Overview of Theme 7: Enhancing impact through partnerships

Gordon Prain and Inge van den Bergh

RTB Annual Meeting

29 September – 3 October, Entebbe, Uganda

Theme 7…

Cross-cutting issues in social sciences, communications and capacity development

Five Linked Productso Targeting and setting prioritieso Building effective partnerships, including around gendero Communication and knowledge sharingo Capacity strengtheningo Impact assessment

The future of Theme 7 content in the Flagship era?

PL1: Priority and impact assessmentPriority assessment A model of collaboration between

Centers Also with external partners

through the expert consultation process

Build on this with feedback? Sell it better! CGR a missing element? Gender: weak early on, but real

responsiveness later Use of the results? Informal and

ad hoc “source of numbers”? More formalized but flexible part

of proposal reviews, dialogue with Centers?

Impact Assessment

• Welcome emphasis on Asia• Proposals prepared for varietal adoption studies

through joint financing with SPIA. • Gender impact studies?

SNA of RTB published A path finding study of R&D

collaboration within, between and outside Centers and CRPs

Now taken up at Consortium level

PL2: Building effective partnerships

Evaluating effectiveness of banana networksRecommendations: increased M&E of networking processes More intensive capacity strengthening by regional networks of

local networks Increased diversification of the expertise of the different

networks

Gender research

• Complementary funding for capacity strengthening in gender integration research ($110,000): Three courses, 81 RTB researchers trained, of whom 15 from partner organizations

• Approximately $1M for gender integration research from complementary funding, 2013 (Oct) – 2014

• Capacity strengthening in strategic gender research through the global study on gender norms and agency and agricultural innovation. Ten RTB researchers trained.

• Preparation of follow-on proposal for gender integration research

CRP# cases 2014

Appprox. CRP investment @ USD 20,000 per case*

A4NH 2

40,000.00

AAS/L&F 9

180,000.00

CCAFS 4

80,000.00

Dryland Cereals 10

200,000.00

Dryland Systems 9

180,000.00

FTA 5

100,000.00

Grain Legumes 4

80,000.00

Humid Tropics 6

120,000.00

MAIZE 12

240,000.00

RTB 13

260,000.00

WHEAT 30

600,000.00 Total 2014 104 2,040,000.00

Gender norms, agency and agricultural innovation Robust empirical evidence on

relationships between gender norms, agricultural practice and the capacity for testing and uptake of innovations

Use of evidence to strengthen CRPs’ theories of change and research portfolios to contribute to lasting and equitable development outcomes

Evidence based on a rigorous design, core comparable variables and large, cross-regional sample

Capacity building of CGIAR gender researchers in strong qualitative strategic research skills (11 RTB scientists trained)

Major tangible investment by 12 CRPs

Strategic gender research

Total cases completed in 2014 so far = 60

PL3 – Communication & Knowledge Sharing

RTBMaps:• Brings together spatial information on RTB

crop distributions, abiotic/biotic constraints, socio-economic conditions and otherrelevant information

• Recently recognized by ComputerWorld 2014 for innovative use of big data analytics

Rapid response to TR4 (Fusarium spp):• Online web portal for AC4TR4• Musapedia page on TR4

Communication & Knowledge Sharing (cont)

• Online banana cultivar names checklistlaunched with >5000 banana names

• 2013: online Knowledge Resource Center received 83,796 visitsand 201,018 page views, from 209 countries

• New audiences via Facebook and Twitter• Latest banana research results presented during ISHS-

ProMusa symposium on “Unravelling the Banana's Genomic Potential” held at 29th IHC in Brisbane last August, with >100 participants

PL4 – Capacity Strengthening

• Contribution to gender CS via complementary grant• Integration into evolving flagships to support the theory

of change• Already a component in pilot flagships, e.g. in the Quality

Seed Potato Flagship in Africa• Based on recommendations of banana network impact

study, ProMusa to examine options to facilitate/catalyze capacity building efforts

• Need for strategy for RTB-wide strategic support for CS

The future of Theme 7 content

1. Improved access to genetic resources

2. Better varieties

3. Better management

of pests/ diseases

4. Improved seed systems

5. Better cropping systems

6. Better market access

and post-harvest

7.Partnerships

+ genderComms/CS

Priority/impact assessment

“Holding things together….the glue…”

Learning and Support FlagshipExisting Activity Cluster (in Extension Proposal)• Development Store – New knowledge, skills,

competencies, tools, apps, shared with those who need them in the form that they want them

New proposed Activity Cluster • Development Clinic – Supporting Delivery Activity

Clusters to reach development outcomes at scale through joint learning around: o Science translation o Development brokerageo Gender responsive and transformative outcomeso Collaborative advantage and PPPso Partnership health check upso Impact culture and measurement

Final thought: “Activity clusters”?

TUGS = Thematic Units for Generating Science – and pushing the Flagships towards impact

Thank You!