PCT7

Program coordination team meeting #7 Date : 16 April Venue: online Time: 1500-1630 (East Africa time)

PCT page

=Participants=

Bernard Boni Jerry Irmgard Peter T Carlo Peter B

=Agenda=


 * Overall action points
 * USAID Update
 * Africa RISING Project updates
 * Eastern and southern Africa and West Africa
 * Research update
 * Staff update
 * Work plans and priorities
 * The Ethiopian highlands
 * Research update
 * Staff update
 * Work plans and priorities
 * M & E updates
 * Communication updates
 * Next PCT meeting - afternoon of 5 June
 * AOB: Collaboration with Livestock Innovation Lab. Point from Irmgard. If indeed ILRI and AR are involved in this - then ILRI please to make sure that the livestock agenda is in all the regions (not just ET). Boni to remind the ILRI focal points in any such conversations.

= Overall action points =


 * || **Action** || **Status** || **Notes and Actions update** ||
 * 1 || Finalise the regional logframes || ? We agreed that each project would have an overall logframe

ESA - done IHZ: FURTHER REVISION SUGGESTED BY EXTERNAL REVIEWERS WA - in progress (target: end Dec) IHZ: NOT DONE ET - in progress (target: end Dec

PT: better a ToC than a logframe Need the same across all 3 projects IHZ: ToC good (maybe has gaps) at program level; but LF better at project level. BVL: Overall ToC at program level maybe too vague? || ? action/discussion points


 * In June retreat: work on program ToC and reconsider need for logframes**

. ||
 * 2 || Update online events lists || See events list. Send updates to Simret

Program retreat and next phase planning (Jun) ESA review and planning (Jul)

? do we need something program wide around ways we engage farmers? **Include in program framework revision** || ? action/discussion points Discuss October symposium planning at June retreat ||
 * 3 || Science Advisory Group || ? Third meeting: dates, location. **PT to contact chair.**

Honoraria and stipends **proposals accepted; PT to follow up wth SAG chair** HERE || ? action/discussion points Peter T to follow up with SAG ||
 * 4 || Gender strategy || We already decided to use HT gender strategy for AR

Ethiopia has person and implementation plan

WA and ESA going to have a person (march 2015) ... then a plan; maybe desirable to share approach and learning IHZ: GENDER EXPERT JOINED ON 1 MARCH || ? action/discussion points


 * facilitate the linkages and implementation plans (and indicators) across the sites and and with HT** ||
 * 5 || SI framework and indicators || ? We need few specific indicators for research project, indicators that we could measure in the short project time. Before the USAID-commissioned external review

? San Jose session and working group the main vehicle to take this agenda forward - leading to a draft framework in March/April 2015 ...

ESA and WA came up with suggestions for sustainability indicators to kick off discussion of appropriateness, measurability, etc. Discussion included MSU, USAID, and WU but did not yield agreement.

Powerpoint summary available for further discussion


 * Vara from SI innovation lab putting together a small committee to move this quickly forward. This becomes a wider implementable framework beyond AR (that works at the least for AR and SI lab).**


 * San Jose report coming soon - Jerry to circulate**


 * This subject has a session in june retreat; need to have some prep activities.** || ? action/discussion points


 * Carlo, IHZ and PT to continue active involvement in the small follow-up committee.** ||
 * 6 || Project and program reviews || It was suggested to have internally-commissioned project evaluations Before the USAID-commissioned external program evaluation (planned June 2015)

WA project evaluation took place September to October 2014. IHZ: COMPLETED ESA project evaluation took place February-March 2015. IHZ: COMPLETED, REPORT UNDER PREP Ethiopia project evaluation: March-April 2015. PT: REPORT WRITING

ESA review briefing note

ESA review team PPT

ET review team PPT

After the project reviews are done, we would organize an internal stocktake/prep phase across the program - part of the planned retreat in June. || **For USAID external evaluation, October 2015 review teams launched (at the science symposium october), then to Ethiopia, then ESA (march 2016)**


