Category Archives: Knowledge and Information

Crop Residues / Crop-Livestock / East Africa / Field Day / IITA / ILRI / Intensification / Knowledge and Information / Scaling / Southern Africa / Tanzania / Value Chains

Lessons from Tanzania on the benefits of collaboration in Africa RISING

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Recent field visits in Tanzania shared experiences and strengthened project collaborations across the three Africa RISING projects (Ethiopian Highlands, East and Southern Africa, and West Africa). Kindu Mekonnen, chief scientist in the Africa RISING project in Ethiopia, reflects on the visits. Continue reading →

IFPRI / IITA / ILRI / Intensification / Knowledge and Information / LIVESTOCK-FISH / MAIZECRP / Report / Roundup

Which ones did you read and download?Africa RISING’s most popular online products and resources in 2017

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As the curtain falls on 2017; here at Africa RISING we can only look back and say, “what a a great year”! Sure it was one heck of a roller coaster, but we enjoyed the ride. You our dear online followers, the global knowledge community that we are a part of and endeavor to always serve made the year fabulous through constant engagement with the numerous material we published on our platforms. Some of these materials really seemed to have resonated quite positively with you. That is if the numbers of hits to the website, downloads and page views are to be believed.  Continue reading →

Capacity strengthening / CIAT / Extension / Gender / IITA / Intensification / Knowledge and Information / MAIZECRP / SARI / Scaling / Southern Africa / Tanzania

Empowering agricultural extension agents to deliver improved farming technologies

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The Africa RISING project team is taking improved technologies to scale targeting thousands of farmers beyond the communities where the validation was done. This wider focus is changing how the project team is going about the business of agricultural extension. Continue reading →

East Africa / Ethiopia / Event / ICRAF / ICRISAT / Innovation Systems / Intensification / Knowledge and Information / LIVESTOCKCRP / MAIZECRP / Research

Ethiopia learning alliance to support sustainable agricultural intensification

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In March 2017, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) launched the National Learning Alliance (NLA) for the Sustainable Agricultural Intensification Research Learning Alliance (SAIRLA) project in Ethiopia. Continue reading →

Africa / East Africa / Extension / Innovation Systems / Intensification / Knowledge and Information / LIVESTOCKCRP / MAIZECRP / Participation / Research / Southern Africa / West Africa

Innovation and R4D platforms in Africa RISING: questioning sustainability

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During the first phase of the Africa RISING program (2012-2016) the three projects set up innovation and R4D platforms to support learning, sharing collaboration and joint actions. These experiences were critiqued at the recent program science for impact workshop to guide phase 2 interventions. Continue reading →

Africa / Innovation Systems / Intensification / Knowledge and Information / LIVESTOCKCRP / MAIZECRP / Research

Africa RISING aims to move from common conversations to communities of practice

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One of the main ‘program-wide’ changes in the second phase of Africa RISING is the institutionalisation of ‘communities of practice’ (CoPs). Five initial pilot CoPs were officially launched at the first science meeting of Africa RISING phase 2, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania between 17 & 19 January 2017. Continue reading →

East Africa / Ethiopia / HUMIDTROPICS / ILRI / ILRIComms / Innovation Systems / Intensification / Knowledge and Information / NRM / Research / Social Learning

Social learning for farming systems – Insights from Africa RISING in Ethiopia

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Addressing the question of how to sustainably intensify farming systems can benefit from collaborative and iterative social learning processes. This post reflects on what Africa RISING is doing and could do to strengthen social learning, based on interviews with program staff. Continue reading →

East Africa / Event / HUMIDTROPICS / IITA / Knowledge and Information / Tanzania

Africa RISING showcases interventions at Nane Nane agricultural fair in Arusha

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The Africa RISING Tanzania last month exhibited various agricultural interventions being implemented by project partners at the nane nane agricultural fair in Arusha, Tanzania. The event gave some of the project partners an opportunity to showcase their interventions and get valuable feedback from farmers and participants taking part in the week-long fair. Over 200 participants, mostly farmers, visited the Africa RISING exhibition stand. Continue reading →

Crops / Event / HUMIDTROPICS / ICRISAT / Knowledge and Information / Mali / West Africa

Africa RISING fairs boost farmer awareness and access to inputs in Mali

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Efforts to help farmers with adopt improved crop varieties and agricultural technologies have been launched in Mali. A series of agriculture input fairs were recently held in Bougouni District as part of a wider initiative to bring together input suppliers, distributors and farmers and provide a platform for them to strengthening partnerships. Continue reading →

