IP and Action Research in NBDC at Diga Woreda Zelalem lema 25 March 2014

Definition of Innovation Platforms (IPs) An IP is a space for learning and change. It is a group of individuals (who often represent organizations) with different backgrounds and interests The members come together to diagnose problems, identify opportunities & find ways to achieve their goals They may design and implement activities as a platform, or coordinate activities by individual members

Importance of innovation platforms Innovation in agriculture is the process of ensuring that a new product, technology or management practice is put into use This should lead to economic and social benefits, essential for agricultural development for food security, poverty reduction and income generation For many years innovation was seen as the main responsibility of researchers, but produced little benefit as many new technologies were never adopted. With the frustration arising from this non-adoption, researchers often engaged with extension delivery services and farmers. Although this helped it did not go far enough. IPs can provide a useful forum to get all players to interact and play their role in the innovation process.

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Importance of innovation platforms… IPs in particular: are useful in agriculture because agricultural issues tend to be complex & requires integration They involve different biophysical, socio-economic & political factors, & concern various formal and informal institutions Tackling hunger, malnutrition and poverty while at the same time protecting and improving the environmental base will require human ingenuity, creativity and innovation, especially in the face of severe resource constraints and global warming By bringing together stakeholders from different sectors and from different levels, IPs identify and address common concerns more effectively

Importance of innovation platforms… Collaboration and networking among the stakeholders Capacity building for the members Knowledge management (knowledge centre ) Both strategic and operation IPs lend themselves to promoting “Integrated Agricultural Research for Development” (IARD) A strategic level IP can operate at Woreda level with operational IPs at Kebele level working closely with community based organizations (CBOs)

Types of innovation platforms IPs can be established at different level 1.Strategic level: International, National, regional, zonal & woreda level 2.Operational level: Kebele- at implementation level Strategic IPs: established at higher level where strategies and policies are determined for agriculture can also facilitate learning and sharing among stakeholders by linking with the IPs operating at implementation levels can be used to explore strategies that can boost productivity, manage natural resource, improve value chains & adapt to climate change

Types of innovation platforms… Operational IPs: established at implementation level and linked to farmers organizations farmers and other rural people use it for expressing their interest and guide activities that are intended to benefit them used to test, experiment and demonstrate new practices at farmers level space for researchers to engage community to prioritize issues, crops and livestock based on their local knowledge Development partners use it as an approach to identify capacity gaps at farmers level

Functions of Innovation Platforms Enhance community participation and use of indigenous knowledge in the process of IAR4D Devolution of activities to local facilitators The functions can also serve as incentives at various levels -

Woreda Strategic IP Purpose: to provide strategic direction, advice, support to farmers to innovate in developing improved technologies and practices and policies that improve food and nutritional security and generate income for rural communities Functions Support and backstop Kebele level action research and farmer groups in R&D activities Facilitate capacity building activities of IP members and farmers Encourage scaling out to other kebeles where appropriate Address critical resource constraints that limit effective functioning of IP and farmer development Identify & link value chain actors & service providers across prioritized value chains Monitor and evaluate the activities and achievements of Kebele IPs Establish a “knowledge centre” for use by partners

Woreda Strategic IP…. Membership - flexible and include representatives that have common interests and can contribute to research and development activities in the Woreda and target kebeles: Zone representatives Woreda key offices University representatives Research Centre representatives NGOs Two kebele representatives Suggested list of Institutions and representatives are herehere

Woreda Strategic IP…. Functions of Woreda IP Technical committee provide support for Woreda and Kebele level action researches Supporting the development of the governance rule (ToR) Make sure the functions of the IPS effectively implemented Supporting & backstopping Kebele IPs and farmer groups in R&D activities Linking value chain actors across prioritized value chains Facilitating capacity building activities of IP members and farmers Encouraging scaling out to other kebeles where appropriate Arranging Kebele to Kebele IP experience sharing Addressing critical resource constraints Monitoring & evaluation of activities and achievements of Kebele IPs Establish a “knowledge centre” for use by partners Facilitating IP meetings at least 4 times per year

Stakeholder Capacity Building A lot of talk about ‘participation’ but little knowledge about how to put it into action. WAT-A-GAME- Participatory planning for NRM (

Community engagement

80,000 ETB allocated to platforms in 2012 to fund activities which address RWM issues Proposals and action plans were developed by stakeholders according to defined criteria Actions are cross-sectoral, participatory, designed to address RWM issues and targeted to suitable area Sites have been selected in kebeles within the designated NBDC watersheds Action taking place at household level, farmland and communal land Review of 2012 actions and plans for 2013 have been made Resource Mobilization

What is participatory action research? Participatory action research is not a method, it is an approach to research. Action + research Involves people who are concerned about or affected by an issue taking a leading role in producing and using knowledge about it. Driven by participants who have a stake in the issue being researched Democratic knowledge sharing: all participants can contribute, produce, own and use knowledge Collaborative at every stage, involving discussion, pooling skills and working together Intended to result in action, change or improvement Cyclical: action and critical reflection takes place throughout

Why Action Research? Weaknesses of conventional research approaches: Complex problems/situations are not easily addressed Does not respond adequately to demand (researcher driven) Outputs not timely or in right formats for use Fails to reflect or accommodate reality Capacity not up-scaled and often lost after project close Benefits of action research: Focused on problems identified by stakeholders Flexible- not necessarily designed in detail from the start Inputs from a range of disciplines – interdisciplinary Accepting of multiple sources of evidence and “data” Process can be used to empower participants

Pre-conditions for Action Research Genuine desire for change/improvement Openness – ability to listen, see things differently and to share knowledge Willingness to be wrong, appear ignorant Resources (time, knowledge, materials, transport) Commitment to the process

NBDC Community engagement methods Transect walks Participatory mapping Focus group discussions Problem identification & ranking What information did these methods produce?

Diga Actors Main issueRelated issue IP membersSoil ErosionLand degradation Community Termite infestation Land degradation & deforestation Crop damage: baboons Deforestation Crop disease Land degradation & climatic changes Fodder development chosen for pilot interventions due to common concerns around land degradation, particularly termite infestation and deterioration of communal grazing lands.

Diga case study Agreement between IP members and community members about problem of land degradation, but IP members prioritized problems with soil conservation whereas community members prioritized termite infestation because of the impact on livelihoods- potential conflict. Important to align interests of IP members and community members by linking issues of land degradation, termite infestation and fodder interventions. Termite infestation linked to broader issues of land and water management. To ensure both issues were taken into account NBDC initiated termite ‘research into use’ project which is linked to the fodder interventions. This has been appreciated by both community members and IP members.

IP Fodder interventions to complement SLM campaign

Lessons so far IPs are bridging gaps identified during baseline study – Communities and all other relevant stakeholders jointly identify issues, propose options, plan, implement and M & E the process Experts acknowledge the importance of full participation of the community at all stages of the IAR4D Local facilitators reportedly face challenges in administering fund for the action research Universities and research centers are motivated by the initiation of the action research – this is an added value both for the community and the institutions

Lessons so far Staff turn over – created disconnection and inconsistency of information flow Timely planning and implementation of activities is essential – The fund transfer and MoUs processes took time in 2012 IP Action Research perceived to be complementary to the national SLM activities