Ambitious project design including diverse technical and geographic coverage combined with innovative project procedures can delay implementation until all implementing agencies fully understand the process. _x005F_x000D__x005F_x000D_Competitive bidding for agricultural research based on clear selection criteria that prioritize marginal areas and are formulated jointly by researchers and extension workers can lead to more user-responsive and demand-driven research, which also can be immediately extended to poor farmers. Preliminary impacts reveal more efficient use and more equitable distribution of public research funds. _x005F_x000D__x005F_x000D_Competitive bidding for extension contracts based on demand-driven proposals generated at field level through a participatory process involving the poor can have a significant impact on (a) the timeliness and transparency of decision making, (b) the variety of extension messages delivered, and (c) the number and range of institutions and organizations providing extension services. _x005F_x000D__x005F_x000D_Inadequate assessment during project preparation of implementing agencies' financial and human resources capacity, especially when introducing innovative implementation mechanisms, can lead to delays in project implementation. _x005F_x000D__x005F_x000D_Unrealistic estimates of the time required for students to complete PhD programs can result in having to extend the project closing date. _x005F_x000D__x005F_x000D_Insufficient or inappropriate design of consulting services, and delays in recruiting them, can cause problems early in project implementation and a failure to provide adequate support for key project activities in which project management has limited experience. _x005F_x000D__x005F_x000D_Requiring the collection of gender-disaggregated data for all project activities is an effective means to improve gender mainstreaming in project implementation. Monitoring of and regular reporting on the participation of indigenous people in project activities can also lead to better awareness of special measures required for indigenous people. _x005F_x000D__x005F_x000D_The lack of an effective project performance monitoring system risks undermining the success of a project by failing to properly report project outputs and outcomes.
Agriculture Science and Technology Project