AISA Workshop on Agricultural Innovation Systems in Africa

The EU-funded project JOLISAA (JOint Learning in Innovation Systems in African Agriculture) coordinated by CIRAD, France; the Prolinnova (PROmoting Local INNOVAtion in ecologically oriented agriculture and resource management) international network hosted by ETC Foundation, Netherlands; the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS); the AusAID-funded project Food System Innovation for Food Security (FSIFS) and other partners are jointly learning about approaches to enhance knowledge-to-action linkages among actors in agricultural innovation systems in Africa. Together, they held an Workshop on Agricultural Innovation Systems in Africa (AISA) - 29–31 May 2013, Nairobi, Kenya -  where experiences from various institutions and initiatives were shared in order to increase our understanding of multi-stakeholder innovation processes in agriculture, with a focus on recognising the role of smallholder farmers – both men and women – in innovation. The workshop led to identification of key messages for research, practice and policy to strengthen innovation processes in smallholder agriculture.