Agri-ProFocus Kenya

Action learning on Agri-business development

Kick-Start meeting

Nairobi, 18-20 May 2010

Action learning on agri-business development

DAY 1: Case documentation

Objectives: 1.Peer review of write-ups of finished cases as a step towards publication.2.Identification from the case write-ups of good practices, questions and shared capacity needs for better supporting agri-business development.

When What

09.00 Welcome, David Maina, SNV

09.15 Objectives and program, Roel Snelder, Agri-ProFocus

09.30 Action learning set-up, Peter Gildemacher, KIT

10.00 Prepare brief case presentations (pitch for video)

10.30 Case presentations

11.00 Break

11.30 Case presentations continued

12:00 Business Minds initiative and linkages with APF Kenya, Peter Gildemacher, KIT

12.30 Peer review case write-ups in groups of 4; individual reading

13:00 Lunch

14.00 Peer review case write-ups in groups of 4; feedback to authors

15.00 Cross-case analysis in groups of 8; Identify:1. good practices on facilitating agri-business development learned from cases2. action learning questions (finance and policies, role support organizations, role POs)3. capacity gaps

16.00 Break

16:30 Wrap-up day 1

17:00 - dinner

Improving case write-ups using comments

Action learning on agri-business development

DAY 2: Identifying on-going action learning cases

Objectives: 1.Identification of needs of different on-going cases of agri-

business development through stakeholder coalitions, and matching this with support available through APF Kenya.

2.Documentation of individual capacity needs for improved support to agri-business development.

3.Formulate action learning questions and discuss how they can be addressed by learning form the on-going work.

DAY 3: Planning action learning programme

Objectives: 1.Design action plan for action learning case

2.Design and endorse the programme of the action learning component of APF Kenya.

Action learning on agri-business development: Set-Up

Approach

• Documenting and sharing experiences and methods of different organizations through finished cases

• Learn by doing in on-going cases of agri-business development through stakeholder coalitions

• Regular and structured exchange between case facilitators to stimulate peer-to-peer learning and documentation

Action learning on agri-business development: Set-Up

Activities finished cases

1. Identification of cases by participating organizations

2. Draft case descriptions following the sample case

3. Workshop sharing cases and identifying good practices, learning questions and capacity gaps

4. Apply good practices and answer learning questions in on-going cases

Action learning on agri-business development: Set-Up

On-Going Cases: Action Learning

Learning CaseExecuting coalition

Farmers

NGO

Knowledge institute

Agri-business

Learning Case

Learning Case

Learning CaseLearning

Case

Learning CaseFinancial services

Tailor made capacity building

Business development services

Strengthening producer organizations

Agri-business development

capacity

Evidence based policy

makingKnowledge

development

POGender issues

Action learning on agri-business development: Set-Up

Expectations from participating organizations

1. Document finished cases to highlight methods / experiences

2. Identify on-going or starting cases

3. Make participation in cross-case learning part of regular package of activities

4. Support events for cross-case learning (participation and resources)

5. Willingness to share methods and absorb good practices

6. Provide tailored support to all cases, rather than only ‘own’ cases

Action learning on agri-business development: Set-Up

Results (2 year time-frame)

1. 10-15 finished cases of agri-business development documented

2. Shared ownership and sense of responsibility for on-going cases

3. Complete case dossiers on agri-business development process after 24 months

4. Improved individual, organizational and institutional capacity to facilitate agri-business development

5. Spin-off activities from the cases, showing stronger collaboration and synergy between members

6. Contribute to a joint publication on good practices for promoting agri-business development (APF country focus)

7. Jointly coordinated programme for agri-business development in Kenya, based on good practices learned ??

Case presentation: Video Pitch

• You meet a good friend and old colleague while waiting for a bus.

• You want to share with him the exciting work you were involved in and are proud of (your case)

• You have 2 minutes

Case presentation: Video Pitch

Remember:

1. Choose surprising element

2. Don’t tell all

3. Slow and clear

4. Enthusiasm and authority

Structure:

1. What, where, who

2. Process and results

3. Conclusions: lessons

Prepare bullet points for your pitch on a flip-chart (cheat)

Case write-ups

1. Make groups of 4, with 2 case owners in it

2. Read through the cases (30 min), answer the following questions and give suggestions for improvement:

A. Does the story follow the suggested subjects; if not does it matter?

B. Does the story contain a critical reflection resulting in lessons learned?

C. Write down your observations on the question form!

3. Provide feedback to the author (1 hour)

A. Only add to comments of those before you, do not repeat

B. Give your written form to the author

C. The authors summarizes feedback on a flipchart and tapes it to the wall

Cross-case analysis

1. Make groups of 8

2. Identify:

– Good practices in facilitating agri-business development learned from cases

– Action learning questions (finance and policies, role support organizations, role POs)

