Innovation Platforms Explained Empower & engage actors in RWM strategies Gov’t Line Depts: We want to make a difference for our people but there are no incentives for different departments to work together to achieve our common goals. NGOs: We want to support development activities but we can’t address the structural factors that underlie rural poverty with our limited resources and time Development Agents: We spend time working with farmers but we have no budget, transport, incentives and little control over major decisions so can’t facilitate development process effectively So what can we do to improve this situation? An Innovation Platform is a need-based network bringing together stakeholders from different interest groups, disciplines, sectors and organizations to exchange knowledge, generate innovation and develop joint action. Platforms are more than just places to talk; they create opportunities for stakeholders to test solutions to common problems. But how do innovation platforms change how things are done? Empowers actors Addresses wide range of issues Leads to joint action Involves wider institutions, policies and markets Encourages local actors to own the process Improves communication between stakeholders Achieve sustainable landscapes & improved livelihoods Push RWM interventions & technologies Achieve short term quotas But stakeholders are not coordinated Farmers: We want to improve landscapes and livelihoods but we are not involved in planning process and our concerns are not recognized. Facilitates learning Contributes to new knowledge Builds capacity to innovate Includes different sources of knowledge Changes habits and practices Local Administration: We have good policies for improving local livelihoods and landscapes but we have problems in implementation Private sector: We see many business opportunities but we can’t realize the benefits in the absence of favorable enabling environment Research Institutes & Universities: We have many useful research results and technologies but we have difficulty ensuring their uptake at local level Create an Innovation Platform! NBDC Local Research NGO Private sector Woreda extension Woreda water Woreda admin Champion farmers Woreda offices NBDC research outputs Indigenous knowledge Business ideas National research Community Community Community Action 3 or CoordinationfailureCoordinationfailureNile International Livestock Research Institute ILRI Beth Cullen and Kebebe Ergano Licensed for use under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License. Produced by ILRI KMIS, November 2011. Prepared for the International Forum on Water and Food, South Africa, 14-17 November 2011.