Understanding and Evaluating Success in International Forestry Research Projects: Experience from ACIAR Projects in Vietnam, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea

The success of research for development projects is of interest to project funders and recipients, and underpins project impact. This paper synthesizes results from case studies of collaborative forestry research projects in Vietnam, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, where the relative success of projects was evaluated and the factors affecting project success investigated. Differences were found in the relative success of projects, between and within countries, and between related projects in a long-term program. Only one-quarter of the 30 projects had high achievements and high impacts; none of which occurred in Papua New Guinea. Interviews with 90 project participants identified 37 success factors that can enhance or diminish project success, of which 15 are considered generally applicable to research for development projects. The two most important success factors that could be addressed by research managers and project staff to improve project success were, respectively, collaborative scoping and design, and the scientists' commitment, collaboration and focus. Some relationships are apparent between relative success, the success factors and context at the national, local and project levels, including the importance of linking research to impact pathways.