Scaling better, together
An outline of ILRI’s approach to scaling
Iddo Dror, Nicole Wu and Shane Ryan (ILRI)
ILRI Scaling Workshop, Nairobi, 12-13 September 2019

Approach
• Leverage existing approaches and tools, adapt
to ILRI’s context
• Literature Review
o Existing frameworks, tools, and approaches for scaling efforts in the development (mainly
agriculture) sector
- USAID, WRI, IDIA, IFAD, WUR & IITA under RTB-CRP, CIMMYT & PPP Lab
o Other initiatives’ work on scaling up social innovation
- IDRC, R4D & MSI, GIZ, Yale Research Initiative on Innovation and Scale, The Scaling Up Community of
Practice (CoP)
o A detailed synopsis document will be completed this year.
• Interviews
o Insights from tool developers and scaling specialists.
• Evaluation of Tools
o Analytical approach and efforts, comprehensiveness, the feasibility of implementation,
suitability for ILRI projects

Principles
• Flexibility: A ‘mix and match’ approach using a combination
of tools you saw yesterday & today (and others can be used
alternatively depending on project/donor preferences)
• Use of scaling coordinators to support the process
• Agile approach, adapt and iterate quickly.
• It takes a village… scaling is a team effort. Close
collaboration between project teams across ILRI and the I@S
team, and of course with partners.

Tools - Scaling Scan
Developed by CIMMYT and the PPP Lab
• Used for initial scaling review through a
short workshop (0.5-2 days)
• Identify bottlenecks for scaling and find
openings to tackle these bottlenecks at
the early stage of the project
Step 1 – Constructing the Scaling Ambition
Step 2 – Checking the Scaling Ingredients
Step 3 – Considering strengths and
weaknesses in the enabling environment for
the proposed scaling strategy

Tools - ASAT
• Developed for USAID’s Bureau of Food Security by Management Systems
International
• Step 1 - Agricultural Scaling Decision Tree
o help select the appropriate scaling pathway based on the sectoral capacity
and willingness (public, private, PPP) for identified tasks
• Step 2 - Agricultural Scalability Assessment Matrix
o conduct based on the selected scaling pathway
o provides quantitative scores (1, 2, 3) with detailed standards for each of the
37 criteria and un-weighted totals for the 6 sections
Agricultural Scaling Assessment Tools (ASAT)

Tools - Scaling Readiness
Developed by WUR and IITA as an integral part of
CGIAR RTB-CRP
• A comprehensive evaluation for innovations
from identify scope, scaling plan, to further
implementation and MEL
• Scientific and detailed methods to identify and
overcome bottlenecks for the scaling of
innovations, based on a NASA framework.
• Breaks down innovations packages to see the
Innovation Readiness and Innovation Use for
each component
• Apply the data-based approach and
minimize/eliminate self-reporting bias
• Can be used to track a portfolio of projects, in
addition to individual projects.

Process Diagram

Scaling Plan: Main Deliverables
● Synthesis of primary data collection before the Stakeholder
Workshop
● Initial Scaling Report based on the Stakeholder Workshop
● (Optional) Scaling Readiness Report
○ Mapping technology readiness and usage
○ Challenges and scaling options
● Detailed Scaling Plan that incorporates findings from overall
analysis and assessments, including:
○ A clear scaling pathway
○ Scaling interventions to address the challenges
○ Partner mapping (with a scaling focus)
○ Reporting/data-collection/verification considerations
○ Recommendations on the next steps

Timeline
2020 Q1
1 2 3
2020 Q2
4 5 6
2019 Q4
10 11 12
Preliminary Data Collection and KIIs for
Scaling Scan
Scaling Scan and ASAT Workshop
Initial Scaling Report based on the
workshop
Data Validation and Follow-ups
Establish the Scaling Working Group
2020 Q3
7 8 9
2020 Q4
10 11 12
Proposed timeline for one of the scaling projects in the first batch
Implementation of Key
Recommendations ** 2021 onward
Comprehensive Scaling Plan
(For each scaling project, tentative)
* If choose to conduct a deep analysis of Scaling Readiness Evaluation
** if prioritized and budgeted for 2021 POWB
Scaling Readiness Assessment *

What’s next?
• Small initial rollout: 4-6 projects in 2020
• The idea is to start thinking to 2021 and beyond, and
gradually introduce this as future projects go live
• If you’re currently working on proposals, then plan for an
initial light assessment in year 1 – and use your judgment for
estimating needs across the project period.
• Let Iddo know if you have questions or want more info

Preliminary Data Collection
• Aim: Capture and document the existing knowledge as much as possible as
the basis of the workshop and engage with workshop participants through
seeking inputs
• Method: Desk Research, Literature Review, Online Survey, and Key informant
interviews conducted by the Scaling Coordinator
o Selection of survey and interview participants will be guided by with help
the Scaling Champion
o Potentially including members of the Research Team, in-country
collaborators, and collaborators from the private sector, and other
stakeholders (e.g. end-users/ value chain actors)
• Output: A brief but organized report of the stakeholder inputs (which will be
the basis of the workshop)

Stakeholders Workshop
• Aim: Identify the scaling scope and the specific innovation (package), key
challenges for scaling efforts through stakeholders consultation
• Method: Face-to-Face workshop in the selected project country
o Duration ranges from 1-2 days depending on the availability of participants
and the scope of the scaling project
• Tools: Scaling Scan and ASAT (mainly the ASDT)
• Output: Initial scaling report that summarizes the workshop
o Proposed scaling pathway
o Findings of the scaling scan: main challenges and information gaps
o Willingness and capacity of different sectors with stakeholder/value chain
actors analysis to identify potential partners
o Other ideas and issues mentioned

Follow Up and (Optional) Detailed Analysis
• Aim: Cross-check information in the Initial Scaling Report, follow up with
relevant stakeholders and partners to prepare for the final scaling plan
• Method: Desk Research, Online Survey, and Key informant interviews conducted
by the Scaling Coordinator with the help of the Scaling Champion
o Optional tools: Carry out in-depth analysis using the Scaling Readiness or
other suitable tools
• Outputs
o Validated data for the final Scaling Plan
o Results of further stakeholder consultation
o (Optional) Scaling Readiness Report and relevant deliverables from other
steps or selected tools

Role of the Scaling Coordinators
● Work closely with the Research/Project team and support the whole scaling
process (supporting several projects concurrently)
● Responsible for Preliminary Data Collection for the Stakeholders Workshop
• Support and organize Stakeholders Workshops as a major facilitator
• Assist in drafting the Scaling Plans, as well as consolidating and analyzing data
from various projects for Program/CRP/institutional needs.
• Further assist the implementation and MEL of the scaling plan (if applicable)

This presentation is licensed for use under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence.
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