NBDC local Innovation Platforms:
Progress so far...
Beth Cullen, Alemayehu Belay, Alan Duncan, Katherine Snyder
Aberra Adie, Zelalem Lemma, Kebebe Ergano, and Josephine Tucker
14th June 2012
ILRI Addis Ababa

Why Innovation Platforms?
Or...

How does NDBC IPs differ from FAP IPs?
Pre-defined entry point and value chain approach
Fodder
Joint identification of common NRM issue
to ensure collective action
NRM
Issue?
Takes time!

Meetings so far...

Community engagement

Stakeholder Capacity Building
A lot of talk about ‘participation’ but little knowledge about how to put it into action.
WAT-A-GAME- Participatory planning for NRM
(www.watagame.info)

Issues
Site Main Issue Related Issues
Unrestricted Land
Fogera grazing degradation
Land Termite
Diga degradation infestation *
Jeldu Soil erosion Deforestation
Fodder interventions have been selected by
stakeholders in all three sites to address these issues
* Interventions in Diga linked to CPWF Termite Action Research Project

IP Fodder interventions to complement SLM campaign

Innovation Fund
• 80,000 ETB to be allocated to platforms to fund
activities which address RWM issues
• Proposals and action plans currently being
developed by stakeholders according to defined
criteria
• Actions should be cross-sectoral, participatory,
designed to address RWM issues and targeted to
suitable area
• Sites have been selected in kebeles within the
designated NBDC watersheds
• Action to take place at household level, farmland
and communal land
• Action has already started in Diga and Fogera

Future activities
• ODI work on political economy and equity analysis of RWM interventions
• Qualitative work on adoption to complement N3 survey work
• Continued work on scenario development in collaboration with N3 and N4 work (perhaps
use of Happy Strategies Game) as well as AfroMaison work
• Cross-basin collaboration (Volta ComMod)
• Hand over facilitation to partners for long term sustainability (partnership agreements
currently being drafted)
• Formation of stronger links to national platform activities
• Formation of stronger links with GIZ SLM through coordinated activities
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Challenges so far...
• Facilitation of IPs is time and resource consuming
• Good facilitation is essential
• Facilitation occurring from a distance
• Platforms have been driven by NBDC agenda
• Problems with incentives (issues over per diems etc.)
• Platform participants inconsistent attendance at meetings
• Stakeholders often play dual roles which can affect the process
• How to incorporate existing knowledge and experience (e.g. RIPPLE, IPMS, African
Highlands Initiative etc.)
• Design of M&E processes which do not rely on researchers (participatory video to
perhaps play a role in this)
• Lack of adequate funds and high expectations!
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Potential Risks
• Action on the ground may not meet our timetable or expectations. Conflict
between allowing the process to develop at the pace of the stakeholders versus
the need for 'outcomes'. A problem with externally driven platform processes.
• Lack of collaboration with other NBDC groups could be problematic, integrating
biophysical information will be important to inform action on the ground
• Partner organizations willingness and ability to facilitate the platforms will impact
the long term success and sustainability of activities.
• Process as important as outcomes! But developing a good process doesn’t
necessarily ensure impact... other factors play a role too.
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Learning so far
Research outputs Inform policy
Information on: •Concrete outcomes that can be fed to national level
•Livelihood strategies and constraints platform
•Factors influencing adoption/lack of adoption •Suggestions for alternatives to current practices
•Social, economic and political drivers of landscape •Piloted processes that can be tested and replicated
change for use in planning and implementation
•Development of research/implementation processes
•Experiences, lessons, best practice