Science and Technical Partnerships in Africa: Technologies, Platforms and Partnerships in support of the African agricultural science agenda

1. Technologies, Platforms and Partnerships
in support of the
African agricultural science agenda
April 4 and 5, 2017
Co-hosted with AfricaRice, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire

2. 1
Overview
A meeting was held in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire April 4 and 5, 2017, co-hosted by IFPRI and AfricaRice, to
strengthen linkages and forge stronger partnerships around new ideas, tools and technologies that
contribute to developments in agricultural science, technology and innovation. The meeting was attended
by over 60 participants from international development institutions (World Bank, Africa Development Bank,
IFAD and USAID) and technical partners (CGIAR Centers, national partners including universities, sub-
regional organizations, private sector and NGOs). It demonstrated how new technologies and their
assessments, delivery mechanisms, shared platforms, and new tools will support agricultural
transformation and economic development in Africa.
The Scientific and Technical Partnerships in Africa program, hosted by IFPRI, is a continuation of the
CAADP and CGIAR alignment activities that were initiated during the Dublin Process. During the
formulation of these activities, a Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa (S3A or Science Agenda) was
developed by the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) and listed as one of the key deliverables
in the Memorandum of Understanding between CGIAR and the African Union Commission (AUC) signed
in 2013. IFAD supported the development of the Science Agenda through initial support to FARA and it
was officially launched in 2014. In response to and as part of CGIAR’s technical support to the
implementation of the Science Agenda, IFPRI organized its activities around the following research
concepts: 1) Develop and disseminate tools needed to promote information sharing and new
agricultural research findings at national and regional levels, and 2) Contribute evidence-based
pathways to ensure research has direct impact on rural poverty and food and nutrition security.
Partners for this project were identified based on the expertise they bring to each of three workstreams
identified and they include the following: CGIAR Centers and Research Programs (CRPs), institutions that
form the Science for Agriculture Consortium (S4AC), organized to ensure support to the implementation of
the S3A which include FARA, the three Sub-regional Organizations (SROs) ASARECA, CCARDESA,
CORAF/WECARD, the Africa Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS), and RUFORUM, a
network of universities in support of capacity building for future growth throughout Africa. IFAD support for
the work of the S&T Partnerships in Africa Program was used to leverage and complement research with
the same partner institutions with support from the CGIAR Research Program – Policies, Institutions and
Markets (PIM), and to build on earlier work supported through the U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).
It was recognized that the meeting was held at an important time when there is a desire to move beyond
“business as usual” to create greater impact and raise the standard of living of millions in Africa, through
innovative partnerships, especially among development institutions and technical research groups, such as
CGIAR, to create long-term economic impact through agriculture research and development. The
discussions over two days of meeting covered delivery mechanisms and platforms, new tools including
economic and cross-sectoral modeling to gauge further impact, and promising agricultural technologies that
through on-the-ground partnerships -- at both the national and sub-regional levels – are contributing to
economic and social change. Participants agreed that it is not enough to generate technologies, as new
innovations must also be demand-driven, taken up and scaled out, to be effectively used. The important
role that African partner institutions play in the brokering, coordination, and dissemination of agricultural
technologies and innovations at the national and regional levels was therefore at the forefront of the
discussions.
For a full overview of meeting presentations and program, as well as information from earlier
meetings led by the S&T Partnerships program please go to https://www.ifpri.org/project/scientific-and-
technical-partnerships-africa

3. 2
The meeting not only focused on the deliverables from the three workstreams, but also went into discussion
around next steps regarding delivery mechanisms for agricultural R&D and creating stronger partnerships.
This included the need to (i) build a solid business case around individual technologies and create
partnerships that will lead to successful scaling up, and (ii) address related institutional challenges
and opportunities facing countries in Africa in the coming years.
The three workstreams include the following activities:
1. A Technology Platform, being developed as a technical partnership instrument, to provide data
and analytical assistance to partners in helping them improve data collection and management
for improved agricultural investment planning. In this workstream, IFPRI partners with
ASARECA, CCARDESA, and CORAF/WECARD in country-led case studies to define the
uptake and adoption of agricultural technologies and provide pilot opportunities to “broker” new
technologies through partnerships along the value chain. Country case studies, chosen by the
SRO partners and designed as part of the initial phase focused on CORAF/WECARD’s work on
NERICA rice in Senegal, ASARECA’s work on quality protein maize (QPM) in Uganda, and
CCARDESA’s research on improved breeding of sheep and goats in Namibia.
2. A portal developed by RUFORUM and ASTI/IFPRI on African Agricultural Higher Education
Capacities (agHeD). The meeting also included updates from ASTI’s new datasets and analyses
on agricultural R&D indicators for Africa South of the Sahara.
3. A group of ex-ante Technology Assessments of 10 key CGIAR agricultural technologies,
produced with partner institutions. This work involved determination of potential impacts and
demonstrated key analytical tools to support the implementation and delivery of the Science
Agenda. During the meeting, four of the promising ten technologies were reviewed and discussed
in depth. An expansion of all ten technology assessments over the course of the program is
envisaged.
In addition to the technology assessments, and as a component of the third workstream, a Scoping Study
was carried out, which focused on the evolving institutional architecture for the provision of technical support
to the agricultural transformation agenda in Africa. Emphasis was given to the institutional opportunities
that can arise with CGIAR’s continued technical engagement with key African science, technology and
innovation stakeholders. A discussion draft of the study was distributed ahead of the meeting and generated
inputs from institutional partners during the first day of the meeting.1
1
Funding support for the Scientific and Technical Partnerships in Africa program was provided by the
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), with support from the CGIAR Research Program
on Policies, Institutions, and Markets (PIM) led by the International Food Policy Research Institute
(IFPRI).

