k-hub concept note - june 20 master document2

8/12/2019 K-HUB Concept Note - June 20 Master Document2

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ASARECA KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION HUB

CONCEPT NOTE: ZERO DFAFT

1. BACKGROUNDTOMASARECA is establishing a Knowledge and Information Hub (KI-hub) in order to increase the

competitiveness of the agricultural sector in the East and Central Africa (ECA) through

influencing the uptake and up scaling of agricultural technologies, innovations and

management practices (TIMPs); policy and information among stakeholders. ASARECA sees

improved delivery and impact of scientific knowledge, policy options and technologies as a

powerful instrument to drive the sub-region towards meeting the targets of the

Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme [CAADP], the agricultural

agenda of the African Union's, New Economic Partnership for African Development [NEPAD]

The ECA sub-region is a huge and ready market for information300 million people with a

lot of valuable knowledge sittingin peoples minds (tacit knowledge) and organizationsscattered all over the sub-region. This knowledge needs to be organized and made

accessible using a number of various ICT tools, platforms, and methodologies. This will be

achieved, inter alia, by sharing information and knowledge including the use of innovative

channels of dissemination, partnership models for dissemination, commercialisation,

dissemination packages for different locations and tracking dissemination pathways for

assessing adoption. Productivity will be increased by enhancing learning through provision

of increased access to services for enhancing skills and knowledge. These roles define the

proposed knowledge hub function.


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institutions, relevant government institutions, private sector, NGOs, the CGIAR, RECs and

the media amongst others.

ASARECA already plays a coordinating and convening role that brings together partners to

create and share knowledge, and as such the establishment of the knowledge hub would

facilitate this.

Internally, the KI-hub will deliver improved communication mechanisms, storage systems

and strategies that will ensure the widest possible scale of information and knowledge

sharing.

Definition of Knowledge Hub (KEN)

American Heritage Dictionary defines a hub as a centre of activity or interest or a focal

point. Borrowing from that, Association of Progressive Communications (APC, 2006),

described a knowledge hub, as a centre or focal point for the exchange of knowledge,

support, development and ideas. More precise definition was given by Evers (2008), whodefines K-hub as local innovation systems that are nodes in networks of knowledge

production and knowledge sharing.

In view of ASARECA the KI-hub is a centre for the generation (production, processing,

storage) and exchange (retrieval and dissemination) of knowledge, networking and

development of new ideas.

2. PROBLEM STATEMENT - KEN


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Access to appropriate information and knowledge is an overriding factor for successful

agricultural production and thus rural development. Agriculture provides the economic

foundation of any society early development pathway, which is fundamentally the case for

many African societies. The future of transforming livelihoods in Africa lies in the hands of

improved agriculture. However, African agriculture is faces with promises and threats, thus

knowledge and information on the two can prepare farmers to cope and adapt to the

situation. Equipping farmers with agricultural knowledge and information will help them

transform into commercial farming thus making agriculture more attractive to other social

groups especially youths who seem to have abandon it due to its current unattractive state.

3. RATIONALEJACKYWhy KI-hub?

Under OP2 ASARECA will work to transform agriculture into a viable market-oriented

venture. The goal of transformation is to move as many farmers from subsistence and semi-commercial clusters to commercial levels. This level of commercialization will be possible if

agricultural value chain actors are able to learn from, adapt and innovate from existing

TIMPs, policies and standards in ECA. ASARECA and her partners1, have over the years

generated (and continue to generate) a number of TIMPs and policy options, and standards,

which, in totality, have the potential to provide options for various players in the different

agricultural value chains to increase the value/benefits/profits from the VCs.

Unfortunately, knowledge about these TIMPs, polices and standards is available in peoples

minds (tacit knowledge) and in organizations scattered all over the ECA sub-region. The

challenge of people and organizations within agricultural systems (NARS, CGIAR, UN Bodies,


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ASARECA already plays a convening role that brings together several multi-institutional,

multi-disciplinary partners in the sub-region to develop TIMPs and policies, thus creating

and sharing knowledge. In addition, the member countries own ASARECA. This makes it

easier to engage them and access their multiple stakeholders and their knowledge and

information. ASARECA is already playing a bridging role between NARS and CGIAR and is

therefore well positioned to integrate the different partners, their knowledge and

information systems.

