Contributing to evidence-based Policy

making –

IPMS approach

Ranjitha PuskurIPMS, ILRI

31 August 2006Mekelle, Ethiopia

Project goal

To contribute to improved agricultural productivity and production as a means for achieving improved and sustainable livelihoods for the rural population

through market-oriented agricultural development

Project purpose

To strengthen the effectiveness of the Government’s effort to transform agricultural productivity and production, and rural development in Ethiopia from subsistence to market orientation.

Project objectives

1. Strengthen and test gender sensitive innovative knowledge management system for market oriented agricultural development

2. Strengthen and test gender sensitive innovative capacity of public and private agricultural institutions and individuals

3. Introduce gender sensitive technology and institutional innovations for production, input output marketing and rural finance in PLWs for market oriented agricultural development

4. Develop and promote gender sensitive recommendations on technology and institutional innovations

IPMS research and development system

DEVELOPMENT

RESEARCH

Present IPMS roles

Development: initiate, facilitate and implement technology and institutional innovations

Research: initiate, facilitate and implement research to understand and analyse technology and institutional innovations and the influencing factors

Promotion: initiate, facilitate and implement promotion of successful technology and institutional innovations and processes

Pilot Learning Woredas

Evidence

Relevance Credibility Communication

Understandability Timing

Participatory analytical process

Sub-sector-focusedInnovation

Process

Research /Development

Private SectorGovernment

Communication

Research can only affect policy in a significant way if it is appropriately communicated.

Research results need to be well understood by key stakeholders and have to reach them before decisions have been taken.

Multiple approaches need to be pursued.

Communication

Clear strategy Intensive efforts Packaging Interactive Multiple approaches Seeing is believing

Messages

Context, location and time specific messages Some broad-themed messages

The role of the Ethiopian extension system should be as a knowledge broker and facilitator and not as input supplier.

The role of the private sector in Ethiopian agriculture development should be increased dramatically if we are to bring sustainable and market-oriented agricultural development.

Audience

Primary (organizations with which IPMS deals directly and presumably will have mandates to scale-up and scale-out the outcomes of the IPMS project)

The Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development

Regional Bureaus of Agriculture & Rural Development Woreda Bureaus of Agriculture and Rural Development National and Regional Agricultural Research Institutes Higher education institutions in agriculture and

extension International agricultural research institutes

Audience

Secondary (entities and communities the project usually reaches through the facilitation of the primary audience members )

Farmers and pastoralists Private sector entrepreneurs (traders, shop

keepers, para-vets etc) Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) active

in extension development Community-based organizations (CBOs)

A continual dialogue through a variety of communications vehicles Personal dialogues with national policy

makers Engagement with mass media to

influence policy making via public opinion and its shapers

Communications to be pursued as a continuous activity between key stakeholder groups and researchers

Communications spectrum

Printed material Project Brochure Project Newsletter Working Paper Series Success Stories Series Commodities Sheets Calendar??? Regular articles (a weekly or monthly

column) in local newspapers

Communications spectrum

Electronic Media Project website e-Newsletter Success clips - video production Regular program on national or regional radio Public service announcements (Regular 1, 2, or

3 minute radio or TV spots that communicate a single message repeatedly – something like an advert with a twist)

Communications spectrum

Events Stakeholder Conferences Agricultural Technology Workshops Board Meetings Executive Group Meetings Research Management Group Sponsorship of Annual Awards for Best Performing

Woredas, Farmers, Private Sector upholding/exemplifying “Market-oriented Development Agendas”

Sponsoring a permanent showcase (Agricultural Hall of Fame) at MoARD’s new building or somewhere else that promotes market-orientation and self-sufficiency

Communications spectrum

Government Relations Informal One-to-one Meetings Sponsorship of portions of targeted

government events, meetings

Links

Feedback processes and engagement Links with key stakeholders –

communities, networks, intermediaries Links with advocacy partners –

importance of individuals Collaborative research

Stakeholders

Stakeholders

National Advisory and learning

committee

IPMS ProjectTeam

Strategies, interventionsand policies

Project level organisation

Regional Advisory and learning

committee

Research Development Officer

Woreda Advisory and learning

committee

Research Development Officer

Project Advisory committee

FG FG FG

IPMS RDO Facilitator

PA/ CoopBDS

HIV

Research

Market support

MicroFinance

Traders /entrepreneur

Women’saffairs

BDS

FGFG

FG FG FG

FGFG

FG FG FG

FGFG

Min Ext Co-opspromotion

?Input supply

BDS

Farmergroups

Development agencies / implementation group

BDS

Woreda Advisory And learning committee

NGO’s

Woreda level organisation of IPMS

PA/ Coop PA/ Coop

Political context

Understand agenda of policy makers and constraints

Prepare for opportunities in regular policy processes

Look out for and react to unexpected policy windows

Challenges encountered

High turn over of development staff, which makes institutional project ownership difficult

Insufficient buy in/understanding from administration

Thank you