Presented by Yihenew Zewdie, Consultant for Scientific and Technical Partnerships in Africa, Environment and Production Technology Division (EPTD), IFPRI.

1. Workstream 3: Technology Assessments and Platforms to
Build the Business Case for African Agriculture
Yihenew Zewdie
Consultant for Scientific and Technical Partnerships in Africa,
Environment and Production Technology Division (EPTD), IFPRI

2. 1. Workstream 3 - Scope of Work of the Institutional
Assessment Component in Perspective
Workstream 3: Two key deliverables
(1.1) A suite of 10 case studies/technology assessments that synthesise key
aspects of technology generation, demand responsiveness, anticipated impact,
and assessment of ‘investor-readiness’.
 Technology assessments help identify the range of actions that are
possible for technologies to have impact at scale and to better understand
the partnerships/actions required.
 The first round work focused on the following:
African Chicken Genetic Gains in Ethiopia (partnering with ILRI).
African Swine fever Diagnostics (partnering with ILRI, AU/IBAR).
New Banana Variety (partnering with Roots, Tubers and Bananas CRP and IITA).
Aflatoxin Control Measures (partnering with BeCA, AU and PACA).
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Drought Tolerant Maize (partnering with CIMMYT and AATF) – in progress.

3. (1.1) Case studies (cont’d)
Thematic focus area of the next round technology assessment work
(under discussion & development):
The PPR vaccine on the virus disease for small ruminants (partnering with
CCARDESA and ILRI)
New bean technologies under development (partnering with CIAT’s PABRA
network and ASARECA)
Orange fleshed sweet potatoes (partnering with CIP, RTB and HarvestPlus)
Decision support tools using high-resolution soil and weather information
services and predictive analytics (partnering with CCAFS, ICRAF and IFPRI)
New and promising rice work (second generation of NERICA) particularly in
West Africa (partnering with CORAF and Africa Rice)

4. (1.2) A scoping study of S&T implementation platforms in
Africa (including current S&T platforms and emerging
institutional arrangements).
Objective: Explore partnership opportunities between CGIAR and AR4D
stakeholders taking note of the emerging institutional architecture for
the delivery of science to Agriculture in Africa.
Focus Areas of the Scoping Study:
i. Technical Networks in support of the CAADP agenda.
ii. The S4AC
iii. Big Data and ICT Coordination Platform for CGIAR
iv. Shared (intra- and inter-regional) research and scientific platforms.
v. The Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT).

5. 2. Issues for Deliberation
• Technical Networks:
• CGIAR’s possible support to mentoring processes envisaged by the AU
to support the process, ensure sustainable institutional development.
• S4AC:
• Is there a need for a clearing house for agricultural technologies in
Africa?
• What role would an African Agricultural Technology Platform (AATP)
play as envisaged under the CAADP-CGIAR alignment strategy?
• Could the S4AC structure evolve into an effective clearing house for
agricultural technologies in Africa with focus on national partners?
• Building on what exists, what options/alternative are there for
developing an AATP-type platform?

6. 2. Issues for Deliberation (cont’d)
• Big Data and ICT Coordination Platform (2017 – 2022;
final stages):
• Big Data - Harmonised, interoperable, and contextually
integrated datasets and publications from multiple
disciplines.
• Aims to enhance CGIAR and partner capacities to deliver
big data management, analytics and ICT-focused solutions
to CGIAR target geographies and communities.
• Opportunities for collaboration with African AR4D stakeholders
– Example capacity building on Big Data management and
analytical tools
• Nurturing demand for utilisation of Big Data-driven agricultural
research at the country level.

7. 2. Issues for Deliberation (cont’d)
• Shared facilities: What practical and replicable experiences can
be learnt from the operations of institutions such as BeCA?
• What role could the CGIAR play in terms of replicating BeCA-
type structures in Africa?
• TAAT:
• What role would TAAT play in terms of shaping the A4RD
agenda in Africa?
• Could it be considered as the new programming framework
for implementing STI in agriculture in Africa?

8. Thank you!