ICRAAnnualReport09 by Green Ink Ltd.

Strengthening Capacity for Rural Innovation Building skills, changing outlooks

Annual Report 2009

International Centre for development oriented Research in Agriculture

ICRA Central Office and Anglophone Programme Lawickse Allee 11, PO Box 88 6700 AB Wageningen The Netherlands Tel: +31 (0) 317 422938; fax: +31 (0) 317 427046; email: icra@wur.nl Website: www.icra-edu.org

Francophone Programme Agropolis International Avenue Agropolis 34394 Montpellier CX05 France Tel: +33 (0) 467 047527; fax: +33 (0) 467 047526; email: icra@agropolis.fr

ICRA Regional Representative Southern Africa ARC-Technology Transfer Department PO Box 8783 Pretoria 0001 South Africa Tel: +27 (0) 12 427 9919; fax: +27 (0) 12 430 5814; email: chitsikec@arc.agric.za

ICRA Regional Representative Latin America FUNDACITE-Lara Capanaparo 215, FUNDALARA Barquisimeto, Lara Venezuela Tel: +58 412 510 7097(cell); email: leosalazar1953@yahoo.com

Strengthening Capacity for Rural Innovation Building skills, changing outlooks

Annual Report 2009

Contents

Foreword Acronyms and abbreviations

iii vi

PART 1 – HIGHLIGHTS AND LESSONS LEARNED Summary of achievements Capacity strengthening programmes in West Africa Design and management of innovation-oriented learning programmes PIAL: linking learning to rural development in Cuba Managers matter: the senior managers’ exchange tour Addressing innovation challenges: South Africa leads the way

1 3 17 20 23 24 27

PART 2 – WHAT ARE ICRA AND ARD? Introducing ICRA ICRA’s ARD ARD means thinking and behaving differently ICRA’s partnership strategy National and regional ARD learning partnerships ICRA’s comparative advantages

29 31 31 32 34 34 35

PART 3 – ORGANISATION AND FINANCES Governance and management Trustees and personnel Income and allocation Financial statements Projects

39 41 42 44 49 50

ANNEX 1 – PARTNERSHIPS IN ACTION Benin Burkina Faso Ethiopia Ghana Kenya

51 53 57 60 61 64

67 69 71 72 80 81 83

Mali Nigeria Senegal South Africa Uganda The SUCAPRI Project (Kenya, Uganda) Latin America

ANNEX 2 – PARTICIPANTS OF PROGRAMMES AND SUB-REGIONAL MEETINGS ORGANISED BY ICRA IN 2009 Senior Manager’s Exchange Tour Design and Management of Innovation-oriented Learning Programmes in Wageningen and Montpellier Preparatory sub-regional meetings ANNEX 3 – PUBLICATIONS, PAPERS AND PRESENTATIONS Publications and papers ICRA-related publications Presentations Presentations by ILAPIR Presentations by ILAPIR associates

89 91 92 94 97 99 100 100 101 104

Foreword

ICRA

– the International Centre for development oriented Research in Agriculture – has a track record of nearly three decades of strengthening the capacity of inter-organisational and interdisciplinary teams to put their collective knowledge to work for agricultural and rural innovation that reduces poverty and promotes sustainable resource use. Its work has always been inspired by the conviction that development and innovation can only come from people and organisations empowered to address their collective challenges – at global, national, sectoral and local level – by working together and sharing their knowledge to achieve solutions that thereby become their own. From this perspective, development is not a matter of simply transferring technologies, organisational or institutional models from one context to another and training people to produce specific things in specific ways. It is about strengthening the capacity of people and organisations to integrate these elements in new ways that work in their specific context, and to proactively adapt what they produce and how they do this to rapidly changing challenges. Learning and learning to learn from each other are therefore essential for development and for overcoming the current exclusion of a large majority of the world population from the power to participate and make a difference. These and similar ideas are embodied in the notion of ‘innovation systems’ that has gained prominence in recent years and is now, for example, guiding the policies of the World Bank, the European Initiative for Agricultural Research for Development (EIARD), the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) and the European Forum on Agricultural Research for Development (EFARD). Innovation is now seen as a social learning and change process based on knowledge sharing among the stakeholders involved in enhancing food security, competitive market access, ecosystem resilience, and so on. Many countries are trying to change the ways in which they generate knowledge for rural development and how they transfer technology. Where these currently resemble a knowledge pipeline with clear separation of roles between the generation, transfer and use of knowledge and technologies, the envisaged new arrangements resemble dynamic networks in which new

iii

knowledge emerges from sharing and joint experimentation. Experience shows that these networks do not emerge spontaneously, however, even where there are strong market incentives for collaboration. Insights into the conditions that help such networks emerge are scarce, but do suggest that brokers play an important role. Over the past five years, as part of its ‘Move South’, ICRA has engaged as a neutral broker in building innovation networks, both at national and at local or sectoral levels in a dozen countries, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. The national level networks form around a joint interest to enhance the relevance of higher education and research to rural innovation, which demands changes in knowledge, skills, behaviours and attitudes of both people and organisations. These networks often also include policy makers, farmers’ organisations and private sector associations. The local or sectoral networks emerge when these national organisations participate in rural innovation with stakeholders at the community, ecosystem or value chain level and in learning to make more effective use of each others’ knowledge and other competencies. Together with its national partners in these ‘ARD-learning partnerships’, ICRA has gained considerable experience in designing, facilitating and coaching such on-the-job participatory learning processes, referred to as ‘ARD learning cycles’. ICRA uses the acronym ARD to refer to collective innovation and as a synonym to FARA’s IAR4D (Integrated Agricultural Research for Development). This Annual Report summarises what ICRA has done and has learned together with its partners, in 2009. This year, ICRA started an ambitious initiative to further diversify its highly-professional training, coaching and advisory services, mainly in order to better serve its ARD-learning partnerships. As part of this, ICRA designed and organised a Senior Managers’ Exchange and Study Tour to expose managers to innovation in the Netherlands and to promote organisational change in support of ARD. ICRA also started a new international course on the Design and Management of Innovation-oriented Learning programmes, both in the Netherlands (Wageningen) and in France (Montpellier). The latter course targets talented professionals involved in facilitating interactive learning to trigger and out-scale pro-poor rural and agricultural innovation. To improve efficiency and accessibility, ICRA also decided to organise the ‘conventional’ ARD-learning programme mainly in the South, in collaboration with ICRA partners and alumni. Occasionally, the course will still be given in Wageningen and in Montpellier, but once every two years and specifically targeting an audience outside the realm of

existing partnerships. The increase of tailor-made capacity strengthening activity in the South combined with shorter high-leverage visits and training sessions in Europe is a natural consequence of ICRAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strategic move South. In conclusion, ICRA remains highly committed to its original cause, i.e. to promote interactive learning in support of innovation systems that contribute to a fairer and better world. It is doing so, increasingly within the South, in collaboration with its partners and through a growing network of alumni.

Bernard Hubert Chair Board of Trustees

Jon Daane Director

Acronyms and abbreviations

ACP African, Caribbean and Pacific Adaf-Gallé Association pour le Développement des Activités de Production et de Formation AgriBEE Agricultural Black Economic Empowerment AgriSETA Agricultural Sector Education Authority ANAFE African Network for Agriculture, Agroforestry and Natural Resources Education APPRI Apprentissage, Production et Partage d’Innovations ARC Agricultural Research Council ARD Agricultural Research for Development ASARECA Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in East and Central Africa ATTA Agricultural Technology Transfer Academy BIRD Bureau of Integrated Rural Development BSS Business Support Services CAADP Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme CANR College of Agriculture and Natural Resources CASE Competitive Agricultural Systems and Enterprises CATALIST Catalyzing Acceleration of Agricultural Intensification for Stability and Sustainability CGIAR Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research CIAT Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical CIDA Canadian International Development Agency CINSA Collective Innovation Network for Southern Africa CLIA Centro Local de Innovación Agrícola CORAF Conseil Ouest et Centre Africain pour la Recherche et le Développement Agricoles CNIEP Conseiller National aux Initiatives Economiques Paysannes CP Comité de Pilotage DFID Department for International Development DM-IoL Design and Management of Innovation-oriented Learning programmes EC European Commission EIARD European Initiative for Agricultural Research for Development ENDA ENvironnement et Développement Afrique

ENRC EPAC EPMR EU FAAP FANRPAN

Equipe Nationale de Renforcement des Capacités Ecole Polytechnique d’Abomey Calavi External Programme and Management Review European Union Framework for Africa Agricultural Productivity Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network FARA Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa FEPAB Fédération des Professionnels Agricoles du Burkina FSA Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques FUNDACITE Fundación para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología GUCID Gestión Universitaria del Conocimiento y la Innovación para el Desarrollo HARENA HArmonisation des Recherches et Etudes Novatrices pour les Actions de développement de Madagascar IAR4D Integrated Agricultural Research for Development ICRA International Centre for development oriented Research in Agriculture IER Institut d’Economie Rurale IFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development IFDC International Center for Soil Fertility and Agricultural Development IHC In House Committee ILAPIR Iniciativa Latino Americana de Procesos de Innovación ILRI International Livestock Research Institute INCA Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Agrícolas INIA Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agrícola INRAB Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique du Bénin INRM Integrated Natural Resources Management ISE Institut des Sciences de l’Environnement JKUAT Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology JOLISAA Joint Learning on Innovation Systems in African Agriculture KAPP Kenya Agricultural Productivity Programme KENFAP Kenya National Federation of Agricultural Producers KIT Royal Tropical Institute KNUST Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology KKM PLS Kano-Katsina-Maradi Pilot Learning Site LNV Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality MAAP Ministère de l’Alimentation, de l’Agriculture et de la Pêche MAE Ministère des affaires étrangères et européennes MAEP Ministère de l’Agriculture, de l’Elevage et de la Pêche

vii

viii

MAK MDG MoARD MUCG M&E NAADS NARDTT NARO NARS NCST NDA NEPAD NGO NIP NPT

NRM NUFFIC

PAEPARD PCT PDA PIAL

P-IAR4D

PIR PNISA

PROLINNOVA RAP RCPB ROPPA

RUFORUM

R&D SDC SRL SSA-CP SUCAPRI

Makerere University Millennium Development Goals Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Methodist University College of Ghana Monitoring and Evaluation National Agricultural Advisory Services National ARD Task Team National Agricultural Research Organisation National Agricultural Research System National Capacity Strengthening Team National Department of Agriculture New Partnership for Africa’s Development Non-Governmental Organisation National Innovation Platform Netherlands Programme for the Institutional Strengthening of Post-secondary Education and Training Capacity Natural Resources Management Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education Platform for African-European Partnership on ARD Programme Coordination Team Provincial Department of Agriculture Programa para Fortalecer la Innovación Agropecuaria Local Platform for Integrated Agricultural Research for Development Procesos de Innovación Rural Plateforme Nationale pour l’Innovation dans le Secteur Agricole Promoting Local Innovation Realizing the Agricultural Potential of inland valleys Réseau des Caisses Populaires du Burkina Réseau des Organisations Paysannes et des Producteurs Agricoles de l’Afrique de l’Ouest Regional Universities Forum for capacity building in agriculture Research and Development Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation Sustainable Rural Livelihoods Sub-Saharan Africa Challenge Programme Strengthening of University CApacity for Promoting, facilitating and teaching Rural Innovations processes

TBI UAC UDS UNU-MERIT

UO UPCB USE WB WI WU WUR ZARDI 1000s+

Tropenbos International Université d’Abomey Calavi University of Development Studies United Nations University – Maastricht Economic and social Research and training centre on Innovation and Technology Université de Ouagadougou Union des Producteurs du Centre Bénin Union pour la Solidarité et l’Entraide World Bank Wageningen International Wageningen University Wageningen University and Research Centre Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute IFDC’s From Thousands to Millions project

Part 1 HIGHLIGHTS AND LESSONS LEARNED

HIGHLIGHTS AND LESSONS LEARNED

Summary of achievements ICRA aims to support leadership and to develop critical mass in facilitating innovation. It therefore works with numerous partners in countries of the South to strengthen interactive learning, involving research, higher education and rural and agricultural stakeholders. Over recent years, ICRA has moved its centre of gravity South through the national and regional multi-stakeholder partnerships in which it is involved. A significant part of the activities took place in partner countries in 2009. Several in-country ARD (Agricultural Research for Development) learning cycles were facilitated or co-facilitated with southern partners (see Part 2). Whereas exposure to the North is still seen as an effective way to stimulate interaction between southern and northern researchers and development professionals and to promote ‘out of the box’ thinking (like in the Senior Manager’s Exchange and Study Tour, see below), the emphasis has irrevocably shifted towards learning in action in the South. ICRA’s work in the South is also gradually evolving and more explicitly intends to contribute directly to rural and agricultural innovation and to the empowerment of rural populations. As a European instrument, ICRA aims to provide leadership in developing an informed and coordinated European approach to ARD capacity building; an approach that gives more weight to the strengthening of innovation systems and organisational capacity in the South, rather than the current emphasis on individual degree training. ICRA’s capacity strengthening programme impacts upon the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), in particular MDGs 1 (eradicate extreme poverty), 3 (gender equality), 7 (environmental sustainability) and 8 (global partnership for development). ICRA contributes directly to MDG 8 by promoting collaborative learning and action at local, national and regional levels. Major achievements in 2009, presented along the lines of the six generic outcomes of ICRA’s partnership programmes (see Part 2), were: 1) Development of a shared vision on rural innovation and agreement on the contours of an enabling environment, with key actors at national and regional level: PNISA (Plateforme Nationale pour l’Innovation dans le Secteur Agricole), a national level innovation platform in Benin, which has been supported

1 by ICRA from its inception in 2005, is proceeding towards a formal status. PNISA has gained recognition in Benin as a significant alliance of stakeholders from private and public spheres that coordinates ARD capacity building and promotes its use in Benin. ICRA alumni play an important role in the coordination and evolution of PNISA. In Kenya, ICRA supported and co-facilitated a series of meetings to transform the informal task force on ARD into a more formal and permanent arrangement. The initiative, led by eight national level member organisations, is tentatively labelled as the Platform for Integrated Agricultural Research for Development (P-IAR4D). A programme coordination team was established in Uganda, under the leadership of the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), to revitalise the ARD partnership. The team, which now also includes a representative of the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS), received support from ICRA to review and document changes within zonal agricultural research and development institutes (ZARDIs), resulting from previous ARD capacity strengthening, as well as to finalise a national plan to mainstream ARD into partner organisations. Members of the National Capacity Strengthening Teams (NCST) of Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali, who participated in ICRA’s Francophone ARD learning programmes in 2006–2007 and 2008, frequently represent and advise the members of the national steering committees of the ‘From Thousands to Millions’ (1000s+) project, coordinated by the International Center for Soil Fertility and Agricultural Development (IFDC). This project aims to improve the livelihoods of 1 million smallholder farmers in West Africa (see below, “Tailor-made capacity strengthening programmes in action in West Africa”). The steering committees play an important role in identifying and selecting business ideas for rural and agricultural innovation and provide a concrete example of a vibrant multi-stakeholder innovation platform at national level. ICRA finalized, with participation from the Royal Tropical Institute of Amsterdam (The Netherlands), a ‘White Paper’ on Integrated Agricultural Research for Development (IAR4D), commissioned by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA). FARA will use the document as a state-of-the-art paper, and to stimulate discussion between African researchers and research organisations on the role of research in

HIGHLIGHTS AND LESSONS LEARNED

agricultural and rural innovation. The final paper, which has gone through a series of peer reviews, will be published before the end of 2009. The National Research Foundation in South Africa has offered to house the (new) National ARD Task Team (NARDTT), probably within the realms of its new Directorate for Applied Research and Innovation. The NARDTT was established under the ‘Institutionalizing ARD in South African Agricultural R&D & Tertiary Education System’ project, which is coming to an end in 2010. The new NARDTT will re-focus on knowledge sharing and policy advocacy for ARD, and is tentatively labelled as the Collective Innovation Network for Southern Africa (CINSA). 2) Strengthening of capacities of (teams) of ARD learning facilitators: ICRA organised three subregional meetings, in Benin, Cuba and South Africa, conducted in French, Spanish and English, respectively, to further develop the contents of its new professional capacity strengthening course, known as Design and Management of Innovation-oriented Learning Programmes (DM-IoL, see below). The subregional meetings were

Participants of the sub-regional workshop for ARD learning facilitators in Pretoria, South Africa, April 2009

1 successful in bringing together 45 ICRA alumni and (potential) partners for ARD and innovation-oriented learning programmes, and in defining a range of learning needs. Thereafter, ICRA successfully organised its new course (DM-IoL) for 19 Anglophone participants in Wageningen (The Netherlands, 7–25 September), and for 17 Francophone participants in Montpellier (France, 21 September–9 October). The programme was developed specifically for facilitators to enhance their skills in the design and delivery of on the job action-research and interactive learning programmes. The majority of the participants had already been exposed to ICRA’s regular – introductory – ARD learning programme. All participants will take up new and greater responsibilities in facilitating learning in complex, dynamic and often highly competitive multi-stakeholder environments (e.g. 11 participants were sponsored by IFDC/ 1000s+ and will be deployed as agribusiness coaches in Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Niger and Togo). Detailed action plans and follow-up coaching activities were initiated during the course and further developed and fine-tuned immediately after (see also the Chapter on “Designing and managing innovation-oriented learning programmes” in Part 1). IFDC/ 1000s+ implemented, in collaboration with ICRA staff, a Training-ofTrainers in Sogakope (Ghana, 17– 28 August) for 35 participants from seven West African countries on the CASE (Competitive Agricultural Systems and Enterprises) approach. The participants, all staff of producer organisations and local and national level training organisations and NGOs, will add to the critical mass of CASE trainers available (and needed) in the mandate countries of the 1000s+ project, coordinated by IFDC. 3) Designing and/or delivering of tailored in-country ARD learning programmes together with national (teams of) facilitators: NCST members in Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Mali have been involved in IFDC’s 1000s+ project training programme for business support service providers involved in agribusiness cluster formation and value chain development. The training programme was based on capacity strengthening needs assessment workshops held in all the four countries (in 2009 in Burkina Faso and 2008 in the other countries). The learning facilitators received substantial coaching from ICRA staff throughout 2009.

HIGHLIGHTS AND LESSONS LEARNED IN 2008

ICRA facilitated, within the framework of IFDC/ 1000s+, training for about 30 members of national level producer organisations from seven West African countries. The training was provided upon request from the West African network of producer organisations (ROPPA), and financed by the Dutch agri-agency Agriterra. The programme was held in February, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The programme highlighted the CASE approach, and was targeted specifically to the needs of the CNIEPs (Conseiller National aux Initiatives Economiques Paysannes). These CNIEPs work in tandem with the cluster advisors of IFDC/ 1000s+, with a specific responsibility to contribute to farmer empowerment and professionalisation, and strengthening of farmer–market linkages. ICRA facilitated a tailor-made programme for IAR4D facilitators in Nigeria, involving 25–30 participants. The participants were all facilitators of subnational level innovation platforms (Maize–Legume, Rice, Vegetables, and Livestock), initiated by the Sub-Saharan Africa Challenge Programme (SSA-CP), and coordinated by FARA. In this Niger/ Nigeria pilot learning site, ICRA is partnered with IFDC and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI). Two workshops were organised to strengthen the capacities of researchers and other facilitators in each innovation platform to implement action research to improve productivity and build competitive agro-food supply chains jointly with key stakeholders (i.e. smallholder farmers, traders, processors). The South African Agricultural Research Council (ARC) trained over 20 ARD facilitators through its in-service ARD learning programme, developed with ICRA. The participants were mainly staff located within the ARC itself, the University of Limpopo, the Provincial Department of Agriculture (PDA) of Limpopo and Venda University. ICRA co-facilitated two workshops in Uganda to initiate an ARD learning cycle with teams from innovation platforms established under the SSA-CP of FARA, and a team of local stakeholders involved in livestock production and marketing in Kiruhara District. ICRA co-facilitated a six-week capacity strengthening programme in Havana, Cuba, as a follow-up to an earlier programme in Venezuela in 2008, and upon request from the Programa para fortalecer la Innovación Agropecuaria Local (PIAL). Twenty-one Cuban professionals, all supported by PIAL and involved in ARD learning at the community level, participated.

