Since 2017, FAO engaged in the development of a participatory framework for assessment of agricultural innovation systems (AIS), including a customizable toolbox for countries with a totally new capacity development perspective. The assessment framework is meant for actors of the national agricultural innovation systems (i.e. research, extension and advisory services, innovation support service providers and universities, policy and decision makers, or development organizations), with a mandate or willingness to catalyze system innovation processes and to identify entry points for developing capacities to innovate in a sector, a value chain, a territory or at country level. The expected outputs and outcomes of the assessment are: a) to inform and provide evidence-based practical guidance to policy and decision makers to identify concrete actions and investments geared towards strengthening of the AIS, and simultaneously b) to enhance capacities of relevant actors to effectively engage in these actions. 

Considering the high level of complexity and diversity of agricultural innovation systems and capacity development needs, the assessment implementers need to be guided to collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data and information to generate evidence for assisting decision-making and advocacy in their specific context. To meet these objectives, a preliminary assessment framework was developed to be tested and enriched by pilot countries. This document, available here, provides the key concepts, the foundations of analytical and operational assessment frameworks and guiding principles for country assessment teams in piloting countries of the TAP-AIS project, implemented by FAO with EU financial support.