AVRDC / Capacity strengthening / ICRAF / ICRISAT / Innovation Systems / Intensification / Knowledge and Information / Mali / West Africa

Innovation platforms and technology parks to boost technology uptake launched in southern Mali

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Two innovation platforms (IPs) and two technology parks were launched recently in southern Mali. The IPs aim to facilitate knowledge sharing while the technology parks will provide infrastructure for farmers and agriculture students. Continue reading →

Ethiopia / HUMIDTROPICS / ILRI / Impact Assessment / Innovation Systems / Intensification / Knowledge and Information / Participation / SLS

Measuring innovation platform contributions through participatory monitoring and evaluation

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It has not easy to measure innovation platforms (IPs) contribution to research and development outcomes. From ILRI’s experience, the complex nature of issues that IPs try to address and the more emphasis given to effective integration of IPs into the research process, rather than evaluating their contribution to intervention outcomes, have contributed to an information gap. Continue reading →

Ethiopia / HUMIDTROPICS / ILRI / Innovation Systems / Intensification / Knowledge and Information / Scaling / SLS

Innovation platforms – scaling research findings in Lemo, Ethiopia

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The 2nd Lemo woreda Innovation platform (IP) meeting was held on 19th Feb 2015 in Hosanna, the capital of the woreda. The focus of the meeting was to share the findings of the action research the project carried out in 2014 to local partners for potential scaling up. Continue reading →

Crop-Livestock / Event / Humid Tropics / HUMIDTROPICS / ICARDA / ICRAF / ICRISAT / IITA / ILRI / Impact Assessment / Innovation Systems / Intensification / Knowledge and Information

International Conference calls for integrated systems research for sustainable intensification in smallholder agriculture

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Agricultural scientists and researchers from over 30 nations gather today at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, Nigeria, for the International Conference on Integrated Systems for Sustainable Intensification in Smallholder Agriculture, which lasts through March 6. Continue reading →

East Africa / Ethiopia / Humid Tropics / HUMIDTROPICS / IITA / ILRI / Innovation Systems / Intensification / Knowledge and Information / SLS / Southern Africa / Tanzania

Innovation platforms in Africa RISING: Theory and practice

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In Africa RISING, innovation platforms are one of the mechanisms of ensuring research is put into use and actually contributes to solving real problems that are based on a real demand. Here is an overview of the theory, practice and perspectives around innovation platforms in the program. Continue reading →

Event / Extension / Humid Tropics / HUMIDTROPICS / IITA / Innovation Systems / Intensification / Knowledge and Information / Southern Africa / Tanzania

Tanzania’s Babati District R4D platform sets priorities for 2015

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The leadership committee of Tanzania’s Babati District research for development (R4D) platform, JUMBA (Jukwaa la Utafiti kwa Maendeleo wilaya ya Babati) recently held a two-day retreat to refine its constitution, vision and mission and to develop and prioritize JUMBA activities for 2015. Continue reading →

Crop-Livestock / Ethiopia / HUMIDTROPICS / ILRI / Innovation Systems / Intensification / Knowledge and Information / SLS

Guidelines to establish innovation platforms with Africa RISING partners in Ethiopia

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The Africa RISING project in the Ethiopian highlands aims to establish Innovation platforms(IPs) at different levels to better involve many local stakeholders to address common challenges and opportunities in agricultural sector. Continue reading →

Crops / East Africa / Ethiopia / Event / Extension / HUMIDTROPICS / ICARDA / ILRI / Intensification / Knowledge and Information / Participation / Research

Farmer research groups central to Africa RISING approach in Ethiopia

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On 13 December 2014, members of the Sinana innovation platform (IP) members and technical group (TG) held a farmers field day that attracted many farmers and others (woreda IP members, private sector workers, media and government decision makers) to see the farmer field interventions. Continue reading →

Humid Tropics / HUMIDTROPICS / IITA / Innovation Systems / Intensification / Knowledge and Information / Southern Africa / Tanzania

R4D platform promotes technology adoption in Babati District, Tanzania

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Research-for-Development platform by Africa RISING in Babati District, Tanzania is stimulating learning and innovation about productivity, nutrition as well as opening up business possibilities for farmers within the locality. Continue reading →

