Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)
The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) is a statutory authority within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) portfolio and part of the Australian development assistance program. It intends to achieve agricultural research for development by encouraging Australian scientists and institutions to use their skills to develop solutions to agricultural problems in developing countries. Pakistan has been a partner country for ACIAR since 1984, with collaboration & partnership across different disciplines. Recently the two phases of Agriculture Sector Linkage Program (ASLP) have successfully addressed technical & social constraints in horticultural and dairy value chains, and also contributed to enhancing agricultural capacity and encouraging policy change for the benefit of resource-poor farmers. While work may continue in some of ASLP’s ‘legacy’ value chains, A new program- Agricultural Value Chain Collaboration Research (AVCCR) targeting new opportunities across value chains that have been more purposefully selected for their capacity to alleviate poverty and engender inclusive growth. AVCCR provides opportunity to strategically link ACIAR’s research with Australia’s broader development program in Pakistan, such as with Australian Investment Plan (AIP), and the associated Australian Economic Growth Investment Strategy (AEGIS). Thus it will make stronger account of social equity by focusing more on the issues of gender equity and the empowerment of women. Building on this successful record, ACIAR has established a Country Office in Pakistan, located within the Australian High Commission.