Presented by Iddo Dror (ILRI) and Zoumana Bamba (IITA) at the CGIAR Research Program on the Humidtropics Extension Proposal Development Workshop, Nairobi, Kenya, 18-20 March 2014

1. Capacity Development (CapDev) in the Humidtropics CRP
Key Strategy and Elements for Extension Phase 2015-16
Iddo Dror and Zoumana Bamba
Capacity Development focal points for CRP Humidtropics
CGIAR Research Program on the Humidtropics / Extension Proposal Development Workshop /
Nairobi, Kenya/ 18-20 March 2014

2. A bit of context…
Capacity Development in the
CGIAR:
• Where do we come from
• Where are we going?

3. 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 the
CGIAR 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

4. Renewed interest at highest levels in systemic
Capacity Development efforts

5. 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

6. Overview of CapDev in the Humidtropics CRP
in 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.

7. Overview of CapDev in the Humidtropics CRP
The 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.

8. Key Messages for an Implementation Plan
Evidence matters
NARS matter
Context matters
Partnerships matter
Technology matters

9. 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.

10. 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

11. 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.

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. 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).

19. 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.

20. 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.

21. 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

22. Thank you
i.dror@cgiar.org / z.bamba@cgiar.org