IS_poster

Assignment: Outline the content of a poster for a national agricultural research meeting explaining the pros and cons of innovation systems principles
FACILITATING INNOVATION PROCESSES - BENEFITS AND COSTS

DEFINITIONS/ELEMENTS


 * use of multistakeholder networks aligned around a rallying point
 * stimulating generation, exchange and application of knowledge
 * focus on diversity of actions
 * social as well as economic gains

PROBLEMS WITH BUSINESS AS USUAL past approaches were: result was failure to achieve impact at scale
 * narrow focus on technologies
 * pipeline, linear apprach leading to lack of knowledge flow (blockages in pipeline)
 * pre-conceived external problem diagnosis

PRINCIPLES FOR ACCELERATING INNOVATION


 * establish and facilitate multi-stakeholder network
 * target for market pull (actual and potential)
 * combine talk with action
 * keep focus on key roles and innovations and actors
 * keep loose structures, be pragmatic
 * be opportunistic
 * share the driving seat / local facilitation

CASE STUDY - VIETNAM

10 year initiative from 2000
 * growing demand for beef - potential to target urban/high volume markets
 * capitalise on improved breeds
 * improved fattening system based on planted forage

process
 * participatory diagnosis
 * institutional and value chain analysis
 * establish and facilitate multi-stakeholder network at district level: extension, university, national/international research, traders, bank, farmer union, women's union

outcomes
 * increasing number of communes involved in fattening/accessing urban markets
 * widespread forage adoption

WARNINGS


 * process is LONG
 * high transaction costs
 * need to clarify role of researchers
 * no recipes
 * need a mix of skills and commitment
 * partners need to buy in to the approach
 * scaling out not easy
 * accommodating equity, gender and pro-poor issues is tricky