pct8

Africa RISING program coordination team meeting #8 Date : 5 June 2015 Venue: IFPRI, Washington DC Time: 09:00 - 1300

PCT page

=Participants= Jerry Glover Irmgard Hoeschle-Zeledon Peter Thorne Carlo Azzarri Bernard Vanlauwe Siboniso Moyo Peter Ballantyne

sara kindu asamoah

=Notes from the meeting=

=Logistics= Immediately following the program retreat

=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
 * SAG: new chair, conflicts of interest?, remuneration
 * Next PCT meeting - first thursday of every month. gotomeeting. 9 am washington DC.
 * AOB:

= 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 - groundtruth. PeterT. Feedback/learning by end August.

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

For current phase use any existing planning tools/instruments

Review approach and plans in the symposium.

Find the wider FtF/USAID 'zone of influence' numbers and include as targets (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

. ||
 * 2 || 'Systems' research futures || Perception that cg systems crps 'failed' - implications for AR?

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 || ? action/discussion points ||
 * 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 Wagenngen)

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

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

Any CRP association? Or not?

What focus and how to get there?

- Included into work stream of the program workshop || this whole thing to be discussed in the pct design retreat ||
 * 6 || Program Agenda/Calendar || See events list. Send updates to Simret

ESA review and planning (Jul) External Review Symposium PMMT trainings - feedback sessions with farmers - Carlo to co-plan with country scientists || ? action/discussion points || - take stock how this happens in different countries - chief scientists - Included into work stream of the program workshop || ? actions/discussion points ||
 * 7 || Engaging farmers into program activities || - we have engagement guidelines / circulate and perhaps revise/ common principles needed
 * 8 || 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. || ? action/discussion points


 * 3rd meeting virtual in June**


 * 4th meeting in Ethiopia in Nov**


 * Invited to the Oct symposium** ||
 * 9 || 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.

- Included into work stream of the program workshop || ? action/discussion points
 * Carlo, IHZ and PT to continue active involvement in the steering committee.** ||
 * 9 || Internal-commissioned Project and program reviews and issues arising || Projects to act on the recommendations, as appropriate

Suggest projects provide responses/commentaries on the review reports. Useful for the USAID reviewers. PT/IHZ ||  || ESA in March 2016 Final report April 2016 Interim report Nov 2015 Make clear it is 3+1 projects
 * 10 || USAID commissioned external evaluation || Starts September 2015; Ethiopia, Ghana, program workshop, then Mali

Report needs to say that AR learned, has a new framework has more focus, etc. ||  ||
 * 11 || Farm typologies work || 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.

Wageningen meeting planned - end 24-26 August

- Included into work stream of the program workshop || ? action/discussion points To be held 6-8 October in Mali co-locate with learning/M&E events || ? action/discussion points || Data sharing policy was approved during the Arusha meeting (lNovember 2014). Policy is already binding for researchers on the ground; also for partners. Partners are mandated to share Need to solve the problem of efficient workflow IFPRI-ILRI-outside world through the access and sharing permissions.
 * Work on Farm typologies - Carlo to lead follow up** ||
 * 12 || Africa RISING program strategy workshop || Agreed that the symposium needs to be more of a strategic workshop.
 * 13 || 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/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


 * **Task** || **Status** || **Notes for PCT review** ||
 * Links with other funders ||  ||   ||
 * Funding for scaling up ||  ||   ||
 * SI Innovation Laboratory ||  ||   ||

=ESA Update=

Enter MAJOR ongoing/planned and completed tasks

Report submitted to donor ||  || revision not done ||  ||
 * **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; GIS position filled on 1 June || ? action/discussion points Will this project continue beyond August 2015? ||

=WA Update= Enter MAJOR ongoing/planned and completed tasks

Very successful visit ||  || Prepared but needs revision - end of December 2014 IHZ: NOT DONE; Revision still not done ||  || Wokrplan updated and partner contracts signed ||  || Submitted ||  || FARA to be contracted to help with Platforms in Ghana ||  ||
 * **Task** || **Status** || **Notes for PCT review** ||
 * Scientist visits to other countries || IHZ: IN APRIL SCIENTISTS 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;

=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 reporting ||  ||
 * Scaling || Draft scaling plan produced

Exploring links with Digital Green and Farm Radio ||

=M&E Update=

Enter MAJOR ongoing/planned and completed tasks


 * **Task** || **Status** || **Notes for PCT review** ||
 * **PMMT**

Actions: 2 days of PMMT training in all countries/sites

Updates to the tool, among other things, separation of the mapping application from the data entry application (to make the system faster).

