Agricultural innovation, the process that brings new or existing products, processes or ways of organization into use for the first time in a specific context, is central to transformative change of agri-food systems in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), low-income Land-locked Developing Countries (LLDCs), and low-income Small Island Developing States (SIDS) as well as food crisis countries and large countries with high concentrations of poverty.

This sub-programme deploys a basket of existing and novel approaches, data sources, platforms and analytical tools as well as robust partnerships with public, private and third sector (NGO, CSO, philanthropy, non-profit research institutions) entities to assess and strengthen the capacity of the Hand-In-Hand (HIH) initiative to become a driver of agricultural innovation. This includes assessment of critical constraints identified in the inception as well as later stages of the HIH engagement, and cataloguing, validating and matching identified needs to partner capacities and resources. 

The sub-programme will continue to develop tools to close existing gaps in technical processes for differentiating and selecting territories and value chains for targeted interventions, provide for accelerated training on the use of the Hand-in-Hand Geospatial platform and tools by Governments, HIH partners, and others, and will promote the development of systems-based arrangements to support match-making between local value chain participants and HIH public, private, non-profit or research partners that have the relevant expertise and are known by FAO to be compliant with relevant norms and standards. These HIH mechanisms are expected to facilitate the emergence of new bridging institutions at national level to improve knowledge-sharing and co-development of further innovations. At national level, the HIH programme supports participatory identification, evidence-based analysis of territories and value chains that have sufficient untapped agro-economic potential to lift people sustainably out of poverty and hunger and reduce inequalities. 

Existing multi-stakeholder networks and platforms engaged in agricultural innovation will be strengthened through the introduction of new partners, subject to the agreement of the Government as well as local stakeholders.  Policy dialogueDialogue with key stakeholders will identify constraints to innovation in the local as well as national enabling environment, which will inform policy processes and identify investments in support of agricultural innovation. The sub-programme’s overall objective is the design, implementation, testing and strengthening of an alternative systematic approach to promoting agricultural innovation, linked systematically to recommendations for programmatic activities and investments for all Hand-in-Hand beneficiary countries.

Status of the sub-programme

On going.

The Hand-in-Hand (HIH) Initiative is an evidence-based, country-led, country-owned programme to eradicate poverty (SDG 1), end hunger and all forms of malnutrition (SDG 2) and reduce inequality (SDG 10). The programme uses integrated geospatial, bio-physical and socio-economic data and analysis, and an agri-food systems lens to identify subnational territories where innovative solutions and investments in agri-food systems and rural development can have transformative impacts within a medium-term time frame. The programme’s signature matchmaking approach to partnerships is designed to fill gaps in information, technology, capacity, coordination, market access, and technical and financial resources in countries where extreme poverty and hunger are most prevalent.

The sub-programme has four component parts – analytics, training, investment and implementation – all of which are essential elements in the Hand in Hand approach and will thereby contribute to the overall goal of improved food security and nutrition and increased rural income from sustainable agri-food value chains.

Major deliverables include:

- The ongoing increase in the overall number of HiH countries from 52 to 54 as of end of October 2022. This reflects the global interest and need for larger and ambitious programming by Members.

- Holding of the first Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum in October 2022 with member countries presenting their investment opportunities to partners and stakeholders including; development banks, investment funds and the private sector. With a total estimated investment of USD 3 billion, this generated significant interest and resulted in a number of commitments and investments for follow-up.

- The launching of the Sahel Regional Initiative, Dry Corridor in Central America and Panama Food Hub during the HiH Investment Forum.

- Development of global-level communications materials and a draft strategy to build internal capabilities and promote engagements with partners.

FOLLOW-UP ACTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES

This sub-programme has four different components, all of which will strengthen the Hand in Hand initiative:

Output 1: Analytics for innovation (e.g., typologies and other instances of multi-criteria decision analysis) developed for better targeting of investment

Output 2: Capacity-building strengthened and the HIH analytical tools mainstreamed across all FAO Member countries

Output 3: Opportunities for investment identified to support innovative and transformative change

Output 4: Enhanced capacity to facilitate and support agricultural innovation processes at national levels enhanced through wider use of platform in HIH countries to support extension and national agricultural innovation systems (AIS)

CHALLENGES AND LESSONS LEARNED

Several lessons learned have been identified during the period of the sub-programme:

- The importance of country ownership for the success of all phases of the initiative;

- A strong governance structure that spans across involved line ministries and stakeholders

- The catalytic role of the private sector in stimulating and funding transformative change

- The crucial role of key technical task team members to strengthen the cross-sectoral nature of the  sub-programme and to guarantee technical soundness of the work