Pct44

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Africa RISING PCT #44
7 December 2020
Zoom Meetings
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Present

  1. Siboniso Moyo (SM) - Chair
  2. Bernard Vanlauwe (BV)
  3. Irmgard Hoeschle-Zeledon (IHZ)
  4. Carlo Azzari (CA)
  5. Peter Thorne (PT)
  6. Jonathan Odhong' (JO) – Secretary


Apologies

  1. Jerry Glover (JG)


Agenda

  1. Follow up on action points from the recent workshop on future of AR, SI & Systems Research - https://bit.ly/2KP0mdT
  2. Review of PCT action points generated from the ICER (internally commissioned external review) - https://bit.ly/36miGUb
  3. Any other Business
  4. Handover of role of Chair from ILRI to IITA

Follow up on action points from the recent workshop on future of AR, SI & Systems Research


 
No. Action Responsible Progress update & timelines
1. Publication of a paper about systems research conceptual framework. P. Thorne & B. Vanlauwe An outline for the paper has been developed. Working draft should be ready by end of December 2020. PCT members to have some inputs in early 2021.
2. Publication of a paper documenting AR experiences with scaling approaches and achievements. K. Mekonnen, M. Bekunda & F. Kizito Currently undergoing iterative revision by Chief Scientists. Advanced draft to be shared with PCT members in February2021.
3. *Identify/ articulate/ document the production constraints (pests, soil fertility, irrigation, mechanization,...) in the major farming systems where Africa RISING operates along the lines of the study/publication by Waddington et al (https://bit.ly/350v5ML) to prioritize investments because of the relationship between crops and hunger. Such a document would:
  • facilitate an objective methodology to assess USAID investments for systems research work.
  • quantify the benefits and determine how they can be used to prioritize interventions.
  • have a logical framework of interventions in systems research - basically help answering the question why invest in systems research?
An action plan for this to be developed during a follow-up meeting to be convened by PCT Co-Chairs soon. Action: SM to seek clarification from JG about this output and how different it should be from the output on action point No. 1
4. PCT Chairs to establish frequent check-ins via email and other platforms to brief, follow up and engage strategically in the One CGIAR research strategy which is moving along very fast. PCT Co-Chairs - B. Vanlauwe & S. Moyo There are several meetings underway regarding OneCGIAR structure and research agenda. SM and BV are involved in various design groups which have an advisory role to the OneCGIAR movers. Discussions in the design groups have so far been generic with minimal scope for infusing lessons from Africa RISING program.
5. Put together a document presenting the lessons learned from 8 years of implementation of Africa RISING (both from a science and a programmatic perspective) J. Odhong & C. Azzarri *To be documented as part of the end of AR Phase 2 publication. In addition to the lessons learned from AR, the document will have a stronger return on investment (RoI) narrative for our scientific and developmental outputs. Information on RoI and program impacts will be ready at the tail end of 2021, therefore a more practical timeline for publishing this document should be mid 2022. Generation of draft content for the publication on lessons learned within the program will be part of the comms. team activity workplan for 2021.
  • Further ideas: the document should also capture how partners are engaging with systems research (to involve some data collection) – how have we promoted systems research, what is our common vision on systems research? What is our systems research legacy? Link this document back to document under bullet 1.

Review of PCT action points generated from the ICER (internally commissioned external review)


Great progress has been made in taking and prioritizing actions arising from the ICER report. Follow ups on specific issues are now being done by the Chief Scientists and Project Specialists. Drop off from standing agenda items in subsequent PCT meetings.


Any other Business


  • CA: The indicators for nutrition in the SIAF are inadequate. They currently do not capture food security, but only food potential availability (neglecting access, utilization, and stability). address mostly food availability and not nutrition sensitive indicators (balanced diets).
    • Action:CA to follow up with the SIAF authors and propose additional indicators for nutrition.

Handover of role of Chair from ILRI to IITA


SM thanked all PCT members for support offered to her while Chairing the PCT in 2020. She urged for continued support to BV as he takes over as PCT Chair in 2021.