Highlights from the 2014 Africa RISING Program-wide
Learning Event
Jonathan Odhong, IITA
Africa RISING West Africa Project Annual Review and Planning
Meeting, Accra, Ghana, 24-25 March 2015
Participants at the Annual Africa RISING Program Learning Event, Arusha – 11 November, 2014
LEARNING EVENT OBJECTIVES 2014
1. Review and discuss how to update the
program framework in the light of
recent experiences
2. Focus on how Africa RISING teams have
been elaborating their typologies and
dealing with diversity so far, to draw
lessons across the program
3. Discuss and clarify innovation systems
theory and practice across Africa RISING
projects (with emphasis on innovation
& R4D platforms)
4. (light) Plan program-level events and
discuss how we can improve (social)
learning across Africa RISING
KEY RESOLUTIONS
On program framework…
Need to revise the program framework
document (esp. the hypotheses based on
the experience gained over the past 3 years,
this decision to be further discussed at the
PCT)
KEY RESOLUTIONS
On typologies…
1. Functional issues like the farmers
aspirations were neglected when coming
up with the typologies
2. There were 3 typologies
presented….world bank, Wageningen
and IFPRI. A team (Peter Thorne, Jens,
Per, Jeroen, Carlo, Katrien) was
suggested to review and agree on the
most appropriate typologies for the
Africa RISING context
KEY RESOLUTIONS
On Innovation/R4D Platforms….
1. A common framework needed across the sites for setting up the platforms
2. The process of the innovations platforms need to be documented
better…especially for West Africa
3. Innovation Platforms have to mobilize their resources
4. Share the experiences in setting up and maintaining platforms across the
regions through different program events (learning event, exchange visits etc.)
5. Clarify the role of IS/IPs in Africa RISING and link with existing systems...
6. Make use of existing structures e.g. Government and existing structures (think
of an exit strategy).
7. Be aware of the fact that the role of the platforms is likely to change overtime
8. Need to test effectiveness and efficiency of IPs as out-scaling and technology
adoption mechanisms (need to develop M&E tools for this). Develop a
sustainability plan for this
KEY RESOLUTIONS
on program-level events and learning across Africa RISING…
1. In future the learning event should be complemented by a field visit
2. A scientific symposium to be held sometime later in the year (sometime
around October/Nov)
“Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for Next Generation”.
www.africa-rising.net

Highlights from the 2014 Africa RISING Program-wide Learning Event

  • 1.
    Highlights from the2014 Africa RISING Program-wide Learning Event Jonathan Odhong, IITA Africa RISING West Africa Project Annual Review and Planning Meeting, Accra, Ghana, 24-25 March 2015
  • 2.
    Participants at theAnnual Africa RISING Program Learning Event, Arusha – 11 November, 2014
  • 3.
    LEARNING EVENT OBJECTIVES2014 1. Review and discuss how to update the program framework in the light of recent experiences 2. Focus on how Africa RISING teams have been elaborating their typologies and dealing with diversity so far, to draw lessons across the program 3. Discuss and clarify innovation systems theory and practice across Africa RISING projects (with emphasis on innovation & R4D platforms) 4. (light) Plan program-level events and discuss how we can improve (social) learning across Africa RISING
  • 4.
    KEY RESOLUTIONS On programframework… Need to revise the program framework document (esp. the hypotheses based on the experience gained over the past 3 years, this decision to be further discussed at the PCT)
  • 5.
    KEY RESOLUTIONS On typologies… 1.Functional issues like the farmers aspirations were neglected when coming up with the typologies 2. There were 3 typologies presented….world bank, Wageningen and IFPRI. A team (Peter Thorne, Jens, Per, Jeroen, Carlo, Katrien) was suggested to review and agree on the most appropriate typologies for the Africa RISING context
  • 6.
    KEY RESOLUTIONS On Innovation/R4DPlatforms…. 1. A common framework needed across the sites for setting up the platforms 2. The process of the innovations platforms need to be documented better…especially for West Africa 3. Innovation Platforms have to mobilize their resources 4. Share the experiences in setting up and maintaining platforms across the regions through different program events (learning event, exchange visits etc.) 5. Clarify the role of IS/IPs in Africa RISING and link with existing systems... 6. Make use of existing structures e.g. Government and existing structures (think of an exit strategy). 7. Be aware of the fact that the role of the platforms is likely to change overtime 8. Need to test effectiveness and efficiency of IPs as out-scaling and technology adoption mechanisms (need to develop M&E tools for this). Develop a sustainability plan for this
  • 7.
    KEY RESOLUTIONS on program-levelevents and learning across Africa RISING… 1. In future the learning event should be complemented by a field visit 2. A scientific symposium to be held sometime later in the year (sometime around October/Nov)
  • 8.
    “Africa Research inSustainable Intensification for Next Generation”. www.africa-rising.net

Editor's Notes

  • #5 This was a prev. recommendation by the SAC
  • #6 Skype call week of 6 April TASKS: 1>To provide an overview of protocols, datasets and typologies used within the project. I have added a draft of a possible overview of that in the attachment. >2. To make a clear statement on how we see the use of these protocols, datasets and typologies. The basis of the typology protocol we developed for Humidtropics (see link in Word doc) is that a typology is very dependent on the purpose and hypothesis. So there will be a diversity of typologies, dependent on the purpose. For instance, for targeting crop/legume integration we would need a different typology than for describing the diversity in livestock and feed resources.
  • #7 West Africa group requested that the information/material on typologies should be shared with them