– Capacity gaps for effective facilitation of agri-business development

3. Prepare a flip-over to present back to the plenary

Cross-case analysis

1. Presentations of cross-case analysis to the plenary

2. Synthesis

3. Plenary discussion

Evaluation

1. What did you appreciate yesterday

2. What can be done better?

3. What are your hopes for the next 2 days?

Presentation on-going cases

1. Brief preparation of learning case presentation on flip-over (30 minutes)

A. Commodity / sub-sector / value chain

B. Objective on-going case

C. Actors + roles in the process

D. Role own organization

E. Individual role

F. Activities coming 2 years

G. How can your case contribute to answering jointly identified questions?

H. What needs do you have for services from other organizations to increase the chance of success?

2. 1-minute on-going case presentations

Action learning planning

Service Supply Dating

Observations Day 2

1. Observations participants

2. Observations on learning case descriptions

A. Not always clear which questions the learning case will respond to

B. Needs often not articulated clearly enough

C. Needs identified: financial services, market opportunities, risk and investment assessment.

D. Different types of cases

a) Agri-business development, value chain development

b) Development of Agri-business service

c) Agri-business development programs

E. People eager to date with others

Program Day 3

DAY 3: Planning action learning programme Objectives:

1. Design and endorse the programme of the action learning component of APF Kenya.

When What 09.00 Observations day 2 09.15 Documenting dating results 09.30 Individual learning plan in pairs 10.30 Break 11.00 Case diary proposal and peer assistance 12.00 Collective learning plan 13.00 Lunch 14.00 Responsibilities APF Kenya members 15.00 1 year APF Kenya 15.00 Coffee 15.30 Any Other Business

Video Photos Electronic learning case description Write-up best practices Publish cases Additional APF Kenya team members

16.00 End

Dating results

Individual learning plan (in pairs)

Look at your contribution to answering the 7 questions

A. Select a maximum 2 questions

B. Describe those activities in your case in which you will try-out things to help answer these questions

C. Indicate what you will have done specifically yourself after 6, 12 and 18 months to answer the selected questions and report to the APF team

(i.e. read about a new method; visited a similar initiative; reported on a specific meeting; etc.)

D. Peer review by your neighbor:

a. Activities focused on the questions selected

b. Activities allow for answering the selected question

c. 6, 12 and 18 months milestones clear, individually attainable

d. Activities and milestones permit reporting back to the APF Kenya team

E. Discuss improvements

Individual learning plan (in pairs)

Follow-up

A. Fill in the electronic format

B. Solicit feedback of your learning case collaborators

C. Send updated electronic version (by….)

D. Buddy

E. Learning case diary

Continuous learning

1. Report every 6 months

2. Ongoing reflection through online diary

3. Peer assist

Ongoing Reflection and Peer Assist

1. Report every 6 months

- What have you done

- Asses your milestones

- take lessons from it

Ongoing Reflection and Peer Assist

2. Ongoing reflection through online diary

- We will sent an SMS alert

- Take a moment to reflect

- Make an entry in your online diary (what did you do, did you get stuck, how did you solve it ...)

http://apf-kenya.ning.com/

Ongoing Reflection and Peer Assist

3. Peer assist

- Choose your buddy

- Pick up the phone, give feedback on diary entries

- Take a look in each others’ kitchen

Joint learning plan

A. Meet roughly each 6 months

B. Reporting / sharing on the selected questions based on case experiences

C. Collective training and practice on selected subjects:

A. Participatory system analysis

B. Investment assessment, feasibility study, business plan development

C. Improving understanding between financial services and agri-business facilitators

D. Write workshop to document APF Kenya experiences by end 2011

E. Special events

Timeline

Activity A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N DKick-of workshop action learningExchange meeting; topic: participatory system analysisExchange meeting; economic feasibility and business plansExchange meeting; topic: communication fin. serv.- agri-bus fac'trsExchange meeting; write workshop documenting lessons

20112010 2012

Agri-ProFocus Kenya

APF-Kenya: Vision 2015

Indications of Success: A vibrant locally owned platform Actively exchanging, learning and innovating; Coordinating and harmonising key farmer

entrepreneurship areas; Joint action for more and better support to

organised farmers.

Operating Principles: Working from & within existing efforts Combining networks Core-business: no new funding Shared commitment and agreement

Special Responsibilities

• Country coordinator - SNV

• KIT – overall learning facilitator

• APF bureau – overall process support

• Financial services team facilitator - Oikocredit

• Policy dialogue team facilitator - KENFAP

Remarks

• sub-sector team facilitators

• Budget

Your views on APF-Kenya

• What has surprised you most about APF-Kenya in the previous year?

• How did participating in APF-Kenya help your organisation?

• What should APF-Kenya look like in 2012?

Any Other Business

• Video & Photos

• Electronic learning case description

• Write-up best practices

• Publish cases

• Additional APF Kenya team members