The Routesa programme, implemented from July 2011 to December 2014, aimed to enhance knowledge and capacity for poverty reduction among IFAD stakeholders in East and Southern Africa. Key achievements include the training of 872 local champions, the implementation of 18 learning routes across 14 countries, and the design of 240 innovation plans. The programme facilitated significant knowledge transfer, with a high percentage of participants implementing innovation plans and disseminating knowledge within their communities.

1. Regional Workshop on the “Learning Routes: a Knowledge Management and Capacity
Building Tool for Rural Development in East and Southern Africa (ROUTESA)” Programme
FOLLOWING THE INNOVATION PATH
Kampala, Kigali, Nairobi and Rome
3rd December 2014

2. Procasur Corporation &
Routesa Programme
PROCASUR is a global organization specialized in
harvesting and scaling up homegrown innovations in the
south since 1996, active in ESA, LAC and APR.
Knowledge
generation
Knowledge
translation
Knowledge
application
Result
ROUTESA Programme: July 2011 till June 2014 (extended till December 2014);
Open to all ESA Countries; USD 1.5 million
Main Goal: to increase knowledge and capacity for adopting and scaling up
best practices and innovations for poverty reduction among IFAD stakeholders
in the ESA region
PROCASUR applies
the following knowledge
model

3. Agenda
1. ROUTESA Programme: Main Outputs and Outcomes: July 2011 - June
2014 (extended till December 2014)
Component 1 – main outputs
Component 2 – main outputs
Component 3 – main outputs
2. ROUTESA Programme: Lessons learnt
Main results and achievement for Routesa
Open discussion and contributions from key actors and stakeholders on
future steps

4. ROUTESA Programme:
Main outputs and outcomes
Main outputs:
• 57 cases studies on best practices and innovations elaborated and used for LRs
• 872 local champions have been trained in knowledge building and sharing
• 18 learning routes within the ESA region + 5 with IFAD in other regions (MENA,
NEN); with over 320 participants from 14 countries, (45% women, 46% youth)
implemented
• 240 Innovation Plans designed and 29 IPs funded.
Main outcomes:
• An approximate number of 90 knowledge champions (from the body of around 900
local talents) are enabled to provide training services on knowledge management
and function as “ambassadors” of LR
• 70% of respondents of an ex-post monkey survey implemented an innovation plan
and are convinced of the usefulness of the Learning Route
• 93% of respondents of an ex-post monkey survey recommend the LR to others
• 8% of respondents of an ex-post monkey survey had an outreach of over 5000 HH
(scaling up potential)

5. ROUTESA Programme:
Local Knowledge and skills management
• CASE STUDIES ON BEST PRACTICES AND INNOVATIONS
Few example:
– Innovation Plans follow up
• In pursuit of ideas to develop Savings and Credit Cooperative
• Making Rangelands Secure
– Learning Route hosts
• Vegetable Oil Development Programme, Uganda
• Keekonyokie Community Slaughterhouse and the Siana and
Kilitome Market Access Committee, Kenya
• Cooperative Bukonzo Joint, Uganda
Component 1

6. ROUTESA Programme:
Local Knowledge and skills management
• KNOWLEDGE CHAMPIONS
‘local talents’ who represent the
potential to become ‘knowledge
champions’ after mentoring by
ROUTESA
• SCOPING PAPERS
3 Scoping papers developed and
soon to be published on:
i) community–based strategies for
natural resource management
and conservation
ii) value chains, market access and
linkages, including the use and
adoption of appropriate
technologies
iii) microfinance and the use of
information and communication
technologies
Component 1

7. ROUTESA Programme:
Capacity building and incentives for local innovations
• LEARNING ROUTES
18 LRs in ESA + 5 other regions
Rwanda
38%
Uganda
21%
Kenya
17%
Madagascar
9%
Ethiopia
8%
Tanzania
7%
Country participation
Project Staff
51%Decision Maker
33%
Community
Leader
13%
Researcher
3%
Participants Position
Component 2

8. ROUTESA Programme:
Capacity building and incentives for local innovations
• INNOVATION PLANS
240 designed, 29 funded
Component 2

9. ROUTESA Programme:
Capacity building and incentives for local innovations
• METHODOLOGICAL TRANSFER: Projects experimenting with the Learning Routes
methodology
 The experience in Uganda
Component 2

10. ROUTESA Programme:
Capacity building and incentives for local innovations
• METHODOLOGICAL TRANSFER: Projects experimenting with the Learning Routes
methodology
Component 2
 The experience in Rwanda

11. ROUTESA Programme:
Development and dissemination of innovations
• VIDEOS produced under the framework of the Routesa Programme:
Component 3
An example from the Learning Route: "Innovative ideas on
securing resource and land rights through inclusive business
models. The case of Uganda”
19th – 26th August, 2013 (Uganda)

12. ROUTESA Programme:
Development and dissemination of innovations
• E-ROSTER ON LOCAL CHAMPIONS
Component 3Screenshot from the PROCASUR Africa website:
http://africa.procasur.org/en/our-work/rural-talents

13. ROUTESA Programme:
Development and dissemination of innovations
• ONLINE COMPENDIUM OF BEST PRACTICES
Component 3Screenshot from the PROCASUR Africa website:
http://africa.procasur.org/en/get-involved/best-practices-compendium

14. ROUTESA Programme:
Lessons Learnt
• 75% of the LR participants carried out dissemination activities to their
community based organizations (CBOs) after their return, which indicates a
high level of knowledge transfer to the member of these organizations
which did not participate in the LR.
• 70% of the LR participants developed Innovation Plans (IPs) and applied
knowledge gained
• 75% of the LR participants acknowledged that changes had occurred in the
organization or institutions as a result of the LR (better definition of
objectives and strategies, improved internal organizations, changes in the
management of services of their organizations)

15. ROUTESA Programme:
Lessons Learnt
Contribution to the positive performance of the IFAD/ESA portfolio
• SSC: increased interaction between ESA countries and within country portfolios
for the scaling up of best practices and innovations (SACCOs LR, Scaling Up of
the CLAR/Intekoy’Imihigo in Rwanda, Uganda ICO, GALS)
• KM: Appropriation of the LR Methodology, capitalization of IFAD best practices
and access to innovations
• Partnership: Linkages with programs, networks and organizations (AFRACA,
FAO, CARE, OXFAM Novib, ILC, ILRI/CGIAR, SPIU-PAPSTA-KWAMP, synergies
IFAD-PTA)
• Targeting: Improved inclusion of women and youth in agricultural and rural
development.

16. Time for discussion
WHAT ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE?
Please contribute with your stories and testimonies
Thanks a lot!
For further details, please visit our website and dedicated page on the impact of the
learning routes:
http://africa.procasur.org
http://africa.procasur.org/en/our-work/innovations-for-rural-development