1 4) Coaching and mentoring of (teams) of ARD practitioners involved in rural and agricultural innovation: NCST members from Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Mali have integrated (elements of) ARD principles into their organisations, strengthening organisational capacities to interact with grassroots actors, both within and beyond the realm of the 1000s+ project, and to provide more tailored services (e.g., microfinance for agricultural production). NCST members also facilitated, within the framework of 1000s+, a series of planning workshops at local levels to develop agribusiness cluster formation action plans. They also directly contributed to cluster formation and value chain development through facilitation of action research (on technology issues, but also on institutional arrangements, i.e. to strengthen coordination in clusters and along specific value chains), and through networking and brokering services. IFDC/ 1000s+ is supporting over 200 agribusiness clusters in West Africa, involving a wide range of commodities. ICRA provided, in collaboration with Wageningen International (WI), support to the ‘Realizing the Agricultural Potential of inland valleys’ (RAP) project, initiated and coordinated by the AfricaRice Center (AfricaRice). ICRA co-facilitated the launching workshops in Cotonou (Benin) and Sikasso (Mali), in March 2009, and coordinated the establishment of locallevel multi-stakeholder platforms in Mali that are responsible for design and implementation of research activities jointly with researchers on three themes: ‘agronomy/ productivity’, ‘resource management’ and ‘value chain development’. ICRA and WI staff provided on-the-job training and coaching to the four ICRA alumni and NCST members, who were contracted to kickstart the action research and interactive learning organised through the multi-stakeholder platforms in the two countries. ARD field studies, and action-research programmes, implemented by several institutes affiliated to the NARDTT, established in South Africa, and in particular in the Limpopo province, have been integrated in community outreach programmes. In collaboration with the Limpopo provincial hub of organisations and individuals engaged in ARD, PROLINNOVA (Promoting Local INNOVAtion) has been instrumental in following-up on several of these field studies. PIAL is supporting a series of local innovation platforms (CLIAs) that bring grassroots research, higher education and development organisations

HIGHLIGHTS AND LESSONS LEARNED

together. Over 40 professionals participated in ICRA’s ARD training programmes in Venezuela (2008) and Cuba (2009). Follow-up is provided by ICRA. At the end of 2009, a workshop was facilitated by ICRA in Havana, Cuba, to reflect on the lessons learned and to design follow-up strategies. ICRA and IFDC/ 1000s+ staff jointly facilitated a reflection workshop for the CATALIST project, a large regional development programme coordinated by IFDC and active in Rwanda, Burundi, Dem. Rep. of Congo, and Uganda. The backstopping centred on the strategic orientation of CATALIST’s market development division, and more specifically, on the capacities needed for, and on the approach itself, to boost the development of grassroots-based (and owned) agribusiness clusters. 5) Introducing ARD learning in academic programmes, and linking education to Research and Development (R&D) (see box): ICRA supported the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ghana, in agreeing on a roadmap for the institutional set-up to coordinate and execute the second phase of a project to mainstream an Integrated Natural Resource Management (INRM) approach. The project, implemented through a partnership agreement between CANR/ KNUST and a Dutch consortium led by Tropenbos International (TBI), experienced quite some delay in 2009. Institutionalising INRM is a complex challenge, and hinges, among other things, on the buy-in from higher management levels, a culture of commitment to trans- and inter-disciplinary research, and the effective engagement of rural stakeholders. ICRA facilitated several reflection sessions, involving university staff at all levels and several representatives of rural stakeholder organisations, which have led to the joint formulation of, and agreement on, a work plan for 2010. With the support of ICRA staff, ICRA alumni from the University of Development Studies (UDS, Ghana) and the Methodist University College of Ghana (MUCG) are embarking on a process to incorporate elements of ARD learning and of value chain development and agribusiness cluster formation into their curricula. ICRA has been involved in the formulation and implementation of a pilot for AGRINOVIA, a programme on rural innovation and partnerships

1 Introducing ARD learning in academic programmes

Through a number of activities and projects, ICRA is helping to introduce ARD learning in academic programmes, and link education to R&D. One example is the EDULINK supported project on “Strengthening University Capacity for Rural Innovation Processes”, under the leadership of Makerere University in Uganda. The purpose of this project is to strengthen the capacity of five universities in Kenya and Uganda to participate in decentralised national agricultural research systems (NARS), and to prepare professionals with the competencies needed to promote agricultural and rural innovation processes. In 2009, ICRA supported ‘learning cycles’ in both Uganda and Kenya. In Kenya, the ‘university based learning learning cycle’ is aimed at creating a core group of practitioners in each of the four partner universities. In Uganda, the ‘multistakeholder learning cycle’ helped strengthen the establishment of the innovation platforms created by the FARA SSA-CP, as well as identify areas where the teaching programmes of Makerere University can better prepare future professionals to facilitate and manage such innovation plaforms.

HIGHLIGHTS AND LESSONS LEARNED

intended for both students and development practitioners, led by the University of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. AGRINOVIA wants to evolve into an international MSc programme. The pilot programme combined classroom training and field work and tried in particular to bring the divergent competencies and ideas of students and development practitioners together. Several organisations have worked together on this initiative, including IFAD, and universities in Belgium, France, Italy and Switzerland. The pilot programme was formulated at a workshop in May and implemented in October–December 2009. ICRA’s contribution specifically focused on partnership development. In South Africa, the universities of Venda, Limpopo and Fort Hare have successfully integrated elements of ARD learning in existing curricula, with assistance from ICRA staff. The In House Committees (IHC), established by NARDTT to guide organisational change from within the universities, are making use of a curriculum auditing process developed with the ARC, to assess and improve ARD integration in university curricula. ICRA staff are backstopping the universities with the design and delivery of ARD learning programmes that inspire students and equip them with the knowledge, skills and the capacity to effectively engage with rural actors and other stakeholders in processes of change. Within the framework of the European Union – African, Caribbean and Pacific (EU–ACP) EDULINK, ICRA co-facilitated the Strengthening of University CApacity for Promoting, facilitating and teaching Rural Innovations processes (SUCAPRI) project, two workshops as part of the university-based learning cycle intended to form core IAR4D teaching, and research groups at four Kenyan Universities. Twenty-one teaching staff from Egerton University, Kenyatta University, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, and the University of Nairobi, participated. 6) Promoting exchange of experience and learning from others at national and international levels. In collaboration with ICRA and with funding from the Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education (NUFFIC), the NARDTT in South Africa organised a regional symposium to present and discuss the results and lessons learned of more than 10 years of collaborative activity in support of ARD. The symposium entitled

1 “Enabling collective innovation in agrarian research and development – lessons learned from the last decade” was held in the Agricultural Research Council Convention Centre, from 27 to 30 October. Several examples of co-innovation through joint learning and action in South Africa were showcased. The ARD resource book, developed with significant support from ICRA, was formally launched at this symposium as well. ILAPIR (Iniciativa Latino Americana de Procesos de Innovación Rural), the Latin American ARD, initiative, published its first newsletter in November 2009. ILAPIR, established by ICRA staff and alumni in 2004, is demonstrating leadership in exchanging experiences and lessons learned with regards to ARD. ILAPIR has been invited to workshops and seminars in Cuba, Mexico and Venezuela to share information, identify opportunities for, and kick-start ARD learning cycles. In Cuba ILAPIR has also been instrumental in informing policy-makers and senior managers in higher education on ARD mainstreaming through GUCID (Gestión Universitaria del Conocimiento y la Innovación para el Desarollo), a nationwide programme that aims to strengthen the capacities of the new Municipal University Centres to support local innovation. ICRA and the Institut des Sciences de l’Environnement (ISE) facilitated a workshop to share experiences and finalise the documentation on two ARD learning cycles, one in the Matam Region and one on the Thiès Plateau in Senegal. Having participated in the formulation of the Action Fiche for EC-support to the Platform for African-European Partnership on Agricultural Research for Development-Phase II (PAEPARD II) in 2008, ICRA played an active role in the formulation of the proposal for this intercontinental multistakeholder action this year, and joined the implementing consortium led by FARA. In this process, ICRA extensively shared its experience of multi-stakeholder capacity strengthening with European and African partners, and particularly with FARA and the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), with which ICRA is coleading the Work Package on capacity building. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) invited ICRA to its headquarters in Bern to capitalise on the experience that ICRA had accumulated over 27 years of Swiss core funding and to present ICRA’s

HIGHLIGHTS AND LESSONS LEARNED

Senior managersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; exchange tour in the Netherlands

In 2009, ICRA organised, for the first time in its existence, an exchange tour specifically designed for senior managers of research and higher education institutions. The participants arrived in the Netherlands in June, and followed an intensive programme of interactive workshops, seminars and field visits. The major aim of the programme was to jointly explore leadership issues and organisational change strategies to achieve joint learning and interaction amongst and between researchers, to improve knowledge management, and to strengthen dialogue with and relevance of research for rural stakeholders. Through this programme and its follow-up in 2010 and beyond, ICRA hopes to stimulate leadership and managerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s buy-in to support alternative multistakeholder approaches to rural development.

1 views on ‘the challenges that international development is facing in its work on innovation systems and rural advisory services in the current context’. This exchange and reflection session was attended by 15 SDC staff from various regional development desks and identified potential opportunities for collaboration with the West Africa desk and regional offices. Having identified ICRA as a non-CGIAR (Consulative Group on International Agricultural Research) organisation that could offer an interesting case for more harmonised European donor support, the European Initiative for Agricultural Research for Development (EIARD) invited ICRA to present its work on innovation systems and ways in which this contributes to EIARD’s policy objectives at their European Consultative Group meeting. The African Network for Agriculture, Agroforestry and Natural Resources Education (ANAFE) invited ICRA to share its work and experience at the Regional West and Central African workshop for leaders of ANAFE member institutions and partners on ‘Enhancing the involvement of tertiary agricultural education institutions into CAADP: strategising through ANAFE’. ICRA reformulated its vision (see Part 2) and ambitions for the future as a response to the independent External Programme and Management Review (EPMR), which was held in 2008. The resulting document, entitled “Realising ICRA’s full potential in building innovation systems: ICRA’s vision for the future”, developed through extensive consultation with the Board, management, staff, donors and partners in Europe and the South, is available from the ICRA Secretariat. For a summary of the arguments involved, and the major lines of action, see the box below.

HIGHLIGHTS AND LESSONS LEARNED

Realising ICRA’s full potential in building innovation systems The ‘new’ vision for ICRA (see Part 2) follows from an in-depth external review of ICRA carried out in 2008. The review recognised ICRA’s impressive achievements and value, but at the same time called for urgent changes to enable it to take advantage of its evolving context and to fulfil its full potential to strengthen pro-poor innovation capacity in the South. The vision will serve as the main strategic guideline for ICRA’s Board of Trustees and management. It also presents ICRA’s view of the way ahead to its many European and southern partners in research and development, education, policy-making, the private sector, farmer organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and funding agencies, as well as ICRA’s alumni. ICRA’s view of the way ahead, though inspired by recent trends and evolutions that have put innovation systems approaches in the rural areas at the top of the development agenda, has not dramatically changed: the need for effective ARD is as great as ever. However, there seems to be much more consensus on and urgency for a reversal in thinking about innovation systems at global, national and local levels, involving both European and southern organisations. The 2008 ‘food price crises’ abruptly ended a period of neglect of the agricultural sector’s primary role in ensuring food security, reducing poverty and environmental degradation, and generating a surplus to fuel overall economic growth. Even if the crisis seems to have faded away and recently been overshadowed by the credit crunch, the consensus view is that food availability will tighten in the near to mid-term under the combined effects of increased demand for high-energy and protein foods, fossil fuel uncertainties, climate shocks, diversion of land and water to bio-fuels and deteriorating natural resource quality and availability. It is clear that the goals of poverty alleviation, food security, social stability, climate change mitigation and adaptation, and sustainable agro-ecologies cannot be reached unless the speed and effectiveness of rural and agricultural innovation are hugely increased. This calls for new ways of generating and exchanging knowledge, bringing users and producers of knowledge together as ‘co-innovators’, and for a renewed commitment to a more integrated and effective ARD. In Africa, continental policy guidelines, such as the New Partnership for Africa’s Development’s (NEPAD) Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP) and the corresponding Framework for Africa Agricultural Productivity (FAAP), in which FARA plays a leading role, explicitly call for making a paradigm shift away from a technology package approach to a truly integrated agricultural research for development approach. The idea being to ensure that researchers (national and international) work together with smallholders, pastoralists, extension agencies, the private sector, government and NGOs to have impact on the ground. These policy guidelines also recognise the need to strengthen corresponding capacities in people and organisations in Africa. At European Union (EU) level, the modes of collaboration with the South are changing in line with the principles of the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness – ownership, alignment and harmonisation – and with the EU Code

1 of Conduct on Division of Labour in Development Policy. Important aspects of this changing context include the future of European support to agricultural research in general and to ARD capacity development in particular. At policy level, the new EIARD strategy acknowledges that the impact of agricultural research on development is limited by the weakness of research institutes in many countries; the shortage of researchers, in particular in most of sub-Saharan Africa; insufficient liaison between agricultural research and broader rural development efforts: the lack of involvement of the users of research results in the definition, implementation and monitoring of research; and fragmentation and duplication of effort that results from a lack of coordination between the ARD investments of European member states and the European Commission (EC). The EIARD strategy explicitly recognises capacity development, innovation systems approaches and stronger European collaboration as priorities for responding to the current challenges in the South. Consequently, it mentions ICRA as a potential collaborative instrument that could be supported by European member states and the EC. In 2009, ICRA started a series of initiatives to strengthen its position, both within the European landscape – as a centre of excellence in the area of rural and agricultural innovation and, in particular, the strengthening of individual, organisational and institutional capacities to foster pro-poor innovation – and in the South, through its ARD partnerships and ICRA alumni network. These initiatives comprise: 1.

The re-structuring of ICRA – as an employing organisation – to strengthen its ability to attract new staff, in particular from and in the South. ICRA is also broadening the composition of its Board of Trustees in order to benefit from double guidance from both Europe and the South.

A re-positioning of ICRA in Europe, as a unique institute to source European ARD expertise and to promote cross pollination between the different ARD traditions of European donor countries, and between higher education and R&D institutes involved in rural and agricultural innovation.

The expansion of ICRA’s position and network in the South, through investment in its alumni network of effective change agents. ICRA will also, in close collaboration with its southern partners, invest in its capacity to design and deliver tailor-made in-country capacity strengthening courses and programmes that address the individual, organisational and institutional dimensions of ARD more effectively.

A stronger emphasis on documenting lessons learned. ICRA has, for instance, started to intensify its efforts to collaborate with European and southern institutes to jointly tender for action research projects, to deepen understanding of ARD and facilitate capacity building for pro-poor rural innovation systems.

The development of a communication strategy to improve ICRA’s visibility. While this has not been given much attention in the past years, international visibility for ICRA, and in particular of its ARD partnerships and grassroots activity, needs to be raised to inspire alumni and partner organisations in Europe and the South, and to attract donors to consolidate successes and to achieve the goal of sustained growth of ARD.

HIGHLIGHTS AND LESSONS LEARNED

Capacity strengthening programmes in West Africa In 2006, ICRA started supporting IFDC’s ‘From Thousands to Millions’ (1000s+) project, funded by the Netherlands, which aims at up-scaling agribusiness cluster formation and value chain development in seven West African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Togo). The project mobilises business ideas proposed by rural actors at the grassroots (farmers, small and medium enterprises) and provides small grants for them to access business support services (BSS) including, for instance, strengthening of producer groups, collective marketing, and financial intermediation. ICRA’s support specifically aims at strengthening the capacities of a core team of learning facilitators (the National Capacity Strengthening Team, NCST), composed of members from various organisations. Since 2006 the NCSTs of Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Mali have participated in ICRA’s Francophone and Anglophone capacity strengthening programmes for ARD. The agribusiness environment of 1000s+ was explicitly incorporated into ICRA’s ARD learning programme, as exemplified, for instance, by the choice of the European case studies (agribusiness, industry, clusters), and the inclusion of a specific module on value chain analysis and development. Obviously, grassroots agribusiness development re-appeared in the field work carried out in the home countries as well. As part of the ICRA programme, the NCSTs gained substantial experience in facilitating inter-organisational collaboration in competitive playing fields. The teams were also involved in the development of strategic partnerships to establish agribusiness clusters and value chain linkages on commodities like rice (Benin), sesame (Burkina Faso), pepper and meat from small ruminants (Ghana), and tiger nut (Mali). Upon completion of the field assignments the NCST members were subcontracted by IFDC/ 1000s+ to assist the national steering committees with the appraisal and selection of business ideas. NCST members have also been instrumental in facilitating workshops to transform the business ideas into consistent action plans for agri-business cluster formation and value chain development. With backstopping from ICRA, all of the NCSTs organised national-level workshops to identify capacity strengthening needs of the business support services (BSS) and producer organisations (POs) involved in 1000s+. Specific

1 attention was given to the strengthening the capacities of BSS to perform as ‘catalysts’ for agribusiness cluster formation and in fostering competitive strategies involving multiple stakeholders. These workshops have led to the development of action plans for capacity strengthening of the BSS. In the case of Benin and Mali, selected members of the NCSTs have already been actively involved in the implementation of these capacity strengthening plans. With a view to further developing the capacities of targeted NCST members to provide coaching and mentoring services to BSS (as agribusiness coaches) and to leverage the work of IFDC’s cluster advisors, IFDC and ICRA invited them to ICRA’s new professional capacity building programme, the DM-IoL, in Wageningen and Montpellier (see next section). Members of the NCSTs of Benin (3), Burkina Faso (3), Ghana (2) and Mali (3) attended this three week programme. Two participants from Niger and Togo participated as well. The participation of these ‘agribusiness coaches’ in the DM-IoL tied perfectly with a new proposal for ICRA’s support to IFDC/1000s+, as formulated after an internal mid-term review, in which the following four lines of action were proposed: 1) Support a Training of Trainers programme run by IFDC to increase capacity for introducing and presenting CASE (‘Competitive Agricultural Systems and Enterprise’, a grassroots approach to agribusiness development, developed by IFDC) to a wide audience in West Africa, and to facilitate action-planning workshops at sub-national levels. 2) Support the establishment and strengthening of agribusiness development coaches (NCST members and other capable individuals) able to provide mentoring/coaching to BSSs involved in 1000s+. 3) Provide follow-up backstopping to NCST members – in particular oriented towards organisational strengthening (i.e. of their own organisations). 4) Support the establishment and functioning of national-level steering committees in all target countries (i.e. including Niger, Nigeria and Togo). The proposal specifically addresses the challenges of strengthening the role of NCST members and their organisations so that they can support the development of (grassroots) agribusiness within the framework of the1000s+ project, and building up the critical mass of CASE trainers/ facilitators needed. The proposal also enables ICRA to provide support to IFDC, until the end of the first phase of the 1000s+ project. The NCST members are currently re-designing and/or implementing capacity strengthening programmes for targeted BSSs. In consultation with IFDC, ICRA

HIGHLIGHTS AND LESSONS LEARNED

Agribusiness Development – Business Clusters, Value Chains – Field task

BSS

Workshop (Chain Mapping)

Preparation

Field task

Field review

Workshop (Building Engagement)

Field review

Reflection

Preparation

Reflection

National Capacity Strengthening Team (NCST)

ICRA Initiative led by ICRA

Initiative led by NCST members

led by BSS

Joint responsibility NCST members and BSS

Figure 1. Example of a sequence of learning cycles designed to support local facilitators involved in the training of business support services

will provide on-the-job training and coaching to the NCSTs for the effective implementation of these programmes. The capacity building programme is designed as a series of learning cycles (see Figure 1). As clusters are at different levels of development, BSSs may move at a different pace. In Ghana, the programme focuses on the following modules: ‘chain assessment’ (i.e. the mapping of the actors in commodity chains, market and channel analysis and appraisal of the business environment), ‘building engagement’ (i.e. identifying ‘champions’, strengthening linkages and building trust among chain actors, developing joint business plans), ‘chain development’ (i.e. process, product, and chain up-grading), ‘chain monitoring’ (e.g. transaction costs, profitability, and income stability) and ‘chain learning’ (i.e. learning from the current situation, from consumers and consumer/ market trends, and from competitors). In Burkina Faso and Mali, the programme mainly focuses on market and value chain analysis and then deals with the development of partnerships among cluster actors, of strategies to access markets and specific market segments. The programme also includes support to the development of multi-stakeholder action plans. The NCST members will provide coaching and on-the-job support to BSS.

