Capacity Development (CapDev) in the Humidtropics CRPKey Strategy and Elements for Extension Phase 2015-16

Iddo Dror and Zoumana BambaCapacity Development focal points for CRP Humidtropics

CGIAR Research Program on the Humidtropics / Extension Proposal Development Workshop / Nairobi, Kenya/ 18-20 March 2014

A bit of context…

Capacity Development in the CGIAR: • Where do we come from• Where are we going?

CapDev in the context of the CGIAR Reform

• Last mile – final inch issues: CapDev as one of the remaining priorities

• CGIAR funding through development budgets, not national science foundations – what CGIAR needs to deliver are development outcomes

• CapDev– a key area where CGIAR can contribute and needs to be articulated – each CRP will need to have a clear strategy

Reflections by theCGIAR CEO (July 2012):

Where are we now, and what role for CapDev interventions?

Source: CGIAR: Reflections by the CEO. An update on CGIAR reform: reinvigorating global research on agriculture. Speaker: Frank Rijsberman, CEO, CGIAR Consortium Link: http://www.ifpri.org/event/cgiar-reflections-ceo

Renewed interest at highest levels in systemic Capacity Development efforts

The CGIAR CapDev Community of Practice

• Launched in Oct 2013, with over 35 practitioners from CRPs, CG Centers, and partners.

• Enhancing strategic alignment of practice and development of capacity development knowledge products for CRPs and Centers

Overview of CapDev in the Humidtropics CRPin the 2014 POWB

Conceived to respond the global capacity development and learning needs of the Humidtropics:

• Support platform implementation

• Develop tools and learning methodologies

• Enable effective capacity development &

learning processes throughout the program.

Overview of CapDev in the Humidtropics CRPThe ADDIE approach• Analyze: Conduct an assessment of existing partners, initiatives, capacities and gaps ►

Map out by subcomponents (e.g. Area/Flagship, activity, tools and materials, recipient group etc.) ► Matrix of CD needs with corresponding CD activities. ► Embed CD activities / components into broader CRP work-plans.

• Design/ Develop: Design appropriate interventions based on analysis ► Evaluate (existing) CD tools / methods / materials / Technologies needed for Matrix ► Develop / adopt specific training activities ► Test CD tools / activities (refine as needed) ► CD Training modules / tools & materials repository

• Implement: Evaluate existing & potential partnerships; look for suitable partners that can help in CD activities ► select and train partners (ToT) ► Roll out CD activities through this pool of (certified?) trainers ► Ensure learning is shared (ideally in real time) across the CRP

• Evaluate: M&E of CD and learning activities ► independent Impact Assessment (RCTs etc.) of key activities. feed into next plan… and the cycle recommences. ►

Key Messages for an Implementation Plan

Evidence matters

NARS matter

Context matters

Partnerships matter

Technology matters

Evidence matters

• CapDev can improve intermediate outcomes such as knowledge acquisition & accelerate the adoption of improved management tools and approaches.

• CapDev can increase agricultural productivity and other agricultural development outcomes.

• It would be important to rigorously measure and clearly demonstrate the return on investment in CapDev.

NARS matter

• NARS are the backbone of agricultural (extension) systems.

• Success in the Humidtropics will require effective NARS to test, adapt and scale technologies at the country level.

• CapDev has to deal with the capacities at the individual, organizational and institutional levels and help NARS to reorient themselves from only ‘doing research’ to ‘using research to foster innovation and implementation at scale’.

Context matters

• CapDev interventions need to: – be multi-faceted, – responding to capacity needs

at different levels and– be tailored to the context

where they are being implemented.

• This will require adult learning best practice to be applied in the context of the (research) activities being undertaken.

Partnerships matter

• Many different types of actors are involved in CapDev activities around systems research

• Strengthening networks and partnership between these different actors is critical.

• A clear strategy for supporting partnership development and enhancing collaborative capacities will be a critical part of a successful CapDev implementation plan.

Technology matters

• CapDev activities involve many partners spread across a wide range of geographical and subject areas.

• Appropriate technologies (including learning technologies) will need to be leveraged to ensure optimal learning, information-sharing and coordination is taking place across the Humidtropics CRP.

Key Elements for incorporation into extension phase (2015-2016) • Support the platform implementation process• Support partnership development and collaborative capacities• Mainstream CapDev across the Humidtropics flagships• Lead CapDev learning processes throughout the Humidtropics

ecosystem• Coordinate a postgraduate research fellowship scheme: • Mobilize resources for CapDev and learning activities• …and more

Support the platform implementation process

• This area, identified as a high priority in 2014, is likely to remain a critical area of work in 2015-16.

• CapDev will work closely with the Area Flagships to ensure the platforms have the critical skills needed to enable the planned research activities to take place.

Support partnership development & collaborative capacities• Strong partnerships and collaborative

capacities will be needed if Humidtropics is to succeed convincing partners to engage in a “program versus project” approach.

• This is an extremely important point: only if we are a “program” can we expect alignment because of shared interests

• But… this requires us to invest heavily on our own collaborative capacities and practices and that of our partners.

Mainstream CapDev across the Humidtropics flagships• CapDev not (yet fully) mainstreamed in

research programs and budgets. • In some cases, CapDev activities are

undertaken on ad-hoc basis, without sufficient involvement of CapDev focal points.

• Investing in mainstreaming of CapDev across the Humidtropics is likely to have multiple benefits such as better coordination, a holistic approach, application of best practice and more – making mainstreaming a priority for the extension phase.

Lead CapDev learning processes throughout the Humidtropics ecosystem• With activities in over 20 countries

across 3 continents, Humidtropics is a complex CRP.

• This area of work aims to capitalize (ideally in almost real-time) on the learning and experience taking place in different parts - geographically and thematically – of the CRP, and make them more accessible by other part of the program (accelerating learning, reducing duplication and enhancing uptake of best practice).

Coordinate a postgraduate research fellowship scheme• Support graduate training through

a postgraduate research fellowship scheme.

• The program will also include internship, sabbatical leaves, attachments, and visiting scientists’ scheme, mentoring and coaching.

• Ideally, this program would be funded through a central and substantial funding source – which will allow CapDev to seek matching funds from strategic partners.

Mobilize resources for CapDev and learning activities

• The current resources allocated to CapDev represent less than 2% of W1/W2 budgets

• There is a clear need to mobilize additional resources if CapDev activities are to encompass the full range of identified needs.

• Process matters… include in W3/bilateral proposals that are being submitted as mapped to the Humidtropics.

Other elements / sub-components:

– Develop and coordinate training programs and training – Convert research insights into tools and training media– Make learning (including social learning) explicit and

embedded into the research process (in collaboration with communications)

– Identification and mapping of common CapDev need in action areas

– Identification of partners and projects working in all action areas and devising appropriate CapDev interventions for these (while avoiding duplication).

– …and more

Thank youi.dror@cgiar.org / z.bamba@cgiar.org