1. Plan and Principles for Organizing ESA Research Across Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia Group II

2. Building Blocks FTF – Zambia: SIMLEZA CIMMYT and IITA (maize-legume systems) Eastern Zambia FTF – Zambia: ICRISAT – Groundnut FTF – Tanzania SIMLESA (Maize-legume systems) Malawi, Tanzania, Mozambique, Kenya, Ethiopia Spillover – Uganda, Rwanda, Botswana ZIMLESA – maize, legumes, livestock

3. Principles Country participation and ownership – not contract research Identify a lead national partner (research) Alignment with national and regional investment and food security priorities Engagement of all relevant stakeholders Sustain the systems perspective Capacity strengthening to rebuild national capacity Recognition of farmers’ contributions Impact orientation Inclusion of women and men

4. Structure Regional coordinator (lead center) National coordinators (assigned by national lead partner) Regional objective or theme leaders (key partners) – National focal points for each theme/objective Coordinated reporting systems – Regional, national, objective focal point

5. Partnerships to make this work Research centers (germplasm and technologies) Extension agencies Private sector (feed, seed, fert, vet, finance, etc) Farmer groups NGOs – out-scaling Regulatory agencies, bureau of standards, etc Other projects

6. Learning process Innovation platforms Farmer exchange visits – Across farming system in each country – Cross-country visits Scientist and partner exchange visits Farmer field days Demonstration plots/model farms Participatory on-farm trials

7. Facilitating and spillover Regional planning meeting – Sharing of results – National coordinator plus 4-5 reps from country team – Field day – Media Support from SRO for spillovers (CCARDESA, ASARECA, ECA, COMESA, etc)

8. Recognition Regional level (in-kind for team work) National level to recognize team work and excellence Recognition of farmer contributions and lead innovators