of operation in the Indo-Pacific:

• Pacific
• East and South-East Asia
• South Asia
• Eastern and Southern Africa.

Within each region, ACIAR facilitates a varied program of research, reflecting the challenges and opportunities of a region and individual countries. In addition to bilateral and regional projects brokered by the research program managers, ACIAR also conducts global research collaborations and scientific and policy capacity-building activities.