 * Send names of possible reviewers to JG asap.**


 * Discuss results of external reviews at June retreat** ||
 * 7 || External reviews - Issues arising || Any issues from the WA / ESA / Ethiopia reviews relevant for the PCT

Work on Farm typologies - Carlo to lead follow up || AR 'scientific symposium' program event (not the regular review and planning) - link to preparing next phase. co-locate with learning/M&E events appoint organizing team (icrisat as local organizer); plus science organizing team - kindu, asamoah, mateete, peter, irmgard, sag member (PT to followup) || ? action/discussion points Circulate dates to scientists Form organizing team at June retreat || - agenda - preparations - logistics || **PB and Jerry to follow up retreat day at usaid**
 * Better discuss in Washington** || Follow up at June retreat ||
 * 8 || Learning and M&E events || **Farm Typologies**
 * CA - wants to hold a meeting to take this forward (in europe) with WUR. Carlo to lead the typologies followup. Need to link with HT discussions, embed into experimentation, engaging with farmers. BvL keen to join.** || ? action/discussion points
 * 9 || Africa RISING science symposium || Agreed after the meeting: 6-8 October in Mali
 * 10 || June 2015 retreat || We need to review the plans and agenda for the June program retreat: http://africa-rising.wikispaces.com/pct8

Data sharing policy was approved during the Arusha meeting (lNovember 2014). Policy is already binding for researchers on the ground; also for partners. Are partners mandated to share? Need to solve the problem of efficient workflow IFPRI-ILRI-outside world through the access and sharing permissions.
 * PB to advise on inputs needed** ||
 * 11 || Data management and sharing || We decided to use the ILRI CKAN platform.

Action: review final policy? It is accessible on the wiki: http://africarising.wikispaces.com/program_moneval

Action: Each center to investigate their project contracts and policies for compliance with OA requirements of CGIAR and USAID ... Action: have each center's legal office check our AR draft guidelines IHZ: DONE BY IITA-PAO || ? action/discussion points


 * Need to ensure that country data are contributed**
 * How do we get all the data submitted**
 * Next ESA review and planning meeting**
 * Follow up in washington - make space for this** ||

=USAID Update=

Enter MAJOR ongoing/planned and completed tasks

SI program identified as high priority for joint activities Discussing links with CRP HT/DFID Ground up may be more feasible than top down ||  || TZ project a great example / need to work more on other countries, eg Ghana (need to work with IFDC maybe) Need to find ways to frame and present specific deliverables ... May be potential with the Australians ... simlesa/simleza ... All the involved country usaid missions, except maybe ghana, good contacts Innovation platforms important with local partners ||  ||
 * **Task** || **Status** || **Notes for PCT review** ||
 * Links with BMGF and other funders || Jerry in contact with various Gates staff to explore potential activities.
 * Funding for scaling up || Various opportunities via USAID missions that we are exploring on a continuing basis.
 * SI Innovation Laboratory || KSU selected - Vara Prasad (vara@ksu.edu) ||  ||
 * || **Main points (already covered above):**


 * External review process**


 * SI indicator process** ||  ||

=ESA Update=

Enter MAJOR ongoing/planned and completed tasks


 * **Task** || **Status** || **Notes for PCT review** ||
 * 2014-2016 workplans and budget || Workplans and budget are with Steering Committee for approval IHZ: WORKPLANS ARE IMPLEMENTED ||  ||
 * Technical report to USAID || NEXT REPORT (OCTOBER 14 TO MARCH 15) UNDER PREPARATION ||  ||
 * Project document || Will be prepared before review in February (IHZ) IHZ: DONE ||  ||
 * IP establishment || R4D platforms in several locations IHZ: 2 IN TANZANIA AND 2 IN MALAWI AT DISTRICT LEVEL OPERATIONAL ||  ||
 * New partnerships || USAID Africa Bureau has provided US$ 350k to IITA for contracting MSU to carry out a desk study with Zambian national partners to provide the scientific evidence base for the links between field and farm level SI interventions and climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation. Project is implemented, inception workshops held. System Dynamics Model developed and introduced to partners during a workshop for feedback. Currently revised. IHZ: PROJECT RECEIVED NO COST EXTENSION UNTIL END OF AUGUST 15.

