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PR, IFPRI3; ISI; CRP2; 4 Transforming Agricultural and Rural Economies; Capacity Strengthening, DSGD; PIM, CGIAR Research Programs on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM), A severe El Niño event in 2015/16 decimated an important share of Papua New Guinea's (PNG) local crop production, leaving 10 per cent of the population with significant food shortages. Lack of recent socio‐economic data and analysis of the country's rural population impeded efforts to plan and mitigate the ensuing food crisis. This paper presents the most recent poverty analysis in Papua New Guinea in nearly a decade, and a renewed effort to inform rural production, consumption and livelihood patterns in some of the country's most remote, lowland areas. We designed a rural household survey that collected detailed consumption and expenditure data to explore poverty prevalence and correlates of per capita household expenditure. Results suggest that approximately half of the sampled individuals live in households with total per capita expenditures below the poverty line. Climate shocks have significant and possibly long‐term consequences for household welfare. Households that experienced a drought in the last 5 years are associated with significantly lower per capita expenditures. Labour diversification, via migration, is associated with greater welfare. Households with at least one migrant member are associated with 13 per cent greater per capita expenditure.

Bioinformatics approaches have proven useful in understanding biological responses to spaceflight. Spaceflight experiments remain resource intensive and rare. One outstanding issue is how to maximize scientific output from a limited number of omics datasets from traditional animal models including nematodes, fruitfly, and rodents. The utility of omics data from invertebrate models in anticipating mammalian responses to spaceflight has not been fully explored. Hence, we performed comparative analyses of transcriptomes of soleus and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) in mice that underwent 37 days of spaceflight. Results indicate shared stress responses and altered circadian rhythm. EDL showed more robust growth signals and Pde2a downregulation, possibly underlying its resistance to atrophy versus soleus. Spaceflight and hindlimb unloading mice shared differential regulation of proliferation, circadian, and neuronal signaling. Shared gene regulation in muscles of humans on bedrest and space flown rodents suggest targets for mitigating muscle atrophy in space and on Earth. Spaceflight responses of C. elegans were more similar to EDL. Discrete life stages of D. melanogaster have distinct utility in anticipating EDL and soleus responses. In summary, spaceflight leads to shared and discrete molecular responses between muscle types and invertebrate models may augment mechanistic knowledge gained from rodent spaceflight and ground-based studies.

Non-PR, IFPRI2; 5 Strengthening Institutions and Governance; DCA; CRP2; Capacity Strengthening, DSGD; PIM, CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM), Investing in farmers – or agriculture human capital – is crucial to addressing challenges in our agri-food systems. A global study carried out by the FAO Investment Centre and the International Food Policy Research Institute, with support from the CGIAR Research Programme on Policies, Institutions and Markets and the FAO Research and Extension Unit, looks at agriculture human capital investments, from recent trends to promising initiatives in Cameroon, Chile, Côte d’Ivoire, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Peru, Rwanda and the United States of America. It also includes 11 shorter case studies, ranging from pastoralist training centres to the inclusion of indigenous communities. The global study aims to provide governments, international financing institutions, the private sector and other partners with the evidence and analysis needed to make more and better investments in agriculture human capital. This publication is part of the Directions in Investment series under the FAO Investment Centre's Knowledge for Investment (K4I) programme.

Non-PR, IFPRI2; CRP2; 5 Strengthening Institutions and Governance; Capacity Strengthening; DCA, DSGD; PIM, CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM), Investing in farmers – or agriculture human capital – is crucial to addressing challenges in our agri-food systems. A global study carried out by the FAO Investment Centre and the International Food Policy Research Institute, with support from the CGIAR Research Programme on Policies, Institutions and Markets and the FAO Research and Extension Unit, looks at agriculture human capital investments, from trends to promising initiatives. One of the nine featured case studies is the Jharkhand Opportunities for Harnessing Rural Growth Programme in India. This case explores investment in developing the human capital of women livestock farmers as certified master trainers and community service providers known as Ajeevika Pashu Sakhi (APS). The livestock farmers were strategically identified, trained and coached as APSs to provide doorstep technical, marketing and risk reduction support to women livestock farmers. The APSs were supported by certified master trainers. The APS model enhanced the economic and social well-being of rural poor women working as livestock farmers and APSs. This publication is part of the Country Investment Highlights series under the FAO Investment Centre's Knowledge for Investment (K4I) programme.

