Capacity Development & Training

PRCI Trainings

ReNAPRI is a core member of the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security Policy Research, Capacity, and Influence (PRCI).  One of the primary objectives of PRCI is to enhance the agricultural policy research capacity of African policy research centers and to train the next generation of African policy researchers.  Through a series of new online trainings, PRCI is providing a set of free educational modules on the fundamentals of policy research, including introductory lessons on research design and the use of statistical software.  These tutorials were created by PRCI’s lead member, Michigan State University (MSU), with contributions from the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Cornell University.  Follow the links below to access these trainings.

1) Module 1: Integrating Gender in Policy Research and Outreach
Learn about key gender issues and entry points for policy research and outreach.
2) Module 2: Stata Basics – Working with Complex Survey Data and Descriptive Statistics
Learn the basics of working with complex survey data in Stata.
3) Module 4: Research Transparency and Reproducibility
Learn the principles of the scientific method and the steps needed to develop a repudiable research project.
4) Module 5: Avoiding Unintentional Plagiarism
Learn what constitutes plagiarism and effective strategies for avoiding it in your work.
5) Module 6: Ordinary Least Squares
A review of the most commonly used linear regression approach, ordinary least squares (OLS).
6) Module 7: Binary Response Models
Learn how to use the Linear Probability Model, Probit models and logit models.
7) Module 8: Impact Evaluation – Introduction and Methods Overview
Learn concepts, challenges, methods, and practical considerations for doing impact evaluation.
8) Module 9: Testing and Correcting for Endogeneity in Linear Models
Learn about endogeneity, and ways of identifying and correcting for endogeneity in linear models.
9) Module 10: Linear Panel Data Models
Learn the fundamentals of linear panel data models as well as testing and correcting for attrition bias.
10) Module 11: Tobit Models
Learn the fundamentals of the Type I Tobit model and the situations in which it is appropriate to use it.
11) Module 12: Double Hurdle Models
Learn the fundamentals of hurdle models, situations in which it is appropriate to use them and how to estimate hurdle models in STATA.
12) Module 13: Navigating Peer Review
This module enhances researchers’ aptitude and confidence in navigating the peer-reviewed journal system as a paper author or reviewer.
13) Module 14: Integrating Mixed Methods in Research
This module strengthens participants capacity for integrated use of multiple research methods, to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of policy research.
14) Module 15: Writing Journal Articles
This module builds participants’ mental muscles and understanding of methods to conceive and write a journal article.
15) Module 16: How to Give Effective Research Presentations
Learn how best to structure and deliver research paper presentations.
16) Module 17: Special Topics Training on Trade Flow Analysis
The general objective of this training module is to provide a basic knowledge of trade flow analysis and the ability to use trade flow data for trade flow analysis.
17) Module 18: Grant Proposal Writing
This module aims to provide researchers and organizations information on how to write winning grant proposals and where to find out about current funding opportunities

*Module 3 is not currently available as it was intended to be used only for those with a direct connection to Michigan State University.

ReNAPRI member institutes also receive capacity development through funding and support from institutional partners: Michigan State University (MSU), Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institutes (FAPRI) at the University of Missouri, and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).  ReNAPRI researchers’ training opportunities include:

  • Training on Agri-benchmark. The training was provided under the Guiding Investments in Sustainable Agricultural Intensification in Africa (GISAIA) program, which is funded by Michigan State University.
  • Sector-level model trainings in Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania & South Africa. The training was funded by United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA).

In carrying out the mission of ReNAPRI to “produce sustainable and high-quality research, outreach and capacity development that promotes national and regional agricultural policy objectives,” ReNAPRI member institutes provide training opportunities to agricultural stakeholders. Recent examples of training offered:

  • Training in Partial Equilibrium (PE) Model, Lilongwe, Malawi on 25 – 27 September 2017. This training was hosted by the Centre for Agricultural Research and Development (CARD) at the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), in collaboration with the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) at the University of Missouri and the Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP) at the University of Pretoria.
    • The training covered the theory behind the PE model, and then used simulation policy scenarios from the Malawi maize sector to work-through practical applications of the model. The practical application portion of the training also included a site visit at a soybean processing plant.
    • Participants represented public and private sector institutions, academia and civil society. This included: the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development; the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism; the Malawi Revenue Authority; the Reserve Bank of Malawi; Auction Holdings Commodity Exchange; Malawi Oilseeds Sector Transformation (MOST); the Civil Society Agriculture Network (CISANET); and representatives from LUANAR.
  • 7th International Course on Climate Change Adaptation in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management, Kampala, Uganda on 30th January – 10th February 2017. This training was hosted by Makerere University and aimed at improving policy engagement as it regards to climate change adaptation. Participants are expected to leave with a with deeper understanding of climate change adaptation concepts, and better equipped to contribute to the policy debate. The training attracted 34 international participants from Latin America, East Africa, West Africa and Asia; including Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, as well as Colombia, Bangladesh and Vietnam.
  • Training in SPSS, Lusaka, Zambia on 30th May – 3rd June, 2016. The training was offered by IAPRI, and focused on how use to SPSS software and interpret the data.