4. 3
From Discovery to Delivery to Impact
Kerri Wright Platais, Program Head for the
S&T Partnerships in Africa program
organized and facilitated the meeting. She
noted in her opening remarks both the
well-established and new partnerships
represented in the overall attendance, and
thanked everyone for taking time out of
their busy schedules to join the meeting.
Harold Roy-Macauley, Director General of
AfricaRice welcomed everyone to Abidjan
and opened the meeting with Kouakou
Kouame Apporture, Cabinet Deputy
Director for the Ministry of Agriculture and
Rural Development in Cote d’Ivoire. They
emphasized the importance of continued
growth for Africa, with progress built upon
the important pillars of science and discovery, coupled with a need for continued and increased support to
science in agriculture. The issues of youth, employment, and the need for engagement to help promising
young scientists contribute their work to Africa’s growth were raised – as important challenges in the work
that lies ahead.
Opening presentations featured compelling data on the challenges and opportunities created through
addressing climate change, natural resource management to meet the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs), as well as on higher education and training in Africa, which revealed the need for overall investment
in agricultural research, education and extension as part of the interconnected solutions to the challenges
facing rural infrastructure and country development. Mark Rosegrant (IFPRI) discussed some of the
challenges related to addressing and ending rural hunger in 2030 as one of the SDGs and provided
projections for longer-term productivity and food supply scenarios in Africa. Malu Ndavi (IFAD) emphasized
the need for African governments to increase public sector funding, and stressed that traditional donor
supported research cannot take the place of African leaders creating the longer-term investments required.
These observations were further supported by new ASTI findings presented by Nienke Beintema (IFPRI),
signalling that under investment in agricultural research is severe and will have longer-term negative
implications if not addressed soon.
Technologies
The ex-ante technology assessments designed by the S&T Partnerships group, set out to tackle the
following questions in anticipation of how to meet the growing need for a changing and dynamic food system
in Africa. The following list was used as criteria and as a “lens” by which to formulate the ex-ante
assessments across all ten technologies:
1. What is the current context, including constraints and opportunities for the new technology?
2. What is the discovery? Is there a “proof of concept”?
3. What is the product?
4. What is the market demand for the new technology?
5. What evidence do we have of impact, both ex-ante and ex-post?
6. What is required for scaling up and delivery of these technologies – and how will future
partnerships and investments be made?

5. 4
It is important to note that the technologies chosen are a sampling and demonstrate how different
approaches are used to create further innovation from discovery to delivery. The current portfolio of 10
promising technologies includes a cross selection of CGIAR and partner technologies (Table 1). The
technology assessments are intended to help identify the range of uses and impact of the technologies.
Illustrative examples were made to highlight the different technologies, at different stages of development,
with the objective of better understanding the partnerships required by CGIAR Centers and research
programs (and the actions needed by each partner) for impact. The 10 technologies represent examples
of a range of agricultural technologies and include, 5 crop-based technologies (new improved variety of
beans, maize and rice, a GM variety of banana with disease resistance, and Vitamin A enrichment of sweet
potato); 3 livestock-based technologies (African chicken genetic gains, rapid diagnostics for African swine
fever (ASF) in pigs and a thermostable vaccine for the PPR virus in sheep and goats); and 2 post-harvest
technologies (Aflatoxin control in maize), and climate smart technologies (in a suite of soil and climate data
sets).
The goal for developing each of these technologies is to provide new products for small scale
farmers, which will allow them to access expanding markets, taking into consideration that these
products have suitable characteristics to meet market demand. This work is closely linked with that of
the Technology Platform workstream and included inputs for productivity and economic evaluation from
IFPRI’s IMPACT modeling group.
Table 1. Ten examples of promising new technologies for transforming agriculture in Africa
Technology CGIAR and Partners
1. Aflatoxin Control Measures BecA-ILRI Hub, AU, PACA
2. African Chicken Genetic Gains: Increasing
productivity of African indigenous chickens
ILRI, Governments of Ethiopia, Nigeria, and
Tanzania
3. African Swine Fever Diagnostics ILRI, BecA-ILRI Hub, AU-IBAR
4. Banana bacterial wilt resistant varieties IITA, NARO, Uganda and CRP on Roots,
Tubers and Banana (RTB)
5. Beans: New bean varieties for improving income
and nutrition in Africa
CIAT, PABRA and its 30 member countries
6. Climate smart agriculture: High-resolution
climate and soil data tools
CCAFS, CIAT, IFPRI
7. Maize: Drought tolerant maize varieties for
Africa
AATF, CIMMYT
8. Rice: Advanced rice varieties for Africa (ARICA) AfricaRice, CORAF/WECARD
9. Small ruminants: Thermostable vaccine for
control of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR)
ILRI, BecA-ILRI Hub and AU-IBAR
10. Sweet potato varieties with improved nutritional
quality
CIP, RTB and HarvestPlus

6. 5
For the Abidjan meeting, and to demonstrate proof of concept for promising CGIAR and partner
technologies, the discussion focused on the following examples of new technologies:
 Increasing productivity of African indigenous chickens (ILRI with the Governments of Ethiopia,
Nigeria and Tanzania);
 Advanced rice varieties for Africa, with a country focus in Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal and Tanzania (as
combined research and development activities of AfricaRice and CORAF/WECARD);
 New bean varieties for improving income and nutrition in Africa, with country focus in Ethiopia,
Malawi and Rwanda (CIAT’s PABRA network and its 30 member countries); and a
 Thermostable vaccine for control of small ruminant pests (Peste des Petits Ruminants -- PPR) in
sheep and goats (ILRI, BecA-ILRI Hub and AU-IBAR).
Gabrielle Persley, senior consultant with the IFPRI S&T Partnerships program, moderated the four
technology sessions (see Annex A for the full list of presenters and discussants). Several important points
were raised during the discussions which will be taken into consideration in the process of further refining
the technology assessments. Relevant conversations took place both during and after the meeting, that will
help to further ignite and explore the potential scaling up of these technologies in Africa. Highlights from
the discussion included:
 In the case of the African chicken genetic gains (ACGG), several important lessons were
learned and included:
o Working with the private sector from inception of the research program, proved to
be invaluable.
o Early engagement of partners during the development and testing phase ensured
increase in production as the new technology was put directly into the hands of
farmers.
o The use of existing technology platforms also facilitated early technology uptake and
provided essential and ongoing feedback and participation of key stakeholders.
o Adoption is specific for each agroecology, and a “one-size-fits-all” approach does not
work.
o It is important to establish a balance of supply and demand for a technology, specific
to the location and communities it will impact – and ultimately to help determine a
technology’s success.
o The importance of “learning as we go” was emphasized as it provides researchers and
producers the opportunity to modify and adjust as more is learned about the genetics and
the specific needs of the farmers in different agro-ecologies.
 In the case of rice production in Africa, the role of institutional governance around
successful partnerships – and how this impacts scaling up and integration of new technologies
into national level programs is considered part of the success story. This is based on the close
working relationship between CORAF/WECARD and AfricaRice on boosting the rice sector in
West Africa. The governance structure shared by the two institutions (in that they both have the
same member States), has made their work much more effective.
o The importance of engaging with private sector partners and particularly private
seed companies was noted, along with diversification of partners such as AGRA in the
region, who are working to bring technologies to the farmers, and facilitating their access
to credit and markets.
o The importance of working with governments to improve both policies and
production was also discussed.
 It is important to note the definition of market segments and how this impacts breeding programs.
There is a strong need to strengthen the training of more plant breeders (throughout Africa),

