Fostering Agricultural Research & Innovation for Sustainability transitions and impacts

21/10/2024
The DeSIRA CONNECT Days, co-organised by DeSIRA-LIFT and FARA, in Accra, Ghana, brought together 130 participants from 26 DeSIRA projects and key regional partners across Western Africa, Central Africa and Madagascar, to discuss scaling agricultural innovations. Key takeaways emphasized the leveraging role of research in multi-stakeholder collaboration, inclusivity, and alignment of innovation agendas with SDGs.

130 participants d'Afrique de l'Ouest, d'Afrique centrale et de Madagascar se sont réunis à Accra pour discuter des contributions de la recherche à l'innovation et aux transitions durables. © Agrinatura

The DeSIRA CONNECT Days, held from September 24 to 26, 2024, at the University of Ghana in Accra, gathered 130 participants from 26 DeSIRA projects and key regional partners across Western Africa, Central Africa, and Madagascar. Co-organized by DeSIRA-LIFT and the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), the event focused on sharing lessons learned on co-innovation approaches from project implementation and identifying conditions for sustaining and scaling DeSIRA innovation portfolios beyond project duration.

Shared Lessons Across DeSIRA Projects

Despite variations in project goals and contexts, the discussions underscored consistent conclusions across DeSIRA projects. Systemic thinking, multi-stakeholder collaboration, inclusiveness, and bottom-up approaches emerged as the essential elements driving project success. Participants representing the diversity of key innovation stakeholders, including researchers, farmer organizations, local authorities, civil society organizations and value chain actors, emphasized the need for clarity in stakeholder roles, budget allocation, and early engagement with key actors to ensure impactful innovation pathways.

Scaling Agricultural Innovations

A critical topic of discussion was how to scale innovations beyond the local level, and project duration. Participants stressed that ownership by both communities and policymakers is crucial for success. Strong innovation support services, delivered by innovation facilitators and extension workers, were identified as key enablers. Professionalizing these roles through targeted continuous training opportunities and dedicated education curricula in universities was also recommended to create new job opportunities within the sector of agricultural innovation and the broader food system.

Aligning local Innovations with Broader Agendas

Participants emphasized the importance of aligning local innovations with broader continental and global agendas for achieving the SDGs. This alignment ensures that projects not only address local needs but also contribute to wider goals like climate resilience, food security, and economic inclusion. The discussions also highlighted the role of research in generating data that can support innovation communities and policymakers, enabling informed decision-making.

Looking Ahead

As the event concluded, participants reflected on the need for continued collaboration, beyond projects, between all involved stakeholders to share knowledge and best practices. By fostering these connections, DeSIRA projects can help research, civil society, farmer organizations and policymakers streamline efforts and better navigate the complexities of scaling agricultural innovations while contributing to sustainable development in their regions.