1 They will be involved in the organisation and facilitation of ‘reflection’ workshops, bringing together various field experiences to analyse specific field cases, draw lessons for the future and work out basic process principles and steps to efficiently catalyse agribusiness cluster development. The NCST members in Burkina Faso also provide guidance to the (sub-)contracting process. In Benin and Mali, the capacity strengthening process began with the implementation of a series of workshops focusing on value chain analysis; these workshops, designed with backstopping from ICRA, were facilitated by NCST members in three areas in each country. The next stage will focus on hands-on coaching of BSS. ‘Reflection–analysis–capitalisation’ workshops have also been planned, to share experiences between the BSSs involved in facilitating action research and interactive learning for grassroots agribusiness development. NCSTs have not been established in Niger or Togo. The participants of the DMIoL course will however be assisted to link up with other relevant individuals (and organisations) to make a start with a NCST. On-the-job training and coaching will be provided to strengthen their capacities as agribusiness development coaches, with particular attention for inter-organisational collaboration and the development of strategic partnerships in agribusiness clusters and along targeted commodity value chains.

Design and management of innovation-oriented learning programmes ICRA is creating substantial space to practice facilitation of ARD learning. ICRA’s current Anglophone and Francophone capacity building programmes provide hands-on knowledge, skills and confidence in ARD, but experience has shown that additional knowledge and skills are needed for alumni to effectively facilitate ARD, as well as more general, innovation-oriented learning in multi-stakeholder settings. In 2009, ICRA therefore developed a new programme to strengthen the capacity of the current partnership core teams to design, organise and facilitate innovation-oriented learning activities in their countries. This programme took place in three stages: 1) In the first half of 2009, ICRA organised sub-regional workshops with mainly ICRA alumni in each of its main language areas (Anglophone and

HIGHLIGHTS AND LESSONS LEARNED

Francophone Africa, Hispanophone Latin America). These workshops enabled ICRA to reflect on and capture the partners’ experience with facilitation of ARD learning, and to identify the competencies needed to plan, design and manage on-the-job, innovation-oriented learning programmes. 2) In May, ICRA staff and an invited colleague from one of our partner organisations reflected on the sub-regional workshop outputs and used the lessons learned as inputs to plan and design the new capacity building programme. 3) In September and October, ICRA staff facilitated a three-week capacity building programme for ARD learning facilitators in Wageningen (Anglophone) and Montpellier (Francophone) – the previously mentioned DM-IoL. The programme involved the following stages: In the first week, participants analysed the development context in which their local innovation-oriented learning programmes are embedded, analysed the need for individual, organisational, and interinstitutional (system-wide) changes, and identified desired outputs, outcomes and impacts in the short and longer term. In the second week, participants designed experiential, innovationoriented learning programmes that integrated knowledge acquisition

Workshop of the Design and Management of Innovation-oriented Learning Programme, Wageningen, September 2009

1 with practice of skills and development of attitudes. The Anglophone programme focussed specifically on developing guidelines to prepare and design learning frameworks for specific learning activities. The Francophone programme put more emphasis on the development of learning objectives, the identification of structure, sequence and learning steps, formulation of learning activities and selection of learning materials and tools. In the third week, participants on the Anglophone programme practiced facilitation skills with their colleagues as ‘guinea pigs’ and reviewers of their performance. They also shared and analysed experiences on organisational, logistical and planning issues (including budgets) of innovation-oriented learning programmes. The Francophone programme focussed on three simulation exercises: the first relating to the position and role of the facilitators and types of facilitation, the second specifically to the facilitation of decision-making, and the third to a multi-stakeholder process and conflict management in natural resources management. Both programmes ended with participants initiating an action plan to implement their local learning programmes back in-country. The experience of this three-stage process has helped ICRA clarify what it believes are the key competencies needed to facilitate multi-stakeholder learning (Figure 2). These include the ability to: 1) Analyse the needs for individual, organisational, and inter-institutional (system-wide) change 2) Link learning to the development context (embedding within projects, programmes, etc.) 3) Integrate knowledge acquisition with practice of skills and development of attitudes 4) Design learning processes and activities for groups of mixed backgrounds, abilities 5) Support individual and group learning, through processes of reflection During 2010, ICRA will continue to support the participants as they continue to practise these competencies and implement their innovation-oriented learning programmes with local stakeholders. These collaborative experiences will in turn enable the Centre to continue to develop and improve its own ability to develop the capacity of its partner organisations to facilitate innovation-oriented learning.

HIGHLIGHTS AND LESSONS LEARNED

Design learning process

Link learning to knowledge, skills, attitudes

Support learning process Competencies to promote ARD learning

Link learning to context

Analyse needs for (more) learning

Figure 2. Competencies required for facilitating learning in rural innovation (ARD)

PIAL: linking learning to rural development in Cuba ICRA has played an important facilitating role in bringing key actors in Cuba together in a national stakeholder platform. Through this platform the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Agrícolas (INCA), Instituto de Investigaciones Jorge Dimitrov and the universities of Granma, Las Villas and Pinar del Rio facilitate collective rural innovation processes. The partners in this platform (in Spanish called Programa para Fortalecer la Innovación Agropecuaria Local – PIAL) coordinate their activities to strengthen innovation capacity and learn from each other. The main donors to PIAL are the SDC, the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and several international NGOs. Using experience gained from an in-service learning programme in rural innovation that partners in Cuba and Venezuela facilitated, with technical support from ICRA, in 2008 in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, PIAL (in conjunction with ICRA) designed and is implementing its own experiential learning programme in Cuba to create an enabling environment for collective innovation at grassroots level.

1 The programme targeted 20 professionals from organisations participating in local innovation processes promoted by PIAL to enhance their teamwork and leadership skills to facilitate multi-stakeholder partnerships. The initial residential phase of six weeks of the learning programme in May and June 2009 linked the learning process to four local innovation processes, using these real cases in all the learning modules of the programme and in the embedded field work, and finished with the development of action plans for four local CLIAs – local innovation platforms promoted by PIAL. Now, in the follow-up phase of this learning programme, PIAL has launched a small competitive grants scheme to support the action plans in the CLIAs. The experiences in Cuba proved to be a rich source of experience and learning for ICRA and the main lesson learned is the importance of embedding learning in the real life context of the participants, providing them with the opportunity to integrate knowledge acquisition with practice of skills and development of attitudes that strengthen innovation capacity and enable continuous learning from each other. As a result, the CLIAs have become the nucleus for local rural development and innovation in Cuba. PIAL is aiming for a second follow-up programme (2010–2014) to embed these local activities in an institutional change process at national level aimed at changing the attitude towards rural innovation at policy level.

Managers matter: the senior managers’ exchange tour Towards the end of 2008, ICRA invited a group of senior managers from its partner organisations to the Netherlands to exchange on the role of agricultural research and higher educational organisations in stimulating innovation. The first senior managers’ exchange tour took place in June 2009 in Wageningen, the Netherlands. The participants were selected because of the pivotal role they play in agricultural research and education, in particular by providing leadership in shaping the organisational ‘culture’ and through coaching and mentoring of their staff. All 15 participants came from organisations involved in nationwide partnerships on rural innovation. Several of their staff members had received training from ICRA. Some of these ICRA alumni were invited as well to comment on their experience in promoting ARD from within the organisation. Representatives of producer organisations also participated. The participants

HIGHLIGHTS AND LESSONS LEARNED

Research, education and farmer organisation leaders share experiences of rural innovation in The Netherlands

came from the five countries in sub-Saharan Africa where ICRA is most active, i.e. Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa and Uganda. The objective of the exchange tour was twofold. First, to bring a senior manager’s perspective from the South to a debate previously dominated by northern researchers on the actual (and potential) role of agricultural research and education in rural innovation. Second, to assess existing and alternative avenues for capacity strengthening of rural development professionals (i.e. individuals), ICRA’s core competency, so that it would stimulate organisational change, improve knowledge management and achieve joint learning amongst and between rural stakeholders. The programme was spread over four days of intensive interaction and was organised around three major activities: 1) Meetings with ICRA staff to share experiences and lessons learned and to discuss pathways for making agricultural research and education more flexible and responsive to the needs of smallholder farmers and other rural and agribusiness stakeholders. 2) Presentations and a field trip to the ‘Flevopolder’ to come to grips with the way the research agenda (generic and applied, private and public) in

1 the Netherlands, and more specifically in the potato sector, is set jointly by producers, consumers, the agro-food industry and policy-makers. 3) A seminar on rural innovation and organisational change with Bram Huijsman, Director of Wageningen International, and Andre de Waal, Associate Professor of the Maastricht School of Management (MsM) as eminent guest speakers. Progressively ARD became more concrete for the participants and its objective more or less synonymous with the adage of ‘Science for Impact’. All participants clearly expressed the need for change. They also underlined their responsibility in promoting ‘Science for Impact’ and expressed their desire, on behalf of the national research and educational organisations, to be in the driver’s seat of change. Innovation involves new knowledge or new ways of applying existing knowledge. It is a dynamic, continuous and multi-stakeholder process. It was acknowledged that knowledge generation and use follow curious non-linear pathways. Moreover, knowledge is power, and mechanisms for knowledge sharing and joint learning in the agricultural sector, and in particular in the agribusiness industry, may need careful design and implementation. Public agricultural research organisations sometimes lead, but mostly participate in, knowledge generation. The participants stressed that any pathway to learn and mainstream ARD would need to consider both individual and organisational capacities. Eventually, such pathways should also strengthen inter-individual (i.e. teams) and inter-organisational relationships (e.g., platforms, alliances) to foster an enabling institutional environment (including policies) for ARD. For a long time the emphasis has been on the capacity strengthening of individuals – researchers, lecturers – without adequate consideration of ‘how’ these individuals could bring about change beyond their own immediate sphere of influence. Changes of such a magnitude require leadership to guide the necessary organisational change processes and, for instance, to coach inter-disciplinary, results-oriented research task forces. This point was repeatedly made by the participants. Bottom-up individual changes are important, but complementary investment in managerial capacity and knowledge exchange is crucial too. This shows that managers need to understand and buy-in to ARD so that they can develop the framework within which a new blend of researchers and educators can emerge.

HIGHLIGHTS AND LESSONS LEARNED

Addressing innovation challenges: South Africa leads the way The South African ARC plays a crucial role in South Africa, and has a nationwide mandate to generate, co-develop and share knowledge – including the knowledge embedded in specific technologies – that helps enhance the natural resource base, sustain a competitive agricultural economy, and ensure high quality and safe food. The ARC has a particular role as a knowledge broker – ensuring an informed South African public and encouraging national growth and development. ICRA has been developing capacity for ARD with the ARC for over ten years. With support from ICRA, more than a hundred professionals have been trained through in-country ARD learning programmes organised by the ARC. A number of action research projects have been initiated as a result of these training programmes. Now, the ARC is moving on to strengthen its technology transfer division, and to advance innovation through community outreach programmes. Interdisciplinary and inter-organisational teams build engagement among multiple stakeholders, and jointly design action research programmes to foster technology development. In the past, field projects implemented through the ARC were carried out for various reasons, ranging from purely research purposes (on-farm trials) to testing of research outputs (during prototype stage) and training on the proper use/adoption of a technology. These activities, although well meant, were not designed jointly with the rural stakeholders they targeted, and as a result were received without much engagement. Overall, the projects had limited impact, offered little value to the communities involved, and were frustrating for the implementer/technology inventor. A change to conducting technology transfer through community projects has been given leadership by the ARC Technology Transfer Director, following ICRA’s senior managers’ exchange and study tour to the Netherlands, which provided a real-life experience of ARD practice. The community strategy has been approved by management and the leadership of ARC. The change will generate: Socio-economic benefits to society (e.g. to new or poorly-resourced farming communities) through joint experimentation and learning, with a focus on stakeholder influence on identifying potentially relevant technologies (R&D output) for adoption, combined with community-based capacity building and adequate tracking of impact (social and economic).

1 Income for the ARC through accessing local funds for development of communities. Expected outcomes of ARC’s community projects are: Increased engagement between the various actors, as ARC engagement with community projects should stimulate people to engage with each other, in testing, adopting and re-designing ARC technologies; it should also stimulate institution building and networking building social capital through agricultural action. Empowerment of agricultural actors and confidence building, through coinnovation. Enhanced incomes for communities, through gains in knowledge, skills, attitudes and (social, commercial) networks.

Part 2 WHAT ARE ICRA AND ARD?

WHAT ARE ICRA AND ARD?

Introducing ICRA The International Centre for development oriented Research in Agriculture (ICRA) was founded in 1981 by European members of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), a consortium of countries, donor agencies and other organisations committed to ending world hunger, poverty and environmental decline. ICRA is supported by the governments of France, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the UK. It is governed by an international Board of Trustees. ICRA has offices in Wageningen (the Netherlands) and Montpellier (France), but works mainly through strategic partnerships and networks in the North and South. Permanent regional representatives are currently based in southern Africa and Latin America, while resources are being sought to base others in eastern and West Africa. Since 2006, ICRA has been listed as a centre of excellence on the additional knowledge centres list managed by NUFFIC. This list was created to provide knowledge centres conducting professional non-degree programmes with a status similar to regular degree awarding higher education institutes.

ICRA’s ARD Successful innovation requires continuous mutual adjustment of technology, policy and institutional environments, credit support, markets, and competencies

ICRA’s vision is to be a centre of excellence that supports the building of effective pro-poor rural and agricultural innovation systems, and that is jointly owned and governed by the agricultural research for development stakeholder communities in Europe and the South, especially in subSaharan Africa.

ICRA’s mission is to strengthen the capacities of people and organisations involved in development, research and education, to jointly realise knowledge-based rural and agricultural innovation in support of the Millennium Development Goals, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. ICRA’s goal is to help end poverty and hunger and to promote sustainable resource use, by supporting balanced partnerships between stakeholders in pro-poor innovation from Europe and the South.

2 and objectives of key actors – both people and organisations. The knowledge needed for this continuous adjustment arises from interactive learning among R&D organisations, producers and their organisations, policy makers, financial organisations, agro-industries, retailers and consumers, and others. This collaboration and interactive learning is not easy, because the actors hold different world views and have different ideas of what is desirable. In addition, once they are agreed on common objectives, they need to dovetail their actions to improve policies, institutions, markets and technologies, and to empower key actors. Many approaches have been developed to facilitate this collective action, which ICRA refers to as ARD (see box). Although these approaches and principles have been established for some time and applied successfully in specific cases, they have seldom been mainstreamed to establish effective innovation systems. An important reason for this is that the people and organisations involved are not sufficiently equipped for interactive learning. New professional competencies and (inter-)organisational capabilities are therefore needed. Collective approaches to rural innovation (and organisations promoting them)

ARD (ICRA)

IAR4D (FARA)

Territorial and Enterprise Development (Enabling Rural Development) (CIAT)

Integrated Natural Resources Management (CGIAR)

Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (DFID)

Competitive Agricultural Systems and Enterprises (IFDC)

Client Oriented Research Management Approach (KIT)

Innovation systems approach (UNU-MERIT)

ARD means thinking and behaving differently To ICRA, the most important defining aspect of ARD is the application of the four principles (see box). ARD is not a methodology or stepwise set of guidelines that can be followed in all circumstances. Neither is it a question of simply gaining knowledge of the underlying concepts or even skills in suitable methods. Rather, it requires a change in mentality: a different way of looking at the world; of thinking and analysing; of interacting with others.

WHAT ARE ICRA AND ARD?

Common principles of ARD: 1.

ARD integrates the perspectives, knowledge and actions of different stakeholders around a common theme

ARD integrates the learning that stakeholders achieve through working together

ARD integrates analysis, action and change across the different (environmental, social, economic) dimensions of development

ARD integrates analysis, action and change at different levels of spatial and social organisation.

These paradigm shifts include: A shift from seeing knowledge generation as a final objective, to seeing it as a means to achieve change; from research to innovation; from a focus on technology to a focus on people A shift from mainly reductionist understanding of the parts to systemic understanding of the relationships between the parts A shift from mainly ‘hard systems analysis’ (improving the mechanics of the system) to inclusion of ‘soft systems analysis’ (negotiating the meaning of the system and desirable transformations) A shift from seeing participation as a matter of consulting beneficiaries to one of facilitating interactive learning between stakeholders, resulting in joint analysis, planning, and hence collective action A shift from working individually to working with others, in ever-changing ad hoc teams and partnerships A shift from teaching to learning; from being taught to learning how to learn; from individual learning to social learning A shift in the culture of R&D organisations from an exclusive focus on individual merit and competition to one that also favours collaboration and teamwork, both within and between organisations A shift from agricultural research systems to agricultural innovation systems. These new ways of thinking, new attitudes and new forms of collaboration between organisations cannot be achieved by conventional knowledge transfer or management courses. They require ‘learning by doing’ in the real world by addressing complex development challenges with the key stakeholders and learning from each other. They mean developing an ability to reflect collectively

2 on experience and draw lessons, and an openness to question the assumptions that have underpinned one’s actions or career to date. They also require uncomfortable confrontations: both with oneself and with others. Such shifts affect the essence of the current paradigms that underpin the way in which universities educate students and in which professional organisations are organised and managed. Such changes require continued and long-term effort.

