Making AR4D Partnerships Work at Scale:
Innovation platforms engaging local actors
R. Buruchara
NAME
Since 1967 / Science to cultivate change www.ciat.cgiar.org

IAR4D Concept (Context of SSACP)
• The IAR4D concept appraises agriculture as a system that is
made of many sub‐systems that must work together to foster
development
• Uses both the system and the commodity approach
• Uses Innovation Platform (IP) as its operational instrument.
• The IP is a forum for a group of relevant actors along the value
chains of specific commodity or system of production that
influence the chain to interact and provide solutions to jointly
identified constraints on the platform.
• The actors include those;
– Along the value chains: Farmers, traders, processors consumers
– External actors like: researchers, extension agents, policy makers,
service providers (financial) insurance, regulators.
– Organizations and institutions involved in the development of
agricultural sector

Implementation
Since 2004, the SSACP implemented in three phases:
• Inception phase (2005‐07):
• Appraisals & planning
• Research Phase (2008‐10):
• Proof of IAR4D concept
• Research Extension Phase (2011‐2013):
• Complete unfinished aspects of proof of concept,
• Initiate scaling–up activities

Some IAR4D Elements

Alliance Partners (Lake Kivu PLS)
1.Private Sector
• ‐URWIBUTSO Entreprise, Rwanda,‐Pharmakina s.c.a.r.l., DR Congo
• ‐Botanical East Africa (U) Ltd, Uganda, CAPMER
2. Farmers’ Organisations
• ‐FOPAC, Imbaraga, SYDIP
3. Non Governmental Organizations
• ‐Africare Uganda Food Security Initiative, Uganda
• ‐Plateform Diobass, BAIR Rwanda
• ‐Send A Cow, Heifer project International
4. National Agricultural Research Systems
• ‐NARO, INERA, ISAR
• ‐National University of Rwanda, Rwanda
5.International Agricultural Research Centres
• ‐CIAT, ICIPE, ICRISAT, IFPRI
6. ASARECA Network:
• ‐African Highlands Initiative‐AHI;
7. Wageningen University and Research (WUR)

Approach to attain common goal:
Innovation
Platform
Agricultural
Knowledge &
Information
system Hub
ICT Service Providers
ICT4D
Development
partners
Extension (Govt.
and NGOs)
(e.g. NAADS
Value Chain Actors
Output market-traders
Input market-agro-input
dealers
Umbrella organizations-
NOGAMU
Financial credit
institutions (MECREGO),
JOLO invest.
Transporters
Farmers
Formal Education
Universities (e.g. RUFORUM),
Colleges, Secondary and
Primary schools
Research Institutions
CGIARs-CIAT, ICRISAT,
IFPRI, CIP, ICIPE, NARO,
ASARECA FARA.
Government
(e.g. NPA, Sectoral
ministries)
Innovation Platform

Networks among critical actors in IPs

Dynamics in IP Alliance
• Drivers:
– Common issue / challenge of interest
– Opportunity (markets)
• Analysis of alliance partners – roles at different
stages
• Facilitation
• Capacity building
• M&E are a critical component to assessing the IP
establishment, functioning, outcomes and extent
to which IP’s are practicing IAR4D, farmer field
processes, and replicability

9
Process
• Problem
Identification
Baseline Survey
 Facilitation  Research
Empowerment Foster Learning
Alliance
 Building
Synergy SK&
IK
Linking farmers
to market
Exposure visits
Issues / Interface
Capacity building, P&ME Policy NRM  Productivity
Achievements:
IMMEDIATE EFFECTS
END LINE SURVEY

Some Lessons learnt
• Market led processes catalysed innovations
• Innovation capacity increased with number of
multi‐stakeholders
• Innovation is influenced by the quality of
facilitation
• Win‐win scenarios enhanced involvement
• Policy support is very useful

Research and scaling Process (HT)
1. Baseline Situation Analysis leading to identified entry points for
integrated production systems research
2. Assemble, test and refine systems interventions through
participatory research processes,
3. Champion new farm opportunities through R4D Platforms as
pathways to adoptability and impacts,
4. Link these platforms to partner development initiatives and
programs (scaling),
5. Produce Global Synthesis on key outcomes as International
Global Products.

Scaling up Scenarios
• Multiplicity of IPs
• Enlarging of IPs: Bubare
• Institutionalization of IAR4D: Institutions
adopt the use of the IAR4D concept.
• Increasing the number of enterprises within
the IPs

Growth & Linkages of Enterprises at IPs
Sorghum value
chain
Honey value
chain
Potato
Sorghum
Bee
keeping
Potato
minimally
processed
chips
Potato crisps
Potato
Flour
Potato
Starch
Malted sorghum
/flour
Weaning foods
Non- malted sorghum/
flour
Mamera
Propolis
Royal jelly
Honey
Pollen
Potato value
chain

Interactions at Innovation Platform - CPU