JOLISAA

JOint Learning about Innovation Systems in African Agriculture

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The JOLISAA project aims to increase understanding of agricultural innovation systems focusing on smallholders’ livelihoods and the articulation of local/traditional and global knowledge. Lessons learnt about past and ongoing experiences with agricultural/rural innovation in East, Southern and West Africa will be synthesised by combining joint case-study assessment with capacity-strengthening and networking at various scales. Case studies will tackle diverse innovation types and scales: from natural resource management to production and agribusiness, from local initiatives to national and regional ones. Joint learning will be fostered by engaging diverse stakeholders, including researchers, practitioners and policymakers. The project will deliver relevant, pragmatic and collectively validated recommendations to the EC and to African decision-makers for future research, practice and policy. Over 30 months, a small consortium of European and African partners involving highly experienced and motivated research, development, capacity-strengthening and networking institutions will facilitate an iterative process consisting of five interlinked thematic Work Packages (WPs). In WP1, an analytic framework and an operational approach will be developed based on an innovation-system perspective and carefully adapted to the context and experiences of three regions in Africa. WP2 will involve joint assessment and learning from a series of case studies in Kenya, South Africa and Benin. In WP3, the capacity of members of existing multistakeholder innovation platforms to assess their experiences and to facilitate innovation will be strengthened, in close interaction with case-study development. In WP4, lessons will be shared and discussed within existing national innovation platforms across Africa and with European/international institutions. WP5 will compile and share the project outputs and deliver them in formats suitable for a range of audiences, from academia to policymakers.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

An EU team studied innovation in African agriculture, concluding that the subject is complex. Technology and market access factors affect different groups, and innovation generally cannot be planned but it can be nurtured through engagement.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Innovation generally, and particularly in agriculture, has been increasingly recognised as a policy priority. Yet, conventional approaches to nurturing innovation have often proven ineffective, and for African agriculture the policy direction and practical implementation are both unfocused.

The EU-funded 'Joint learning about innovation systems in African agriculture' (http://www.jolisaa.net (JOLISAA)) project explored these issues with a view to advancing certain improvements. The goal was to assess how smallholders' creative resources could be utilised, strengthened and linked in order to increase African food security and reduce poverty. The six objectives further included: analysing cases of African agricultural innovation, strengthening exchange and disseminating the results. The 7-member consortium involved 1 partner each from Benin, Kenya and South Africa, and ran for 18 months to July 2013.

Project partners first combined assessments of 56 cases of African experiences of agricultural innovation at 3 locations. Thirteen cases were selected for further assessment via interviews and discussion. The team also considered context and mechanisms required for an enabling approach.

Findings indicated multiple triggers and drivers of innovation. For external stakeholders, key triggers included the likelihood of a technological solution combined with funding availability. For local people, access to markets was important.

Research showed that markets were highly variable and difficult to access for poor people. Also, innovation usually evolved from a technological entry point to a more organised or institutional form. The study recognised the difficulty of knowing when to intervene, and the difficulty of sustaining the innovation arising from externally initiated projects.

JOLISAA determined that innovation, rather than resulting from a planned top-down approach, is a continuously evolving mix of small steps. Therefore, the most effective approaches were found to be flexible and open ended, and to engage long term with local stakeholders. The research showed that stakeholders take charge of the process as a result.

The project established general principles affecting African agricultural innovation. Based on the findings, the project recommended effective means of encouraging the process and engaging with stakeholders.