ICRA’s partnership strategy ICRA’s strategy is to promote these paradigm shifts and collective innovation by enhancing the capacities of key actors – both people and organisations – to learn from each other, and exchange and integrate their knowledge. The backbone of ICRA’s strategy is the national (and regional) level ARD learning partnerships that help ICRA move its centre of gravity South. These multi-actor partnerships are complex, but ideally perform six functions (shown in Table 1). ICRA has also identified six desired outcomes from national (and regional) partnerships (shown in Figure 3). These outcomes correspond roughly

Table 1. Functions and outcomes of ICRA’s ARD partnerships (Ideal) Functions

(Generic) Outcomes

Achieving agreement between key national stakeholders in rural innovation on a vision, strategies and action plans to strengthen collaboration in ARD learning

National partners develop a collective vision of rural innovation

Strengthening the capacity of facilitators from the R&D and education sectors, and their organisations, to design and implement ARD learning cycles

A core group of facilitators designs, implements and evaluates learning programmes for collective innovation

Providing tailored ARD learning programmes, through which grassroots ‘innovation teams’ of R&D professionals and other stakeholders learn to develop collective rural innovations

Rural agencies learn to collectively generate innovation through in-service professional development

Coaching and mentoring of grassroots ‘innovation teams’ during the innovation process

Stakeholders collaborate to promote innovation and address complex development challenges

Introducing rural innovation competencies into academic programmes and linking educational organisations with the R&D sectors

Academic organisations include rural innovation competences in their programmes

Promoting exchange of experiences and research on ARD

Partnerships exchange experiences and learn from others at national and international levels

WHAT ARE ICRA AND ARD?

Research institutes

Processors, traders, etc

Producer Communities organisations

Policy makers

A core group of facilitators designs, implements and evaluates learning programmes for collective innovation

Service providers

Universities, etc

Rural agencies learn to collectively generate innovation through inservice professional development

National partners develop a collective vision of rural innovation Academic organisations include rural innovation competencies in their programmes

Partnerships exchange experiences and learn from others at national and international levels

Stakeholders collaborate to promote innovation and address complex development challenges

Goal:

Improved rural livelihoods Sustainable use of natural resources Competitive agroâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;product chains Equitable development

Figure 3. Desired outcomes of national ARD learning partnerships to the six functions of an ideal ICRA partnership, while Table 1 shows the relationship between the functions and outcomes. Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of ICRAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work is based on these desired outcomes. Partnerships may begin with just one or two of these functions and it may take time to build them up to include all of the different elements. ICRA is often brought in through a specific request from one partner organisation to help solve a problem which relates to one of the functions. Its strategy is to use these requests as entry points and, through them, to begin building more comprehensive and effective national partnerships. For example, national agricultural research organisations may ask ICRA to assist with local capacity

2 strengthening of their research staff. ICRA will encourage them to not only strengthen the capacity of their staff, but also, and through the same experiential learning programme, that of all other key stakeholders in the rural innovation process. ICRA also promotes involvement of higher education organisations in this local capacity strengthening process.

National and regional ARD learning partnerships ICRA is currently involved to different degrees in national multi-actor partnerships in 14 countries: eleven in sub-Saharan Africa and three in Latin America (see Figure 4 and Table 2). It also works with partners in Europe, and regional and international organisations. In addition to the activities in the southern partner countries, ICRA operates Anglophone and Francophone capacity strengthening programmes from Wageningen and Montpellier, respectively. The ICRA website (www.icra-edu.org) offers a platform for exchange of experiences and learning materials.

ICRA’s comparative advantages Compared with other, more conventional, capacity-building and institutional change organisations, ICRA takes a different approach, with several distinguishing features: An emphasis on working within multi-stakeholder partnerships Simultaneously strengthening the capacity of major stakeholders of an innovation system, helping them to work together better and learn from

each other Working at different levels within stakeholder groups (policy, managerial, operational, support); thus not only engaging with multiple stakeholder groups, but also at multiple levels within these Promoting institutional change alongside capacity strengthening – changing mindsets, attitudes and behaviour – of individuals and organisations to stimulate concerted action and joint learning Building a long-term engagement with stakeholders, rather than providing one-off services in response to demand Promoting the role of universities in the development of effective and sustainable innovation systems, and attempting to help narrow the gap between education, research and development.

WHAT ARE ICRA AND ARD?

Wageningen Montpellier

Cuba

Mexico

Venezuela

Mali Burkina Faso Nigeria Ghana Benin Uganda

Senegal

Ethiopia Kenya Madagascar

South Africa

ICRA offices in Wageningen (Netherlands) and Montpellier (France) ICRA’s ARD learning partnerships

Figure 4. ICRA’s ARD learning partnerships Table 2. ICRA’s partners Sub-Saharan Africa Africa Rice Center (ARC) Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) Conseil Ouest et Centre Africain pour la Recherche et le Développement Agricoles (CORAF) Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) Pan African Federation of Farmers’ Organisations Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) Benin Fédération des Unions de Producteurs du Bénin

Institut National de Recherche Agronomique du Bénin Ministère de l’Agriculture, de l’Elevage et de la Pêche Organisation Béninoise pour la Promotion de l’Agriculture Biologique Plateforme Nationale d’Innovation dans le Secteur Agricole Université d’Abomey-Calavi

Université de Ouagadougou

Ethiopia Agri Service Ethiopia Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute (ARARI) Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) Haramaya University Mertule Mariam Agricultural Technical and Vocational Education and Burkina Faso Training College Association des grossistes et détaillants Ministry of Agriculture and Rural d’intrants agricoles Development Fédération des Professionnels Agricoles du Burkina Ghana Fédération Nationale des Industries Apex Farmers Organization of Ghana de l’Agro-Alimentaire et de Ghana Agricultural Business Transformation du Burkina Information Center Réseau des Caisses Populaires du Kwame Nkrumah University of Science Burkina and Technology Université de Koudougou Methodist University College Ghana

2 Table 2. ICRA’s partners (ctd) Opportunities Industrialization Centers – Tamale Savanna Agricultural Research Institute University for Development Studies

Senegal Associates in Research and Education for Development Environnement et Développement Afrique- Groupe Recherche, Action, Kenya Formation Egerton University Environnement et Développement Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture Afrique – Groupes de Recherche and Technology Action et d’Appui aux Initiatives Kenya Agricultural Research Institute Mutualistes Kenya National Federation of Institut des Sciences de Agricultural Producers l’Environnement de l’ Université Kenyatta University Cheikh Anta Diop Ministry of Agriculture Union pour la Solidarité et l’Entre Aide Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development South Africa University of Nairobi Agricultural Research Council Madzivhandela Farmer Training Madagascar Institute Aide et Action National African Farmers Union Centre d’Echange et de National Department of Agriculture Documentation et d’Information National Department of Science and Interinstitutionnelles Technology FIANTSO Promoting Local Innovation Provincial Departments of Agriculture, (PROLINNOVA), The Netherlands Education and Youth Provincial Departments of Agriculture Regional Civil Society Platforms of of Eastern Cape, Free State, KwaZulu Fianarantsoa and Tuléar Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Université d’Antananarivo Northern Cape Université de Fianarantsoa Tompi-Seleka Farmer Training Institute Université de Tuléar University of Fort Hare University of the Free State Mali University of KwaZulu Natal ADAF-Gallé – CREDO University of Limpopo Assemblée Permanente des Chambres University of Pretoria d’Agriculture du Mali University of Venda Association des organisations professionnelles de producteurs Uganda Association Malienne d’Eveil au Makerere University Développement Durable National Agricultural Research Association pour la Promotion des Organisation Filières Agricoles National Agricultural Advisory Services Direction Nationale de l’Agriculture Fédération Nationale des Latin America Transformateurs de produits Agroalimentaires Cuba Institut d’Economie Rurale Gestión Universitaria del Conocimiento Institut Polytechnique Rurale de y la Innovación para el Desarrollo Katibougou Instituto de Investigaciones Jorge ONG Solidarité à l’Autopromotion de Dimitrov la Base Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Agrícolas Projet d’Appui à la Commercialisation Programa para Fortalecer la Innovación des Céréales au Mali Agropecuaria Local Union Locale de Producteurs de Universidad Central de Las Villas Céréales et de Karité Universidad de Granma Universidad de Pinar del Río

Mexico Colegio de Postgraduados Venezuela Fundación para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnología del estado Lara Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agrícolas Universidad Nacional Experimental Simón Rodríguez Europe & International African Highlands Initiative, Uganda Agropolis International, France Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement, France Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), Colombia Department for International Development (DFID), UK ETC International Group, The Netherlands European Initiative for Agricultural Research for Development, Belgium International Fertiliser Development Centre, Africa Division International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Italy International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) Ministère de l’Alimentation, de l’Agriculture et de la Pêche, France Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Food Safety, The Netherlands Ministère des Affaires Étrangères et Européennes, France Promoting Local Innovation (PROLINNOVA), The Netherlands Royal Institute of the Tropics (KIT), The Netherlands Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Switzerland Tropenbos International, The Netherlands University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands Wageningen University and Research Centre Wageningen International, The Netherlands Welthungerhilfe, Germany

Part 3 ORGANISATION AND FINANCES

ORGANISATION AND FINANCES

Governance and management ICRA is an autonomous, non‑profit, internationally operating legal entity, registered in the Netherlands as a foundation under Dutch law. It is governed by an international Board of Trustees. A Director is responsible for daily management of the organisation. ICRA’s Central Office and the Anglophone Programme are located in Wageningen, The Netherlands, while the Francophone Programme is located in Montpellier, France. Permanent Regional Representatives are based in Southern Africa and Latin America. ICRA is in the process of converting from a non-employing organisation into a centre with its own personnel. Currently, its personnel consists of employees seconded by its donors or employed for ICRA by sister organisations, and of professional associates on consultancy contracts. ICRA’s Anglophone and Francophone Programmes are each headed by a Coordinator. The centre’s involvement in each of the national or regional partnerships is managed by a small team of ICRA personnel, Board of Trustees

Director Finance and accounts Deputy Director

Francophone Programme

Anglophone Programme

Regional Representative

Partnership team convenor

ICRA Latin America team

ICRA South Africa team

ICRA Uganda team

ICRA Benin team

etc....

Overlapping teams of ICRA personnel

Country-specific partnership governance bodies (external to ICRA) (National Innovation Platform, National Task Team/ Force, Steering Committee, …)

Figure 5. ICRA’s organisational structure

3 coordinated by a team â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;convenorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; or a Regional Representative. These teams have overlapping members to promote cross partnership learning. The Anglophone and Francophone Programme Coordinators, Regional Representatives and team convenors report to the Deputy Director, who is responsible for internal staff management, M&E and learning, and reports to the Director. The management of each of the eleven national partnerships and of the regional partnership in Latin America is the responsibility of the partners in each country or region and is external to ICRA. ICRA provides primarily support to national and regional level partnerships for innovation, but is in some cases also a plain member of the partnership. Different governance mechanisms are used to manage these partnerships according to the institutional culture in each country or region.

Trustees and personnel Trustees Dr Christine Akoth Onyango: Senior Lecturer JKUAT, Kenya, Alumni representative Dr Pascal Bergeret: Head, Department of Research Education Relations, Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, France Dr Bernard Hubert (Chair): President, Agropolis International and Coordinator French Initiative for International Agricultural Research, France Dr Bram Huijsman: Director, Wageningen International, The Netherlands Dr Monty Jones: Executive Director FARA, Ghana Mr Sander van Opstal: Senior Policy Officer, Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Food Safety, The Netherlands Mr Philippe Petithuguenin: Senior Advisor on ARD, and EIARD secretariat, Biotechnology, Food and Agriculture Directorate, Directorate General for Research, European Commission, Belgium Dr Didier Pillot: Representative for European and International affairs and Agris Mundus coordinator, SupAgro, France

ORGANISATION AND FINANCES

ICRA personnel CENTRAL OFFICE Dr Jon Daane, Director Dr Arno Maatman, Deputy Director Dr Driek Enserink, Senior Officer Ms Ans Brom, Office Manager Ms Saskia Vleer, Office Manager

ANGLOPHONE PROGRAMME Mr Juan Ceballos-Müller, Programme Coordinator

FRANCOPHONE PROGRAMME Dr Nour-Eddine Sellamna, Programme Coordinator Ms Françoise de Chevigny, Office Manager

REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVES Ms Colletah Chitsike, Southern Africa Dr Leonardo Salazar, Latin America

PARTNERSHIP CONVENORS and PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATES Ms Marie-Jo Dugué, Benin, Senegal Dr Richard Hawkins, Uganda, Ethiopia Dr Toon Defoer, Burkina Faso, Mali Dr Robert Booth, Kenya

3 Income and allocation ICRA’s strategy, launched in 2004, to invest reserves in moving its centre of gravity South as rapidly as possible, and to work more in partnership with organisations in the South, has paid off. In some countries new funding was attracted, in collaboration with partners, specifically to finance the partnership activities. In other countries, ICRA obtained funding for its role in the partnership from existing projects or by bidding for service contracts where this offered good potential to develop a partnership and attract dedicated funding. This has substantially changed the balance of core and external funding over recent years (Figure 6).

2.5

€ million

2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0

2005

2006

2007

Core funding

2008

2009

External income

Figure 6. Trend in income and income sources (€ million) Due to the rapid expansion of external income, the need for use of ICRA’s reserves was quickly negated, and it was found wiser to adjust expenditure to actual income. From 2007 onwards this cautious policy was also reflected in the budgets. As a result, the gap between budgeted and actual expenditure and income has been narrowing in recent years (Figure 7). France, The Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom contribute to ICRA’s core income, through both in kind and cash contributions. External income in 2009 came mainly from NPT (Netherlands Programme for the Institutional Strengthening of Post-secondary Education and Training Capacity) projects in South Africa and Ghana, funded through NUFFIC, an EDULINK project in Kenya/Uganda, funded by the EU, and service contracts, among others with IFDC/1000s+ (Figure 8).

ORGANISATION AND FINANCES

€ million

2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Actual expenditure

Budgeted expenditure

Actual income

Budgeted income

Figure 7. Budgeted and actual expenditure and income (€ million)

Projects, service contracts UK (DFID) The Netherlands (LNV) Switzerland (SDC) France (MAP, MAE) Interest and miscellaneous 0.0

0.1 Core funding

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

External income

Figure 8. Sources of income – 2009 (€ million) Expenditure for the partnerships in 2009 has been largely in line with the budget, except for Benin, Ghana, Mali and Eastern Africa (Kenya/Uganda), and for cross-cutting partnership development activities in the South (Figure 9). In Benin and Mali, the activities had to be adjusted to the pace of the partners, in particular those related to the formal establishment of the national innovation platform (PNISA) and the strengthening of education and research at the Université d’Abomey Calavi (UAC). In Ghana, the CANR/ KNUST staff

3 Benin Burkina Faso Ghana Ethiopia Kenya Madagascar Mali Nigeria Senegal South Africa Uganda Eastern Africa (Kenya/Uganda) RAP WARDA (Mali/Benin) Latin America Partnership development South Partnership development North Learning materials and website 0

Budgeted expenditure

100

150

200

250

Actual expenditure

300

350

400

450

Total income

Figure 9. Budget, expenditure and external income per partnership in 2009 (â&#x201A;Ź thousand) faced significant difficulties commencing the new NPT project, which aims to institutionalise ARD principles from within the institute. ICRA staff mainly contributed through facilitation of awareness raising and planning workshops with CANR/ KNUST staff and targeted rural stakeholders. However, a new work plan has been finalised and adopted, and capacity strengthening and mainstreaming activities are expected to speed up in 2010. In Eastern Africa the activities within the framework of the SUCAPRI project took off well, but came to a standstill when Makerere University did not receive the second disbursement of funds. Partnership development in the South received much attention, among other things through increased collaboration with FARA, within the PAEPARD framework, and other funding proposals. Progress was more limited, however, in ICRAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attempt to

ORGANISATION AND FINANCES

formulate new programmes together with, or tender for capacity strengthening activity within projects coordinated by regional agricultural research organisations in sub-Saharan Africa (e.g., CORAF and ASARECA). It is noted that much of the expenditure in the ARD partnerships is covered through partners, showing a substantial leverage effect of ICRA’s contribution. Partners often pay directly for most of the costs of tailor-made, in-country capacity strengthening programmes (e.g. costs of the venue, travel/lodging of participants). ARD learning cycles are, in many cases, simply part of an ongoing programme, with dedicated funds available, like in the case of IFDC’s 1000s+ programme. ICRA strives to obtain service contracts to finance its complementary capacity strengthening services, though it may use part of its institutional funds to complement such activity. This is being done, in particular, in areas for which it is difficult to obtain external funds, but which lay the foundations for a solid ARD partnership (e.g. by establishing multi-stakeholder platforms to identify innovation challenges and to trigger inter-organisational collaboration). The remainder is invested in staff and alumni network development, and in achieving a firmer presence in the South. The distribution of expenditure over the six desired outcomes from ICRA’s partnerships (Figure 10) clearly shows the emphasis given to the training of ARD facilitators, through ICRA’s new course (DM-IoL). This course involved participants from Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, South Africa, Togo, Uganda, and Latin America. The participation from Niger and Togo is captured by the more generic ‘partnership development in the South’ label. Expenditure in South Africa has been high compared to the other partnerships. For a very large part, these expenditures fostered the further integration of ARD modules in university curricula. In Ghana, where ARD mainstreaming within higher education institutes is also central, these expenditures were much less than expected, for reasons that were explained above. In-service ARD learning cycles were important in Latin America, Ghana, Nigeria (SSA-CP) and Eastern Africa (SUCAPRI project). Mentoring and coaching of field work appears clearly in the new RAP/AfricaRice project, and in Latin America. As explained above, this does not mean that ARD learning cycles are not implemented elsewhere. ARD learning cycles, as in the case of agribusiness cluster formation in West Africa, are happening throughout Africa. ICRA however is not handling the costs of these cycles. In the particular case of the 1000s+ project, the facilitators (including the agribusiness coaches) are also directly sub-contracted by IFDC. ICRA provides

3 backstopping to these learning facilitators (tagged under ‘Training of ARD facilitators’). Expenditures for ICRA’s successful Senior Managers’ exchange and study tour, with participation from Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa and Uganda, are classified under exchange of experience and learning.

Benin Burkina Faso Ethiopia Ghana Kenya Madagascar Mali Nigeria Senegal South Africa Uganda Eastern Africa (Kenya/Uganda) RAP WARDA (Mali/Benin) Latin America Partnership development South Partnership development North Learning materials and website 0

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

Overhead Vision, strategy and plan development Training of ARD facilitators In-service ARD learning cycles Mentoring mainstreaming of ARD Change university programs Exchange of experience and learning

Admin support

Figure 10. Expenditure by partnership and outcome in 2009 (€ thousand)

ORGANISATION AND FINANCES

Financial statements Balance sheets for the years ended 31 December 2009 and 2008 (€ thousands) Assets

2009

2008

Property, plant and equipment Receivables Liquid assets

0 244 3 031

0 173 3 376

Total assets

3 275

3 549

Unappropriated unrestricted net assets Appropriated unrestricted net assets (operating reserves) Permanently restricted net assets (special fund)

1 825 998 393

1 860 984 373

Total net assets

3 216

3 217

332

3 275

3 549

Liabilities and net assets

Current liabilities Total liabilities and net assets

Statements of revenue and expenses, 2009 and 2008 (€ thousands) Revenue

2009

2008

953 579 114

814 957 113

1 646

1 884

Programme related expenses Management

1 366 280

1 441 292

Total expenses

1 646

1 733

151

Core donor grants Contract income Interest and miscellaneous Total revenue Expenses

(Deficit) Surplus

Expenses by budget category, 2009 and 2008 (€ thousands) Personnel Travel and subsistence personnel and Board Travel and subsistence participants Rent of office space and workshop venues Capital expenses Operating expenses* Total

2009

2008

997 188 190 61 25 185

984 287 204 66 0 192

1 646

1 733

* Operating expenses for 2008 and 2009 include respectively €135 000 and €120 000 of project income channelled to consortium partners via ICRA and these partners account for it via ICRA.

