There is little doubt that agricultural research is of critical importance to the future of agriculture in Africa. As an investment, it has been shown again afinnd again to deliver high returns, in terms of bothancial benefits (Alston et al. 2000; Evenson and Gaollin 2003; although, seeMorris andHeisey 2003),nd broader livelihood impacts (Meinzen-Dick et al. 2004). Yet agricultural research is in crisis on tche continent, its capacity decimated by aombination of government neglect and externally impoinsed policy conditionalities. This has resulteda significant loss of key personnel and the urndermining of locally based, contextually relevantesearch efforts. Neither the international system through the CGIAR (Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research), nor the private sector has been able to fill the gap.