4. BROAD OBJECTIVE. The ASARECA Knowledge and Information Hub will fulfill threemajor functions:

(i) a learning & Innovation center for agricultural research for development(AR4D);

(ii) (ii) AR4D Think Tank;(iii) (iii) Platforms for information exchange;

5. CONCEPTUAL MODELCOPY & PASTE


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6. OUTCOMES - ENOCK& LYDIAThe purpose of the KI-Hub is to enhance access to and utilization of agricultural knowledge andinformation within and beyond the ECA sub-region. This will be manifested through tracking of

(i) the number of stakeholders benefiting from the activities of the hub in terms of access to

information and knowledge, as well as networking and learning; (ii) level of efficiency of

knowledge accessibility and transfers; and (iii) level of stakeholder satisfaction with the hub,

including its functionality and service provision.

7. Impact pathway/ chain -

ENOCK & LYDIAAs the preferred source of agricultural related knowledge, the KI-hub will facilitate effective

gender responsive demand articulation, feedback, information sharing, learning and adaptation

in AR4D thereby influence uptake and up-scaling of (TIMPs, policy, information) among

stakeholders and in turn contribute to the agricultural transformation in ECA. The impact

pathway for the KI-hub shows the key activities that shall be implemented, as well as the

expected outputs and outcomes that are anticipated to contribute to the realization of the

overall goal of ensuring agricultural transformation in ECA (see figure).

Key Outputs

(i) Output 1: Learning & Innovation center for gender responsive agricultural researchand development (AR&D) established and operationalized

Proposed Activities

a. Establishment of innovation platforms and communities of practice for promotionof TIMPS

b. Conduct process monitoring & evaluation for generation success stories, casestudies, and lessons

c Facilitate reflection adaption and innovation


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data, e-repositories, collaboration tools; Physical libraries; Conferences, meetings,

workshops, seminars, mass media.

b. Establish gender responsive mechanisms that support effective feedback anddemand articulation.

8. Stakeholders in the pathway

NARIS Farmer organizations Farmers, fisher folks and pastoralists Private sector Extension/advisory providers NGOs CG centers, advanced research centers Policy makers RECS, SROs, FARA, NEPAD Development partners


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Figure 1: Impact Pathway

9. IMPLEMENTATION MODALITIESBrainstorming as a group10.RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS- indicative

Human Infrastructure Budget

Increased e

growth and

livelihoods

while enha

quality

environ

Equitable access & utilization of

agricultural knowledge & information

within and beyond ECA sub-region

Increased stakeholders benefiting fromthe activities of the hub in terms of

access to information and knowledge, aswell as networking and learningEnhanced efficiency of knowledge

accessibility and transfersIncreased stakeholder satisfaction withthe hub, including its functionality and

service provision.

Learning & Innovation center for gender responsive

agricultural research and development (AR&D)

established and operationalized

AR&D Think Tank established and operational

Platforms for information exchange established and

institutionalized

PARTNERS ALONG THE IMPACT PATHWAYNARIS, Farmer organizations, Farmers, fisher folks and pastoralists, Private sector, Extension/advisory

providers, NGOs, CG centers, advanced research centers, Policymakers, RECS, SROs, FARA, NEPAD,

Development partners

Establishment of innovation platforms and communities of practice

for promotion of TIMPS

Conduct process monitoring & evaluation for generation successstories, case studies, and lessons

Facilitate reflection, adaption and innovation

ACTIVITIES OUTPUTSOUTCOMES

OVERALL

IMP

Establish robust gender responsive platforms for information

exchange which include e-platforms: Databases, data warehouses,

mobile platforms, geospatial data, e-repositories, collaborationtools; Physical libraries; Conferences, meetings, workshops,

seminars, mass media.

Establish gender responsive mechanisms that support effective

feedback and demand articulation.

Collection, analysis, synthesis and production of data and

information that supports discourse and advocacy for agricultureand related trade policy issuesOrganize events to influence agricultural related strategies and

policies at national, regional and global level working incollaboration with the regional economic communities (EAC,COMESA

k-hub concept note - june 20 master document2

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