"Scaling up Agricultural Technologies" by Johannes F. Linn, Emerging Markets Forum and Brookings. Presented at Food Security in a World of Growing Natural Resource Scarcity event hosted by IFPRI on February 12, 2014.

1. Scaling up
Agricultural
Technologies
Johannes F. Linn
Emerging Markets Forum and Brookings
Presentation at IFPRI AgriculturalTechnology Summit
Food Security in aWorld of Changing Climate and Natural
Resource Scarcity:The Role of AgriculturalTechnologies
Newseum,Washington, DC, February 12, 2014

2. Agricultural technologies:
The scaling up imperative
 Many agricultural technologies for improved productivity are
well known, but not widely applied by (poor) farmers in the
developing world.
 The new IFPRI study:
 promotes increased use by establishing which technology is
potentially appropriate where.
 The next step:
 find ways to ensure that appropriate technologies are widely
adopted for scaled up impact (higher productivity, poverty
reduction, improved nutrition, etc.).
 IFAD and USAID are actively pursuing this scaling up agenda;
IFPRI published a set of policy briefs
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New
idea, mo
del, appr
oach
Pilot,
Project
M&E,
Learning
& KM
Internal
knowledge
Outside
knowledge
Limited
Impact
Scale up
Multiple
Impact
The basics: innovation, learning
and scaling up as an iterative process

4. What is a systematic approach
to scaling up?
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Innovation
Visionof
Scaled Up
Impact
Drivers(champions, incentives, market or community
demand, etc.)
Monitor and Evaluate
Spaces(enabling factors)
Fiscal and Financial
Institutional
Policies
Politcal
Environment
Partnership
Etc

5. Why a systematic focus
on scaling up is essential
Scaling up
pathway
Traditional project pathway
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6. Lessons from IFPRI policy briefs
18 policy briefs on experience of various
institutions/technologies, issues, including:
 Aga Khan Foundation, Alive andThrive, B&M Gates
Foundation, IFAD, Oxfam, Pepsico, SEWA, World Bank
 regreening, rice intensification, biofortification, value
chains, area-based development, community driven
development, nutritional programs
 institutional development; fragile states
* J. Linn, ed. 2012 Scaling Up in Agriculture, Rural Development and Nutrition.
2020 Focus Briefs, No. 19. International Food Policy and Research Institute.
Washington, DC
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7. Lessons #1
 Actors: multiplicity at multiple levels; requires multi-
stakeholder alliances
 Dimensions: horizontal and vertical scaling up usually go
hand in hand
 Pathways: no unique process, but
 Successful scaling up takes time, even decades; requires
long-term engagement with a vision of scale
 Systematic planning, management, learning, ready to take
opportunities
 Consider drivers and constraints or enabling factors (spaces)
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8. Lessons #2
 Drivers:
 The agricultural technology (idea, model,
innovation)
 Champions (individuals, groups)
 Demand (market, communities)
 Incentives (profit, property rights,
competitions, institutional accountability)
 External assistance
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9. Lessons #3
 Spaces/enabling conditions:
 Institutional: effective institutions found or created,
incl. intermediary institution (extension service, etc.);
needs to be considered from the start; coordination to
be sought; rivalries to be avoided/managed
 Policies, laws and regulations: these need to be
supportive, incl. property rights, business environment,
trade policies, micro finance laws and regulations
 Fiscal and financial: fiscal/financial viability at larger
scale and beyond donor support; may require cost
reductions, cost recovery, or budget commitments
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10. Lessons #4
 Spaces (continued):
 Political: consider winners v. losers; ensure authorizing
environment exists; political opposition managed;
program protected from electoral cycles; public
outreach
 Environmental: critical for many ag. projects (land,
water, etc.)
 Cultural/social: local cultures often
opportunity/constraint; varies across
communities/regions/countries; role of women critical
opportunity or constraint
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11. Lessons #5
 Spaces (ctd):
 Partnership: look for national and international
partners from the beginning; readiness to hand
over (more) responsibility to national partners
 Learning: M&E for internal and external
knowledge; adapt M&E to scaling up agenda
(not only impact, but also drivers, spaces, etc.)
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12. Institutional lessons from IFAD
 There are examples of effective IFAD support for successful
scaling up; but systematic institutional approach needed.
 Key step: Recognize that scaling up is “mission critical”.
 Scaling up has to be embedded in all institutional processes:
 corporate strategy, policies and results framework,
 operational instruments, country program and project design and
monitoring,
 resource allocation, budgets and staff incentives.
 Institutional change requires time, persistence and strong
managerial commitment along with stakeholder
engagement, keeping messages clear and bureaucratic
requirements simple. 2/12/1412Jlinn@brookings.edu

13. The way forward
 More systematic focus on scaling up in more institutions
internationally and nationally, public and private
(AfDB, IFAD, UNDP,World Bank;
AusAID/DFAT, GIZ, JICA, USAID; Brookings, IFPRI; MSI;
Heifer International, etc. already engaged)
 Incorporate scaling up agenda into research agenda of
CGIAR agencies, IFPRI, and others (explore scaling up
pathways by crop, technology, value chain, etc.)
 Develop learning networks and advisory capabilities
 Incorporate into high-level dialogue on Post-2015
Agenda, etc.
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14. Selected References
L. Chandy, A. Hosono, H. Kharas& J. Linn, eds. 2013. Getting to scale. Brookings,
Washington, DC
A. Hartmann and J. Linn. 2008. “Scaling Up: A Framework and Lessons for Development
Effectiveness from Literature and Practice.” Wolfensohn Center Working Paper No. 5.
Brookings.Washington, DC
J. Linn, A. Hartmann, H. Kharas, R. Kohl, and B. Massler. 2010. “Scaling Up the Fight
Against Rural Poverty: An Institutional Review of IFAD’s Approach”, GlobalWorking
Paper No. 39 , Brookings. Washington, DC
J. Linn. 2011.“Scaling Up with Aid:The Institutional Dimension.” in H. Kharas, K. Makino
andW. Jung, eds., Catalyzing Development: A New Vision for Aid.Washington:
Brookings Institution Press
J. Linn, ed. 2012 Scaling Up in Agriculture, Rural Development and Nutrition. 2020 Focus
Briefs, No. 19. International Food Policy and Research Institute. Washington, DC
L. Cooley and R.Ved, 2012. “Scaling Up—FromVision to Large Scale Change: A
Management Framework for Practitioners, Second Edition.” MSI.Washington, DC
A. Hartmann, H. Kharas, R. Kohl, J. Linn, B. Massler and C. Sourang. 2013. “Scaling Up
Programs for the Rural Poor: IFAD’s Experience, Lessons and Prospects (Phase 2).”
Global Economy& Development Working Paper 54. Brookings
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15. Thank you!
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