Sustainsahel - Innovation platforms - a major actor in the implementation of the SustainSahel project

An agricultural innovation platform (IP) can be defined as a network that brings together actors and stakeholders in face-to-face, virtual or hybrid format to generate innovation (technical or organisational) through the facilitation of collaborations and partnerships.

What form do the IPs take on in the SustainSahel project, and what are their roles in the implementation and operation of the project?

Establishment of the Sikasso IP: Group photo of Innovation Platform members. Photo credit: Malamine OUATTARA, Sikasso IP launch workshop.

Establishment of the Yilou IP: Group photo of Innovation Platform members. Photo credit: CPF, Yilou IP launch workshop.

The expected role of innovation platforms in SustainSahel

The Innvovation Platforms (IPs) were set up to serve as a framework for co-creation and sharing of knowledge and experiences among members to:

Identify the challenges and opportunities of integrated crop-shrub-livestock systems (CSL),
Focus research questions on CSL systems,
Assess the social and economic impacts of CSL systems,
Identify levers for the adoption of CSL technologies,
Support innovation and extension of CSL technologies, and
Contribute to the sustainability of SustainSahel actions.

Form and composition of innovation platforms

The SustainSahel IPs are set up at the regional level to bring together stakeholders from several municipalities to address their needs.

The IPs have two categories of members: (i) Direct members: including farmers, breeders, arborists, processors and traders; and, (ii) Indirect members, including officials from decentralised local authorities, deconcentrated state technical services, microfinance insitutions, researchers, universities, producer organisations and NGOs.

Implementation steps

The establishment of the IPs followed the following stages:

Information/sensitisation of the communities on the IPs and the profiles of its members,
Selection of the IP members by the communities themselves,
Holding of the General Assembly to officially launch the IPs,
Selection of the members of the IPs' bureau, and
Development of the action plan of each IP.

Operation of innovation platforms

IPs are managed by a board elected by the members themselves. This board usually consists of a chairperson, a secretary and an information and organisation officer. IP meetings are held quarterly. The IPs are supported by the project to build the capacity of their members.

Strategies for sustaining innovation platforms

The sustainability of the IPs is envisaged through:

Their composition (direct and indirect members who are present at all times in the localities),
Their management, which is ensured by the direct actors themselves,
The strengthening of members' capacities to ensure their autonomous operation before the end of the project,
The introduction of a contribution per member in order to constitute a fund for the operation of the IP before the end of the project, and
The search for other partnerships and financing outside SustainSahel by the members.

Written by: Malamine OUATTARA, AFAAS/RESCAR-AOC Facilitator, WP2.

Further information

Weblinks

elearning.icarda.org: ICARDA: Online training on innovation platforms (in FR)
researchgate.net: CIRAD-ES-UMR INNOVATION: "The concept of innovation platforms in agriculture: bibliographical analysis and illustrations with two agroforestry examples on rubber trees in Thailand and coffee in Nicaragua".

Downloads

frao.org: CORAF: Practical guide to setting up and facilitating an innovation platform (PDF in FR)