Learningevent21
Africa RISING Learning Event
May/June 2021 [tbd in consultation with PCT]
Virtual [Platform to be determined][edit | edit source]
Ideas below were generated during a brainstorm meeting by:(i)J.Odhong, (ii)I.Hoeschle-Zeledon, (iii)P. Thorne, (iv) C. Azzarri, (v)W. Ofori-Duah, (vi) E. Massam, and (vii)H. Seifu. The meeting took place on 4 March 2021.
FOCUS AREAS
Focus #1: Documenting and sharing Africa RISING's accrued wisdom (over the past ten years) about the next priority focus research in ESA, Ethiopia, and WA farming systems that guarantee the most significant progress towards meeting USAID FtF goals around poverty, hunger, and malnutrition.
- Further thoughts:
- Chief Scientists and Project Managers will identify individuals from each project region to brainstorm and develop proposed prioritizations ahead of the learning event.
- The material generated by these groups will then be subjected to broader discussions during the learning event. Regional similarities and differences can then further be interrogated, and areas of consensus identified for documentation.
Focus #2: Progress made with Africa RISING's phase II research questions as highlighted in the regional and program proposals for phase II. Take stock to what extent we are now able to answer those questions.
- Further thoughts:
- Should directly 'report progress' made with the research questions rather than 'discussions about progress.'
- Explore if gaps identified from unmet milestones from the Phase II research questions can be reconciled or blended with discussions emerging from Focus #1 bullet ii.
Focus #3: Outcomes of Africa RISING's cross-regional surveys, studies and synthesis, and lessons learned.
- Further thoughts:
- It would include a presentation from the program-wide M&E studies.
- Africa RISING scaling experiences and reach. Explore what has worked, what hasn't, the numbers reached, and the lessons learned.
- Other cross-regional publications being developed by the Chief Scientists and partners.
- Policy piece under development about systems research by the IFPRI team
Focus #4: Africa RISING's legacy and contributions given the program's conclusion within the next 18 months and the ongoing One CGIAR reform process.
- Further thoughts:
- Keep the event primarily focused on the main Africa RISING outputs aConsider developing an exercise that will allow participants/key people within Africa RISING to answer the question – "From your experiences in Africa RISING, what are the key messages/lessons learned that stand-out?" Content generated from this kind of discussion would then be synthesized into appropriate formats for AR legacy to be used by the One CGIAR and others.
- Updates about progress with ONE CGIAR reforms (for benefit of non-CGIAR participants)
Focus #5: Nutrition work within Africa RISING.
- Further thoughts:
- Session or side-event that would allow sharing of lessons across the three projects in a focussed manner.
PARTICIPANTS
Key individuals in and around the program. Each needs to make a substantive contribution to one or more of the above focus areas identified.
LOGISTICS
- Hold the event in May/ June 2021 before the next fiscal year/summer break.
- Seek dates & timing that will not interfere with the pre-planned regional project partners' meetings: ESA on 6 May/3 June, while WA 5 May/2 June.
- Work on 2/3-hour blocks for a maximum of 2/3 days depending number of agreed topics identified.
- Aim for an interactive session with breaks built in between sessions.
- Mixed format made up of PowerPoint presentations and other structures.
- Build in videos from the projects if available
EVENT AGENDA
To be developed after PCT discussion.