7. 6
and a need for governments to lead in the regional/sub-regional harmonization of procedures,
regulatory and policy issues across different commodities. A USAID-supported program in
West Africa was featured as a successful example of helping to support the seed system and
harmonize processes across countries – in partnership with CORAF/WECARD and ECOWAS.
 The issue of early generation seed was noted – and the importance of increasing access to
certified seed. Still others raised concerns, noting that the CGIAR system has a role and
obligation to continue to meet the needs of farmers often left out of the private and public sector
discussions. For example, what is the demand for open-pollinated vs. hybrid varieties, and do
farmers have access to choose their preference? What cross-learning opportunities exist
between rice and other seed systems such as maize? What is the role of national extension
services for delivery as these technologies continue to develop?
 In the case of the private sector,
discussants emphasized that people
need to make money. If money can
be made, the technology will move
ahead.
o However, in the case of rice
local tastes and market
preferences are important.
The locally produced rice must
be competitive and have the
same cooking and eating
qualities as imported rice, or
the variety will not be taken up.
o Speakers emphasized the need
to create a business case for
locally produced rice as critical to the ultimate success of new varieties. The importance
of “bundling technologies” was mentioned, as it is not only the varietal release but also
access to fertilizers, tractors, insecticides, and improved soil health that matter – and is a
vantage point where the African Development Bank and other investors can have a great
impact on the continent through the new continental investment plans.
 In the case of beans, PABRA (established now for 30 years in Africa as a research alliance
across 30 countries, facilitated by CIAT) has established market corridors to assist in the flow
of breeding materials across countries, for example from Kenya to Tanzania and Ethiopia.
PABRA members work to establish high standards for seed quality to assist farmers in
addressing access to new markets. Knowing there is a market for seed provides a strong
incentive for a breeding program.
o The issue of value addition was raised – is there a role for CGIAR Centers in developing
new products?
o Similarly, what trade barriers have been encountered in moving seed across borders and
what role do COMESA and SADDC play in facilitating next steps?
o There is work underway to strengthen the role of companies and agro-dealers, as in the
case of climbing beans in Kenya and licensing to help create additional income for
national programs is being pursued.
 Some of the technologies had strong gender research implications to explore further. In the
case of beans there is a preference for smaller beans where cooking time is reduced. It is
important that women’s needs and preferences are included in product preparation -- as these
factors affect technology uptake and the role technologies play in establishing financial security
and improved livelihoods.

8. 7
 Ultimately, farmers need incentives to make investments and proper feedback loops are
critical. Farmers need access to the best technologies available in Africa – and access to
partnerships and networks designed to deliver.
 In the case of the PPR thermostable vaccine for sheep and goats, it is important to note that
the PPR virus is very similar to that which causes rinderpest in cattle, which is one of two virus
diseases that has been eradicated from the planet thus far (the other being smallpox). Hence
there is interest in the potential for the successful eradication of PPR, which is a major constraint
to sheep and goat production and one which is spreading both within Africa and globally.
o A thermostable vaccine means that a cold chain is no longer required to deliver the
vaccine to vaccinators during a control program and this simplifies the logistics and
substantially reduces the cost of delivering control programs, especially in remote areas.
o Some new and innovative approaches are being explored within Africa, including the
feasibility of using drones for delivery of vaccines.
o The vaccine is a case of a global public good, and will take international donor
participation to make the vaccines available in sufficient quantities for a PPR progressive
control and/or eradication program. One option discussed is to have public investments,
with advanced market commitment for the vaccine manufacturers, which will create a
strong private sector component, necessary for the vaccine production and distribution.
 Several participants noted the meeting provided an example of the type of conversations
and exploration needed to gain a deeper understanding and fully unlock the potential of
research outputs and the technologies generated to create change. It is important to note
that several follow-up conversations between researchers, potential investors, development
partners and policy makers took place by bringing diverse groups together and holding
discussions around specific technologies and their uptake.
Opportunities for Institutional Engagement
Distributed ahead of the meeting was the Institutional Scoping Study produced by Yihenew Zewdie,
consultant for the S&T Partnerships in Africa program, as part of Workstream 3. The study provided an
overview of the current institutional landscape in support of the Science Agenda’s implementation. The
report was compiled as a desk study with personal interviews conducted to gain a deeper understanding
of the initiatives currently underway and planned. While not exhaustive, the study provides a snapshot of
the technical support to the agricultural transformation agenda in Africa, along with the next steps for the
MoU between CGIAR and the AUC, as a means of developing stronger linkages for African science,
technology and innovation.
Harold Roy-Macauley moderated a panel discussion covering the Scoping Study with updates provided on
the current activities underway on the continent. A wide-ranging group of important stakeholders and
partners featured. This included representatives from AUC-DREA (Maurice Lorka), IITA (Chrys Akem),
colleagues from the new University of Mohammed VI Polytech in Morocco (Younes Berrada, Tekalign
Mamo Asefa and Mohammed El Gharous), and FARA (Aggrey Agumya) providing updates on the next
phase and implementation plans for the Science Agenda. Senior leaders from the African Development
Bank (Chiji Ojukwu) and the World Bank (Simeon Ehui) also joined the discussion. (All presentations are
found under the meeting profile page on https://www.ifpri.org/project/scientific-and-technical-partnerships-
africa)
The updates proved very useful. The AUC is keen to see continued development of the CAADP Technical
Networks, formulated with the intent to support the efforts and add evidence to the nationally formulated
targets countries are pursuing in support of the Malabo Declaration. The Technical Networks were listed

