Dealing with critical challenges in African innovation platforms: Lessons for facilitation

Innovation platforms are increasingly used by research and development initiatives to actively engage the poor in agricultural innovation processes. These platforms are forums for action and learning, where different types of actors come together to address issues of mutual concern. However, the dyn...

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Autores principales: Swaans, Cornelis P.M., Cullen, Beth, Rooyen, Andre F. van, Adekunle, A.A., Ngwenya, H., Lema, Zelalem, Nederlof, S.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2013
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/34344
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author Swaans, Cornelis P.M.
Cullen, Beth
Rooyen, Andre F. van
Adekunle, A.A.
Ngwenya, H.
Lema, Zelalem
Nederlof, S.
author_browse Adekunle, A.A.
Cullen, Beth
Lema, Zelalem
Nederlof, S.
Ngwenya, H.
Rooyen, Andre F. van
Swaans, Cornelis P.M.
author_facet Swaans, Cornelis P.M.
Cullen, Beth
Rooyen, Andre F. van
Adekunle, A.A.
Ngwenya, H.
Lema, Zelalem
Nederlof, S.
author_sort Swaans, Cornelis P.M.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Innovation platforms are increasingly used by research and development initiatives to actively engage the poor in agricultural innovation processes. These platforms are forums for action and learning, where different types of actors come together to address issues of mutual concern. However, the dynamic nature of the innovation process, and the differences in interest, capacity and power among the actors involved, pose a challenge in the facilitation of these platforms. We believe that the key to success is very much linked to the attitude, skills and capacities of the innovation broker. This paper highlights seven key issues which in our view are critical to effective platform facilitation and have not received the attention they deserve: the dynamic and evolving nature of platforms; power dynamics; gender equity; external versus internal facilitation; sustainability of the process; issues of scale; and monitoring and evaluation. These issues and implications for facilitation of innovation platforms will be discussed based on examples from the field and in relation to current theories.
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spelling CGSpace343442025-11-12T04:28:32Z Dealing with critical challenges in African innovation platforms: Lessons for facilitation Swaans, Cornelis P.M. Cullen, Beth Rooyen, Andre F. van Adekunle, A.A. Ngwenya, H. Lema, Zelalem Nederlof, S. Innovation platforms are increasingly used by research and development initiatives to actively engage the poor in agricultural innovation processes. These platforms are forums for action and learning, where different types of actors come together to address issues of mutual concern. However, the dynamic nature of the innovation process, and the differences in interest, capacity and power among the actors involved, pose a challenge in the facilitation of these platforms. We believe that the key to success is very much linked to the attitude, skills and capacities of the innovation broker. This paper highlights seven key issues which in our view are critical to effective platform facilitation and have not received the attention they deserve: the dynamic and evolving nature of platforms; power dynamics; gender equity; external versus internal facilitation; sustainability of the process; issues of scale; and monitoring and evaluation. These issues and implications for facilitation of innovation platforms will be discussed based on examples from the field and in relation to current theories. 2013-12-31 2014-01-22T04:28:34Z 2014-01-22T04:28:34Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/34344 en Open Access application/pdf Swaans, K., Cullen, B., Rooyen, A. van, Adekunle, A., Ngwenya, H., Lema, Z. and Nederlof, S. 2013. Dealing with critical challenges in African innovation platforms: Lessons for facilitation. Knowledge Management for Development Journal 9(3):116-135.
spellingShingle Swaans, Cornelis P.M.
Cullen, Beth
Rooyen, Andre F. van
Adekunle, A.A.
Ngwenya, H.
Lema, Zelalem
Nederlof, S.
Dealing with critical challenges in African innovation platforms: Lessons for facilitation
title Dealing with critical challenges in African innovation platforms: Lessons for facilitation
title_full Dealing with critical challenges in African innovation platforms: Lessons for facilitation
title_fullStr Dealing with critical challenges in African innovation platforms: Lessons for facilitation
title_full_unstemmed Dealing with critical challenges in African innovation platforms: Lessons for facilitation
title_short Dealing with critical challenges in African innovation platforms: Lessons for facilitation
title_sort dealing with critical challenges in african innovation platforms lessons for facilitation
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/34344
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