3 Projects Projects implemented directly by ICRA and partners* Country

Project

South Africa

Institutionalising Agricultural Research for Development in Post-Secondary Education and Training: Multi-stakeholder capacity building in service of the 2nd agricultural economy of South Africa Programa de Aprendizaje y Fortalecimiento de Capacidades para la Gestión de Procesos de Innovación Agropecuaria y Rural

Latin America (Cuba, Venezuela)

Duration

Funding source

2006–2009

NPT

2007–2010

Welthungerhilfe, Germany

Projects in which ICRA is a contractual partner or service provider* Country Benin

Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali Benin, Mali

Burkina Ghana

Latin America (Cuba) Senegal

Uganda Uganda, Kenya

South Africa

Nigeria SSA-CP South Africa, Kenya, and Benin

Project Appui au Renforcement des Programmes de Formation et de Recherche en Agriculture à la Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques et à l’Ecole Polytechnique d’Abomey-Calavi From Thousands to Millions: Accelerating Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Economic Growth in West Africa (1000s+) Pilot stage of the RAP Project (Realizing Agricultural Potential of inland valley lowlands in sub-Saharan Africa)

Duration 2006–2009

Funding source NPT

2006–2010

International Fertilizer Development Center (IFDC)

2009–2011

AGRINOVIA, inter-university partnership for strengthening capacities to support innovation Phase 2: Approaches for mainstreaming INRM into University Curriculum of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) Programa para Fortalecer la Innovación Agropecuaria Local (PIAL programme) Strengthening Capacity for Collaborative Management of Rural Innovation in Sub-Saharan Africa: Exploring New Tools and Partnerships Learning Together for Change in Integrated Agricultural Research for Development (IAR4D) in Uganda Strengthening University Capacity for Promoting, Facilitating and Teaching Rural Innovation processes (SUCAPRI) Development of Learning Materials: ARD resource book

2009/2010

Africa Rice Center - Consortium for the Sustainable Development of Inland Valley Agro-ecosystems IVC IFAD

2008–2012

NPT

2007–2010

SDC, CIDA

IAR4D in the Kano-Katsina-Maradi (Nigeria/ Niger) Pilot Learning Site of the Northern Guinea Savanna Task Force/ SSA-CP Research on ARD and co-innovation through the Joint Learning about Innovation Systems in African Agriculture (JOLISAA) Project

See Table 2 for list of partners

2006–2008 (extended to 2009) 2004– present 2008–2010

IFAD

2007–2008 (extended to 2009) 2008–2010

ARC

2010–2011

DFID, EC, World Bank EDULINK ACP-EU

FARA (IFDC is leading the Task Force)

EC (7th Framework Programme of the EU)

Annex 1 PARTNERSHIPS IN ACTION

PARTNERSHIPS IN ACTION

Benin Context and evolution of the partnership Up to 2009, demand for ICRA’s involvement in Benin came from two different quarters. On the one hand, there was a request from two departments of the country’s main university (the Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques – FSA – and the Ecole Polytechnique d’Abomey-Calavi – EPAC) to help develop ARD competency within these departments and establish a national-level innovation platform that could act as a broker between the university (and research in general) and (other) rural stakeholders. ICRA has been able to partner with these departments through a grant from NUFFIC (NPT-project). On the other hand, ICRA has been actively involved in an IFDC-coordinated project that aims to promote agribusiness development from the grassroots (IFDC/ 1000s+). NPT Project FSA and EPAC obtained Dutch funding for a four-year project (2006–2010) to strengthen the development focus of their research and adapt their educational

Sub-regional workshop for ARD learning facilitators, Cotonou, Benin, May 2009

ANNEX programmes to better meet the dynamic demands of the agricultural sector. ICRA assists the research component of this project as a member of a Dutch consortium led by WI. The project offered the opportunity to revamp a national-level innovation platform, initiated with support of ICRA in 2005 – but developing a consolidated framework for action had its difficulties. The platform, known as PNISA, and initially composed mainly of representatives from university departments, research organisations and NGOs, has successfully expanded its membership base to producer organisations and representatives from business associations (see box below). In 2008, PNISA organised a series of meetings to broaden its membership base and to work on the legal status of the platform and draft its by-laws. In November 2008, a consultative meeting was organised, which prepared the constitutive general assembly in December 2008. ICRA acted as a facilitator in the process, as a partner of the various stakeholders. IFDC/1000s+ In 2006, IFDC obtained Dutch funding for a regional project that allows for the scaling up of their CASE approach. This project essentially aims to strengthen local agribusiness clusters and to enhance market access and competitiveness of smallholders. ICRA is involved in this IFDC project, “From Thousands to Millions” [of farmers] – also called the “1000s+” project – in four West African countries: Benin, Burkina Faso Ghana, and Mali. Another major partner in this project is Agriterra. ICRA’s role is to strengthen the capacity of an interinstitutional NCST or Equipe Nationale de Renforcement des Capacités (ENRC) of six to eight members in each country. These teams learn: 1) To design, organise and implement capacity strengthening services for multi-actor platforms and/ or business support services involved in agribusiness cluster formation and value chain development 2) To strengthen the capacities within their own organisations – e.g. producer organisations, business associations, chambers of agriculture, NGOs, ministries of agriculture, research and educational institutes – to engage with multiple stakeholders in promoting rural innovation 3) To develop advocacy/lobbying strategies that create enabling environments (for agribusiness development and rural innovation). ICRA signed an interagency agreement with IFDC for three years (2006–2009) with a budget of €785 000 for the four countries.

PARTNERSHIPS IN ACTION

Members of PNISA (and the number of people involved from each stakeholder group)

Policy makers (4)

Public advisory/technical services (10)

University (18)

National Platform of Producer Organisations (PNOPPA) (15)

Other producer organisations non-members of PNOPPA (2)

Agri-food (processing) companies and artisanal enterprises (16)

NGOs (11)

International organisations including ICRA (4)

National Capacity Strengthening Team (NCST)

Mr Alphonse AGBAKA, Ecole Polytechnique d’Abomey Calavi (EPAC)

Mrs Isabelle AHOUANDJINOU-MEGBLETO, Association Nationale des Semenciers du Bénin (ANASEB)

Mr Mathias Dotou AHOUNOU, Ministère de l’Agriculture, de l’Elevage et de la Pêche (MAEP) – as from 2008 staff member of IFDC, from December 2009 1000s+ project coordinator

Mr Jules B. BIO BAGOU, Union des Producteurs de Coton (UPC) – Borgou

Mr François DOSSOUHOUI, Département d’Economie, de SocioAnthropologie et de Communication pour le Développement (DESACD)/ UAC

Mr Laurent Camille GLIN, Organisation Béninoise pour la Promotion de l’Agriculture Biologique (OBEPAB)

Mr Houndjinhou C. KINHA, Union des Producteurs de Coton (UPC) – ZouCollines

Mrs Afi E. KPOGAN (IFDC)

Though the projects are different in scale and scope, ICRA stimulates synergy between them, as they have overlapping partners and, to a certain degree, similar objectives. As a result, two staff members from the FSA and EPAC participated in ICRA’s Francophone ARD learning programme together with the IFDC-funded members of the NCST. ICRA also engaged the NCST members in

ANNEX co-facilitating an ARD learning programme for university staff and students in Benin.

Achievements in 2009 IFDC/1000s+ In 2009 ICRA concentrated on follow up to the collaboration with IFDC’s 1000s+ project, and in particular the coaching and mentoring of NCST members. After a capacity building needs assessment workshop, held in October 2008 in Possotomè with partners of the 1000s+ project (e.g., business support services, and producer organisations), the NCST developed a proposal to improve agribusiness cluster formation capacity of business support services, with backstopping from ICRA. This programme was implemented in 2009 through a series of workshops and training sessions (e.g. on value chain analysis, multi-stakeholder processes, negotiation) throughout the country. Three members of the NCST also contributed to the regional preparatory workshop for ICRA’s DM-IoL course. The same three members attended the course in Montpellier, France, from September 21–October 10, to strengthen their capacities in facilitating interactive learning – with specific emphasis on learning in competitive playing fields characteristic of agribusiness development. ‘Realizing the potential of inland valleys’ (RAP) Project In 2008, ICRA was approached by AfricaRice to join a taskforce (also involving WI) to develop and facilitate an action research programme, which aims to make better use of the potential of inland valleys in West Africa. RAP, funded by IFAD and the EC, started in 2009 for an initial period of two years, and targets the inland valleys in two countries (Benin and Mali) in West Africa. RAP comprises 4 lines of action: 1) Establishment of rural stakeholders’ platforms for interaction with researchers involved in the three ‘technical’ components mentioned hereunder; 2) Technological innovation to increase agricultural productivity and improve post-harvest (processing, storage) management; 3) Natural resource management; 4) Value chain development. ICRA and WI have led the implementation of the first component. Local level multi-stakeholder platforms have been established in both Benin and Mali in 2009.

PARTNERSHIPS IN ACTION

ICRA alumni from the NCSTs (see the IFDC/1000s+ section above) were selected to facilitate the platform building process. These ICRA ‘affiliates’ contributed to the identifying the members for the multi-stakeholder platforms; co-facilitated the launching workshops; and facilitated the action planning. Currently, the emphasis has shifted to facilitation of learning and exchange both within the platform and between the platform members and the researchers (from the national research organisations, i.e. INRAB in Benin and IER in Mali). Upcoming research on ARD ICRA joined a consortium led by CIRAD, and also involving ETC (PROLINNOVA), the Agricultural Economics Research Institute/WUR (the Netherlands), KARI (Kenya), University of Pretoria (South Africa) and UAC to tender for the implementation of a 2.5-year action research programme on ‘Agricultural Innovation Systems and Traditional Knowledge’ (funded by the EU, FP7KBE-2009-3). The proposal, submitted early 2009 and approved mid-2009, will allow for in-depth research and capacity strengthening activities in three target countries (Benin, Kenya and South-Africa) and networking with R&D organisations in Europe and SSA. ICRA will particularly focus on the capacity strengthening of local level learning facilitators, who in turn will organise sessions with relevant rural stakeholders to share experiences for selected ‘innovation-cases’, identify lessons learned, and collect information. A major aim of the proposal is to set an agenda for future research on innovation systems, and help bridge gaps between local knowledge and formal research.

Burkina Faso Context and evolution of the partnership The Burkina partnership is essentially based on the collaborative framework between ICRA and IFDC/1000s+ established in 2006, in which ICRA has been engaged to strengthen capacities of selected rural stakeholders to promote competitive agri-business clusters at the grassroots level (see also Benin). Within the framework of 1000s+, an informal network was set up, composed of a wide diversity of R&D stakeholders, including non-conventional stakeholders such as credit services and private business organisations. This network selected

ANNEX National Capacity Strengthening Team (NCST) Mr Stéphane BAYALA, previously Fédération nationale des Industries Agroalimentaires et de transformation du Burkina (FIAB), now Fédération des Professionnels Agricoles du Burkina (FEPAB)

Mrs Elisabeth BASSONO, Fédération des Professionnels Agricoles du Burkina (FEPAB)

Mrs Haoua COULIBALY, Réseau des Caisses Populaires du Burkina (RCPB) Mr Alphonse SANOU, Association des Grossistes et Détaillants d’Intrants Agricoles (AGRODIA)

Mr Désiré YERBANGA, Fédération des Professionnels Agricoles du Burkina (FEPAB)

a steering committee (CP, Comité de Pilotage) for all activities related to the 1000s+ project in Burkina Faso. The CP-1000s+ is chaired by the Fédération des Professionnels Agricoles du Burkina (FEPAB). Established in 2007, the interinstitutional NCST completed the Francophone ARD learning programme in December 2008. ICRA is also a partner of the University of Ouagadougou, IFAD and universities in Belgium, France (SupAgro-Montpellier), Italy and Switzerland in a pilot project, which ultimately aims to develop an international professional master’s degree programme on rural and agricultural innovation. The pilot project is coordinated by the University of Ouagadougou and entitled ‘AGRINOVIA’.

Achievements in 2009 1000s+ Project ICRA supported the NCST in the design and development of a capacity strengthening needs assessment workshop, organised by the cluster advisor of the 1000s+ project. The workshop was intended for business support services and producer organisations involved in agribusiness cluster formation and value chain development. The workshop provided a very good opportunity for NCST members to practise and demonstrate facilitation skills in a multistakeholder setting. ICRA supported the day-to-day and general evaluations of the programme and provided backstopping to the NCST members. The NCST members quickly learned to adapt the workshop programme to the needs and

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diversity of the participants, and demonstrated ability in managing the dynamics of the assessment process within the allowed timeframe. The participants stressed the need for capacity strengthening of business support services, both with regards to the ‘contents’ and the ‘process’ of agribusiness cluster formation and value chain development. The NCST members were regarded as potential facilitators and also as resource persons for the capacity strengthening programme that would be developed as a result of the workshop. The participants also stressed that in several cases the socalled agribusiness clusters are still single-actor driven, and do not yet adequately involve other relevant stakeholders. The NCST was invited to strengthen the capacity of selected business support services in particular in the area of negotiation of multi-stakeholder arrangements, in competitive playing fields, to help establish effective (and real) partnerships. IFDC is still working on a document that summarises the main outcomes of the workshop and proposes priority areas for capacity strengthening. As a result, the NCST has not yet been able to followup on the workshop and implement a capacity strengthening programme for business support services. However, some NCST members have provided services to IFDC/1000s+ on an ad-hoc basis. The NCST has also supported the steering committee in the evaluation of potential agribusiness cluster action plans. Finally, three of the six NCST members have participated in the sub-regional workshop organised in May in Cotonou in preparation for the DM-IoL. The same three members participated in the DM-IoL course in Montpellier in September/ October. Beyond the 1000s+ project The NCST has helped FEPAB develop a strategic plan. They gained substantial experience in developing scenario-based strategic planning with province-level farmer organisations, using ARD tools. AGRINOVIA Invited by IFAD, ICRA has played an active role in initiating what will ultimately become a Master’s Course in Rural Innovation, to be based in a Francophone West African university. Institutions involved in the development of the course are universities and research centres from the region (Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Niger, Senegal, Togo) and Europe (Gembloux, Lausanne, Louvain, Rome, SupAgro Montpellier, ICRA) and several local actors.

ANNEX In May 2009, ICRA participated in a workshop held in Ouagadougou to develop a strategic plan for building partnerships, networking and fleshing out a pilot course to lead up to the Master’s course itself. ICRA staff also participated in the pilot course by facilitating a session on partnerships, entitled ‘Creating an enabling environment for innovation’. Participants came from several countries, mostly Burkina Faso and Niger. Three European students also participated. Field work was conducted within the framework of regional projects (e.g. IFAD investment projects) that are willing to accept and coordinate the participants’ visit. NCST members were invited to assist with the organisation of the final workshop in December, which drew conclusions from the pilot phase, and to prepare for the follow-up of this pilot phase.

Ethiopia Context and evolution of the partnership A number of ICRA alumni have achieved senior managerial positions in the Ethiopian agricultural research, development and education system. At their request, the first tailor-made, in-country ARD training by ICRA was organised in Ethiopia in 1999. This successful training is also cited within Ethiopia as motivation for requesting ICRA’s renewed support to the country. During 2007–2008, ICRA partnered with the Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute, Haramaya University, Bahir Dar University, and Agri Service Ethiopia to implement a training course for staff of Mertule Mariam Agricultural Technical Vocational Education and Training College in Amhara Region. This training course (‘Agricultural Research Development, Implementation and Extension’) aimed to strengthen staff capacity in participatory needs assessment, the identification of research and development themes, and the formulation and implementation of (action) research and agricultural development proposals. Also during 2007, the current Ethiopian State Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development (MoARD) – an ICRA alumnus from 1994 – invited ICRA to assist in supporting reforms underway in Ethiopia aimed at developing a national agricultural research system (NARS) that responds rapidly to changes in environment, markets and policies, is more demand-driven, and creates strong linkages with partners within a broader innovation system. To initiate this process,

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ICRA, the MoARD and the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research organised a brainstorming workshop in February 2008 to assess needs and develop a strategy for strengthening capacity in ARD.

Achievements in 2009 In 2009, Haramaya University was assigned by MoARD to follow-up the 2008 workshop and, in collaboration with ICRA, developed a concept note that is currently being discussed with an inter-organisational working group prior to submission to suitable financing agencies.

Ghana Context and evolution of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology partnership In order to effectively address environmental problems in Ghana, the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) identified the need for improved skills and competences among current and future professionals to deal with complex and multifaceted environmental issues. In their view, professionals are needed who are not only specialised in their respective disciplines, but also have a broader understanding of environmental and development issues and can combine different perspectives in an INRM approach. KNUST obtained Dutch NPT-funding for a three-year project (2005–2008) with a budget of €0.6 million. In 2008, CANR was successful in getting a follow-up NPT project of four years (2008–2012) with a budget of €1.6 million. Technical assistance is provided by a Dutch consortium led by Tropenbos International and including ICRA, Wageningen International and the Dutch network for sustainable development in higher education, Duurzam Hoger Onderwijs. The first project, has created capacity at CANR so that it in turn can build capacity in INRM approaches and use INRM approaches. Emphasis has been on training of CANR staff in INRM approaches and principles. The capacity of CANR has also been strengthened so that it can design and deliver INRM learning programmes for current and future professionals. Through joint implementation, the focus is on ‘learning by doing’. However, INRM has yet to be

ANNEX Partners involved in the NPT project at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)

College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR)

Tropenbos International (TBI)

Wageningen International (WI)

Duurzam Hoger Onderwijs (DHO)

ICRA

fully institutionalised, hence the request for a follow-up project to fully integrate the INRM approaches and principles into the programmes of the College. The institutionalisation of INRM approaches at CANR needs strong attention. At the level of CANR/ KNUST itself, the integration of INRM has profound implications not only for the management but also for the programmes it offers and the products. These changes are yet to be fully realized and well internalised, not only by the staff directly involved but also by the higher management of KNUST and CANR. The first project has shown ample evidence of the willingness of CANR staff to adopt and apply the advocated INRM approach, and tangible outputs (increased capacity of staff) are visible. However, the activities are still largely regarded as project activities, and not fully absorbed by the existing CANR/ KNUST management systems. This process of embedding will be the prime focus of the follow-up project. A second major focus of the follow-up project will be to involve external (outside KNUST) stakeholders in strengthening the capacity of CANR to offer learning programmes based on INRM principles. The underlying principle of the project is the notion that stakeholders in NRM in the region can enhance their effectiveness and impact when managing natural resources in a more problemoriented and integrated (inter-disciplinary, multi-stakeholder) manner than they currently do. The assumption made is that this gap in competencies creates a demand for CANR learning programmes based on INRM principles.

