pct9

=Africa RISING program coordination team meeting #9= =Date : 7 July 2015= =Venue: Online= =Time: 15:00 - 16:00 (EAT)=

PCT page

Quick PCT meeting post Washington DC

Next PCT meeting, 4 August

Main discussion/action areas for updates:

= Overall action points =


 * || **Action** || **Status** || **Notes and Actions update** ||
 * 1 || Theory of change and impact pathways || Adopt a program level ToC - Clean and finalise this - expose to teams and scientists, getting feedback. Irmgard, PeterT, chief scientists. By end July.

Elaborate ToC for 'project' activities/protocols in regions. **Start in Ethiopia with project ToC to groundtruth the approach. PeterT. Feedback/learning in early september**.

Early Sept - organize a cross-region discussion - Bernard to lead


 * Find the wider FtF/USAID 'zone of influence' numbers and include as targets in phase 2 (from scaling and partners not from direct research)**. Add thru the IPs. Carlo/IFPRI with heavy inputs from country teams. Ready in time for the external review - mid Oct latest


 * Included into work stream of the program workshop** || ? action/discussion points

Ethiopia test - PT to follow up urgently.

Wageningen meeting include update on this

. ||
 * 2 || 'Systems' research futures || Washington perception that cg systems crps 'failed' - implications for AR? Bernard assured us that the recent situation is more positive.

Mission buy-in is a way to counter this

Different forms of 'systems' research - livelihoods systems versus cropping/farming systems. Worry that systems research in new commodity agri-food crps will be less livelihoods type.

These issues and concerns need to be addressed in the phase 2 proposal

Develop and document a strong evidence based storyline; breadth, focus .. unique selling point.

Ready in time for the external review - mid Oct latest


 * Included into work stream of the program workshop** || To be discussed in the pct design retreat in Wageningen

Use the strategy workshop to take forward. ||
 * 3 || Phase 2 proposal || Proposal to be submitted - April/May 2016 estimate

Develop and document a strong evidence base for the scaling approach; partnerships; numbers; impact pathways

Have something around the 5+2 SI indicators ready

Perhaps need to have 3 projects - linked - to avoid usaid financial ceilings

Constitute small design group - petert, irmgard, chief scientists, carlo, bernard - impact pathways piece - systems piece - numbers piece [dates: 1-4 september in Wageningen)

Consider ways other initiatives can co-support AR; or we co-support them (eg **BMGF-ICRISAT sep 2015 drylands WA convening - Bernard following up**)

Need to consider 2 other issues in the phase 2 proposal: partnerships; climate-smart ag


 * Included into work stream of the program workshop** || To be discussed in the pct design retreat in Wageningen

Use the strategy workshop to take forward.

Drylands convening - Bernard follow up || - take stock how this happens in different countries - chief scientists
 * 3 || Engaging farmers into program activities || - we have engagement guidelines / circulate and perhaps revise/ common principles needed
 * Included into work stream of the program workshop** || Irmgard is following up with chief scientists and Platform coordinators (PT to follow up in Ethiopia). ||
 * 4 || Science Advisory Group || ? Third meeting with current membership later in June: dates, location. **PT to contact chair.**


 * ? SAG membership - need replacements for Maggie Gill (livestock) as chair and Dave Harris (farming systems) or economist. PT to lead.**

Convene special PCT virtual session on SAG members by mid July; nominate new names by end June.


 * PCT has to decide the new members**. **Peter T and Carlo to coordinate.**


 * early august PCT to decide on all this. One more email attempt, then the meeting.** || ? action/discussion points


 * 3rd meeting virtual in June**


 * 4th meeting in Ethiopia in Nov**


 * Invited to the Oct workshop** ||
 * 5 || SI framework and indicators || We are using these in the new program framework

2 postdocs getting involved - thru MSU and Columbia U; first results in July 2016. partners meetings, validation, visits all planned, also with AR sites. July 2015 start. Vara to send concept notes to Jerry to circulate.

Post-San Jose steering committee led by SI lab (Vara) the main vehicle to take this agenda forward. Also need more comms around the agenda and all the various activities to wider groups (eg the san jose group). Evolving into a SI CoP.

ESA in March 2016 Final report April 2016 Interim report Nov 2015 Make clear it is 3+1 projects || Jerry indicates no changes so far
 * Included into work stream of the program workshop** || ? action/discussion points
 * Carlo, IHZ and PT to continue active involvement in the steering committee.** ||
 * 6 || USAID commissioned external evaluation || Starts September 2015; Ethiopia, Ghana, program workshop, then Mali

Background materials to be prepared on wiki. ||
 * 7 || Farm typologies work || CA - Hold a meeting to take this forward. Carlo to lead the typologies followup. Need to link with HT discussions, embed into experimentation, engaging with farmers.

