This document provides an overview of a blended course on facilitating agricultural innovation platforms. The course consists of 14 online modules covering topics such as complex agricultural problems, innovation systems approaches, platform composition and coordination, and tools for analysis, planning, monitoring and evaluation. It also includes a 3-day workshop providing opportunities to apply the knowledge through role plays and exercises based on real scenarios. The blended approach allows facilitators to learn at their own pace online, while the workshop provides hands-on experience. The goal is to improve skills for implementing innovation platforms and agricultural innovation systems.

1. Blended course on Understanding, Facilitating and
Monitoring Agricultural Innovation Platforms
Iddo Dror, Deborah Wyburn, Marc Schut, Murat Sartas, Lisa Hiwasaki, and Fatunbi Oluwole
Pictures
For more information contact: Dr. Iddo Dror, Head of Capacity Development, ILRI
i.dror@cgiar.org ● Box 30709 Nairobi Kenya ● +254 20 422 3030
Nairobi, Kenya ● ilri.org
This project was funded by the Humidtropics CRP
This document is licensed for use under a Creative Commons Attribution –Non
commercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License January 2016
June 2012
Builds on Humidtropics Innovation Platforms Practice
Briefs series and work of partners
In 2013, the Humidtropics research program published a series of 14 practice briefs to help guide
the design and implementation of innovation platforms. Development of the briefs was led by the
International Livestock Research Institute. The briefs can be found on cgspace at
https://cgspace.cgiar.org/
ILRI subsequently worked with partners from IITA and Wageningen University to conduct Innovation
Platform training workshops in Kenya and the Mekong. This blended learning program draws on the
practice briefs, the workshop experience and materials from partners including ICRAF and FARA. It
comprises an online component of 14 modules and a 3-day workshop.
Complex Agricultural Problems
and the Need for an Innovative
Approach to their Solution
From Technology Transfer (TT) to
Agricultural Innovation Systems
(AIS).
Innovation Platforms – an
Overview
The final component of the course is a face-to-face workshop which provides learners with
opportunities to apply their newly acquired knowledge to the challenges of their own platform or
that of their peers. The workshop features role plays and collaborative group work based on actual
scenarios. Learners have the opportunity to master software which they can use to practice new
skills.
Final workshop provides opportunity to apply knowledge
to practice
Composition and Initiation of the
Platform
Coordination and Facilitation of
the Platform
Tools for Analysis and Planning –
RAAIS
Tools for Analysis and Planning –
EXTRAPOLATE
Communications
Resources, Incentives and
Timeframe
Implications of Complex
Agricultural Problems for M&E
Theories of Change and Impact
Pathways
Tools for reflexive and
participatory monitoring and
evaluation.
Power and Conflict in the Platform
Online component allows facilitators to build knowledge at
a time convenient to them
The program responds to the needs of practicing facilitators of innovation platforms for
professional development. It accommodates the diverse backgrounds of facilitators providing
flexibility in course structure. It recognizes the difficulties they face in taking time away from their
field work to attend workshops. It provides support for facilitators working in languages other then
English. The eLearning component of the course will be made available both on ILRI’s online LMS at
http://learning.ilri.org and on an offline USB player with the capacity to sync learner data with the
LMS.
Blended Learning Course improves skills for implementing
innovation platforms
The course provides practitioners of innovation platforms and AIS stakeholders opportunities to
better understand complexity of agricultural innovation systems, provides them practical experience
with facilitation, monitoring and evaluation tools that improve the quality of collaboration,
reflection and learning in the platforms. Participants of the blended learning course will learn how
to conduct network analysis for analyzing stakeholders, draft theory of changes in a group with mind
mapping tools, and utilize other tools that are presented in the small boxes in this poster.”