Factors affecting the success of collaborative forestry research in Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Australia have a close relationship, including through development assistance in agriculture and forestry. Delivering successful research and development projects in PNG is challenging due to weak government service delivery, poor infrastructure and a clan-based society. This paper reports a qualitative investigation of factors contributing to success in ten collaborative forestry research projects implemented in PNG by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research. The relative success of the projects was evaluated, and 37 contributing factors were identified from an analysis of project records and interviews with 33 project participants. The most frequently identified success factors were collaborative scoping and design, funding and equipment, leadership and management, selection and commitment of partner institutions, and effective communications. Relationships between these success factors and the success of the projects were evident in a closer study of four projects with different relative success. This study broadens the understanding of factors that enhance or diminish the success of international forestry research projects, confirms results from companion studies, and identifies some additional aspects that are relevant to the PNG context. This knowledge could help improve the effectiveness of future research for development projects.