Activities per year
Abstract
The lack of linkages among actors within agricultural innovation systems (AIS) inhibits the development and diffusion of appropriate innovations in Sub-Saharan African (SSA). As such linkages are not usually self-organised, furthering the need for intermediation. As the characteristics of innovation systems are different in different countries, the modalities and mechanisms of intermediation need to be tailored to specific contexts. Much literature exists on the communication dynamics of various intermediation approaches. However, we know little about how different approaches actually work in specific contexts and to what extent (and how) successful intermediation approaches can be institutionalized. This dissertation aims to fill this knowledge gap by investigating the performance and institutionalisation of various types of intermediation approaches initiated by different types of actors (projects and the government) in the agricultural sector, in the southern zone of Tigray regional state, Ethiopia.
Three cases with different ties to the government are studied in this thesis. The cases are: Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation (Africa-RISING-Ethiopian Highland), a project which was independent of the government; Capacity Building for Scaling up of Evidence-based Best Practices in Agricultural Production (CASCAPE), a project that was highly integrated with governmental organisations; and Agriculture Development Partners Linkage Advisory Councils (ADPLAC), a platform, which is part and parcel of the government system, which tried to implement a more interactive approach. The data collection methods included: literature review, in-depth individual and group interviews, and non-participant observation. The theoretical frameworks developed in each empirical chapter were the point of departure for the coding and further analysis of the qualitative data.
The study showed that, due to the lasting legacy of the socialist background and the origin of the parties that have ruled the country for the last five decades, there is a continued preference for command-based hierarchal and top-down approaches such as TOT in Ethiopia. The results showed that with adequate funding, key skills, independently positioned leading brokers, projects using an orchestrated innovation platform (IP) mechanism may perform better compared to projects using ad-hoc brokerage, in terms of creating interactive innovation processes and thereby effectively implementing intermediation functions (such as: context analysis, demand articulation and planning; network building; innovation process management; and innovation scaling) at the niche level. However, successful embedding, and thereby scaling is challenging. This is due to the contrasting logic between the regime (the TOT logic) and the niche (the AIS logic). With large contrasts, the potential of outsider-driven innovation projects to create systemic change in a dominant innovation regime is limited, and successful experiments remain an island of success. This study also demonstrated that a state-facilitated platform, that was used as a systemic instrument to create systemic change in the regime, had limited impact. The systemic problems that the platform was supposed to tackle were interlocked and greatly constrained its functioning. To inspire development actors to consider the fit and embedding of an innovation methodology in a context, I developed a framework for networking-, methodological, and institutional anchoring. The use of the framework showed the relevance of anchoring considerations right at the start of an innovation project. It also demonstrated the need for strategic networking with key regime actors to engage in a dialogue for institutional grounding of the innovation experiment. Anchoring of a niche is an essential pre-phase for scaling. When it comes to the state, the study suggests a ‘strategy of harmonization’ is needed to embed a more AIS-based innovation logic in a context where a TOT logic predominates. This needs to be combined with a mix of systemic instruments.
Overall the findings of this study lead to the three major conclusions: First) careful selection of an intermediation mechanism that somehow fits the context is important, as it is easier to anchor and be sustained for broader impact; Second) changing dominant innovation systems from the outside (e.g via NGO, project-based platforms) requires explicit attention for anchoring in the design of intermediation approaches. This enables the development of an interactive innovation methodology that fits the context, with a potential for up and out scaling, attaining broader impact and sustainable change; and third) changing innovation systems from within (e.g. via state facilitated platforms) requires innovation capacity building. This demands strategic combinations of intermediation mechanisms such as IPs (to create space for interaction) and other types of instruments (such as policy changes in incentive structure), to provide a more conducive institutional environment and ensure scaling.
Original language | English |
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Qualification | Doctor of Philosophy |
Awarding Institution |
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Supervisors/Advisors |
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Award date | 29 Nov 2021 |
Place of Publication | Wageningen |
Publisher | |
Print ISBNs | 9789463957984 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 29 Nov 2021 |
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Embedding interactive innovation approaches in the top-down agricultural research and extension system of Ethiopia: Insights of Tigray'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Activities
- 1 Examination/teaching third parties
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Member of the Exam Committee of the PhD Thesis of Mikinay Seifu
Wiskerke, H. (Examiner/opponent)
29 Nov 2021Activity: Examination › Examination/teaching third parties › Academic
Projects
- 1 Finished
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Performace of Agricultural Innovation System in Tigray, Ethiopia
Seifu, M. (PhD candidate), Leeuwis, C. (Promotor), Klerkx, L. (Co-promotor) & van Paassen, A. (Co-promotor)
15/08/13 → 29/11/21
Project: PhD