Concept note to the USAID mission in Tanzania is under preparation for scaling technologies for rice, maize, beans, vegetables, soil fertility (fertilizer), strengthening seed systems, post harvest handling (4.5-5m for 3 years). Project approved ($2,000,000 for year 1). Workplans currently finalized IHZ: SCALING EXPERT EMPLOYED IN FEBRUARY; GIS POSITION RE-ADVERTISED, INTERVIEWS ON 22 APRIL || ? action/discussion points Will this project continue beyond August 2015? || [] ||
 * External Review || IHZ: COMPLETED IN MARCH, REPORT YET TO BE RECEIVED, BRIEFING NOTES AVAILABLE || ? action/discussion points

=WA Update=

Enter MAJOR ongoing/planned and completed tasks

Prepared but needs revision - end of December 2014 IHZ: NOT DONE ||  ||
 * **Task** || **Status** || **Notes for PCT review** ||
 * Scientist visits to other countries || IHZ: IN APRIL SCIENTIST FROM WA AND ESA WILL VISIT LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES IN ET ||  ||
 * Project document || under preparation, will be ready for the project evaluation
 * 2014/15 Workplan implementation || PLANNING OF FIELD ACTIVITIES TO BE CONCLUDED SOON ||  ||
 * Technical report to USAID || REPORT FOR PERIOD OCTOBER 14 TO MARCH 15 UNDER PREPARATION ||  ||
 * IP establishment || 6 DISTRICT LEVEL PLATFORMS IN PLACE IN GHANA AND 2 IN MALI ||  ||
 * External review || FINAL REPORT RECEIVED, UPLOADED AND DISSEMINATED, RECOMMENDATIONS UNDER IMPLEMENTATION ||  ||

=Ethiopia Update=

Enter MAJOR ongoing/planned and completed tasks
 * **ask** ||< **Status** || **Notes for PCT review** ||
 * Meher season action research ||< c. 30 research protocols implemented across all sites after participant selection meetings. ||  ||
 * New partnerhships || Fertilizer project initial concept note approved, finalising proposal with mission (Ethiopia mission, led by ILRI)

Follow up with BMGF?

Good initial meetings with GAIN around nutrition (dairy and household nutrition; biofortification) || ? action/discussion points Fertilizer proposal did not come to fruition. Interesting indications of ground up adoption for scaling of AR initiatives (e.g. S. Tigray Zone / AGP inputs). Facilitated by IPs. || implementation ||  || ? action/discussion points Follow up and new protocols currently being submitted for implementation June 2015. Shift away from survey / diagnostics to on-farm action and scaling. ||
 * 2014-2015 workplan
 * Technical reports to USAID || October 2014 - March 2015 report in preparation ||  ||
 * IP establishment || Training of local facilitators in IP maintenance and comms tools; IPs established at different levels

IPs as potential locus for 'research on scaling'?

Several documents and guidelines produced || ? action/discussion points || Initial conversations with local comms partners (video/radio) to explore scaling support || ? action/discussion points Evidence already crystallising of "spontaneous" scaling. Two specific research protocols in preparation: 1. Mapping the diffusion of Africa RISING innovations via spontaneous scaling activities. 2. A comparison of campaign based approaches to promote the scaling of AR innovations. ||
 * External review || Took place March/April 2015; report in preparation || ? action/discussion points ||
 * Planning meeting || Took place early December 2014; Reviewed protocols; focus on scaling and led to draft scaling plan ||  ||
 * Monthly CGIAR meetings || Well attended with regular info sharing and reportng ||  ||
 * Scaling || Draft scaling plan produced

=M&E Update=

Enter MAJOR ongoing/planned and completed tasks

Finalize data management plan by November (for PCT meeting)
 * **Task** || **Status** || **Notes for PCT review** ||
 * AR data management protocol

Actions: PMMT training in all countries/sites PMMT 2.0 and associated FTF indicators' aggregation (deadline met: October 31) PMMT update || Done, discussed and approved

Done Completed Ongoing Under discussion || Main point is the data sharing and management - ensure (meta)data is shared

BVL: whose job is it to analyze the data? - the projects all together. Up to each project to do own analysis.

