The Concept of Innovation Platform for ARD :

Experience from the SSA CP

A Presentation at the CRP 1.1 Regional Inception Workshop for North Africa and West Asia

2nd -4th July 2012

‘Wole FatunbiProgram officer: Sub Saharan African Challenge Program (SSA

CP)

Outline

Purpose

To explain the Innovation Platform and its partnership arrangement that yields the

desired Innovation

African ARD has had numerous successes

However, the impact of the technologies did not match their potentials

• Institutional setting of the research system can not support scaling up of the technologies.

• Approaches to R&D is not all encompassing.

• Inadequate human and financial resources

Technologies being hindered by institutional barriers

A (+)

B (-)

Alter the landscape for changes to take place

Differences in the system

Reflecting of Evolution of ARD systems scenarios

ARD System Scenario Partners engagement Market considera

tion

Value chain

consideration

Research demanded

by Users Research Extension Farmer Policy Private End

user

Traditional linear model for research and extension

yes No No No No No No No No

Farming systems perspective (OFR/FSP

Yes No Yes No No No No No No

Participation/participatory research methods

Yes Yes Yes No No No No No Yes

Action research Yes Yes Yes No No No No No No Rural livelihoods Agri-food systems/value chain

Yes No Yes No No No yes yes No

Positive deviance yes No yes No No No No No No Knowledge development, dissemination and use

Yes No yes No No No Yes No No

Doubly green revolution Yes No Yes No No No No No No Rainbow revolution Yes yes Yes Yes No No yes No No IAR4D Yes yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

About IAR4D ?

IAR4D is designed to overcome the shortcomings of the traditional R&D

systems. .

IAR4D concept entails a multi-sectorial, multistakeholders

orientation to agricultural problem diagnosis, and draws on integrated approaches using ‘hard’

and ‘soft’ sciences to provide solutions, while maximizing the available

resourcesIAR4D is premised on the innovation systems approach and requires systemic

interaction among all stakeholders around specific commodity or

production system.

What is an Innovation Platform ?

An Innovation Platform is a physical or virtual forum established to facilitate

interactions, and learning among stakeholders selected from a

commodity chain analysis

Their interaction leads to participatory diagnosis of problems; joint exploration of opportunities and investigation of solutions

leading to the generation of agricultural innovation along the targeted commodity

chain

Transpoters

Private Sector

Farmers

Extension

Policy

Innovation Systems

End users

Research

IAR4D - Participation and Gainful Interaction

Infrastructural Innovation

TechnologicalInnovation

InstitutionalInnovation

Output categories from the Research Action

Innovation Platform

• Research Themes

Productivity

Market

Policy

Product Development

Natural Resource

management

Nutrition

• Gender

Socio-economic Benefits

Peculiarities of IAR4D Concept

A. IAR4D simultaneously addresses research and development as a fused continuum for generation of innovation.

B. All stakeholders in an IP have a contribution and benefits which sustain their interest and continued participation

C. Innovation generated using IAR4D will benefit all stakeholders on the platform.

D. IAR4D engages the policy makers at different levels all along the process of R&D till innovation is generated.

E. IAR4D ensures a smooth public-private partnership in ARD.

How to set up an

Innovation Platform

and

Its Relevance to

CRP 1.1 in NA&WA http://www.fara-africa.org/media/uploads/library/docs/

ssacp/How_to_set_up_an_innovation_platform.pdf

The IP establishment Process in SSA CP

Site Selection:

Identification of opportunities, challenges in agricultural productivity

Selecting Commodities / Production Systems:

Commodity analysis – opportunities and constraints

The IP

Selecting Partners:

Value chain analysis for the commodity Stakeholder analysis using multiplicity of

frameworks

From production to consumption-

farmers (groups) , inputs (seeds, fertilizer, agro-chemicals, finance and insurance) and including Policy and agro- meteorologists.

The IP

Mobilizing the members:

• Start from the end- what market?

• Who produces- how many farmers and hectares

• How many extension officers can serve them adequately?

• What quantity of seeds required and who provides these?

• What quantity of fertilizer and other agrochemicals and who provides these ?

The IP

Mobilizing the members contd: How much money is required and which bank

provides this? What other services are required- processing, bulking,

transportation? Policy makers are invited Meteorology also invited

Stakeholder analysis for determination of capacity strengthening needs to meet market demandWhat is needed; who provides, it and what methodology

Farmers’ training largely provided by the Extension and geared towards production to meet market demand

Managing Partnerships on an IP

1. Develop management and governance guidelines

2. Facilitation of interaction of stakeholders.

3. Development of business plan

4. Implementation of business plans

5. Establishment of PM&E measures to draw lessons

6. Review of implementation and lesson learning including review of business plan in response to lessons and re-assessment of priorities.

Product Development & Market InnovationSuccess story…. Uganda

Mamera

Product of indigenous knowledge strengthened with modern science and contributions from the University of Makerere

willing entrepreneurs Producers looking for

market Input dealers looking

for market Cooperation of Policy

makers and extension Stanbic Bank Win-Win Partnerships

Mamera now in the supermarket

• Through Mamera drink, 5000 farmers increased their income by an average of 80% in Uganda

• Kasiksi drink developed at the University of Goma in DRC increased the income of 2500 banana farmers by an average of 200% in DRC

Potato packaging in Rwanda Introduction of new

packaging of potatoes doubled the income of 2000 farmers from USD 0.2/kg to USD 0.4/kg per farmer, with each farmer making an additional average profit of USD 1,600 per season from potato production.

Implication of CRP 1.1 Methods in NA&WA

1. The need to train and create space for IP facilitation in program implementation.

2. Change of mindset to work with other stakeholders in a business mode.

3. Advance research endeavor beyond the point of knowledge and technology generation to the point where innovation is generated.

4. Need to work with system perspective, and allow a blend of different forms of interventions.

Conclusion

• IAR4D provides a holistic approach to solving the problems of agricultural research in Africa.

• IAR4D concept is implemented through the innovation platform.

• Innovations are generated at the interface of the interaction of all stakeholders along the commodity value chain on the IP.

• The adoption of IAR4D concept is fast spreading among ARD stakeholders and countries in Africa.

Relevant SSA CP reports

http://fara-africa.org/media/uploads/library/doc

s/ssacp/unlocking_the_potentials_for_partner

ships_youdowei.pdf

http://www.fara-africa.org/media/uploads/library/

docs/ssacp/

How_to_set_up_an_innovation_platform.pdf

Supportive Journal Articles

Adekunle A.A and Fatunbi A.O (2012). Approaches for Setting-up Multi-Stakeholder Platforms for Agricultural Research and Development. World Applied Sciences Journal 16 (7): 981-988, 20.

Kefasi Nyikahadzoi, Fatunbi A.O, Olarinde L.O, Njuki J and Adekunle A.A (2011). Stakeholder Participation in Innovation Platform and Implications for Integrated Agricultural Research for Development (IAR4D). International Journal of Agriculture and Forestry Vol 1(1): 1-9

 Nyikahadzoi Kefasi, Fatunbi Oluwole, Adekunle Adewale and Odularu Gbadebo (2011). Promoting effective multi-stakeholder partnership for policy development for smallholder farming systems: A case from the Sub Saharan Africa challenge program. African Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. 6(15), pp. 3451-3455,

Thank you

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