Innovation systems and innovation platforms

Africa RISING Training Workshop on Innovation Platforms

Addis Ababa, 23-24 January 2014

Jim Ellis-Jones

Innovation Platforms

What is innovation? What is an IP? Different types of IP IP roles IP members IP leadership IP accountability What are the challenges in IP

establishment and sustainability? Some examples

What is innovation?

Innovation is a process of ensuring that a new product, technology or management practice is put into use…………

..and leads to economic and social benefit Improved food and nutritional security,

reduced poverty and income generation “A means of turning knowledge into

money”

IPs provide a forum to get players to interact and play their role in

R&D

An innovation systems approach

4

Knowledge generation

Demand / PullFarmer capacity

to source and use knowledge

Putting knowledge into use

Information market

Supply / Push

Stakeholders

Institutional diagram

National /Regional

Woreda

Kebele

B o Agriculture

University

CIP/ILRI/IMWI/ICRAF

Mo E

Mo WA

Research CentreFarmer Assoc

Women group

Seed Assoc

Youth Assoc

Fertiliser agent Market

Clinic

Coop Office

Forestry

Mo Health

Seed Company

DEC

Self help groups

Agric, Educ, Health

NGO

Community radio

Church

School

World Vision

CARITAS

Farm AfricaCoopAgric

Agro-dealer

Police

Water Ass

What is an IP?

Stakeholder forum to facilitate interaction and learning

Often selected from a commodity value-chain or a system to undertake Diagnosis of problems/challenges Exploration of opportunities Investigation & learning from alternative

solutions …..promotion of innovation

IPs can operate at two or more levels Strategic and Operational

Types of IP

Strategic level National, Regional, Zonal, or Woreda levels Senior staff / “champions” - enthusiastic

individuals of stakeholder organisations Operational level

Kebele/village level Membership - same stakeholders as

Strategic lPs

Effective IPs have cohesion, unite stakeholders and meet the interests of all participants

Woreda IP

Kebele

Region Office Woreda

Woreda IP

Kebele IP

Kebele

Kebele IP

Strategic IPs Operational IPs

Farmer groups

Women groups

Kebele Coop

Youth groups 1:5 initiative

Research themes

Crops (seeds, storage, marketing)Livestock (health, feed)High value productsNRM

Zones

Traditional groups

Innovation clusters

Farmer-to-farmer uptake pathways

IP roles

Identify challenges and opportunities Encourage interaction between public and

private sectors, NGOs and CBOs Co-ordination of R&D activities Strategic entry point of for all agreed

interventions Regular meetings, typically 4-5 times per

year Community engagement, Planning,

Implementing, Assessing (field days), Reviewing (PREA cycle)

Role of kebele IP and farmer organisations

Adopting the programme of testing / demonstrations into local activities

Appointing a person (model/lead/research/host farmer) responsible for farmer trials/ demos

Encouraging participation by other farmers in trying new practices

Arranging field days to assess new practices

Evaluate at mid and end-of-season Planning for the new season

Typical operational IP Members

Farmer representatives from key CBOs Traditional and religious leaders Woreda representative(s) Kebele DAs (crops, livestock, NRM) NGO representatives Researchers Input suppliers, traders and processors Others ………………..

IP leadership

Chairperson (local farmer/local leader)

Secretary (DA at kebele IP) Facilitator/coordinator Quarterly meetings based on PREA

cycle Agree on priorities and action plans Select groups and farmers for

implementation Organise field and assessment days Monitor progress – adjust plans

IP individual accountability Liaise, report to and from CBOs/farmers

in the kebele Represent kebele on a woreda IP

Local participants

R&D Organisations

Innovation platforms and partner participation

Phase 1: Engaging with stakeholders

Phase 2: Planning, learning and assessing

Phase 3: Ensuring sustainability

InterestInterest

CollaborationCollaboration

OwnershipLeadership

OwnershipLeadership

LeadershipLeadership

FacilitationFacilitation

BackstoppingBackstopping

Private Sector

InterestInterest

CollaborationCollaboration

Commercial opportunity and farmer

support

Commercial opportunity and farmer

support

Time

Zomba, Malawi Soil fertilityor Maize- legumes

Dairy, Kabale, Uganda

Kigale, Rwanda, potatoes

Success

Confusion

Understanding