9. 8
as an example where continued support and joint work with CGIAR Centers, programs and other
institutional partners is needed.
Additional updates were provided on the development of the new agricultural transformation strategy of the
African Development Bank, directed at supporting African countries to achieve the modernization of their
agricultural sectors – with the goal to turn agriculture into a business across Africa. A key component of
the strategy is the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT), with the objective to scale
up agricultural technologies to reach millions of farmers in Africa over a ten-year period. CGIAR and FARA
are helping to spearhead this initiative, under IITA’s leadership, with 12 Centers participating.
The World Bank presented their ideas and expressed a desire to create stronger synergies on the ground
in Africa – focused on a new agenda which includes livestock, stronger tools and approaches to combating
climate change, increased emphasis on nutrition, new technologies including enhanced ICT, sustainable
landscapes and the creation of more jobs. The work of the World Bank’s West Africa Agriculture Productivity
Program (WAAPP) was mentioned as a successful example of working across several countries in a region
to move agricultural productivity by boosting technology, innovation exchange and adoption of new
technologies.
Another new initiative with respect to training and preparing the youth, is the new University in Morocco
(UM6P), inaugurated in January of this year by the King of Morocco. The university is engaged in several
important areas of research and training, including agricultural technology generation, addressing declining
soil health, increased stakeholder engagement, capacity building and climate change.
Regarding continued technical support to CAADP and CGIAR alignment activities, FARA is undertaking
regional consultations to assist in the implementation of the Science Agenda over the next several months
and will engage in national consultations (Malawi, Rwanda, Senegal, Ghana and possibly South Africa were
listed as the first round) for high-level buy-in. The plan is to draft a proposal for funding the Tier 1 countries
by August, with a results framework and tracking mechanisms currently under design.
Harold Roy-Macauley noted in closing the session that coordination of institutional actors is important to
create greater cohesion and continuity in the next phase of Science Agenda implementation. He endorsed
the new opportunities for FARA and the CGIAR to work together in advancing the agenda for science in
Africa, with the recommendation that FARA include the work formulated through the S&T Partnerships in
Africa program efforts, while working on enhanced agricultural technology development through country-
led engagement.
Platforms
Different types of research and delivery platforms are needed for the implementation of the Science Agenda
and to advance science, technology and innovation throughout Africa. As part of the S&T Partnerships in
Africa program, a portal on African Agricultural Higher Education Capacities (agHeD) was developed by
RUFORUM and ASTI/IFPRI. Charles Owuor from RUFORUM reported during the meeting that the next
phase to take the portal live for African universities will be funded with support from the Master Card
Foundation.
Mark Rosegrant presented work from the IFPRI IMPACT team on three technologies featured during the
meeting, to gauge the sectoral effects and demonstrate how different systems can add value to technology
assessments by creating information (and ultimately providing options) for evidence based decision
making. In each case projections are made through different scenarios compared to a baseline that reflects
business-as-usual, including:
 Expected outcomes based on recent historical trends
 A continuation of past and currently planned public and donor investments

10. 9
 Projected world prices for agricultural outputs and inputs determined by the model and
 Average weather patterns (in the case of climate change evaluation)
He emphasized that future assessments can be designed to assess the impact of new technologies,
investments, and policies on household income, sectoral GDP, employment, and in addition to
agricultural supply, demand, trade, and prices for more than 50 commodities. By integrating the
IMPACT model with the technology platform in the future, it is possible to assess the impacts of new
technologies across scale from farm, to value chain, sector, and the national economy.
In the case of the technology assessments for the Abidjan meeting (Chicken (meat and eggs), beans and
rice) were run through the IMPACT model, showing climate change projections over a 15 year period (2105-
2030) with changes in national productivity and projected total production – based on yield increases of
new technologies and adoption rates.
The meeting discussion included how this type of technology assessment and modeling projections
could be used to assist countries (organized by the AUC) in developing their scorecards for the
biennial reviews, and how data could be shared more widely among research institutions and decision
makers, as well as compared and contrasted across regions and countries. Additional information on
cost/benefit analysis for specific adoption of new technologies could also factor in. It was agreed the
ground truthing of technology adoption is critical when looking at different scenarios to gauge how
new technologies will help create change.
Additional on-the-ground research activities with platforms, tools and technologies at the country level,
using geospatial data and analytical tools to further support knowledge sharing with agricultural investment
decision makers was developed through IFPRI’s
work with the sub-regional organizations
(ASARECA, CCARDESA and CORAF/WECARD).
This work was partially supported by PIM, and will
continue in its next phase in 2017/2018.
Further review and discussion of the Technology
Platform (as part of Workstream 1) and partner
research at the national level was presented by
Jawoo Koo (IFPRI), Kodjo Kondo (CORAF) and
Moses Odeke (ASARECA). Due to scheduling
conflicts CCARDESA staff were not able to attend,
but their research on small ruminants in Namibia is
included in this work. (In the photo pictured
Gabrielle Persley congratulated Kodjo Kondo of
CORAF/WECARD on his recent completion of his
PhD from the University of New England, New
South Wales, Australia, with the presentation of his
PhD award certificate)
The Technology Platform is designed to accomplish five areas of research using:
 Data system
 Design impact pathways and conduct analysis
 Biophysical modeling analysis
 Bioeconomy modeling analysis and
 Foresight analysis

