Funding Partners/ Investors Overview ??
The SACA project—Change in Soil and Water Dynamics and Supporting Adoption of Conservation Agriculture in Bangladesh—is a collaborative initiative made possible through the strategic support of two key funding organizations: the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) and the Krishi Gobeshona Foundation (KGF). Their joint investment reflects a shared commitment to sustainable agriculture, climate resilience, and inclusive development in Bangladesh.
Role
ACIAR is the primary international funding agency for the SACA project. As a statutory authority within the Australian Government’s Foreign Affairs and Trade portfolio, ACIAR supports research partnerships that address agricultural challenges in developing countries, with a focus on food security, natural resource management, and climate adaptation.
Contribution to SACA:
- Provides core funding for project implementation, research activities, and international collaboration.
- Supports PhD and MS fellowships, particularly in social science and gender-inclusive research.
- Facilitates technical expertise from Australian institutions, including Murdoch University.
- Oversees project governance, monitoring, and evaluation through its Research Program Managers.
Strategic Alignment:
ACIAR’s investment in SACA aligns with its broader goals of:
- Enhancing natural resource management in smallholder farming systems.
- Promoting climate-smart agriculture and sustainable intensification.
- Building research capacity in partner countries.
- Supporting gender equity and inclusive development.
Legacy and Continuity:
SACA builds on a long-standing partnership between ACIAR and Bangladesh, particularly through previous projects such as:
- LWR/2010/080 – Conservation Agriculture in rice-based systems.
- LWR/2016/136 – Nutrient Management for Diversified Cropping.
- SRFSI (CSE/2011/077) – Sustainable and Resilient Farming Systems Intensification.
These projects laid the foundation for SACA’s focus on long-term impacts, scaling strategies, and inclusive service delivery.
Role
KGF is a Bangladeshi national funding agency established to support agricultural research and innovation. It operates under the Ministry of Agriculture and plays a pivotal role in strengthening the country’s National Agricultural Research System (NARS).
Contribution to SACA:
- Co-funds the project with a contribution of AUD 250,000 over five years.
- Supports three PhD and four MS fellowships for Bangladeshi researchers.
- Provides funding for local research activities at BAU, BRRI, BARI, and BARC.
- Facilitates policy engagement and alignment with national agricultural priorities.
Strategic Alignment:
KGF’s support for SACA is aligned with:
- Vision 2041 of the Government of Bangladesh, which emphasizes sustainable agricultural transformation.
- The National Agriculture Policy 2018, which prioritizes:
- Conservation Agriculture (CA)
- Farm mechanization
- Efficient soil and water use
- Low-emission technologies
Capacity Building Focus:
KGF’s investment is particularly focused on:
- Developing future research leaders through postgraduate training.
- Strengthening institutional capacity of national research organizations.
- Promoting locally relevant innovations in CA and mechanization.
Joint Impact and Collaboration
The partnership between ACIAR and KGF exemplifies a model of co-investment that leverages international expertise and local ownership. Together, they enable:
- Robust scientific research on long-term impacts of CA.
- Inclusive scaling models that empower smallholders, women, and youth.
- Policy-relevant evidence to inform national strategies.
- Sustainable platforms like CASPA to support farmer-led innovation