Africa RISING PCT meeting[edit | edit source]

12 July 2016 Online

Participants

Siboniso Moyo (SM) - chair Peter Thorne (PT) Irmgard Hoeschle-Zeledon (IHZ) Carlo Azzarri (CA) Bernard Vanlauwe (BV) Peter Ballantyne (PB)

PCT page

Agenda

1. Phase 2 proposal development

Process milestones (to be updated)
Feedback from Jerry – Irmgard – any additional points.

IHZ: Jerry initial feedback on E and W Africa regional proposals: 1) Impact pathways that explain targets are needed (similar to fig 1 in overall umbrella proposal).; 2) Stronger gender emphasis/plans; 3) Need by 5 August. Likely to be similar for Ethiopia? Looking for successful examples (IHZ and BM Contacting Jerry).

Update on the revisions to the umbrella document – Boni

SM: Most inputs to the umbrella document received by James. He needs still some sections from PT. James aiming to complete text tomorrow so can send final version on Friday. BM to circulate the section on research on scaling for a final check and incorporation into regional proposals.

Harmonization - program wide/ across projects and regions – All

IHZ: USAID keen to see us doing more together and in the same ways. Carlo added a section in the umbrella document on program-wide analyses to be led by IFPRI. IHZ: What other aspects can we harmonize? BM: Other possible areas: Comms and Capdev. Also the common research questions. Need to be clear what can be done across countries. PT: Concern this common work will be difficult. PB: Possible areas for common approaches? gender, scaling, capdev, comms, cross-learning and lessons sharing, SI framework, research questions BM/PT: is it a question of communication and packaging? PT: Can we ID a couple of big result areas that each of the projects worked on and which can be the focus of cross-project learning? Put in place a sharing and transferring mechanism. BV: Is it clear from the regional proposals that they are linked tightly to the umbrella document? They have the same structures? But the substance? BM: move towards a program approach, maybe in the project impact pathways? CA: perhaps reduce the scope and range of the activities in the regions? Program needs to be 'sold' as something more consistent (in USAID) Clever re-packaging? IHZ:Establish cross-program Communities of practice around different thematic issues? eg, nutrition, soil fertility, livestock... etc? CA: IFPRI working on a catalog of innovations .. this could be a way to present more cross-project similarities and opportunities for scaling, sharing, CoPs? IHZ: this 'CoP' approach needs to be in the umbrella document IHZ: Does this have implications for our planning meetings? Build in the cross-learning Actions: The big issues / themes Actions: CoP for learning and exchange etc Actions: CA to share draft catalog of innovations

Timeline to the revisions of the individual regional proposals– Irmgard, Peter T

After Jerry comments, aiming for 5 August to Jerry Not sure the timeline after that

Tentative planning dates for Phase 2 in the regions

IHZ: first week of october will have the ESA planning in Malawi. Need to ensure livestock component as this clashes with ILRI IPM. IHZ: no west africa dates yet. Most likely January 2017 PT: ethiopia: most likely nov or early dec 2016 IHZ: need people from across the regions at these meetings, to help build the CoPs. cross-project learning. Actions: share the dates when known; ensure the cross-project sharing.

Tentative dates for the Phase II inception meeting.

IHZ: who the audience? Local Missions and partners? CRPs? For ourselves. IHZ: the science symposium? still useful? Action: Put something in the comms piece. IHZ: when? addis? field visit - does not need to be just crops? week of 23-27 January 2017.

Program Assistant – Irmgard and Peter T

PT: have someone with a more managerial role? what do we want/how would it work? Would prefer stronger/clearer PCT. IHZ: suggestion from washington.meeting to have someone who knows what's happening in all the regions. and helps ensure harmonization. and help make decisions. more than just logistical/admin role. But, PCT to keep the decision making CA: maybe need 2 persons. 1 more senior, 1 more assistant. IHZ: so what do we seek? a program assistant or a program manager. hosted by one of the centres. PT: what the cost benefit? BV: is there a real need? seems quite complicated. BM: Can see a lower level program assistant. not with all the more senior roles. Lets look towards a stronger PCT as well. IHZ: important role to support harmonization. Make the PCT stronger. BV: Can we have science coordinators across AR regions? as a way to become more of a program? linked to the CoPs

Issues beyond just the program assistant. How to organize and lead and harmonize the science? but no strong collective support for a more senior 'management' person. Have a follow-up discussion with Jerry? BM. on program-wide harmonization and cross-learning

Revisions to the ToRs of the PCT - All

Major role to foster harmonization. Jerry to stay on the PCT

Need to re-look at the role of the SAC? Revive for phase 2

Communications proposal for phase 2

program level dedicated capacity; plus in regional projects greater emphasis on cross-project and cross-issue learning for scaling and spillovers (CoPs) re-think the learning events greater emphasis on packaging and scaling at project level greater linkages with 'sister' projects - SI lab etc

PB action: Program-wide budgeting - same as before

2. Status and plans for SI indicators' list and framework Text coming into the umbrella document Whole thing needs to move from theory to practice, still waiting for something 'we can implement' and apply Should have something usable by October.

3. Future arrangements for ILRI-CKAN data hosting / data management ideal PMMT and CKAN on same platform CA: now checking if PMMT can be migrated to open source Plan to have a data manager in each regional project plus a data management support person at IFPRI

4. Updates on Typologies process CA: dont have a process now. IHZ: so what next? some small work going on in Ghana (with WUR). How will we use the studies? Actions? PT: if we can get it right, adds a lot of value for targeting. Need to get ourselves fully ready. with the data. Definately not to drop it. BM: seems like a useful tool for phase 2. Discuss again at next PCT - how to take the process forward, into phase 2

5. Major project milestones to the end of the year Jan 2017 launch/end of phase science event?

6. Proposal for a phase 1 synthesis product (PB)

7. Other business