Achievements in 2009 In 2009, ICRA staff provided input to the process of establishing the project organs (working groups with activity sub-groups and coordination committee), including selection of external stakeholder representatives to these organs. This input was

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not part of ICRA’s initial workplan for 2009 but necessary to help get the project up and running. Most other planned ICRA activities for 2009 have not been carried out yet due to the fact that these organs are not yet completely operational. However, with support of ICRA, a reflection process is in place, and this year ICRA suggested that CANR and consortium staff start the reflection process in reverse (instead of looking backwards to better plan forwards, do it the other way around), starting with the proposed/ planned activities for 2010 (looking forward first) and discussing what has been learned from the 2009 activities (looking backwards), specifically in view of the fact that many activities could not be carried out in 2009 and needed to be postponed. This reverse process worked quite well and a revised workplan 2010 is now available.

Context and evolution of the IFDC partnership ICRA also became involved in Ghana through its role in the multi-country project ‘From Thousands to Millions’ (1000s+) with IFDC, mentioned in the report on Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali. Whereas in Benin, ICRA was able to promote synergy between this IFDC-project and another NPT project in which it is involved there, a similar

National Capacity Strengthening Team (NCST) – members

Mr Amadu ALHASSAN, previously Opportunities Industrialization CentersTamale, now IFDC focal person of the Ghana School Feeding Programme in the North

Mr Joseph BAPULE, SEEDPAG, member of Apex Farmers Organisation of Ghana (APFOG), and Deputy Director Millennium Challenge Account, Northern Region, run by IFDC and Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI)

Mr Gabriel MILLS, Ghana Agricultural Association’s Business Information Centre GAABIC, coordinating IFDC/1000+ M&E activities for agribusiness clusters

Mr Joseph NKETIAH, Methodist University College Ghana (MUCG)

Dr Richard YEBOAH, University of Development Studies (UDS)

ANNEX opportunity has not yet occurred in Ghana and these constitute separate activities and partnerships, one focusing on value chains and the other on natural resource management. An inter-institutional NCST of initially six members (now five members) is – with the support of ICRA – strengthening its capacity to design, organise and implement capacity building services for multi-actor processes in grassroots business clusters aimed at developing the integrative competencies needed to apply, mainstream and out-scale the CASE approach in Ghana within the IFDC/1000+ initiative. After initial training during 2007 in the ICRA Anglophone Capacity Building Programme, in 2008 the NCST and its members played an important role in the formation of agribusiness clusters and development of value chains in Ghana.

Achievements in 2009 In 2009, based on identified capacity building needs of both NCST and BSS involved in agribusiness cluster formation, ICRA supported the NCST in putting together a capacity building programme to strengthen the capacity of the BSS subcontracted by 1000s+, to perform a catalyst function in value chain development and agribusiness cluster formation. Two NCST members participated in the new ICRA course on DM-IoL programmes and, with their newly acquired knowledge and skills, the NCST is improving the design and delivery of the capacity building programme for the BSS. Also with support from ICRA, the NCST members are raising support (‘buy-in’) of the CASE approach in their own organisations to create a critical mass of professionals able to support the out-scaling of the CASE approach. And the NCST members from higher education institutions (UDS and MUCG) are currently analysing how to incorporate ‘value chain development’ and ‘design and management of innovation oriented learning’ into their curricula.

Kenya Context and evolution of the partnership The IAR4D initiative in Kenya, which began in 2004, came at a time when the country launched its 10-year Strategy for Revitalising Agriculture (2004–2014), as well as the Kenya Agricultural Productivity Project (KAPP). Both of these put

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Members of the Kenya IAR4D partnership

Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI)

Ministry of Agriculture

Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development

University of Nairobi

Egerton University

Kenyatta University

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology

Kenya National Federation of Agricultural Producers (KENFAP)

ICRA

emphasis on coordinated pluralism in research and development and on moving towards a national agricultural research system, a reformed national agricultural extension system, and farmer empowerment. These new orientations called for new competencies of both the member organisations of this system, their personnel and farmers, farmer organisations and other private partners in the agricultural sector to improve collaboration and interactive learning. The IAR4D Initiative in Kenya is a multi-institutional effort now comprising of nine institutions (see box). The Initiative recognises the need for a holistic approach, integrating a wide range of stakeholders and disciplines in order to enhance its contribution to the national goals of food security, poverty reduction and sustainable natural resource management. Varying capacities and experiences in IAR4D exist in different institutes and organisations, but what was lacking was a mechanism to link them up and expand and fully use available knowledge bases. It builds upon a long history of engagements between ICRA and Kenya, during which many Kenyans were trained at ICRA and a number of ICRA field projects were conducted in Kenya. An Initiative Task Force, comprising of representatives of each of the member organisations has been established. It facilitates inter-institutional collaboration and the establishment and implementation of a national IAR4D plan. The Task Force established a core team of IAR4D facilitators and advocates to help them achieve their objectives. Members of the core team participated in ICRA’s ARD learning programmes in 2005 and 2006 (13 persons in total), and have also established a Pilot Learning Site at Katulani in Kitui District focussing on

ANNEX the improvement of dryland agriculture through improved water harvesting technology. Throughout 2009 Kenya continued to suffer from political leadership problems, illustrating that there was still a long way to go to fully recover from the aftermath of the 2008 post-election violence and social unrest. This resulted in many trickle down effects, including some student unrest, which negatively impacted on society as a whole and the operation of some member organisations of the IAR4D partnership. These politically based difficulties were further exacerbated by a severe drought giving rise to yet further stresses on the agricultural sector and efforts towards rural development and poverty alleviation.

Achievements in 2009 Within the IAR4D partnership initiative, emphasis throughout 2009 continued to be placed on the processes of transforming the informal Task Force and Core Team which has coordinated and implemented the initiative activities since 2004 into a more formal and permanent arrangement. To guide these processes, the Task Force and Core Team agreed, at a number of meetings held over the year, that any new structure should: 1) Accommodate all eight existing national member organisations and also allow for expansion and the engagement with additional stakeholder organisations, particularly with representatives of the private sector and civil society (including NGOs). 2) Allow for and accommodate both corporate and individual membership. 3) Build upon and make full use of the advances made, lessons learnt and outputs produced during the initial informal phase of the partnership initiative, particularly those related to the Katulani IAR4D pilot learning site, and the ones that resulted in the draft national IAR4D plan and in the design of learning programmes and needed learning materials. Task Force and Core Team members finally agreed to explore further the potential of transforming the current informal arrangements into an Association. Several member organisations have experience with housing associations within their organisations and KENFAP in particular has broad experience with establishing multi-partner organisations. Because the two Ministries, as government bodies, are not allowed to be formal/official members of a nongovernmental organisation/ association, alternative types of affiliation

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arrangements are now being explored. The proposed name of the Association is ‘Platform for Integrated Agricultural Research for Development’ (P-IAR4D). A website for the Association has also been established (www.iar4d-kenya.org) and is managed from Kenyatta University. Other activities planned for the final quarter of the year include an evaluation of Katulani as an IAR4D national pilot learning site, and a workshop to follow-up on the need for development of learning materials. The evaluation of the Katulani collaborative initiative as a national pilot learning site is planned to involve both grassroot stakeholders at the site location and a workshop for the national organisations involved. The follow-up workshop on development of learning materials will train the persons nominated for the development of particular learning resources on how to use the Kenya IAR4D website, preparation of materials, editing, and management of the learning resources portal. Additionally, Kenya opted to participate fully in the two new programmes offered by ICRA in 2009: the exchange tour on ARD/IAR4D for senior managers (four participants), and the workshops related to the DM-IoL course (five participants at the regional preparatory meeting in South Africa, and five, of which four had also participated in the South Africa workshop – at the DM-IoL capacity strengthening programme. Participation in these two programmes has strengthened both individual and organisational commitment to the IAR4D partnership initiative.

Mali Context and evolution of the partnership Interest in ARD capacity strengthening and support from ICRA was first expressed in 2005 and resulted in the formation of an informal National Innovation Platform (NIP). Members of the NIP share a common interest in ARD for value chain development and come from government ministries, research, education, farmer organisations, NGOs and the private sector. In addition, in 2006, ICRA also became involved in Mali through its role in IFDC’s 1000s+ project. With the involvement of ICRA in 1000s+, a link was established between the NIP and the management of the IFDC project. The NIP has supported IFDC in setting up a farmer-led committee, called the comité de pilotage 1000s+ (CP-1000s+),

ANNEX National Innovation Platform (NIP) members

Association pour le Développement des Activités de production et de Formation-Galle (ADAF-Galle)

Association des Organisations Professionelles Paysannes (AOPP)

Assemblée Permanente des Chambres d’Agriculture du Mali (APCAM)

Coordination Nationale des Organisations Paysannes (CNOP)

Institut Polytechnique Rural de Katibougou

Ministère de l’Agriculture

that plays a key role in the governance of the IFDC project in Mali. It is composed of six member institutions of the NIP, and headed by a national level association of farmer organisations (AOPP). A group of six persons was selected to form the NCST, who participated in the Francophone ARD learning programme of 2006/07. In order to strengthen this team, four additional NCST members were selected who participated in the ICRA 2008 Francophone programme. The full NCST participated in a capacity strengthening needs assessment workshop, held in 2008, for providers of BSS who are involved in agribusiness cluster formation and/ or value chain development. This workshop was facilitated by ICRA.

National Capacity Strengthening Team (NCST)

Mr Joseph DIARRA, Association Malienne d’Eveil au Développement Durable (AMEDD)

Mrs Aoua DICKO, Solidarité pour l’Autopromotion à la Base (SABA)

Mr Dramane KEITA, Union locale des Producteurs de Céréales de Dioïla

Mrs Fatoumata KEITA, IFDC

Mr Bernard KONE, Association des Organisations Professionnelles Paysannes (AOPP)

Mr Amidou SANGARE, Direction Nationale de l’Agriculture (DNA)

Mr Abdoulaye SIDIBE, Institut Polytechnique Rural de Katibougou

Mr Mady SIDIBE, Association des Organisations Professionnelles Paysannes (AOPP)

Mrs Mama Anna TRAORE, Association pour le développement des activités de production et de formation – Galle (ADAF-Gallé)

Mr N’Golo S. TRAORE, Assemblée Permanente des Chambres d’Agriculture du Mali (APCAM)

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Achievements in 2009 Three members of the NCST have been actively involved in the implementation of a 1000s+ training programme for business support service providers in Mali, as a follow-up to the capacity strengthening needs assessment workshop. The three NCST members were selected by the cluster advisor (IFDC staff) on the basis of their availability and also because their employing organisations are directly involved in the 1000s+ project as business support services. The NCST members have successfully prepared and conducted three workshops: on systems analysis, stakeholder identification and analysis, and value chain analysis. ICRA has coached the NCST members to prepare and implement the workshops, and supported the day-to-day and general evaluations of the programme. ICRA staff also provided feedback on the NCST members’ facilitation skills. The same three NCST members have been involved in ICRA’s new product, the DM-IoL. They first participated in a sub-regional workshop, held in Cotonou in May, to identify major learning needs in preparation for the programme. Thereafter, the same three members also participated in the DM-IoL programme in Montpellier in September/October. The RAP Project (See under Benin)

Nigeria Context and evolution of the partnership In 2006, IFDC won a bid to lead an IAR4D project in the Kano-Katsina-Maradi Pilot Learning Site (KKM PLS) of the SSA-CP, implemented by FARA. The KKM PLS is one of three pilot learning sites for the SSA-CP in sub-Saharan Africa. ICRA is a full member in the task force for this project and pilot learning team, together with ILRI, and several organisations from both Niger and Nigeria, including universities, agricultural R&D and producer organisations. The SSA-CP aims to establish the feasibility of IAR4D in Africa, to characterise it, and derive principles for its implementation. The project in the KKM-PLS is working through four innovation platforms (maize–cowpea, rice, vegetables, and livestock) established within the framework of the project.

ANNEX The implementation of the project was substantially delayed,due, among other reasons to a decision of the Science Council of the CGIAR to build in an element of ‘proof of concept’ into all the winning proposals after these had been selected on the basis of a competitive call. This insistence on proof of concept required a considerable reformulation of the proposals and renegotiation with non-research partners interested in results rather than the proof of concept. The KKM-PLS has three major aims in terms of outputs: 1) To develop models for implementing IAR4D, within the specific context of the Northern Guinea Savanna 2) To trigger innovation in both cropping and livestock systems, following IAR4D principles. 3) To evaluate the impact of IAR4D on the development process, in comparison with more conventional approaches to agricultural research and development. After the substantial revisions of the initial proposal, ICRA and IFDC agreed on a series of capacity strengthening activities, to be implemented in-country (in Nigeria), and specifically targeted to the facilitators of the innovation platforms, who are mainly university lecturers, researchers and extension staff. ICRA implemented a workshop on participatory value chain analysis and market linkages for a group of 35 participants, in Zaria in Northern Nigeria, as a start to this capacity strengthening programme. Unfortunately the target areas (villages) and communities for action research had already been selected, based mainly upon criteria related to the ‘proof of concept’ challenge (‘virgin’ villages) and logistic arguments, and much less on a line of reasoning that would allow for grassroots agribusiness development (e.g. communities with a history of innovation, potential competitive edge to produce for certain markets).

Achievements in 2009 ICRA has designed and implemented two follow-up workshops for – more or less – the same group of facilitators of the four innovation platforms. The first workshop, held in Zaria (Nigeria) for a period of 14 days, concentrated on IAR4D principles and the design of ARD learning cycles. The second workshop took place in Kaduna (Nigeria) and was entirely devoted to team-building. Although late in the process, with the action research programme already well underway, IFDC and the innovation platform members were all keen to acknowledge that the

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lack of teamwork skills was severely limiting the innovativeness and impact of the whole exercise. The evaluations of the programme so far demonstrate that the participants are appreciating the effort of ICRA and IFDC, and that they are learning a lot. However, it is also quite clear that the incentive structure to really work and learn together as a team and between organisations is not in place, and that, under the present circumstances, the participants – facilitators – are having major difficulties really engaging differently with rural stakeholders in a process of co-innovation. ICRA has started, in collaboration with IFDC, a reflection process to analyse the capacity strengthening and the action research programme, and identify the major bottlenecks that need to be addressed in order to give IAR4D a ‘real’ chance. The third workshop that ICRA is supposed to facilitate (in 2010) will concentrate on this reflection process, and will also strengthen the capacities of the facilitators to guide reflection sessions in the field, together with rural stakeholders, and to document learning (and change).

Senegal Context and evolution of the partnership In Senegal, ICRA ensured the international coordination of a small two-year IFAD technical assistance grant with a budget of US$200 000 formally granted to CIAT. This project, which ended in December 2008, aimed “to make an impact on poverty reduction through strengthening the capacities of research and development professionals and organisations from Senegal for the collaborative management of innovation.” This was to be achieved through the development and testing of a learning cycle that combined field projects on a development challenge with face-toface workshops (modules, reflection) and elearning. The teams of participants were composed of stakeholders involved in ongoing rural innovation processes in the Matam Region and the Thiès Plateau, linked to IFAD investment projects. ICRA’s main partners in this project have been ISE (Institut des Sciences de l’Environnement) of the University Cheikh Anta Diop and two NGOs: Environnement et Développement Afrique and Union pour la Solidarité et l’Entraide. These and other R&D institutions at national level (such as the Institut Sénégalais de

ANNEX Recherches Agricoles) and Innovations Environnement Développement Afrique were involved in a steering committee (comité d’Orientation). ICRA supported the process (learning needs assessment, learning cycle concept, approach to experiential learning, reporting, etc.), partly from a distance.

Achievements in 2009 The field activities of the project ended in late 2008 with two workshops, one in Matam and the other in Thiès. These workshops were facilitated by the Senegalese partners of the project without direct intervention from ICRA. Given the delay in implementation of planned activities, several end-of-project activities were postponed to 2009: reporting for year two was achieved in January, with the involvement of ICRA. A capitalisation workshop was held in Dakar in February, prepared and facilitated by ICRA and ISE: it brought together all of the Senegalese partners in the project (coordinators of learning cycles, implementing NGOs, representatives of stakeholders from Thiès, and staff of the IFAD project in Matam). The editing of training and learning materials is still to be achieved. Finally, two Senegalese partners participated in the DM-IoL preparatory workshop in Cotonou in May.

South Africa Context and evolution of the partnership South African government policy aims to redress the inequalities of the apartheid era in the agricultural sector by developing small-scale agriculture through land reform and agricultural black economic empowerment (AgriBEE) schemes. This demands a paradigm shift in agricultural education and R&D organisations. These have not been set up to serve this new clientele and lack insight into the livelihood systems and motivations of the target populations. Poor social organisation of target populations has limited their inclusion in policy making and design of interventions. Weak linkages between policy makers, policy implementing agencies – Land Bank and National and Provincial Departments of Agriculture (NDA and PDAs) – R&D and education organisations have hampered the creation and provision of coherent support services and effective policy making and implementation.

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South African university staff engaged in community outreach projects

ICRAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s partnership with South African organisations aims to contribute to overcoming these limitations by promoting ARD learning within the framework of the AgriBEE programme. Collaboration started in 1995 with the capacity strengthening of R&D staff in ICRAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Anglophone programme. From 1999, more South African R&D staff participated in this programme. Several ARD field studies were supported, through ICRA and its alumni, leading to stronger collaboration between the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) and their main clients, the PDAs. To further this collaboration, the ARC created the Sustainable Rural Livelihoods (SRL) Division in 2003, which then initiated an informal National ARD Task Team (NARDTT, see box) to serve as an inter-institutional discussion forum and planning mechanism. One of the functions of the SRL Division was to offer in-service ARD learning programmes for ARC and PDA staff. For this purpose, the SRL Division

ANNEX Members of the National ARD Task Team (NARDTT)

Agricultural Research Council (Secretariat)

University of Fort Hare

University of the Free State

University of KwaZulu-Natal

University of the Limpopo

University of Venda

National Department of Agriculture

National Department of Science and Technology

National African Farmers Union

5 Provincial Departments of Agriculture

set up the Agricultural Technology Transfer Academy (ATTA), in 2004, managed by an ICRA alumnus, and contracted ICRA to enhance ATTA’s capacity to facilitate ARD learning. ICRA trained ATTA staff together with a team of university staff to support ATTA in facilitating ARD learning. ICRA also provided technical support to the design and delivery of three in-service ARD learning programmes. The in-service ARD learning programmes were highly appreciated and useful to meet the capacity strengthening needs of targeted R&D personnel. But they also raised awareness that the institutionalisation of ARD learning in South Africa required more than the establishment of a small training unit within the ARC. The ARC and the NARDTT also realised that universities needed to develop their capacity to equip future professionals with adequate competencies for ARD. In 2005, the ARC obtained support from NUFFIC for an NPT project entitled “Institutionalizing ARD in the South African Agricultural R&D and tertiary education system” (2006–2009). The project was given a budget of €1.55 million to: 1) Support the NARDTT and link with other R&D stakeholders 2) Strengthen capacities of teaching staff of member universities of the NARDTT, and to 3) Enable these universities to facilitate ARD learning and integrate this into their academic programmes. The project is jointly managed by the ARC and ICRA. ICRA leads a consortium that involves WI and WU. The project also supports an ICRA

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Regional Representative for southern Africa with offices provided by the ARC. The NPT project has, among other things, supported: Senior staff of organisations involved in the NARDTT to participate in short courses at WI and in the ICRA Anglophone ARD learning programmes (2006, 2007, 2008). As a result, there is an inter-institutional pool of over 20 ARD facilitators available, largely concentrated in the universities of Limpopo and Venda, and PDA Limpopo. The NARDTT to finalise a strategic plan (ratified in 2007), and to forge collaboration between universities, PDAs and ARC at provincial levels, in particular in Limpopo province. The NARDTT also supported the establishment of In House Committees (IHCs) to spearhead change from within the universities. ARD awareness creation workshops involving staff of all the NARDTT member organisations, as well as other targeted R&D staff, and policy makers. Five South Africans to start a development-oriented (ARD) MSc at WU, and one to complete an MA at Van Hall Larenstein (Wageningen, the

Sub-regional workshop for ARD learning facilitators in South Africa, April 2009

ANNEX Netherlands). All six followed previous training in ICRA’s ARD learning programme and four of them do their MSc research on topics resulting from their ICRA fieldwork. The development of ARD modules and courses at the universities of Limpopo, Venda, Fort Hare and KwaZulu Natal, which have been followed by hundreds of students. The IHCs have also implemented, with backstopping from ARC (ATTA) a comprehensive audit of curricula, to appraise courses, methods of teaching and stakeholder interaction. The ARC to obtain accreditation for their in-service ARD learning course from the Agricultural Sector Education Authority (AgriSETA) (submitted, but the decision is still pending). The editing of an ARD resource book, commissioned by the ARC. Partly as a result of the in-service ARD learning programmes, networks for action research and knowledge sharing have been established, in particular in the Limpopo province, and to a lesser extent in the Eastern and Northern Cape.