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Different models are used, such as IFPRI’s Dynamic R&D Evaluation and Management (DREAM) model
to assess technology potential of economy-wide impacts at the subnational level.
Updates were provided on the technology assessment case studies in the field, chosen by institutional
partners:
 CORAF/WECARD assessed the potential economic benefit of scaling-up adoption of NERICA in
Casamance and South Sine Saloum regions in Senegal. The DREAM model was parameterized
using the rice production statistics data in Senegal and field-observed NERICA performance data.
Technology performance and adoption scenarios were defined through stakeholder consultations
and desktop studies. The model was then used to estimate the potential economy-wide
profitability of NERICA adoption in the regions until 2025. Preliminary analysis results showed the
model-estimated overall Net Present Value (NPV) of scaling-up NERICA in the regions ranging
from 195 million USD (low adoption, low performance) to 650 million USD (high adoption, high
performance).
 ASARECA assessed the potential economic benefit of scaling-up adoption of QPM in Central
region in Uganda. The DREAM model was parameterized using the rice production statistics data
in Uganda and field-observed QPM performance data. Technology performance and adoption
scenarios were defined through stakeholder consultations and desktop studies. The model was
then used to estimate the potential economy-wide profitability of QPM adoption in the region until
2025. Preliminary analysis results showed the model-estimated overall NPV of scaling-up QPM in
the region ranging from 2.7 million USD (low adoption, low performance) to 42.2 million USD
(high adoption, high performance).
 CCARDESA assessed the potential economic benefit of scaling-up adoption of improved
management practices on small ruminants in Caprivi region in Namibia. The DREAM model was
parameterized using the goat and sheep production statistics data in Namibia and field-observed
ruminant productivity performance data. Technology performance and adoption scenarios were
defined through stakeholder consultations and desktop studies. The model was used to estimate
the potential economy-wide profitability of investing on small ruminants in the region until 2025.
Preliminary analysis results showed the model-estimated overall NPV ranging from 9 million USD
(low adoption, low performance) to 106 million USD (high adoption, high performance).
Partnerships
The old African proverb shared by an AfricaRice colleague, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to
go far, go with partners” proved a motivating force in the three panels designed to explore critical
components for future agricultural technology success: 1) Delivery Mechanisms to Accelerate
Technology Dissemination: Building Bridges, 2) Public and Private Sector Investors: Developing
the Business Case for specific agricultural technologies and 3) CAADP and CGIAR alignment efforts
– expanding the role of institutional and technical partnerships and next steps.
The panel on Delivery Mechanisms was moderated by Katarina Kahlmann (TechnoServe), with
discussants Katie Downie (World Vision), Simiyu Gaitano (AGRA) and Dina Umali-Deininger (World Bank).
Examples were raised from current institutional engagement and experiences that serve as “bridging
mechanisms” in the roll-out, monitoring and scaling up of new agricultural technologies.
The discussants considered several questions of relevance to share through their own institutional
experiences:
1. What successful technology delivery models does your organization practice?
2. What partnerships (bridging mechanisms) are needed to strengthen successful models?

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3. What are the greatest barriers to bringing technology delivery to scale in Africa?
4. What groups serve as matchmakers/brokers between supply and demand for technologies?
5. How can this be expanded or improved as we move ahead collectively?
Katarina Kahlmann noted in her opening remarks how increased work with NGOs could add value for
innovation adoption – through the spectrum of research, product development, pilots, production,
distribution and marketing. She mentioned NGOs could play a greater role in both the creation and adoption
of innovations and said that TechnoServe looked forward to forming closer linkages with the S&T
Partnerships group as this work progressed.
 The role of a “last mile approach” was discussed, and noted that there is fertile ground for CGIAR
Centers to work more closely with NGOs in the testing and trialing of CGIAR technologies.
There is also a need to assess impact and scale, and that can be accomplished through new and
innovative approaches – particularly across agricultural value chains.
 It is important to note that need does not translate into demand. Farmers are consumers and
need to have access to affordable technologies and inputs to make a profit.
 The role of data collection was raised as important in developing new and innovative ways
to track uptake and understand what farmers require.
 A form of “translation” is often needed – for different technical groups working with community
groups to understand the others’ language and terminologies. When a common vocabulary is
shared, it is easier to understand, for instance, what is meant by a new technology – and in turn
understand what is meant by uptake and adoption.
 Participants raised the issue that an “enabling environment” goes beyond the production of
technologies and must include access to education for communities to fully understand and make
use of new technologies. A stronger extension system in country will also serve as an
important bridging element for research and development (particularly for work on improved
value chains).
 There is a need for a paradigm shift, for the research community to engage in the discussion
around development issues, to create the types of bridges needed at the national and sub-
regional levels, as country and technology “spillovers” are critical to technology uptake and
dissemination.
 It is also important to consider intermediary indicators, such as the availability of improved seed
and the role of agro-dealers.
 In the end, science must be intentional, to ensure there are direct impacts made with farmer’s
and their communities to fully realize the promise of new agricultural technologies.
There was also wide agreement on the increased role of the private sector with public sector institutions,
which led into the next panel discussion.
The panel on Private and Public Sector Investors: Developing the Business Case was moderated by
Joost Van Odijk (Grow Africa) with discussants Christopher Brett (World Bank and former Olam), Atsuko
Toda (AfDB) and Olive M’Bahia (Yara).
The discussants were asked to consider three questions to share their own institutional experience and
insight:
1. What do you consider two key components of a good business case for scaling technologies?
2. Many technologies have been piloted and tested with success, but never make it to real impact.
How do you explain this and what can be done about it?

