Annual Report 2006/07 - ETH - North-South Centre North-South ...

Impact Studydeveloping countries) as well as 14 other degrees wereobtained during phase IV. Capacity development is a key inputoffered by ZIL to young scientists who come from developingcountries. These researchers are the ones who will – oftenunder difficult circumstances – regenerate or construct thenational scientific communities. These communities will beable to suggest solutions for the long-term improvement ofhuman livelihoods as well as the sustainable use of naturalresources on national and regional levels and to participate inthe international scientific and developmental debates.The features of the impact-generating processThe examples listed above illustrate the follow-up processconsecutive or parallel to the ZIL research projects that has anactual or potential repercussion on the livelihoods of poorhouseholds. Analysing the scaling-up from single researchinitiatives to a development process pinpoints the commoncharacteristics that contribute to the generation of impact,which may plausibly be attributed – at least partially – to theZIL projects.The co-operation with the CGIAR as a strong partner allowssynergy of research capacity and initiatives, worldwide disseminationof research results and the optimal return oninvestment of public funds.Dedication to a research topic over long period (over severalZIL phases) allows thorough scientific investigations thatrequire a long time before they produce results relevant forthe rural poor.Innovation on a specific aspect of a complex research topicprovides cutting-edge findings that can be translated into targeteddevelopment messages and strategies.The composition of multi-disciplinary teams facilitatesaddressing the complex livelihood strategies of poor people.Interaction of ZIL projects with the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework (Source: DFID1998, www.livelihoods.org); The terms H, N, F, S and P are explained in the text, below.Finally, the creation of learning alliances by planning theproject with the beneficiaries or at least sharing the resultswith them lends the research added legitimacy and guaranteesits development relevance.On the programme level, ZIL has followed an impact-orientedstrategy relying on thematic concentration, visibility and thenurturing of European and international alliances. It hasthereby consolidated its position as an acknowledged channelwhich enables scientific teams with members from theconcerned countries as well as from Switzerland to carry outagricultural research that is particularly relevant for developingcountries.The striking similarity between the ZIL Framework (p. 24) andthe Sustainable Livelihood Framework in use within all majordevelopment agencies is not only visual; it reveals a similarmethodical approach: each research project supported by ZILintends to influence one or several of the capital assetsdescribed in the polygon of the Sustainable LivelihoodFramework, be it any dimension or combination of the natu-19