Sub-regional workshop for ARD learning facilitators, South Africa, April 2009

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Some results of the internal evaluation of the NPT project “The project has largely achieved all activities as planned. The results of the linkage strategy, capacity development strategy and the curriculum development strategy have equally been achieved, as measured by the output indicators […]. The outcome of the project will depend on the implementation and use of ARD-infused modules in agricultural courses at universities and short courses for in-service training by ARC. This in turn depends on capacity development of ARD facilitators, which can only take place through strong links between the different partners. The project was successful in establishing sufficient links to allow a well implemented capacity development strategy, achieving all its expected outputs, but the curriculum development strategy, although strongly underway in both ARC and at least three universities is not yet turning out large numbers of ARD trained graduates, hence no direct outcome yet. This can be expected at the earliest towards the end of 2010 (in University of Venda in particular).” The authors (W. Heemskerk from KIT and J. Njuki from ILRI) signalled a few shortcomings as well, in particular in the linkage strategy: “The project was efficient (also due to additional ICRA and ARC contributions) in its capacity development strategy, performed well in the curriculum development strategy in three universities, but performed relatively poorly (but just enough not to derail the other two strategies) in its linkage strategy.” From the point of view of the evaluators, the NARDTT has been strong enough to forge the relationships between the members necessary to implement the capacity strengthening and curriculum development activities of the project, but weak in facilitating community outreach programs (i.e. beyond the Limpopo area) and in the mainstreaming of ARD (and ARD awareness) beyond its own network. The NARDTT has not been able to foster linkages with, for example, the National Agricultural Research Forum and Departments of Education and Science and Technology, and did not succeed in broadening the membership base (only NAFU joined recently, which was rightfully considered an important success). The challenge for the coming years lies, according to the authors, in the scaling-up and out of ARD principles. This involves organisational and interinstitutional change in support of ARD, enabling ARD-minded individuals and alumni to engage in rural community development programs beyond a ‘field research project’; it also implies a rethinking of the composition and role of the NARDTT; a rethinking that seems to be already taking place. In recent discussions, for instance, the establishment of a collective innovation network for Southern Africa (CINSA), with knowledge sharing and policy advocacy functions, was proposed – as a follow-up to the NARDTT. The National Research Foundation has offered to house the (new) NARDTT. To be continued!

ANNEX Achievements in 2009 NPT project A seminar was organised in Wageningen, the Netherlands, linking students and their supervisors from South Africa and WU. South African professors were also exposed to the Academic Consultancy Training organised as a curriculum element for MSc students at WU. Three of the six MSc students have now started their field research in South Africa. Preparatory and follow-up workshops were held in South Africa to monitor and provide feedback on the students’ work. An in-service ARD facilitation course was organised by the ARC for 17 staff members. The participants will receive further on-the-job training and coaching to make them (accredited, see above) trainers for R&D professionals and representatives of farmer groups in the agricultural sector. The ARC developed a community project strategy, based on ARD principles, to upscale the use of its technologies. ICRA provided backstopping to the development of this strategy. The strategy will be spearheaded by the Technology Transfer Division of the ARC. The technology transfer component of research has been given a predominant place in the ‘new’ ARC, which underwent a thorough re-structuring process to strengthen dissemination of research results, stakeholder interaction and general outreach. In this process, the SRL Division and ATTA were dissolved. An ‘ARD Resource Book’, based on the experiences with ARD learning in South Africa, was edited with substantial backstopping and input from ICRA. The ARD Resource Book (Hawkins, 2009, see Annex 3) was launched at the NARDTT Symposium (see below) and is currently being distributed. In October, the NARDTT successfully organised a Regional Symposium “Enabling Collective Innovation in Agrarian Research Development and Education – Lessons from the Last Decade”, with over 50 participants, including some selected R&D staff from neighbouring countries. ICRA presented a key note address, and the symposium provided ample opportunity to share experiences and lessons learned from R&D, action research and ARD learning. The presentations also revealed of a wide variety of cases of co-innovation in South Africa. However, many of the actors and organisations involved in these processes have done so with limited exchange and there

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seems to be an important opportunity to go beyond the ‘islands of success’, and to develop a much broader alliance for interactive learning, involving actors from different regions, sectors, and with different mandates and backgrounds. All the reports on ARD field projects were reprinted and distributed to educational and R&D institutions; the ARD website hosted by the ARC was also finalised (visit www.arc.agric.za, and follow the link to ARD). The NARDTT, on behalf of ARC and ICRA, commissioned an internal evaluation of the NPT project. This evaluation was done in November 2009. The report is quite positive and mentions several important and strategic achievements, triggered through the NPT project, and under the leadership of the ARC, ICRA and through the NARDTT. See the box above for a summary of the authors’ findings with regards to the efficiency of the project, as related to its three major strategic intervention areas. Beyond NPT The NARDTT, in collaboration with ICRA, prepared and selected the participants in ICRA’s sub-regional workshop, organised in Pretoria. This workshop was held to develop the contents of ICRA’s new course (DM-IoL). Four South Africans participated in ICRA’s DM-IoL course in Wageningen. Two managers from South Africa (ARC and Fort Hare) participated in the Senior Managers’ study and exchange tour, organised by ICRA. ARC and ICRA signed a new MoU and a service contract for 2010. ARC and ICRA will also join forces to tender for a new NUFFIC (Netherlands Initiative for Capacity Building in Higher Education) project, as follow up to the NPT. Lupane State University in Zimbabwe signed an Memorandum of Understanding with ICRA to trigger the implementation of ARD field projects and to embed ARD in the curriculum. PANOS Southern Africa, an association of African journalists, signed a contract with ICRA to produce three case studies on ARD learning ‘at work’.

ANNEX Uganda Context and evolution of the partnership In 2004, ICRA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the NARO and Makerere University (MAK) to build capacity in IAR4D. NARO, MAK and ICRA, along with the African Highlands Initiative, implemented the first IAR4D learning cycle in 2004–2005. This programme included all the researchers of the ZARDIs, together with other staff from MAK, NARO and organisations collaborating with the ZARDIs. This learning cycle accompanied significant organisational changes within NARO during 2005–2007, and was followed by two years of occasional visits to ZARDIs by national IAR4D facilitators (‘mentoring’). This ZARDI experience with IAR4D is currently being documented. The impact of this ZARDI learning cycle has been significant. Citing the training, NARO recently recognised the need to adopt the IAR4D approach as a key paradigm shift in order to justify investment on science and technology development in its Ten-Year Strategic Plan (2008–2018). The challenge is now how to institutionalise this approach, and strengthen capacity of key stakeholders in key innovation platforms at national and zonal level.

Achievements in 2009 In 2009, the partnership was renewed with the formation of the IAR4D Programme Coordination Team (PCT), under the leadership of the NARO Director of Research Coordination. A representative of the NAADS also joined this team. A national IAR4D plan, developed during 2009, is currently being integrated within the next phase of World Bank support to NARO/NAADS (2010–2015), and will provide direction to the work of the PCT as well as a basis for a renewed Memorandum of Understanding between the partner organisations. Also in 2009, the PCT was further strengthened by participation of five representatives (from NARO, NAADS and MAK) on the ICRA programme for “Design and Management of Innovation-oriented Learning Programmes”, held in Wageningen in September (with a preparatory 3-day workshop in Pretoria in April). As follow-up to this programme, the team has given immediate priority to capacity strengthening activities in the Mbarara Zone needed in order to establish

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three functioning, multi-stakeholder innovation platforms on livestock production. These platforms will then provide the experience necessary to launch a wider programme of scaling up of IAR4D approaches in Uganda.

The SUCAPRI Project (Kenya, Uganda) Context and evolution of the partnership Within the scope of the Uganda and Kenya partnerships, ICRA assisted MAK and four Kenyan Universities (Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Nairobi University, Kenyatta University and Egerton University) to obtain approximately €500 000 of financing from EDULINK (EU-ACP Secretariat). The resulting project on “Strengthening of University Capacity for Promoting, Facilitating and Teaching Rural Innovation Processes” (SUCAPRI), provides €136 000 for ICRA’s services, and assumes a further €25 000 of in-kind input from ICRA over 3 years (January 2008–January 2011).

Participants of the SUCAPRI workshop April 2009, Uganda

ANNEX The project consists of six main activities that approximately correspond to ICRA’s six outcomes of national ARD learning partnerships: 1) Planning and project management 2) A ‘university-based learning cycle’ to create core teams of staff competent in facilitating the development of rural innovation skills in the four Kenyan universities 3) ‘Multi-stakeholder learning cycles’ to develop innovation systems skills in university staff and practising agricultural R&D professionals in Uganda and Kenya 4) Improvement and development of curricula and management/incentive procedures 5) Development of learning resources for facilitation processes and rural innovation 6) An international workshop on “Capacity Strengthening in Rural Innovation”.

Achievements in 2009 Following a slow start in the early months of the project (Jan–Mar) 2008, progress was then substantial during the remainder of 2008 and the beginning of 2009. A project steering committee was established with representation from the five universities, ICRA, research (Kenya Agricultural Research Institute), advisory services (NAADS), and farmers’ organisations (Kenya Federation of Agricultural Producers). The ‘university-based learning cycle’ was initiated, with teams from all four Kenyan universities and facilitation input from MAK, and the second of four planned workshops was held in February 2009. The ‘multi-stakeholder learning cycle’ in Uganda was initiated with two workshops in Kabale and Mbarara (in April and July 2009, respectively), with teams from the two Ugandan innovation platforms established under the SSA-CP of FARA, and a third team from local stakeholders involved in livestock production and marketing in Kiruhura District. However, problems with the second disbursement of funds from EDULINK to MAK effectively halted project activities in Kenya after February 2009, and in Uganda after July. At the time of writing (December 2009), funds had still not been received by the project coordination unit (MAK). These delays will require substantial re-planning and readjustment of project activities in 2010.

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Latin America Context and evolution of the partnership In Latin America, ICRA’s concept of ARD is adapted to regional perspectives and referred to as PIR – procesos de innovación rural. With some ups and downs, ICRA has maintained a small presence in the region for the last 12 years, which nonetheless has had a significant influence in specific countries. ICRA’s activities in the region started with a series of four annual ARD learning programmes in Spanish. These were offered in partnership with the Colegio de Postgraduados of Mexico, the Latin American farming systems research network and the Mexican Ministry of Rural Development, which paid for most of the costs. The current PIR Initiative was launched in late-2004 when ICRA appointed a Regional Representative. The active members of the initiative are Cuba, Mexico and Venezuela.

Sub-regional workshop for ARD learning facilitators, Havana, Cuba, April 2009

ANNEX

Sub-regional workshop for ARD learning facilitators, Cuba, April 2009

The PIR Initiative aims to link and scale up various successful local initiatives, launched by ICRAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s institutional partners and alumni, at both the national and the regional levels, in order to promote mainstreaming of the principles of ARD into R&D and education organisations. The first years of the Initiative focussed on raising broader awareness of ARD and its advantages among R&D and education organisations, their decision makers and staff. This was mainly achieved through national and regional workshops linking people and organisations both horizontally (at the level of local innovation partnerships) and vertically (between local, national and regional levels). Many of these workshops have catalysed joint activities to incorporate ARD principles into higher education programmes. Emphasis has been placed on expanding and consolidating a regional team and national teams of professionals who can facilitate ARD learning processes. Cross participation of these teams in each othersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; activities has facilitated exchange and mutual learning and promoted the feeling of being part of a regional programme. The initiative has also actively sought for external funds. The three active countries in the PIR Initiative show important progress in embedding ARD in their institutional practices. They have accessed both internal

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and external sources of funding. The Colegio de Postgraduados of Mexico created a funding window that offers seed money to formulate ARD proposals for which external donor funding can be sought for implementation. Several partners have secured funds to ensure the continuity of the initiative. These include the Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agrícola and the Fundación para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y Tecnologiá del estado Lara (FUNDACITE-Lara) in Venezuela (respectively the national agricultural research institute and a regional foundation for the promotion of science and technology), and the innovative PIAL programme in Cuba. The University of Granma organised a “Congress on Sustainable Human Local Development” with a strong ARD component. Also in Cuba, four ARD field projects were funded by the government and international donors. Negotiations are underway with Alternativa Bolivariana para América Latina y El Caribe, a Venezuelan programme that finances development activities with allied countries. ARD capabilities at different institutions have been strengthened by implementing a variety of workshops for mixed groups of university professors, researchers, extension staff and decision makers. In Venezuela, the collaborative implementation of a six-week ARD learning programme in 2008 was a milestone in stimulating exchange of experiences between R&D professionals from Venezuela and Cuba, and exploring pathways to strengthen capabilities further. In Cuba, after four workshops on curriculum development, the Universities of Granma and Villa Clara decided to introduce ARD principles and tools in courses of the agronomy curriculum, at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The research institutes Jorge Dimitrov of Granma in Cuba and the Colegio de Postgraduados of Puebla in Mexico have started PIR Diplomados.

Achievements in 2009 The Latin American PIR Initiative (ILAPIR) continued to strengthen professional capabilities in the facilitation of collaborative action learning aimed at triggering sustainable rural innovation. ICRA’s institutional partners have contributed significantly to capacity strengthening programmes on ARD theory and practice, involving many new professionals. The collaborative implementation of a six-week ARD learning programme in Havana, Cuba built upon the work done in Venezuela in 2008. The programme was designed to strengthen the capacities of 21 Cuban R&D professionals so that they could address concrete innovation challenges, all linked to the CLIAs of

ANNEX the PIAL Programme. The innovation themes were selected and formulated in a preparatory workshop, in which all the facilitators also participated. The team of facilitators was formed by Venezuelans, Cubans (among whom one producer), a Mexican and one European facilitator from ICRA. Most of them are members of the PIR Regional Team. In Cuba, the consolidation of ARD orientation is under way with the incorporation and acknowledgment of complementarities with new partners such as the GUCID programme, one of the three Programas Ramales (transversal programmes) of the Ministry of Higher Education, which opens important doors for ARD to become fully integrated at the national level through the new Municipal University Centres, under the umbrella of GUCID. ILAPIR participated in a general meeting of GUCID at the beginning of the year and coordinated a workshop to reflect and draw lessons from the GUCID programme. Cubans, Mexicans and Venezuelans, all professionals associated to ILAPIR, participated in a workshop on ARD facilitation held in Havana in order to define capacity strengthening needs for ICRA’s new programme: DM-IoL. Another workshop was held in Bayamo to discuss and collect the basic materials for a new PIR book. ILAPIR also participated in the second “Congress on Local Human Development” held at the University of Granma in Bayamo, and in a seminar on sustainable agriculture held by Indio Hatuey Experimental Station in the City of Varadero. ILAPIR organised a symposium on rural innovation processes as a side event to the “IVth International Conference on Agriculture and Livestock Development” (22–24 April) at the Central University Marta Abreu of Las Villas, Cuba. One hundred and fifty Cubans and over forty people from outside Cuba participated. In Venezuela, the PIR initiative furthered collaboration with networking organisations like FUNDACITE-Lara, which proposed starting a programme over the next three to four years to strengthen capabilities of Redes Socialistas de Innovación Productiva at Lara State and to develop a strategy to scale up ARD work to the national level. A workshop to strengthen ARD capabilities at the INIA Research Centre of the Anzoátegui State in Venezuela was held and follow-up activities initiated. A PIR forum for sharing experiences and learning in Cuba, Mexico and Venezuela was held in Barquisimeto. These two last activities were financed by FUNDACITEAnzoátegui and FUNDACITE-Lara, respectively.

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A high-level managers meeting, with participants from Cuba and Venezuela, was held at La Alianza, a model peasant cooperative. The meeting identified possibilities for further collective collaboration to strengthen ARD and ARD capabilities, and to improve interaction between the local, national and regional levels. In Mexico, to share the work developed elsewhere in Latin America, a PIR conference cycle involving various universities and research centres was organised. A PIR workshop to create awareness among partners of the Colegio de Postgraduados was also held in Puebla. The Colegio made a proposal to start a PIR capacity strengthening programme within the framework of its new linkage programme at the national level. Cuba, Mexico and Venezuela continue to increase their share of the financial contribution to all ARD activities in Latin America. Expressions of interest in ARD continue to come in from different Latin American countries such as Argentina, Brazil and Ecuador.