Ethiopia / HUMIDTROPICS / ILRI / Innovation Systems / Intensification / Knowledge and Information / SLS

Africa RISING partners in Ethiopia trained on innovation platform facilitation, coordination and M&E

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In September 2014, Africa RISING partners in Ethiopia received training on innovation platform (IP) facilitation, coordination and M&E. More than 50 people attended, including partners from CGIAR centres, regional research institutes and centres, universities, woredas and kebeles working with Africa RISING. Continue reading →

Africa / East Africa / Ethiopia / HUMIDTROPICS / ILRI / Impact Assessment / Innovation Systems / Intensification / Knowledge and Information / SLS

Building local capacity to innovate: tools, methods and approaches for effective innovation platforms in Ethiopia

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Innovation Platforms (IPs) have been established at Africa RISING research sites to bring together key local stakeholders to support integrated approaches to strengthen farming systems. These platforms help members to jointly conduct participatory research that identifies technologies and management practices that work for farmers. Continue reading →

Africa / Event / HUMIDTROPICS / Innovation Systems / Knowledge and Information

Africa RISING learning event puts typologies, innovation systems and program framework under the lens

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The second Africa RISING program learning event brought together over 65 staff and partners in Arusha, Tanzania, from 11-12 November 2014. They shared lessons and ideas to improve farm typology work, innovation systems and platforms, and dust off the program framework to gear it towards serious scaling up for the remaining two years. Continue reading →

Africa / Crop-Livestock / Ethiopia / HUMIDTROPICS / IFPRI / IITA / ILRI / Impact Assessment / Intensification / Knowledge and Information / Research

Using ‘most significant change’ technique in Africa RISING project in Ethiopia

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A number of lessons, success stories and even some negative change stories are expected to emerge from Africa RISING research-for-development interventions in the Ethiopian highlands. As part of our approach to monitor and evaluate the impact of Africa RISING innovation platforms, we plan to use the ‘Most Significant Change’ (MSC) technique in our monitoring and evaluation framework. Continue reading →

Crop-Livestock / East Africa / HUMIDTROPICS / Intensification / Knowledge and Information / Southern Africa

Africa RISING’s integrated technologies doubling smallholder farmers’ yields in East and Southern Africa

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The Africa RISING program, now in its third year, has made significant progress in getting the different researchers from different backgrounds and institutions to work together in a truly integrated way to develop science-based solutions to the challenges faced by smallholder farmers. This in turn has seen impressive increases in the productivity of smallholder farmers involved in the research project across its five districts in East and Southern Africa. Continue reading →

East Africa / Ethiopia / Gender / HUMIDTROPICS / ILRI / Innovation Systems / Knowledge and Information / SLS / Women

Africa RISING Ethiopia project identifies gender ‘champions’

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Following the recent workshop on ‘Integrating Gender into Agricultural Programming’, the Africa RISING project in the Ethiopian Highlands has decided to engage ‘gender champions’ to raise gender awareness, cultivate gender equity and ensure sustainability of gender work in the project. Continue reading →

East Africa / Ethiopia / Humid Tropics / HUMIDTROPICS / ILRI / Innovation Systems / Intensification / Knowledge and Information / Research

Training on commodity-based innovation platforms enhances understanding of concepts key to Africa RISING success

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Recently, several CGIAR staff and national partners from the Africa RISING project and the Humidtropics Program in Ethiopia travelled to Kisumu, Kenya (from 22-27 June 2014) to attend a training organized by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) on how to set up and operate innovation platforms (IPs). Continue reading →

Ethiopia / HUMIDTROPICS / ILRI / Innovation Systems / Knowledge and Information / SLS

Africa RISING project in the Ethiopian highlands establishes strategic and operational innovation platforms

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In April 2014, the Africa RISING project organized a field trip to establish four strategic (woreda level) and eight operational (kebele level) Innovation Platforms (IPs) in its sites (Basona Worena in Amhara, Endamehoni in Tigray, Lemo in SNNPR and Sinana in Oromia). Continue reading →

East Africa / Ethiopia / HUMIDTROPICS / ILRI / Innovation Systems / Intensification / Knowledge and Information

Africa RISING establishes local innovation platforms in the Ethiopia highlands

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In the past few months, the Africa RISING project in the Ethiopian highlands has initiated the the establishment of local innovation platforms in each of its four sites. The start-up process has been documented in a series of short photo ‘trip’ reports. Continue reading →

