Many developing countries are implementing various strategies to achieve development goals. Although these strategies often come in various forms (PRSPs, investment strategies, rural/agricultural development strategies, etc.), most relate strategic investment choices and other policy reforms to agreed development objectives in support of poverty reduction and economic growth. Donors are also increasingly making these strategies a condition for debt relief, aid, and loans. However, given the limited resources and technical expertise within many developing countries, policymakers often have to choose what they attempt judiciously by setting priorities and understanding the trade-offs and linkages between different goals and policy options.

In this context, Subtheme 6.2 (Country Development Strategy Research) will generate new knowledge regarding improved development strategies for agricultural and rural growth and poverty reduction through research, capacity building, and policy dialogue. The failure of past development efforts highlights the need to understand not only the factors that drive economic development but how this knowledge can be incorporated into country development strategies. Thus, Subtheme 6.2 will promote sustainable and equitable growth in developing countries by improving the design and implementation of development strategies. It is specifically designed to stimulate new thinking about the development process through three pillars of research: identifying past development pathways, analyzing the strategic options available to developing countries to achieve specific development outcomes, and strengthening the strategic planning and implementation process through which developing countries can achieve these outcomes.

Goals and Objectives

This project’s overall goal is to promote greater progress toward sustainable and pro-poor growth in developing countries by improving the design and implementation of development strategies. The specific objectives are to:

• identify the factors determining countries’ choices of different development pathways;
• develop typologies that capture the defining characteristics and stages of development of developing countries;
• identify the preconditions for successful policy changes in selected countries that have experienced successful forward leaps in economic growth and poverty reduction;
• identify the types of development strategies for countries with different initial conditions by examining the role of agriculture and the linkages between agriculture and the rural and urban nonfarm economy at multiple levels—for example, national and subnational;
• develop analytical tools that are useful for countries undertaking strategic planning in the agricultural, food, and rural sectors;
• assess the characteristics of successful agriculturally-relevant strategies;
• develop and test an integrated strategic planning package for agricultural, food and rural development ministries, including comprehensive conceptual frameworks, analytical tools, decision support systems, and knowledge management systems; and
• support individual country efforts to incorporate information on development options and strategies into their strategic planning and implementation processes.