13. 12
3. How can Public Sector supported research and technology further enhance Private Sector
agribusiness in developing African joint ventures? And the reverse, what is needed from the Private
Sector to create business models that work?
Joost van Odijk noted in opening the session that the work of Grow Africa – which was designed to help
bring private sector partners into the CAADP approach – is working to leverage increased participation of
private sector partners across the continent. He said that Grow Africa looked forward to working closely
with the S&T Partnerships program and CGIAR colleagues, as well as with the African Development Bank
and the World Bank, in the development of business cases for the technologies featured during the meeting.
He added that incremental thinking will not do the job. What is needed are exciting, new approaches to
distributing and marketing the technologies, to attract investment.
 Discussants agreed and noted success is seen where the business community is connected
to small holder farmers.
 Another important factor is fully integrating – by finding ways to help companies and farmers
connect (integrate and engage). The level of connectedness will often determine the
success of a partnership.
 Building on the earlier discussion of delivery mechanisms, a discussant said successful
partnerships among private and public sector groups must also have:
o A common ground and developed common language,
o A way to build knowledge and linkages – with the example given of using SME networks –
and creating smaller functional units to take on business solutions, and
o Demonstrating early value addition – through the creation of jobs.
 The discussion focused on providing some tangible outcomes and recommendations that could be
taken up in future convenings and joint work together and included:
o Follow-up from this meeting with 3 to 4 specific business cases in a collaborative PPP
setting the stage for engagement. Rice was mentioned as one of the value chains for this
engagement, and follow up the work of various business incubators within Africa and
under CGIAR and partners input, including the ongoing work of IITA.
o Find ways to integrate business dynamics and investment criteria. Consider
integrating new product development processes and return on investments (to name a few)
into the work of scientists and research organizations to improve the effectiveness of
technologies. The upcoming work of the TAAT by the AfDB was listed as one way this
could be put into practice.
o Research is linked to policy – therefore policy and institutional frameworks are critical to
successful technology generation.
o Focus and plan for natural resources as part of an integrated package, to better
understand the linkages and success factors to make research commercially viable.
Examples were given from recent work in Morocco.
o Embed technologies into the overall work on value and supply chain development.
The work of the World Bank was mentioned as one means to help leverage existing (or
create new) platforms to accelerate this process.
o Consider seconding scientists to SME companies to increase mutual understanding
and strengthen PPP alliances. How can this be done and would AfDB and World Bank
help to facilitate?
o Work to ensure longer term commitment from all stakeholders, with clearly defined
roles and responsibilities. One training event is never sufficient. It takes scaling over time
and effort to follow-up with an investment to make it work.

14. 13
Participants were keen to see specific next steps endorsed. Additional follow-up will take place to
discuss how to integrate the technologies discussed (and explore those in the pipeline) to create
PPPs, next steps and partnerships.
The final panel on CAADP and CGIAR alignment efforts and next steps was moderated by Mark Cackler
(World Bank) with discussants from the development community including Malu Ndavi (IFAD), Daniel
Adotey (USAID) and Simeon Ehui (World Bank). These institutions played an important role in the
formulation of CAADP and CGIAR alignment work over the last few years, including support for the Science
Agenda and the resulting shared activities.
The panel focused on the following guiding questions:
1. Over the course of the meeting, what struck you as the most innovative in this alignment space
between CAADP and CGIAR institutions, and what would you like to see developed further?
2. How do you see the role of other institutions (public or private) developing this loosely configured
partnership – and what role might your institution continue to play?
3. What are the top three priorities – in terms of new technologies and their dissemination in support
of the African science agenda -- you would like to see addressed in the next three years?
Mark Cackler said in his opening remarks that the World Bank was pleased to have worked with the S&T
Partnerships program from its inception and said there is a real need to strengthen partnerships – as
discussed during the meeting – and across private sector, NGOs and other stakeholders as we come
together to show impact and evidence through our shared work.
 The discussants were impressed with the relevance of the technologies featured and pleased
to see the discussion moving in a direction towards the new types of partnerships required. It is
necessary that partnerships are designed to deliver – as ultimately it is service to the rural
communities that is needed.
 The important issues facing Africa were emphasized as climate change and the volatility and
price of food that this causes. They were pleased to see the work underway from IFPRI and
partners in this regard and said it is important to focus on the sustainability of interventions.
 The quality of public investment in agriculture was mentioned as an area for continued joint
work among researchers and development partners. The importance of the regional economic
communities and particularly ECOWAS’s role was mentioned as important to strengthening
national agricultural systems. This also applies to regional integration in the movement of
technologies and innovations across country and regional borders.
 All three discussants (IFAD, USAID and the World Bank) saw avenues for continued support and
engagement in these expanded partnerships – linking with the CGIAR and others – including the
private sector to find new ways to support research outcomes. In the case of the World Bank, new
work will be explored through the next phase of the East and West African Productivity Programs
(EAAPP and WAAPP).
 Participants called for concrete actions to help move next steps, noting the framework is in
place and actions should continue to support:
o The MoU between the CGIAR and AUC-DREA – as this forms the underpinning of the
future work of the Science Agenda (as well as the MoU the AUC has with FARA as the
technical arm for science, technology and innovation activities).
o Helping countries in their pursuit of meeting the Malabo Declaration goals and targets as
part of CAADP’s next phase – and integrate research findings, new technologies and
tools shared during the meeting – as they are needed in the pursuit of transformational
change across sectors.