This round of training on the PMMT will include: -training on the FtF indicators -training on consistency-checks embedded excel template for offline data compilation (for uploading onto the PMMT and then FtFMS)

IFPRI is working with AR colleagues to identify AR researchers for these training, as this round of training be given to selected AR researchers willing to serve as Points of Contacts (PoCs), to jointly address questions that may arise post training,

IFPRI also proposes that all Ftf data get uploaded onto the PMMT by October 31st or a month before the FtFMS portal closes, to give time for checking and aggregation of WP-level data to mega-site level || Ongoing

Coordination of training ongoing

Ongoing, ready by mid-June in time for the training || 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. -> done

Another main point the evolving IFPRI scope of work in AR -SoW circulated || Malawi ARBES published on IFPRI internal platform (Dataverse): Tanzania next
 * ** Data **

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

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

Data cleaning done for MWI, TZA.

Ghana report shared, Mali ongoing Ongoing

Not yet pursued due to lack of time in analyzing Zambia data ||  || Wageningen team FAO: Memorandum of Understanding signed Biosight/IAMM (water, land, ecosystem integration) Bioversity IFPRI-IITA collaboration on research output for Ghana (and possibly Mali) IFPRI-IITA collaboration on data collection in Babati (with Job Kihara and Gundula Fischer) || Ongoing Ongoing Ongoing Dialogue initiated
 * **External collaborations**:
 * Internal collaborations**:

Ongoing Dialogue initiated ||  || Talks b/n IFPRI, IITA and ILRI for Ghana, Mali, and Ethiopia M&E data managers. Asamoah's proposal is to hire nationally recruited M&E officers for Ghana and Mali with IFPRI's total contribution of $50k; Peter T. proposal is to hire a data manager in Ethiopia with IFPRI's contribution of $35k. IFPRI is proposing that Ethiopia/ILRI data manager be responsible for both monitoring of EH project and managing of AR data through CKAN || Under discussion ||  ||   || 42 metadata received thus far:
 * **Staffing**
 * Annual M&E meeting preparation and organization in Bamako, (October 2015) jointly with the Science Symposium || Ongoing ||  ||   ||
 * Paper on targeting and expected impact in Malawi submitted to ICABR and ICAE; poster presented at Humidtropics conference || Done, presented at several conferences ||  ||   ||
 * Paper on Sustainable Intensification and Dietary Quality: How sensitive is crop income to dietary quality in Malawi? Abstract submitted to the 2nd International Conference on Nutrition, October 2015, Cornell || Ongoing ||  ||   ||
 * IFPRI Scope of Work circulated. Discussion completed with USAID || Approved by USAID with comments ||  ||   ||
 * **AR-CKAN:**
 * 17 from Ethiopia
 * 9 from Mali
 * 4 from Ghana
 * 1 from Zambia
 * 2 from Tanzania
 * 5 from IFPRI
 * 4 from WUR

No metadata received from Malawi.

Links sent to researchers to upload the data. So far, only 14 raw data are uploaded, some with missing information (the deadline was end of April):
 * 3 from Ethiopia
 * 4 from Ghana
 * 1 from Tanzania
 * 1 from Zambia
 * 5 from IFPRI

Option to discuss is to use Agtrials data, available from CCAFS here [|http://www.agtrials.org] || Ongoing || How many agr. trials do we have in AR?

Do we hold back funding from people not delivering data

Chief scientists have important roles

Culture of sharing and awareness, capacity development necessary

Improve the workflows for CKAN? widen access to CKAN? ||  ||

=Comms Update=

Enter MAJOR ongoing/planned and completed tasks

cgspace.cgiar.org/handle/10568/27623 || Now 18 completed (all ethiopia); converting another 10 or so from other regions with same template || 12000 views this year (9000 same period last year) || Need to go thru and update descriptive info on ESA and WE || 19 in 2015 77 in 2014 IITA will join cgspace as its own repository ||  ||
 * **Task** || **Status** || **Notes for PCT review** ||
 * Publicity materials ||  ||   ||
 * Briefs || **See list at:**
 * Virtual comms team catchups || Irregular ||  ||
 * Half-yearly comms metrics/stats ||  || http://africa-rising.wikispaces.com/webstats ||
 * Web site updates || 32 updates and posts this year (from all regions)
 * Wiki gardening/management || 25000 views from 9000 visitors ||  ||
 * Documents to CGSPACE || 288 documents/products online
 * 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 2016 ESA ||  ||   ||
 * Learning Event 2015 ||  || Link to 'science' meeting in October ||
 * Messaging ||  || Prepare slide decks of data, evidence, stories; also climate-smart ag and private sector ||