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FAO and EU Partnership

Developing Capacities In Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS)

Project's full title Developing Capacities In Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) - GCP/GLO/017/EC
Introduction Global agricultural output will need to increase significantly by 2050 to feed a projected global population of about 10 billion. Achieving this within a rapidly changing demographic, socioeconomic, environmental and climate context requires a climate-relevant, productive and sustainable transformation of agrifood systems.
Country Burkina Faso Cambodia Lao People's Democratic Republic Malawi Rwanda Senegal
Start date 01/08/2019
End date 31/12/2024
Status Completed
Budget USD 5 681 817
Project Code GCP/GLO/017/EC
Objective / Goal The project applied an AIS approach and focused on multi-level activities to strengthen capacities by targeting individuals, organizations and the enabling environment. Globally, TAP governance was strengthened through meetings, an updated TAP CF and related tools and guidelines, and a new TAP Roadmap 2025-2030. Global visibility and advocacy were promoted by contributing to key international events such as G20 meetings, and the Science, Technology and Innovation Forum (STI-Forum) of the United Nations. Tools such as the TAP knowledge platform (TAPipedia) and an e learning course (English and French) were developed, reaching over 56 000 users and enabling continued learning and exchange.

At regional level, the project collaborated with regional research and extension organizations (RREOs), leading to the integration of TAP tools in at least nine organizations. A total of 29 regional publications, two regional policy briefs and multiple interregional events helped to embed AIS approaches in higher education and policy frameworks across regions.

At national level, the project was implemented in nine countries (Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Colombia, Eritrea, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malawi, Pakistan, Rwanda and Senegal). The project completed AIS assessments in all nine countries, supported over 29 organizations and facilitated the creation or strengthening of over a dozen multistakeholder platforms. Training was conducted to strengthen the capacity of identified national agencies on AIS and policy dialogue events in all nine countries. The project supported the establishment of interministerial or institutional coordination mechanisms, the integration of innovation priorities into national policies and the scaling-up of agroecological and climate-smart innovations. Country-level interventions focused on the role of AIS in promoting conservation agriculture, farm mechanization, agricultural research for development, beekeeping, poultry and dairy improvement, multi-actor agricultural innovation platforms, extension modernization, etc. National policy dialogues engaged over 600 stakeholders, while innovation fairs and marketplace events supported visibility and networking. Tailored capacity development fostered tangible improvements, such as increased maize yields in Malawi and new institutional coordination in Pakistan.
Partners Burkina Faso: Ministry of Agriculture, Hydro-Agricultural Development and Mechanization; Cambodia: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; Colombia: Territorial Renovation Agency of Colombia; Eritrea: Ministry of Agriculture;

Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry; Malawi: Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development; Pakistan: Ministry of National Food Security and Research; Rwanda: Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources; and Senegal: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Equipment.

Regional entities in Africa: Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa; African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services.
Regional entities in Asia-Pacific: Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions, Asia-Pacific Islands Rural Advisory Services Network.

Regional entities in Latin America and the Caribbean: Red Latinoamericana de Servicios de Extensión Rural: Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture.
Beneficiaries TAP Partners, Regional and subregional organizations for research and extension in Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean, National Agricultural Research and Extension Systems, national Agricultural Innovation System Actors, from the target countries.
Activities
  • The TAP Action Plan 2022-2025 was developed and endorsed and the TAP roadmap 2025-2030 developed and refined.
  • Over ten TAP Steering Committee Meetings and three virtual TAP partner assemblies and one in-person TAP Partner Assembly were organized.
  • National AIS assessments were completed in all nine countries.
  • Organizational capacity needs assessments of 29 selected organizations were completed.
  • 12 multistakeholder platforms/knowledge networks received support and measures were taken to sustain these networks beyond the project.
  • Policy processes and training in policy dialogue processes were completed in all countries and at regional level for Asia-Pacific.
  • Two regional consultation workshops were held, in Asia Pacific and Africa, respectively, to discuss priorities for the TAP Roadmap (2025-2030).
  • Rapid appraisals were conducted in all three regions and a synthesis report produced.
  • TAP approaches and tools were adopted, adapted and integrated by RREOs.
  • TAP tools, approaches and project outcomes were presented at 21 regional events, 6 G20 meetings, over 10 STI-related meetings and during the Global Forum for Food and Agriculture, Africa Extension Week in Nigeria, Tropical Agriculture Summit in Lisbon, Tropical Agriculture Innovation Conference in Sanya, China, and several others.
  • 29 regional publications and two regional policy briefs were produced and disseminated.
  • Over 68 knowledge products were developed, and an e-learning course produced in English and translated into French.
  • 15 TAP newsletters and 48 project videos were produced and shared with TAP partners and networks.
Impact The project has demonstrated that investing in systemic capacity development in AIS can unlock innovation potential in agriculture. Jean-Claude Shirimpumu (Rwanda Pig Farmers Association) said: “Thanks to the training in agriculture innovation systems and multi-stakeholder platform establishment, we called other value chain actors to join the association. Through working together, our skills were enhanced.”
Contact Ramasamy Selvaraju (Budget Holder)
OIN-Director@fao.org