Non-PR, IFPRI2; CRP2; 5 Strengthening Institutions and Governance; DCA; Capacity Strengthening, DSGD; PIM, CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM), This case study report was written as a part of the Agriculture Human Capital Investment Study, funded by FAO Investment Centre and with the support of the International Food Policy Research Institute and the CGIAR Research Programme on Policies, Institutions and Markets (PIM) and the FAO Research and Extension Unit. This study analyses the impact of Chile´s Productive Alliance Programme (PAP) in terms of human capital development among small farmers. The programme, originally created in 2007 and serving now close to 3,600 small farmers in Chile, enhances the creation of commercial partnerships between these small farmers and larger companies, and funds and facilitates the conditions for the acquisition of skills and human capital among them to ensure its success.

Non-PR, IFPRI2; CRP2; 5 Strengthening Institutions and Governance; DCA; Capacity Strengthening, DSGD; PIM, CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM), Invertir en agricultores, o en capital humano agrícola, es esencial para encarar los desafíos de nuestros sistemas agroalimentarios. El Programa de Alianzas Productivas (PAP) de Chile promueve vínculos comerciales sostenibles entre los pequeños agricultores y las grandes empresas. Fundado en 2007 y atendiendo hoy a cerca de 3 600 pequeños agricultores en Chile, el PAP aspira a reforzar el rol de los agricultores como proveedores fijos de las empresas compradoras, desarrollando su capacidad de adaptación a los altos estándares de producción y seguridad que los mercados reclaman. Este estudio de caso presenta una descripción general del PAP, analiza qué funciona bien y por qué, y plantea recomendaciones para salvar los desafíos. Este es uno de los nueve estudios de caso dentro de un estudio global sobre inversiones en capital humano agrícola, que abarcan desde tendencias hasta iniciativas prometedoras. Lo han llevado a cabo el Centro de Inversiones de la FAO y el Instituto Internacional de Investigación sobre Políticas Alimentarias, con el apoyo del Programa de Investigación sobre Políticas, Instituciones y Mercados del CGIAR y la Unidad de Investigación y Extensión de la FAO.

PR, IFPRI3; ISI; 4 Transforming Agricultural and Rural Economies; ReSAKSS Asia; CRP2; IFPRIOA, DSGD; PIM, CGIAR Research Programs on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM), Concerns over the potential effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic have led to trade restrictions by major rice exporters, contributing to an average 25% increase in Thai and Vietnamese rice export prices between December 2019 and March–September 2020. This article assesses the consequences of these rice price increases in Papua New Guinea (PNG), where 99% of rice is imported. Utilizing data from a PNG 2018 rural household survey along with earlier national household survey data, we examine rice consumption patterns in PNG and estimate demand parameters for urban and rural households. Model simulations indicate that a 25% rise in the world price of rice would reduce total rice consumption in PNG by 14% and reduce rice consumption of the poor (bottom 40% of total household expenditure distribution) by 15%. Including the effects of a possible 12% decrease in household incomes because of the COVID‐19 related economic slowdown, rice consumption of the urban and rural poor fall by 20% and 17%, respectively. Maintaining functioning domestic supply chains of key staple goods is critical to mitigating the effects of global rice price increases, allowing urban households to increase their consumption of locally produced staples.

Non-PR, IFPRI2; CRP2; 5 Strengthening Institutions and Governance; Capacity Strengthening; DCA, DSGD; PIM, CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM), Haku Wiñay/Noa Jayatai (“Let’s grow together” in the Quechua and Shipibo-Conibo languages respectively) is one of the few government programmes that work with poor rural households in subsistence agriculture. Through implementing community projects composed of training and technical assistance packages aimed at improving production techniques, as well as household organzation and financial inclusion, the programme seeks economic inclusion of these households by improving their access to markets. Training packages are implemented by local promoters called Yachachiqs (“The one who knows and teaches”), who are selected and hired by the community for a three-year period to develop community-based projects funded by the government’s Cooperation Fund for Social Development (FONCODES). This study seeks to provide further knowledge about how programme developed human capital, complementing existing literature on the programme impacts. Data were collected via structured interviews with key informants, mainly Yachachiqs, from the two poorest regions in Peru, Cajamarca and Huancavelica. Major findings are that, even though Yachachiqs are known and selected by the community to implement the community projects, it takes significant effort,time and resources for Yachachiqs to be viewed as trustworthy by programme participants and thus guarantee their participation in the programme. Also, although some positive economic impacts are reported by interviewees, the major improvements valued by programme participants is household organization and healthy practices such as hand washing and water boiling, as well as the installation of safe cookstoves. Income increases, as reported by interviewees and other studies, come mainly from higher yields and lower costs of production. Key features that guarantee the success of the programme are the active participation of the community in the design and implementation of the community projects, as well as the simplicity and low cost of developme

