The Ghana Strategy Support Program announces a workshop presenting recent research results on agricultural services, decentralization and local governance on Thursday, June 3rd at the Coconut Grove Regency Hotel, Accra.
The agenda appears below, and can be downloaded here.
Links to related workshop papers and paper summaries can be found in the agenda and at the bottom of the page.
8:30-9:00 Registration
9:00-9:30 Opening Ceremony
Welcoming Remarks: Shashi Kolavalli
Workshop Overview: Regina Birner
Part I: Agriculture
9:30-9:40 Achieving a Smallholder Based Green Revolution: What Investments are Needed?
Presenter:Tewodaj Mogues
Background Paper:Reaching Middle Income Status in Ghana by 2015: Public Expenditures and Agricultural Growth
Authors: Tewodaj Mogues, Sam Benin, Godsway Cudjoe, and Josee Randriamamonjy
9:40-9:50 The Business Climate for Smallholder Farmers and for Agribusiness Enterprises: What are the Opportunities and Constraints?
Presenter: Felix Asante and Shashi Kolavalli
Background Paper: The Business Climate for Smallholder Agriculture in Ghana: Results of a Farm Households Survey in six Districts.
Paper Summary
Authors: Peter Gaff, Regina Birner, and Felix Asante
9:50-10:00 Agricultural Extension: How can its Potential be used for Agricultural Productivity?
Presenters: Cory Belden and Regina Birner
Background Paper: Agricultural Extension in Ghana: Results from a Survey of Agricultural Extension Agents in Six Districts
Authors: Cory Belden, Regina Birner, Felix Asante, and Leah Horowitz
10:00-10:10 Improving Access to Fertilizer: Lessons Learned and Policy Options
Presenter: Afua B. Banful
Background Paper: Operational Details of the 2008 Fertilizer Subsidy in Ghana–Preliminary Report
Paper Summary
Author: Afua B. Banful
10:10-10:20 Increasing Access to Irrigation: Lessons Learned from Investing in Small Reservoirs in the Upper East Region
Presenter: Regina Birner
Background Paper: Challenge Program on Water and Food: Final Report of Project No. 40
Paper Summary
Authors: Governance and Modeling Author Team
10:20-10:40 Coffee/ Tea Break
10:40-11:30 Small group discussions on Extension, Fertilizer Subsidies, and Irrigation
11:30-1:00 Plenary Session
Reporting
Discussion
1:00-2:00 Lunch
Part II: Decentralization and Local Governance
2:00-2:10 Opening Remarks – Felix Asante
2:10-2:20 Understanding Disparities in Public Service Provision across Districts
Presenter: Kamiljon T. Akramov
Background Paper: Decentralization and Local Public Services in Ghana: Do Geography and Ethnic Diversity Matter?
Paper Summary
Authors: Kamiljon T. Akramov and Felix Asante
2:20-2:30 Providing Access to Safe Drinking Water: What role do Water and Sanitation Committees Play?
Presenter: Felix Asante
Background Paper: What role do Water and Sanitation Committees Play?: Results of a Survey
Paper Summary
Authors: Yan Sun, Felix Asante, and Regina Birner
2:30-2:40 Using a Formula to Allocate the District Assembly Common Fund: Does it Limit Political Influence?
Presenter: Afua B. Banful
Background Paper: Do Institutions Limit Clientelism? A Study of the District Assemblies Common Fund in Ghana
Paper Summary
Author: Afua B. Banful
2:40-2:50 Allocating Public Resources among Communities within Districts: What Role do Politics Play?
Presenter: Regina Birner
Background Paper: What Role Do Political Factors Play in the Allocation of Public Resources to Communities Within Districts?
Paper Summary
Authors: Nethra Palaniswamy and Leah Horowitz
2:50-3:00 Incentives to Raise Revenues at the District Level: The Role of External Grants
Presenter: Tewodaj Mogues
Background Paper: Do External Grants to District Governments Discourage Own-Revenue Generation? A Look at Local Public Finance Dynamics in Ghana
Paper Summary
Authors: Tewodaj Mogues, Sam Benin, and Godsway Cudjoe
3:00-3:20 Coffee/Tea Break
3:20–4:10 Small Group Discussions on Decentralization and Local Governance
4:10-5:30 Plenary Session
Reporting
Discussion
5:30-6:00 Closing Remarks
6:00-7:30 Reception
Additional Related Papers:
Executive Summary of World Bank/IFPRI Book, "Gender and Governance in Rural Services"
Overview of the Agricultural Input Dealer Sector in Ghana
by Marika Krausova and Afua Branoah Banful