IFPRI needs to alert project scientists that the baseline data is available. send a reminder.

Another main point the evolving IFPRI scope of work in AR || Data sharing Malawi ARBES published on IFPRI internal platform (Dataverse): Tanzania next
 * AR baseline surveys (Implementation)

Data cleaning and documentation for Malawi, Tanzania, Mali, Ghana, and Ethiopia

Reports under preparation: -Ghana and Mali reports to be shared with field research teams by 4/30 -Tanzania under revision -Malawi and Ethiopia next in the agenda

Actions: Follow up with Zambia and Wageningen team (for SIMLEZA data access); with Thom Jayne (MSU) (for RALS data access) || Completed Ongoing Completed

Data cleaning done for MWI, TZA. Data already shared with many AR researchers

Ongoing

Not yet pursued ||  || Wageningen team FAO: Memorandum of Understanding signed Vital Signs VS shared documentation on indicators, data use policy, shapefiles for TZ and Ghana
 * Collaborations:
 * Chief scientist to review VS agricultural intensification thread and select key indicators
 * IFPRI aligned AR control sites with Vital Signs sites in northern Ghana
 * But access to VS's household-level data can become a problem

Biosight/IAMM (water, land, ecosystem integration) || Ongoing Done, Ongoing

Done Done, data collection on 278 plots completed, analysis ongoing

Ongoing collaboration ||  || Talks b/n IFPRI Finance and IITA/IWMI for WA and ESA M&E coordinators (positions) SRA/Data Manager position filled || ESA position filled in January 2015 WA canceled for lack of funds Completed, SRA onboard ||  ||   ||
 * Update
 * Annual M&E meeting preparation and organization in Arusha || Completed ||  ||   ||
 * Paper on targeting and expected impact in Malawi submitted to ICAE and CSAE; poster presented at Humidtropics conference || Done, presented at several conferences ||  ||   ||
 * First draft of IFPRI Scope of Work circulated: comments received and second draft in preparation || Ongoing ||  ||   ||
 * AR-CKAN: 36 metadata received. Links sent to researchers to upload the data || Ongoing ||  ||   ||
 * IFPRI-IITA collaboration on research output for Ghana (and possibly Mali) || Ongoing ||  ||   ||

=Comms Update=

Enter MAJOR ongoing/planned and completed tasks

Ethiopia site brochures: DONE ||  || cgspace.cgiar.org/handle/10568/27623 || Now 18 completed (all ethiopia); converting another 10 or so from other regions with same template || All key documents linked from web site 32 updates and posts this year (from all regions) Extra attention to products presented at HT/Systems conference in March 12000 views this year (9000 same period last year) || Need to go thru and update descriptive info on ESA and WE || Increasing use of the wiki 25000 views from 9000 visitors ||  || 288 documents/products online 19 in 2015 77 in 2014 IITA discussing to join cgspace as its own repository ||  ||
 * **Task** || **Status** || **Notes for PCT review** ||
 * Publicity materials || WA poster under preparation IHZ: DONE
 * Briefs || **See list at:**
 * Virtual comms team catchups || Irregular ||  ||
 * Half-yearly comms metrics/stats ||  || http://africa-rising.wikispaces.com/webstats ||
 * Web site updates || Updated several pages after learning event
 * Wiki gardening/management || Major work done last year
 * Documents to CGSPACE || regularly updated
 * Use of yammer for internal updating || We are seeing regular posting and reactions || Do we need more systematic/regular internal updates from coordinators? ||
 * Photo sharing on flickr || regularly updated ||  ||
 * Presentations shared on slideshare || regularly updated ||  ||
 * ARISING calendar updating || regularly updated ||  ||
 * Photojournalist 2014 Ethiopia || completed- pictures shared on flickr, blogs and photofilm are being edited ||  ||
 * Photojournalist 2015 ESA || planning started || Location, dates, ?


 * PB to follow up urgently** ||
 * Learning Event 2015 ||  || location? dates, link to M&E and to 'science' meeting? ||