N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 0
NIGER
C. Human Res ources
This section provides detailed quantitative information on full‐time equivalent (FTE) agricultural research and support staff trends, including qualifications, gender and age distribution, and support‐staff‐per‐researcher ratios. Complementary sections of this issue on Niger present detailed data on long‐term trends (Section A), financial resources (Section B) and research allocation (Section D). Other supporting information provides macroeconomic trends, a list of agencies included in the study, data sources and estimation procedures, and ASTI’s methodology.
ASTI DATA IN FOCUS
Figure C1—Full‐time equivalent researcher trends at INRAN by degree, 2001–08
The number of full‐time equivalent (FTE) researchers at Niger’s National Institute of Agricultural
Research (INRAN) decreased from 86 in 2001 to 71 in 2008. In 2008, 11 FTE researchers held BSc
degrees, 43 were MSc‐qualified, and 17 held PhD degrees.
Source: Calculated by authors from ASTI–INRAN 2009–10.
0 20 40 60 80 100 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Fu ll ‐ ti me eq u iv al e n t (FT E) res e ar ch er s BSc MSc PhD
The ASTI Data in Focus series provides additional background data in support of the 2010 Country
Note on Niger (asti.cgiar.org/pdf/niger‐note.pdf) prepared by the Agricultural Science and
Technology Indicators (ASTI) initiative and the Niger National Institute of Agricultural Research
(INRAN). Based on data collected by ASTI and INRAN, these two outputs review major investment
and capacity trends in Niger’s public agricultural research and development (R&D) since 1971,
Figure C2—Full‐time equivalent researcher trends at CMB by degree, 2001–08
The number of researchers employed at the Livestock Multiplication Center (CMB) followed a
more erratic trend, ultimately increasing from 6 FTEs in 2001 to 7 FTEs in 2008. Overall, CMB’s
research staff became better qualified during this timeframe. In 2008, the center employed 3
PhD‐qualified, 3 MSc‐qualified, and 1 BSc‐qualified FTE researchers.
Source: Calculated by authors from ASTI–INRAN 2009–10.
0 2 4 6 8 10 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Fu ll ‐ ti m e e qui va le n t (F TE ) re se ar ch e rs BSc MSc PhD Figure C3—Full‐time equivalent researcher trends at Abdou Moumouni University by degree, 2001–08
FTE research capacity at the four agencies involved in agricultural R&D under Abdou Moumouni
University also increased during 2001–08, both in terms of numbers and qualifications. In 2001,
the higher education agencies employed a total of 12 FTE researchers, 10 of which held PhD
degrees; in 2008, total agricultural R&D capacity had risen to 15 FTEs, 14 of which held PhD
degrees. None of the researchers were only qualified to the BSc level.
Source: Calculated by authors from ASTI–INRAN 2009–10.
Note: For a complete list of the agencies included in our sample, see asti.cgiar.org/niger/agencies. 0 4 8 12 16 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Fu ll ‐ ti me eq u iv al e n t (FT E) res e ar ch er s BSc MSc PhD
Figure C4—Distribution of researcher qualifications across various agencies, 2008
The four units under Abdou Moumouni University (UAM) had the highest (combined) share of
FTE researchers with PhD degrees (92 percent), and three of these units only employed PhD‐
qualified researchers. In contrast, the government agencies employed higher shares of
researchers with MSc or BSc degrees. In 2008, 24 percent of FTE researchers at INRAN held PhD
degrees, 61 percent held MSc degrees, and 15 percent BSc degrees.
Source: Calculated by authors from ASTI–INRAN 2009–10.
0 20 40 60 80 100 Subtotal UAM (4) UAM‐FA UAM‐FS‐Bio UAM‐IRSH UAM‐IRI Subtotal government (2) CMB INRAN BSc MSc PhD Shares (%) Figure C5—Share of female researchers by degree and institutional category, 2001 and 2008
Female researchers constituted 8 percent of Niger’s agricultural research staff in 2008. Of the 84
FTE researchers for which gender data were available, only 7 were female in 2008. Across degree
levels, the share of female researchers grew among those qualified to the BSc level (from none in
2001 to 9 percent in 2008) and among those qualified to the MSc level (from 9 to 11 percent), but the share of female researchers qualified to the PhD‐level fell from 5 to 4 percent during this
time. Notably, in 2008 no female researchers were employed at the three higher education
agencies for which gender data were available.
0 3 6 9 12 15
INRAN UAM (3) Total (4) BSc MSc PhD
Sha re s (% ) 2001 2008
Figure C6—Distribution of researcher qualifications by gender, 2001 and 2008
This figure illustrates the relative levels of researcher qualifications by gender in 2001 and 2008.
The share of male PhD‐qualified staff increased from 34 to 46 percent during this timeframe,
whereas the share of female PhD‐qualified staff decreased from 26 to 14 percent.
Source: Calculated by authors from ASTI–INRAN 2009–10 and Stads, Kabaley, and Gandah 2004.
Note: Figures in parentheses indicate the number of agencies in each category. CMB was excluded
because 2001 data were unavailable; UAM‐FS‐Bio was excluded because 2008 data were
unavailable. For a complete list of the agencies included in the sample, see asti.cgiar.org/niger/
agencies. 0 20 40 60 80 100
Female Male Female Male
Sha re s (% ) BSc MSc PhD ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐2001 ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐2008 ‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐ Figure C7—Age distribution by institutional category and gender, 2007
This figure illustrates the distribution of researchers by age at INRAN and Abdou Moumouni
University’s Faculty of Agriculture (UAM‐FA), disaggregated by gender. At these agencies, a
significant majority of researchers were more than 40 years old in 2007 and around 25 percent
were 51 years or older. Neither agency employed any researchers under 31 years old.
Source: Calculated by authors from ASTI–AWARD 2008/09.
Note: Figures in parentheses indicate the number of agencies in each category.
0 20 40 60 80 100
INRAN UAM‐FA Female Male
31–40 41–50 >51 Sh ar e s of FT E re sa erc h ers (% )
Figure C9—Support‐staff‐per‐researcher ratio by institutional category, 2001 and 2008
On average, the support‐staff‐per‐researcher ratio fell, from 5.6 in 2001 to 4.1 in 2008. In 2008,
for every agricultural researcher, Niger employed 0.5 technicians, 0.3 administrative staff, and 3.2
other support staff. In general, the government agencies reported much higher support‐staff
ratios compared with the higher education agencies, which is a common finding given that
teaching is the primary mandate at the higher education agencies. CMB’s share is particularly
high, given that many support staff are involved in the center’s cattle raising activities.
Source: Calculated by authors from ASTI–INRAN 2009–10.
Notes: Figures in parentheses indicate the number of agencies in each category. For more information on
coverage and estimation procedures, see the Niger country page on ASTI’s website at
asti.cgiar.org/niger/datacoverage. 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 2001 2008 2001 2008 2001 2008 2001 2008 Supp or t st af f ‐ to ‐ re se ar ch e r ra ti o
Technician Administrative support staff Other support staff
INRAN CMB Higher education (3) Total (5)
Figure C8—Trends in full‐time equivalent support staff at INRAN, 2001–08
The overall number of support staff at INRAN—including, technicians, administrative staff, and
other support staff—declined from 390 FTEs in 2001 to 274 FTEs in 2008. None of the technicians
were qualified to the BSc level or higher. In 2008, INRAN employed 42 technicians, 29
administrative staff, and 203 other support staff, all in FTEs.
Source: Calculated by authors from ASTI–INRAN 2009–10.
0 100 200 300 400 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Fu ll ‐ ti m e eq u iv al e nt (F TE ) su ppo rt st af f