Non-PR, IFPRI2; CRP2; 5 Strengthening Institutions and Governance; Capacity Strengthening; DCA, DSGD; PIM, CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM), Haku Wiñay/Noa Jayatai (“Vamos a crecer” en quechua y shipibo-conibo, respectivamente) es uno de los pocos programas gubernamentales que trabajan con hogares rurales pobres en economías de subsistencia. El programa busca contribuir a su inclusión económica, mejorando su acceso a los mercados. Para lograrlo, el programa Haku Wiñay se basa en la implementación de proyectos comunitarios, formados principalmente por paquetes de capacitación y asistencia técnica orientados a mejorar las técnicas productivas, la organización familiar y la inclusión financiera. Quienes implementan estos paquetes de capacitación son promotores locales llamados Yachachiq (“Quien sabe y enseña”). Ellos son seleccionados y contratados por la comunidad durante un período de tres años para desarrollar proyectos comunitarios financiados por el fondo gubernamental FONCODES (Fondo de Cooperación para el Desarrollo Social). Este estudio busca aportar más conocimientos sobre los principales logros del programa y complementar las publicaciones existentes sobre su incidencia. Para esos fines, se efectuaron entrevistas estructuradas y semiestructuradas con informantes clave, Yachachiq en particular, de las dos regiones más pobres del Perú: Cajamarca y Huancavelica. A pesar de que la comunidad conoce y selecciona a los Yachachiq para desarrollar los proyectos, los principales hallazgos del estudio apuntan a que hacen falta considerables esfuerzos, tiempo y recursos para ganarse la confianza de los beneficiarios del programa y garantizar su participación. Además, si bien los entrevistados han señalado algunos impactos económicos positivos, una mejora importante altamente valorada por los participantes del programa es la organización familiar y la adopción de prácticas de higiene como lavarse las manos, y hervir el agua, además de la instalación de cocinas seguras. Los aumentos en el ingreso, según indican los entrevistados y otros estudios, provienen en esencia de los mayores rendimientos, y los menores c

Non-PR, IFPRI1; GSSP; CRP2; 4 Transforming Agricultural and Rural Economies, DSGD; PIM, CGIAR Research Program on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM), Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) is Ghana’s flagship program for agricultural transformation and employment creation. Alongside other components, the program provides subsidized fertilizer, hybrid and open-pollinated seeds and other planting materials, improved extension services, and marketing support to smallholder farmers across the country. The objective of this study was to assess the implementation process of the PFJ input subsidy program in order to identify opportunities for strengthening the process. The study focused only on fertilizer distribution as a distinct complex process of importance, although some of the lessons will be applicable to other components of the PFJ program. The study applied the Process Net-Map method, a research approach that is particularly useful for assessing the coherence between formally prescribed procedures and how those procedures are implemented in practice, enabling the identification of inefficiencies and bottlenecks in a complex process. The implementation of the PFJ fertilizer subsidy program was mapped in interviews with key informants at national level and in six districts. Interviews with national-level stakeholders yielded important insights about the complex largely administrative process involved in the implementation of PFJ, which is generally unseen by beneficiaries. These administrative processes, however, have a considerable impact on the timeliness of the program and provide an outline of the intended implementation process at the local district level. The perspectives of farmers with regards to these processes were also investigated through in-depth interviews. Across the study districts we found some ambiguity and inconsistency in following the formally prescribed procedures for implementing the PFJ fertilizer subsidy program. While we found broad agreement among key informants and farmers that the program is meeting its objectives, some areas in which the implementation process for the PFJ fertilizer subsid