Annex 2 PARTICIPANTS OF PROGRAMMES AND SUB-REGIONAL MEETINGS ORGANISED BY ICRA IN 2009

PARTICIPANTS OF PROGRAMMES AND SUB-REGIONAL MEETINGS ORGANISED BY ICRA IN 2009

Senior Managers’ Exchange Tour ICRA Senior Managers Exchange, 1–5 June 2009, Wageningen, the Netherlands 1

Dr Belaineh Legesse, Zeleke

Haramaya University

Administration and Development Vice President

Ethiopia

Prof. Dr David Millar

UDS

Pro-Vice Chancellor

Ghana

Dr Robert C. Abaidoo

CANR/KNUST

Provost

Ghana

Dr Sampson Edusah

BIRD/CANR/KNUST

Project Coordinator

Ghana

Prof. Esther Murugi Kahangi

JKUAT

Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research, Production and Extension, and Board member KARI

Kenya

Dr Mary Kamau

Ministry of Agriculture

Director Extension & Training

Kenya

Dr Sam Mwonga

Egerton University

Core team member

Kenya

Mr John Mutunga

KENFAP

CEO

Kenya

Ms Anati Canca

ARC

Executive Director Technology Transfer

South Africa

Dr Nomakhaya Monde

University Fort Hare

Head of Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension

South Africa

Mr Twesigye Morrison Rwakakamba

Uganda National Farmers Federation FFE

Manager Policy Research and Advocacy

Uganda

Dr Emily Kabushenga Twinamasiko

National Agricultural Research Council Secretariat

Director Research Co-ordination

Uganda

Dr Lillian TibatemwaEkirikubinza

MAK

First Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs)

Uganda

ANNEX Design and Management of Innovation-oriented Learning Programmes in Wageningen and Montpellier DM-IoL for ARD facilitators, 7–25 September 2009, Wageningen, the Netherlands

Names

Institute

Country

ICRA Alumni

Mr Joseph Nketiah

Methodist University College Ghana

Ghana

2007

Dr Richard Yeboah

University of Development Studies Tamale

Ghana

2007

Dr Christine Akoth Onyango

Jomo Kenyatta University for Agriculture & Technology

Kenya

2006

Mr John Mwaniki

Kenyatta University

Kenya

2006

Mr Peter Mwangi Gitika

KENFAP

Kenya

2006

Dr George Chemining’wa

University of Nairobi

Kenya

2005

Dr Sam Mwonga

Egerton University

Kenya

2005

Ms Losira Nasirumbi

NARO, Socio-economist/Researcher

Uganda

Ms Frances Nakakawa

NARO

Uganda

Dr Charles Muyanja

Makerere University

Uganda

Dr Monica Karuhanga

Makerere University

Uganda

Dr Anthony Mugenyi

NAADS

Uganda

Ms Thembi Ngcobo

ARC

South Africa

2005

Ms Jessica Maimela

ARC

South Africa

IC-SA2005

Mr Nelson Raidimi

University of Venda

South Africa

2006

Dr David Norris

University of Limpopo

South Africa

2008

Dr Leonardo Salazar

FUNDACITE/ICRA

Latin America

1996

Mr Francis Pierre

INIA

Venezuela

Dr Humberto Ríos

INCA

Cuba

2000

PARTICIPANTS OF PROGRAMMES AND SUB-REGIONAL MEETINGS ORGANISED BY ICRA IN 2009

DM-IoL for ARD facilitators, 21 September–9 October 2009, Montpellier, France Names

Institute

Country

ICRA Alumni (F = Francophone)

Ms Salima Terranti

Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique

Algérie

2001F

Mr François Dossouhoui

FSA – Université d’Abomey Calavi

Bénin

2006F

Mr Christophe Kinha

Union des Producteurs du Centre Bénin

Bénin

2006F

Ms Isabelle Megbleto

Association Nationale de Semenciers du Bénin

Bénin

2006F

Mr Stéphane Bayala

FEPAB

Burkina Faso

2008F

Mr Désiré Yerbanga

FEPAB

Burkina Faso

2008F

Mr Issa Zongo

Université de Koudougou

Burkina Faso

Mr Fidimalala Randriamandimbisoa

Fikambanana Andrin’ny Tambazotra sy ny Olom-pirenena (FIANTSO)

Madagascar

Ms Amélie Razafindrahasy

FIANTSO

Madagascar

Ms Zaza Audoux Razanatafika

FIANTSO

Madagascar

Ms Aoua Dicko

Solidarité à l’Autopromotion de la Base

Mali

2008F

Mr Dramane Keita

Union Locale de Producteurs de Céréales et de Karité

Mali

2008F

Ms Mame Anne Traoré

ADAF-Gallé

Mali

2006F

Mr Morou Issaka

Action pour la Promotion des Groupements Ruraux

Niger

Mr Ali Mossi

Centre de Prestations de ServicesMowa Alfaray Huwo

Niger

Mr Totétièbe Dametougle

Recherche, Appui, Formation aux Initiatives d’Autodéveloppement

Togo

Mr Bienvenu Fayikandin Kombate

CNIEP

Togo

ANNEX Preparatory sub-regional meetings ICRA sub-regional workshop, 28–30 April 2009, Pretoria, South Africa Name

Institute

Country

ICRA Alumni

Dr Christine Akoth Onyango

JKUAT

Kenya

2006

Dr Gitonga M. Nkanata

JKUAT

Kenya

2006

Dr George Chemining’wa

University of Nairobi

Kenya

2005

Dr Samuel Mwonga

Egerton University

Kenya

2005

Mr Peter Mwangi Gitika

KENFAP

Kenya

2006

Ms Imelda Kashaija

NARO

Uganda

2004

Dr Charles Muyanja

MAK

Uganda

2004/2005

Dr Monica Karuhanga

MAK

Uganda

Dr Chemeda Fininsa Gurmessa

Haramaya University

Ethiopia

1996

Mr Joseph Nketiah

MUCG

Ghana

2007

Mr Chrispen Murungweni

Grasslands Research Station

Zimbabwe

2004

Ms Thembi Ngcobo

ARC

South Africa

2005

Ms Yolisa Pakela Jezile

ARC

South Africa

Dr Ntsikane Maine

Tshwane Municipality

South Africa

2006

Dr Obi Ajuruchukwu

University of Forth Hare

South Africa

ARD task team

Dr Nelson Raidimi

University of Venda

South Africa

2006

Dr David Norris

University of Limpopo

South Africa

2008

Ms Colletah Chitsike

ICRA

Zimbabwe

Dr Richard Hawkins

ICRA

Dr Noureddine Sellamna

ICRA

France

Workshop convenors:

PARTICIPANTS OF PROGRAMMES AND SUB-REGIONAL MEETINGS ORGANISED BY ICRA IN 2009

ICRA sub-regional workshop, 14–21 April 2009, Havana, Cuba Names

Institute

Country

ICRA Alumni

Mr Wilmer Armas

INIA

Venezuela

2000

Ms Maria Elena Morros

INIA

Venezuela

Mr Francis Pierre

INIA

Venezuela

Dr Leonardo Salazar

ICRA

Venezuela

1996

Dr F.C. Agüero

Universidad de Cienfuegos

Cuba

Ms Yanet Rosabal

Universidad de Granma

Cuba

2007

Dr Rubén Villegas

Universidad de Granma

Cuba

Ms Idania Pérez

Universidad de Granma

Cuba

Dr Humberto Rios

INCA

Cuba

2000

Ms Sandra Miranda

INCA

Cuba

Dr Luis Rodriguez Larramendi

Instituto Jorge Dimitrov

Cuba

Mexico 2000

Dr Juan Reta

Colegio de Postgraduados

Mexico

2006

Workshop convenor: Mr Juan Ceballos-Müller

ICRA

ANNEX ICRA Sub-regional workshop, 11–15 May 2009, Cotonou, Benin Names

Institute

Country

Ms Nacima Benterki

Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - Algérie

Algeria

Mr Ali Daoudi

Institut National Agronomique

Algeria

2003

Ms Salima Terranti

Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - Algérie

Algeria

2001

Dr Kokou Djagni

IFDC/1000s+

Benin

Mr François Dossouhoui

FSA/UAC

Benin

NCST 2006–2007

Mr Christophe Kinha

UPC

Benin

NCST 2006–2007

Ms Isabelle Megbleto

ANASEB

Benin

NCST 2006–2007

Mr Stéphane Bayala

FEPAP

Burkina Faso

Dr Asseta Diallo

IFDC/1000s+

Burkina Faso

NCST 2008

Mr Désiré Yerbanga

FEPAP

Burkina Faso

NCST 2008

Mr Issa Zongo

Université de Koudougou

Burkina Faso

NCST 2008

Ms Bakoly Ranivoharifetra

Harmonisation des Recherches et Etudes Novatrices

Madagascar

NCST 2006–2007

Ms Amélie Razafindrahasy

FIANTSO

Madagascar

Ms Aoua Dicko

Solidarité à l’Autopromotion de la Base

Mali

NCST 2008

M Dramane Keita

Union des Producteurs Locaux de Céréales et de Karité

Mali

NCST 2008

Ms Aissatou Nobre

IFDC/1000s+

Mali

Ms Mame Anna Traoré

ADAF-Gallé

Mali

Dr Assane Goudiaby

ISE

Senegal

Mr Mamadou Ly

Associates in Research and Education for Development

Senegal

Dr Toon Defoer

ICRA

France

Dr Marie-Jo Dugué

ICRA

France

Dr Nour Eddine Sellamna

ICRA

France

Workshop convenors

ICRA Alumni

NCST 2006–2007

Annex 3 PUBLICATIONS, PAPERS AND PRESENTATIONS

PUBLICATIONS, PAPERS AND PRESENTATIONS

Publications and papers Chitsike, C., Ngcobo, T., Obi, A., Dube, S., Norris, D., Raidimi, N. and Enserink, D. (2009) Aligning teaching and learning to development challenges: Institutionalization of ARD in Agricultural Schools of five universities. Paper presented at the Symposium on “Enabling collective innovation in agrarian research, development and education – lessons from the last decade.” National Agricultural Research for Development Task Team, Pretoria, 28–29 November 2009. Daane, J. (2009) Enhancing performance of agricultural innovation systems. Key Note Paper presented at the Symposium on “Enabling collective innovation in agrarian research, development and education – lessons from the last decade.” National Agricultural Research for Development Task Team, Pretoria, 28–29 November 2009. Daane, J. (2009) Building capacity for agricultural research and innovation. Section 3 of Chapter 8: Food security and sustainable agriculture: Making science work for innovation. In: Molenaar, H., Box, L. and Engelhard, R. (Eds). Knowledge on the move. International Development Publications, Leiden. Daane, J., Francis, J., Oliveros, O. and Bolo, M. (2009) Performance indicators for agricultural innovation systems in the ACP region. Synthesis Report. International Expert Consultation Workshop, Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU, Wageningen, 15–17 July 2008. Hawkins, R., Booth, R., Chitsike, C., Twinamasiko, E., Tenywa, M., Karanja, G., Ngcobo, T. and Verschoor, A.J. (2009) Strengthening inter-institutional capacity for rural innovation: experience from Uganda, Kenya and South Africa. In: Sanginga, P., Waters-Bayer, A., Kaaria, S., Njuki, J. and C. Wettasinha (Eds.). Innovation Africa: enriching farmers’ livelihoods. Earthscan. London. Hawkins, R. (Ed.) (2009) Agricultural Research for Development (ARD). A resource book. In collaboration with invited members from the National Agricultural Research for Development Network, ARC-LNR, ICRA and NUFFIC. NARDTT, South Africa.

ANNEX Verschoor, A.J. and Enserink, D. (2009) Experiences in inter-institutional ARC collaboration: what have we learned? Paper presented at the Symposium on “Enabling collective innovation in agrarian research, development and education – lessons from the last decade.” National Agricultural Research for Development Task Team, Pretoria, 28–29 November 2009. Verschoor, A.J., Ngcobo, T., Ceballos, J., Hawkins, R., Chitsike, C. and Chaminuka, P. (2009) Shaping agricultural research for development to Africa’s needs: builiding South African capacity to innovate. In: Sanginga, P., Waters-Bayer, A., Kaaria, S., Njuki, J. and C. Wettasinha (Eds.). Innovation Africa: enriching farmers’ livelihoods. Earthscan. London.

ICRA-related publications Orozco, S., Ramírez, B., Ariza, R., Jiménez, L., Estrella, N., Peña, B., Ramos, A. and Morales, M. (2009) Impacto del conocimiento tecnológico sobre la adopción de tecnología agrícola en campesinos indígenas de México. Interciencia 34(8): 551–555. Available at: http://www.interciencia.org/v34_08/index.html

Presentations Daane, J. (2009) Enhancing performance of agricultural innovation systems. Key Note presentation at the Symposium on “Enabling collective innovation in agrarian research, development and education – lessons from the last decade.” National Agricultural Research for Development Task Team, Pretoria, South Africa, 28–29 November 2009. Daane, J. (2009) Enhancing performance of agricultural innovation systems. Presented at a network meeting of SDC staff to reflect on the topic “Agricultural advisory services and innovation”, Bern, Switzerland, 16 November 2009. Daane, J. (2009) Evolution of ICRA’s approach to capacity strengthening for rural innovation, ICRA’s impact and lessons learnt: 3 cases. Presented at a network meeting of SDC staff to reflect on the topic “Agricultural advisory services and innovation”, Bern, Switzerland, 16 November 2009.

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PUBLICATIONS, PAPERS AND PRESENTATIONS

Daane, J. (2009) ICRA: A case for harmonised donor support. Presented at the European Consultative Group meeting of the European Initiative for Agricultural Research for Development (EIARD), Eschborn, Germany, 25 November 2009. Salazar, L., et al. (2009) (Ed.) Boletín de la Iniciativa Latinoamericana de Procesos de Innovación Rural. Presented at “II Foro PIR: Articulando actores para la innovación y transformación.” Barquisimeto, Venezuela, November 2009. Salazar, L. (2009) Procesos de Innovación Rural: la urgencia de la articulación entre actores. Inaugural Conference. “II Foro PIR: Articulando actores para la innovación y transformación.” Barquisimeto, Venezuela, November 2009. Salazar, L. (2009) La Necesidad de Articulación en PIR. “II Simposio Internacional Extensionismo, Transferencia de Tecnologías, Aspectos Socioeconómicos y Desarrollo Agrario Sostenible.” Varadero, Cuba, May 2009. Salazar, L. (2009) La Gestión del conocimiento en PIR. “II Congreso Internacional de Desarrollo Local.” Universidad de Granma, Bayamo, Cuba, February 2009. Sellamna, N. (2009) Qu’est ce que l’ICRA ? Renforcer les capacités pour l’innovation rurale en partenariat. Presented at the Regional West and Central African workshop for leaders of ANAFE member institutions and partners on “Enhancing the involvement of tertiary agricultural education institutions into CAADP: strategising through ANAFE.” Cotonou, Benin, 10 December 2009. Trujillo, I., Salazar, L., Morros, M., Bravo, C. and Blones, J. (2009) Capacitación para Procesos de Innovación Rural: propuesta UNESR. Jornadas de Investigación CDCHT. Caracas, Venezuela, January 2009.

Presentations by ILAPIR Barranco, L. (2009) El CLIA de Villa Clara: articulando actores para fortalecer PIR en la Universidad. “II Foro PIR: Articulando actores para la innovación y transformación.” Barquisimeto, Venezuela, November 2009.

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ANNEX Blones, J. (2009) Universidad Nacional Experimental Simón Rodríguez: articulando actores para fortalecer PIR en la Universidad. “II Foro PIR: Articulando actores para la innovación y transformación.” Barquisimeto, Venezuela, November 2009. Blones, J., Trujillo, I., Brucato, M. and Rojas, S. (2009) Estudio etnobotánico sobre el conocimiento tradicional en el uso de plantas medicinales en la población rural de cocorote, Edo. Miranda, Venezuela. Vth International Congress of Ethnobotany. Bariloche, Argentina, August 2009. Blones, J., Trujillo, I., Brucato, M. and Rojas, S. (2009) Obtención de permisos legales y oficiales de comunidades campesinas y nativas bajo la figura del consentimiento fundamentado previo. Jornadas de Investigación CDCHT. Caracas, Venezuela, January 2009. Dominguez, D. (2009) Articulando actores para fortalecer los Procesos de Innovación rural en comunidades: Redes Socialistas de Innovación Productiva. “II Foro PIR: Articulando actores para la innovación y transformación.” Barquisimeto, Venezuela, November 2009. García, E., Mendez, J. and Hernández, I. (2009) La Agencia de Desarrollo Rural como Facilitadora del Desarrollo Comunitario en la Región Sureste de Zacatecas (México). “III Congreso Internacional: Perspectivas del Desarrollo Rural Regional”. Oaxaca, México, September 2009. Huerta, A. (2009) Articulando actores para fortalecer los Procesos de Innovación rural en comunidades: Proceso de articulación de actores en México. “II Foro PIR: Articulando actores para la innovación y transformación.” Barquisimeto, Venezuela November 2009. Matheus, J. (2009) Plan Estratégico Prospectivo para consolidar la Red Socialista de Innovación Productiva de Artesanos del Municipio Palavecino del estado Lara. “II Foro PIR: Articulando actores para la innovación y transformación.” Barquisimeto, Venezuela, November 2009. Miranda, S. (2009) La Plataforma del Programa de Innovación Agrícola Local: articulación de actores, saberes y conocimientos en PIR. “II Foro PIR: Articulando actores para la innovación y transformación.” Barquisimeto, Venezuela, November 2009.

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PUBLICATIONS, PAPERS AND PRESENTATIONS

Morales, M. (2009) Indicadores No-convencionales en Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación: articulando el discurso y la práctica para la innovación y transformación institucional. “II Foro PIR: Articulando actores para la innovación y transformación.” Barquisimeto, Venezuela, November 2009. Morros, M.E. (2009) Articulando actores para fortalecer los Procesos de Innovación rural en comunidades: Innovación Participativa. “II Foro PIR: Articulando actores para la innovación y transformación.” Barquisimeto, Venezuela, November 2009. Perez, I. (2009) El Programa Ramal GUCID: articulando la universidad municipalizada para fortalecer PIR. “II Foro PIR: Articulando actores para la innovación y transformación.” Barquisimeto, Venezuela, November 2009. Pierre, F. (2009) Una Experiencias de Articulación de Actores Internacionales para Solucionar Problemas Cotidianos de la Agricultura. “II Foro PIR: Articulando actores para la innovación y transformación.” Barquisimeto, Venezuela, November 2009. Reta, J. (2009) Articulación de PIR en la currícula: formación de capacidades para facilitar la innovación. “II Foro PIR: Articulando actores para la innovación y transformación.” Barquisimeto, Venezuela, November 2009. Rodriguez, L. (2009) Articulando actores para fortalecer los Procesos de Innovación rural en comunidades: CLIA de Granma. “II Foro PIR: Articulando actores para la innovación y transformación.” Barquisimeto, Venezuela, November 2009. Salinas, B. (2009) La Gestión Institucional de PIR: potencialidades y paradojas de la articulación organizacional. “II Foro PIR: Articulando actores para la innovación y transformación.” Barquisimeto, Venezuela, November 2009. Torrealba, C. (2009) La Institucionalización de una Ética de PIR en la Organización: articulación de actores para el rescate y reciclaje de valores en lo cotidiano. “II Foro PIR: Articulando actores para la innovación y transformación.” Barquisimeto, Venezuela, November 2009.

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ANNEX Trujillo, I., Blones, J., Brucato, M., Rojas, S., Silva, A., Morales, L., Comunidad de Cocorote and Comunidad del Valle de Tucutunemo (2009) Desarrollo de bancos de germoplasma in Vitro con especies de plantas medicinales de uso significativo en comunidades rurales de Venezuela. Vth International Congress of Ethnobotany. Bariloche, Argentina, August 2009.

Presentations by ILAPIR associates Gonzalez, O. (2009) Gestión de PIR: articulación de saberes para la apropiación de poder. “II Foro PIR: Articulando actores para la innovación y transformación.” Barquisimeto, Venezuela, November 2009. Ojeda, R. (2009) Socialistas de Innovación: articulación institucional para fortalecer Redes Socialista de Innovación Productiva de Café de Simón Planas, Lara. “II Foro PIR: Articulando actores para la innovación y transformación.” Barquisimeto, Venezuela, November 2009. Vargas, A. (2009) Redes Socialistas de Innovación: articulación institucional para fortalecer Redes Socialista de Innovación Productiva de Agricultura Urbana en Lara. “II Foro PIR: Articulando actores para la innovación y transformación.” Barquisimeto, Venezuela, November 2009.

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Credits Writing: ICRA Editing, design and layout: Green Ink Ltd (www.greenink.co.uk) Photographs: ICRA Printing: Information Press, UK

Annual Report 2009