Southeast Asia made considerable progress in building and strengthening its agricultural R&D capacity during 2000–2017. All of the region’s countries reported higher numbers of agricultural researchers, improvements in their average qualification levels, and higher shares of women participating in agricultural R&D.

WAAPP supports the generation, dissemination, and adoption of improved technologies; the creation of enabling conditions for regional cooperation; and the development of human and institutional capacity across the subregion; along with the creation of youth employment, the participation of women, and adaption to climate change.

West African countries are projected to continue the substantial macroeconomic growth observed in recent decades. Many will enter middle-income status by 2030, and more will do so by 2050. The dynamism observable now in many rural areas will accelerate as towns grow and villages link to them through roads, power, and people who travel.