Capacity development interventions in support of agricultural innovation are more effective when based on systematic and participatory assessments of existing skills and capacity needs. Recognizing that, an instrument has been developed in the context of the Capacity Development for Agricultural Innovation Systems (CDAIS) project. It consists of a capacity scoring tool that allows assessing innovation capacities, identifying strengths and weaknesses and monitoring capacity changes over time. This paper describes the scoring tool and provides guidelines on how to apply it successfully. The scoring tool focuses on the soft capacities needed to collaborate, reflect, learn and think strategically. These skills are captured by 21 indicators and build on the key innovation capacities identified in the Common Framework of the Tropical Agriculture Platform, a G20 initiative led by FAO. The scoring tool also addresses technical skills and the enabling environment for agricultural innovation.
KIT and the Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) published this joint publication in which farmers were put in the driver’s seat. Within the programme ‘farmer empowerment for innovation in smallholder agriculture’ (FEISA) farmers were...
This review seeks to assess the usefulness of innovation systems approaches in the context of IAR4D in guiding research agendas, generating knowledge and use in improving food security and nutrition, reducing poverty and generating cash incomes for resource-poor farmers. The...
This report sets out the synthesis of work carried out within the framework of the Sahel and West Africa Club (SWAC) Secretariat Initiative on “The family economy and agricultural innovation: towards new partnerships”. The initiative aimed to stimulate analyses, collect...
Wealth creation through integrated development of potato production brings together a wide range of positive livelihood changes for potato farmers in the highlands of Ethiopia (Nairobi, Kenya) The Common Fund for Commodities (CFC) released evaluation reports on a CFC-funded and...
This article describes a holistic approach to organisational development that promotes learning and its integration into everyday work practice. It presents the approach and how it leads to genuine organisational transformation, increased organisational efficiency, and resilience during change. When an...