Wageningen meeting planned - 31 Aug and 1 Sep

To be held 6-8 October in Mali co-locate with learning/M&E events || ? action/discussion points
 * Included into work stream of the program workshop** || ? action/discussion points
 * Work on Farm typologies - Carlo to lead follow up** ||
 * 8 || Africa RISING program strategy workshop || Agreed that the symposium needs to be more of a strategic workshop.

See points below ||

=Preparing the October workshop=

Invitations sent Local host Agenda ||
 * Work stream || Discussion points/actions || people responsible (**process shepherd pre-meeting)** || Preparation phase ||
 * Logistics ||  || Irmgard leading organizing committee || Organizing committee
 * Evidence-based narratives, stories, briefs, products for different audiences || PB to follow up with Carlo || Carlo; **PeterB** || Agree template (2-pager); ||
 * ^  ||^   ||^   || Produce model (with content); ||
 * ^  ||^   ||^   || Solicit stories and ideas for technologies to be discussed at meeting (min 3 per country) ||
 * Reflections and guidance on typologies and IPs || PT to help Irmgard on that one. || **Irmgard**; Jeroen, Carlo, Bernard, PCT || Tables of typologies by country; ||
 * ^  ||^   ||^   || Info on ways we engage with farmers by country; ||
 * ^  ||^   ||^   || IP status by country ||
 * Targets and scaling approaches ||  || **Carlo**; Bernard (for diagram write-up) || Draft template across the 5 SI dimensions; ||
 * ^  ||^   ||^   || Proof of concept of possible scaling targets ||
 * SI indicators and assessment framework ||  || Sieg, **PeterT** || Draft assessment framework; ||
 * ^  ||^   ||^   || SI lab concept note ||
 * Phase II proposal ||  || **Bernard** || Vision of success; ||
 * ^  ||^   ||^   || ToC; ||
 * ^  ||^   ||^   || Hypotheses; ||
 * ^  ||^   ||^   || System perspective write-up ||
 * ^  ||^   ||^   || (generated in the september design group meeting) ||

=Phase 1 action list= We did not review this - needs to fold into lists above
 * Action || Discussion points/actions || Format || Team ||
 * Explain and document and capitalize on our system-level perspectives. Define AR identity and unique selling points - roles, beneficiaries, value added … ||  || info in the proposal || Irmgard, Peter T, Peter B., Kindu, Asamoah, Mateete, Bernard, Jerry, Carlo ||
 * Document and contextualize impact/adoption through data. Explain/document R&D impact and institutional impact. Carry out socioeconomic analysis ad risks. ||  || reports,flyers, materials with evidence, case studies per country, some for symposium? Selling our key USPs - systems, the 5 SI domains || Carlo+4, Bekele, Asamoah, Mateete, Peter T., Jonathan, Simret, Peter B., ||
 * Identify and document technology packages and protocols (link to farmer typologies) ||  || database of technologies; some other types of derivative products (factsheets) || ALL through the PMMT, Peter T., Jeroen, Carlo, bernard ||
 * Develop and use system-wide SI indicators; AR own small group to speed this up. || Discuss at October workshop ||  || Irmgard, Peter T., Bernard, Jerry, Carlo ||
 * Data management: farm/farmer data; queryable database of AR farmers || LATER || PT/CA to discuss soon || IFPRI team, ILRI, in collaboration with the research teams ||
 * Boosting cross-project science learning, science symposium || LATER ||  || Peter B., Irmgard, Peter T. ||
 * Projects to clarify R4D/IPs roles, objectives and approach - especially to IP members and participants. ESA and WA to document their platforms and guidelines and practices ||  || useful for the external review team / include in symposium maybe || Mateete, Asamoah, Peter T. ||
 * Recruit AR manager/administrator for program level work packages || LATER || July/aug pct meeting discuss further. || Irmgard, Peter T., Peter B., Carlo ||
 * Recruit M&E data staffing/people into each regional project || LATR || include in phase 2 based on phase 1 experiences. TOR by Carlo; recruitment joint effort || Irmgard, Peter T., Peter B., Carlo ||
 * Strengthen relations with AID missions || LATER || do streams B and C for missions. Use Tracey in Ethiopia || chief scientists; PT, IHZ ||
 * Strengthen national partners || LATER || YES || Mateete, Asamoah, Peter T. ||