Zenebe B. Uraguchi

A facilitative role of projects has increasingly been given importance by development practitioners and donors. It is intended for ensuring ownership by actors and durability of impacts beyond the lifespan of projects.

Broad-based experience over the past few years suggests one key factor that is critical for developing effective public policies: the use of evidence in the process of policy making.

Looking back at the 1980s and 1990s: private investors often avoided developing country markets and did so for reasons – returns were too low especially for the level of risks; markets were not safe and attractive; and local investment climates were stifling and challenging.

There are concerns about how projects using a systemic approach (also known as market systems development) can achieve inclusive changes for poor and disadvantaged women and men.

The contribution of agriculture to the economy of Bangladesh is declining, but its role in poverty reduction – for income and employment generation – is still significant. Key services, mainly provided by public agricultural extension agencies, however, are either lacking or underperforming, failing to meet the demands of predominantly smallholder and poor farmers.