15. 14
o A stronger, renewed partnership was discussed between CGIAR, FARA and the SROs
to strengthen the support of the national implementation plans to deliver on the scientific
advancements needed at the country level. This can in turn strengthen delivery systems
and evidence based policies.
o Participants raised the need for a mechanism to further integrate and coordinate with
 The private sector – at the regional as well as the national levels and
 For direct science policy applications – to expand this work to include policy
makers, RECs and farmer organizations.
o FARA reiterated their desire to include the work featured through the S&T Partnerships
program in the roll-out of the implementation plan for the Science Agenda at the country
level, noting the meeting and program outputs were a helpful first step.
o The CAADP Technical Networks are a means to engage further with CGIAR Centers and
non-CGIAR partners. The issue of bringing in non-traditional actors such as the health
sector was also encouraged – to ensure other sectors are included.
o Participants emphasized in closing the need for African governments to invest in their
people and to support the training and research required to take Africa to the next level of
productivity and economic strength.
Next Steps
1. The S&T Partnerships program will continue to work with colleagues and partners to
further develop the concept of “matchmaking or brokering” opportunities for CGIAR and
partner’s new technologies in Africa, including the potential delivery systems around a
shared “clearing house” mechanism. This could be expanded to include important ways to
classify and share information within and outside of the CGIAR around gender, nutrition,
poverty reduction and health benefits.
2. The technologies, platforms and partnerships developed by CGIAR Centers and their
partner institutions (NARS, FARA, SROs, universities, etc.) are indeed contributing to the
African science agenda, and there is a need for more learning, information and technology
exchange to take place.
3. With respect to the Science Agenda (S3A), FARA continues to provide leadership in the
next phase as indicated by
a. Continued streamlining and roll-out of the Science Agenda at the country level and
b. The establishment of a strategic framework that will facilitate targeting as well as
monitoring the various initiatives to ensure there is collective input and synergies
for implementation.
4. Agricultural technologies from CGIAR and their partners should be viewed and developed
as integrated packages and interlinked with other key success factors (private and public
partnerships) to be commercially viable and create products that contribute to economic
growth in the rural populations.
5. Investments are needed and should continue as part of a learning process for CGIAR and
its partners around technology delivery – with emphasis placed on building the business
case for impact and sustainability of the various technologies.
6. It is important to ensure long-term commitments from all stakeholders (research,
development, policy and national level institutional support), with clearly defined roles and
responsibilities, to create effective and lasting partnerships in Africa.

16. 15
Annex A:
Meeting Agenda
Technologies, Platforms and Partnerships in support of
the African agricultural science agenda
Co-Hosted by IFPRI and Africa Rice
Novotel Hotel, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire
Ivoire Meeting Room
April 4 and 5, 2017
Meeting Objectives:
This meeting will demonstrate how technologies and their assessments, delivery mechanisms, shared platforms, and
new tools and portals -- in support of agricultural development -- can be drivers of the Science Agenda for African
Agriculture. This will be realized through the following activities:
 Review and discuss initial highlights and results from IFPRI and partners three workstreams as proof
of concept in technical support of the Science Agenda.
 Explore examples of country level applications of technologies, technology platforms, and their
delivery mechanisms.
 Prepare for specific business cases for technologies and examine further the role private and public
sector partnerships play in technology investment in Africa.
 Explore opportunities to create synergies in agricultural R&D that will make a difference in brokering
institutional and technical partnerships moving ahead.
Day 1: Tuesday, April 4, 2017
9:00 Welcome, Introductions, Agenda Review
K. Wright Platais
(Facilitator)
9:30
Session I: From Discovery to Delivery to Impact – Identifying
Challenges and Addressing Opportunities facing Africa’s agricultural
research landscape
Moderator Session I:
H. Roy-Macauley with
A. Kouakou Kouame
Panel Discussants:
M. Rosegrant
M. Ndavi
N. Beintema
10:30 Coffee Break
10:45
Highlights of deliverable and results from the 3 workstreams
designed as proof of concept activities:
Short overview of the Program genesis in the context of CAADP and
CGIAR alignment efforts and the Science Agenda.
1. Technology Platform providing data and analytical supports
for assessing technology impacts and strategizing adoption
at scale.
2. A portal on the Africa Higher Education Capacities
(agHeD) developed by RUFORUM and IFPRI/ASTI
3. Technology Assessments providing ex ante assessments
of 10 key CGIAR agricultural technologies, to access
expanding markets and develop the business case for new
investments. This workstream included a Scoping Study of
existing agricultural science and technology platforms in
Africa to support the Science Agenda (and the institutional
initiatives)
Moderator:
M. Lorka N’Guessan
K. Wright Platais
J. Koo
C. Owuor
G. Persley
Y. Zewdie

17. 16
Day 1: Tuesday, April 4, 2017
11:45
Technology Assessment 1: Chicken Genetic Gains in
Ethiopia
Moderator:
G. Persley
Presenter:
J. Bruno
Discussant:
S. Kemp
12:30
Lunch Break
1:30 Technology Assessment 2: Rice in Africa
Moderator:
G. Persley
Presenters:
S. Sanyang
E. Asiedu
Discussants:
M.S. Coulibaly
K. Ampofo
J. Van Odijk
3:00 Coffee Break
3:30
Session II: Institutional Initiative and Technical Opportunities for
Engagement: What is ahead for Africa and how do we create
stronger synergies?
Moderator Session II:
H. Roy-Macauley
Presenter:
Y. Zewdie
4:00 Panel Discussion and Q&A
Panel Discussants:
M. Lorka N’Guessan
A. Agumya
C. Akem
Y. Berrada
T. Mamo Asefa
M. El Gharous
C. Ojukwu
S. Ehui
5:00 End of Day Comments E. Duveiller
5:30 – 7:00
Cocktail Reception Novotel Hotel Terrace
(Group Photo)

18. 17
Day 2: Wednesday, April 5, 2017
9:00 Overview of Day 2
E. Duveiller and
K. Wright Platais
9:15 Technology Assessment 3: Beans and Demand-led Breeding
Moderator:
G. Persley
Presenter:
J.C. Rubyogo
10:00
Technology Assessment 4: A PPR thermostable vaccine for sheep
and goats
Moderator:
G. Persley
Presenter:
E. Okoth
10:45 Coffee Break
11:15 Assessment of the sectoral effects of selected CGIAR technologies M. Rosegrant
11:45
Technology Platform Country Case Studies: Ex ante Evaluation
of Technology Investments
J. Koo
M. Odeke
B. Podisi
K. Kondo
12:30 Lunch Break
1:30
Session III: Panel Discussion on Delivery Mechanisms to Accelerate
Technology Dissemination: Building Bridges
Panel Moderator:
K. Kahlmann
Discussants:
K. Downie
S. Gaitano
D. Umali-Deininger
2:15
Session IV: Panel Discussion on Private and Public Sector Investors:
Developing the Business Case for Specific Agricultural Technologies
Panel Moderator:
J. Van Odijk
Discussants:
C. Brett
A. Toda
O. M’Bahia
3:00 Coffee Break
3:30
Session V: CAADP and CGIAR alignment efforts – expanding the role of
institutional and technical partnerships – next steps
Panel Moderator:
M. Cackler
Discussants:
M. Ndavi
D. Adotey
S. Ehui
4:30 Meeting Wrap-up and Adjourn Co-chairs

