Evans School Policy Analysis & Research Group (EPAR)

Research and development (R&D) is work that pertains to innovation, introduction, and improvement of products and processes. The R&D process for new products and services often takes years and large investments to come to fruition, and funders face the risk that some investments may fail to generate returns to investors or benefits to users. Thus, estimates of the costs, risk, and potential returns to R&D projects all influence funders’ decisions around where to invest.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), over 60% of people in Sub-Saharan Africa depend on the agricultural sector for their livelihoods. The FAO also reports that approximately three-quarters of those living below the poverty line live in rural, primarily agricultural, areas. Despite the importance of agriculture, many rural and agricultural households lack access to financial products and services that would allow them to build assets, invest in technology, increase productivity, and cope with shocks such as droughts.