The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) recently posted a short exposure article, Giant Clams and Unexpected Impacts, based on their investments and on-going projects dating back to the 1980s. The article outlined some of the long-term implications of ACIAR’s research investments in giant clams in the Indo-Pacific, including intended and substantial long-term benefits related to conservation. It also acknowledged the unintended benefits, reflecting that “(the) best learning often comes from unanticipated results”.
In 2017, Sustineo did an impact assessment on ACIAR’s investment in giant clams in the Indo-Pacific, investigating the intended and unexpected benefits, success factors, and lessons for future research.
The article notes that Sustineo’s impact assessment “unpick(s) the complexities of the projects and identif(ies) lessons that could improve the research system”. The assessment confirmed that ACIAR’s investments resulted in long-term knowledge exchange, increased conservation efforts, and increased economic development opportunities for partner countries. In addition, ACIAR supported capacity development of local research and the creation new insight and knowledge of giant clam biology and culture techniques.
More broadly, the assessment highlighted the importance of understanding the social, political and economic contexts within which research for development takes place, and the value of understanding relationships and knowledge networks in assessing impact.
A link to Sustineo’s impact assessment is available at the end of the ACIAR exposure article. Alternatively, it can be accessed here.
Further information
Details on this project, and others related to our impact assessment and research project portfolio, is available here and here.
If you would like to discuss our experience or work in this space further, contact me via tom.sloan@sustineo.com.au. Follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook for more posts like this!