Strategic Framework for Research and Development of

Neglected and Underutilised Plant Species

This strategic framework is being developed in a consultative process. It was drafted in January 2006 by ICUC with input from GFU and IPGRI. In early February 2006 feedback on the draft document was invited from a cross-section of over 200 underutilised plant research and development experts, represented by universities, national agricultural and horticultural research systems, international research centres, government institutions, non-governmental organisations, regional networks, donor organisations and the private sector. In addition the draft document was posted on several relevant listservers: FAO’s NTFP Newsletter, the Forest Information Update, the Global NTFP Partnership listserver, the Alternatives to Slash-and-Burn listserver and on the websites of ICUC and GFU.

In March 2006, a two-day expert consultation meeting was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka with 27 participants from 10 countries in the Asia and Pacific region [Proceedings PDF 945KB] and Appendices [PDF 1.5MB] and in May 2006, a similar consultation meeting was held in Nairobi, Kenya with 31 participants from 13 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa [Proceedings PDF 1.21MB] and Appendices
[PDF 1.6MB]. During these meetings the draft documents were discussed and refined. The central activities during the two workshops were the development of problem trees and operational plans for key activity areas drawn from the problem tree discussion. For Asia/Pacific these were: research, marketing, demonstrations, education, policy, and general knowledge base; for Africa: research, marketing, education and capacity building, policy, knowledge, and partnerships.

By June 2006, responses had been received from 78 individuals and institutions involved in research and development; the response from both donor organisations and the private sector was weak. Thus about 35 % of the individual recipients of the draft document responded.

Further input into the document (Pdf 1060Kb) will be very welcome. Please contact us.