19. 18
Annex B:
S&T Partnerships in Africa:
Technologies, platforms and partnerships in support of the African
agricultural science agenda
Novotel Hotel, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire
April 4 and 5, 2017
PARTICIPANT ORGANIZATION DESIGNATION
1 Aboagye, Amma USAID Science, Technology, Innovation and Partnerships Advisor –
Regional Program Office
2 Adotey Akai, Daniel USAID Program Management Specialist – Feed the Future
3 Agumya, Aggrey FARA Director of Corporate Partnership and Communications
4 Akem, Chrysantus IITA SARD-SC Coordinator & Interim TAAT Program Manager
5 Ampofo, Kwasi AGRA Country Head – Ghana
6 Apporture, Kouakou Kouame Ministry of
Agriculture and
Rural Development
Cabinet Deputy Director
7 Arouna, Aminou AfricaRice Impact Assessment Economist
8 Asiedu, Ernest CORAF/WECARD Chief of Party - West Africa Seed Program
9 Baillet-Trobia, Annick AfricaRice Travel Assistant
10 Beintema, Nienke IFPRI Program Head – ASTI
11 Berrada, Younes UM6P Director –University Development
12 Brett, Christopher World Bank Lead Agribusiness Specialist
13 Bruno, Jasmine ILRI Program Management Officer - Africa Chicken Genetic Gains
14 Cackler, Mark World Bank Manager – Agriculture and Food Security
15 Chaherli, Nabil World Bank Program Leader – Sustainable Development
16 Chianu, Jonas AfDB Principal Agricultural Economist
17 Cisse, Limamoulaye OCP Africa Vice President for Agronomy
18 Coulibaly, Maïmouna Sidibe Faso Kaba Seed Co. Founder
19 Dago, Gisele AfricaRice Administrative Assistant
20 Dixon, Alfred IITA Project Leader, Sustainable Weed Mgmt Technologies for Cassava
System & Director, Development and Delivery Office
21 Downie, Katharine World
Vision/SomRep
Head of Quality Assurance/M&E and Knowledge Management
22 Dramé, Khady Nani AfricaRice Head of Capacity Development
23 Duveiller, Etienne AfricaRice Deputy Director General
24 Ehui, Simeon World Bank Manager – Agriculture Global Practice for Africa
25 El Gharous, Mohammed UM6P Head – School of Agriculture, Environment and Fertilizers
26 Gaitano, Simiyu AGRA Senior Program Officer – Monitoring and Evaluation
27 Gourouza, Ibrahim NEPAD Special Assistant to CEO

20. 19
PARTICIPANT ORGANIZATION DESIGNATION
28 Inabi, Meryem UM6P International Programs and Partnerships Coordinator
29 Jehin, Lea TechnoServe West Africa Strategy and Partnerships Manager
30 Johm, Ken AfDB Lead Agricultural Economist
31 Kahasha, Gracia AfDB Consultant Analyst – Agriculture & Agro-Industry Department
32 Kahlmann, Katarina TechnoServe Regional Director – West Africa
33 Kalili, Hellen Kasha Inc. Head of Global Supply Chain
34 Kamanda, Josey AfricaRice Innovation Systems Specialist
35 Kemp, Steve ILRI Director of Livestock Genetics Program (LiveGene)
36 Kondo, Kodjo CORAF/WECARD Agricultural Economist and Senior M&E and Learning Specialist
37 Koo, Jawoo IFPRI Senior Research Fellow – Spatial Data and Analytics
38 Lemma, Yihenew Zewdie IFPRI Independent Consultant
39 Lorka N'Guessan, Maurice AUC CAADP Pillar IV Adviser
40 Mamo Asefa, Tekalign UM6P Head – Center for Soil and Fertilizer Research in Africa (CESFRA)
41 M'Bahia, Olive YARA Senior Agronomist
42 Mohapatra, Savitri AfricaRice Head of Marketing & Communications
43 Ndavi, Malu Muia IFAD Lead Technical Specialist
44 Nnaemeka, Korie AfDB Consultant Analyst
45 Odeke, Moses ASARECA Monitoring and Evaluation Officer
46 Ojukwu, Chiji AfDB Director of Agriculture and Agro-Industry
47 Okoth, Edward ILRI Epidemiologist and Field Team Coordinator
48 Owuor, Charles RUFORUM Programme Manager – Planning Monitoring and Evaluation
49 Persley, Gabrielle Doyle Foundation Chair, The Doyle Foundation
50 Rasmussen, Ellen Cathrine YARA Country Manager
51 Romero, Ivy IFPRI Administrative Coordinator
52 Rosegrant, Mark IFPRI Division Director – Environment and Production Technology
53 Roy-Macauley, Harold AfricaRice Director General
54 Rubyogo, Jean Claude CIAT Feed Systems Specialist
55 Sanyang, Sidi AfricaRice Program Leader – Rice Sector Development
56 Toda, Atsuko AfDB Director of Agriculture Finance and Rural Development
57 Toure, El Hadj Adama World Bank Lead Agricultural Economist – Global Practice1-Agriculture
58 Toure, Abdoulaye World Bank Manager – West Africa Agriculture Productivity Program (WAAPP)
59 Umali-Deininger, Dina World Bank Practice Manager – Agriculture Global Practice
60 Van Odijk, Joost GrowAfrica Head of Country Management West and Central Africa
61 Venkatraman, Rama AfricaRice Multimedia Designer
62 Wright Platais, Kerri IFPRI Program Head – Scientific and Technical Partnerships in Africa
63 Yao, Nasser BecA/ILRI Plant Molecular Breeder