Crop-Livestock / Ethiopia / Forestry / Humid Tropics / HUMIDTROPICS / ICRAF / Innovation Systems / Intensification / Knowledge and Information

Innovation platforms to improve the productivity of mixed farming systems in Ethiopia

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A recent study by ICRAF presents information on tree-crop-livestock farming system constraints in the four Africa RISING project sites in Ethiopia. It identifies local innovation platforms as a key mechanism to prioritize and work together on problems and solutions in each site. Specific roles and implementation modalities are set out. Continue reading →

Animal Feeding / Crop-Livestock / East Africa / HUMIDTROPICS / Innovation Systems / Intensification / Knowledge and Information / Southern Africa / Tanzania

Africa RISING establishes a partnership platform to facilitate uptake and adoption of innovations by farmers in Babati District, Tanzania

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The partners of the Africa RISING project and the Babati District Council have launched the Babati District Research for Development (R4D) platform to facilitate the uptake of the project’s innovations in the district. Babati District in Northern Tanzania is one of the three district the project is working in in Tanzania. The platform will help in setting priorities for the research and ensure sustainability of the project. Continue reading →

Crop-Livestock / East Africa / HUMIDTROPICS / IITA / Innovation Systems / Intensification / Knowledge and Information / Southern Africa / Tanzania

Babati R4D platform: Great expectations

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After launching of the Babati District Research for Development (R4D) platform the Africa RISING partners and beneficiaries have high expectations of the the platform and those selected to the Platform’s Committee to represent various stakeholders have very clear ideas on their roles. The platform was well appreciated and many feel it will play a key role in pushing for the adoption of the new innovations and technologies generated by the project’s research. Continue reading →

East Africa / Ethiopia / Humid Tropics / HUMIDTROPICS / ILRI / Innovation Systems / Knowledge and Information / Oromia / Photofilm / SLS / Trip Report

Innovation Platforms established by Africa RISING in Sinana woreda, Ethiopia

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In March 2014, rhe Africa RISING team visited Sinana woreda aiming at briefing agricultural research, development and other stakeholders about the program’s and the project’s activities, and initiate the establishment of Innovation Platforms (IPs) with key partners. Continue reading →

ILRI / Knowledge and Information

ICT and agriculture conference – take away messages for Africa RISING

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In early November, over 400 delegates gathered in Kigali to discuss advances in ICTs for agriculture. The conference had three streams focusing on: emerging innovations in ICTs supporting agricultural development, capacity strengthening and stakeholder empowerment for improved livelihood and engagement in agricultural development processes and enabling environment for the agricultural sector to maximize the benefits … Continue reading →

Agroforestry / Climate change / East Africa / Ethiopia / Forestry / Humid Tropics / HUMIDTROPICS / ICRAF / Intensification / Knowledge and Information / Research

Local knowledge the starting point for climate-resilient agriculture in Ethiopia – early win project brief

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Local knowledge is proving a valuable starting point in adapting Ethiopian farming systems to climate change and ensuring greater productivity to combat food insecurity. A new brief by the World Agroforestry Centre analyses what farmers in the highlands of Ethiopia currently know about ecosystem processes and the interactions between trees, crops and livestock. The aim … Continue reading →

Africa / Agroforestry / Countries / Crop-Livestock / East Africa / Ethiopia / Forestry / HUMIDTROPICS / ICRAF / Intensification / Knowledge and Information / Trees

ICRAF team visit Africa RISING sites to assess progress on the local knowledge field work

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In July, an ICRAF team comprising Aster Gebrekirstos (ICRAF scientist), Kiros Hadgu (ICRAF Ethiopia Country Representative) and Anne Kuria (ICRAF researcher) visited Lemu Woreda which contains two of the eight Kebeles of the  Africa RISING project in the Ethiopian Highlands. The aim of the visit was to see progress on the local knowledge acquisition field … Continue reading →

East Africa / Ethiopia / HUMIDTROPICS / ILRI / Intensification / Interview / Knowledge and Information

Photofilm training to better document and communicate agricultural research in Ethiopia

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A key part of the Africa RISING communication strategy is to really engage with and document the knowledge and experiences of the communities where it works. Alongside more classical research communication, the project is therefore exploring multimedia formats like video, photographs and ultimately radio and mobile phones as tools to enrich multi-way communication. Africa RISING … Continue reading →