TrustArc Webinar - Unlock the Power of AI-Driven Data Discovery
Africa RISING West Africa: Year 1 overview
1. Africa RISING West
Africa: Year 1 overview
Irmgard Hoeschle-Zeledon (IITA)
Africa RISING West Africa Review and
Planning Meeting Tamale, Ghana, 23-25
October 2012
2. The Start
Oct. 2011: Brain storming meeting; agreement on
countries and regions: UER, UWR, NR [Ghana], Sikasso
[Mali]; agreement on key farming systems
Nov./Dec. 2011: Development of Concept Note
3 farming systems: sorghum-, maize-, rice-based
Jan. 2012: Inception workshop Tamale:
+/- agreement on objectives, outcomes, outputs;
confirmation of regions and farming systems;
need for a thorough research framework;
fast track workplan building on existing work to produce results by
September 2012
3. Next steps
Feb. 2012: First disbursement of funds to AfricaRice and
ICRISAT; recruitment of systems agronomist; in ESA
decision on program approach
March: Stakeholder workshop for site selection in Ghana
4 districts/region,
5 communities/district
April 2012: set up of Project office in Tamale; recruitment
of admin staff;
4. May: Community analysis in Ghana; Community Action
Plan
District stratification and characterization
(rainfall, elevation, population, market access) by IFPRI
June 2012: development and summission of joint
workplan; sub-agreements with partners; disbursement of
funds
Continuously: Strategic Program documents developed
6. Research framework
Generic to be applicable across all three Africa RISING
regions
flexible to allow site specific adaptation
Program Research Framework Task Force initiated by Jerry
Glover, USAID, and coordinated CIMMYT
Workshop in July in Ibadan, Nigeria, to advance draft
Completed, presented later
7. M&E Plan
Led by IFPRI
Workshop in Addis Ababa in September
Requires finalization of site selection process and
research plan
Status presented later
9. WA Steering Committee ToR
Provides advice and oversight on Project activities
Provides science guidance to Project implementers to ensure conformity
with Program Research Framework and Program Objectives
Guides Project planning and activities
Approves annual Project workplan and budget
Oversees coordination between project components and partners
Liaises with MET to oversee M&E; cc PCT on all reporting
Keeps PCT informed of activities via the Project Coordinator
Reviews and makes suggestions to Project Coordinator on semiannual
technical progress reports to USAID
Plans yearly stakeholder meetings with support from Program
Communications Team.
Decisions made by consensus.
Meets annually in personal and virtually as called by the Chair.
10. Membership
Chair: IITA (R. Asiedu, Regional Director West Africa)
Project Coordinator, serves as Secretary (I. Hoeschle-
Zeledon)
Project Chief Scientist (A. Larbi, IITA)
Project M&E Lead (IFPRI)
Project Communications Lead (K. Lopez, IITA)
Research partners: CGIAR (1 rotational [ICRISAT]),
CORAF (E. Asiedu), CSIR (A. Salifu), AGRA (K. Makinde)
USAID Activity Manager (J. Glover)
11. Other strategic documents
Communication Strategy and Tools
wiki page, website , image and document repository
Program Logframe
Program Document: assembly of all strategic documents
program context
purpose, objectives, outcomes
guiding principles and conceptual framework
research design
logframe
M&E plan
communication strategy
management structure
12. 17 August: Visit US Congressional Staff
to inspect bilateral and multilateral food security programs in
northern Ghana
met by SARI Director and Africa RISING chief scientist
visit of demonstration trails of drought and Striga tolerant
maize; rice seed multiplication and varietal trials
interactions with farmers
13. Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation
africa-rising.net