2015 Interim narrative report - final

Year 1 activities were mainly on establishment of the project team at the global and country levels. A Partnership Agreement between AGRINATURA-EEIG and FAO was formalized and signed, and practical coordination mechanisms established. A Specific Power of Attorney between AGRINATURA-EEIG members within CDAIS was created, agreed and signed by all members, serving as the consortium agreement among members. At the country level, letters of interest and project documents were signed by the national governments of each pilot country and the respective FAO country offices, confirming the engagement of each country to the project, although the negotiation process took more time than originally envisaged. A project governance, communication and management document was developed, agreed and used by all team members at the global and country level, providing the terms of reference for each project team member and committees.

The Project Coordination Unit was established in Montpellier, France working closely with the FAO CDAIS Technical Unit in Rome. This unit is composed of a Project Coordinator (ICRA) and Finance controller (CIRAD) with support in administration and communication (ICRA). Country Project Managers (CPM) were recruited by the FAO offices through joint decision with AGRINATURA-EEIG Lead Organization in Bangladesh, Honduras, Guatemala, Laos and Rwanda, with recruitment underway in the remaining 5 countries. An AGRINATURA-EEIG Task Team (ATT) was formed composed of focal persons assigned for each pilot country and the coordination support unit of the AGRINATURA-EEIG Business unit, ICRA and CIRAD.

Approaches to agricultural innovation systems were reviewed and gathered as basis for the development of the Common Framework on Capacity Development (CD) for Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) (including concepts, methods, tools for CD and associated M&E). The Framework was drafted and shared among global experts who in turn reviewed and provided input for the second draft of the Framework.

Scoping studies were conducted in all 8 pilot countries (Angola, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, Laos, Rwanda and Burkina Faso; the latter replacing Niger due to security concerns and travel restrictions on European member organizations of AGRINATURA-EEIG). Results showed diversity in the countries in terms of understanding and use of the concept of agricultural innovation systems as well as supporting policy environment.