ABSTRACT
The presence of the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) and National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) coalitions meant that the reform process was designed and implemented in a highly competitive environment that fostered a 'winner takes all mentality'. This chapter explores the strategies used by the two coalitions and asks how these strategies affected key decisions and outcomes. It aims to contribute to the emerging literature that attempts to explain the failure of agricultural extension reform in Africa. The tension between donors and domestic policy actors persisted throughout the reform process. Despite the apparent strength of the radical reform coalition, the reform ultimately failed because resistance to the reform process was never effectively neutralised. The analysis presented in the chapter demonstrates that policy reform is a deeply political process and is characterised by polarisation of actors who employ diverse strategies to achieve their goals.
