Innovation Platforms Case Study Competition
Humidtropics uses structured multi-stakeholder platforms to drive its research for development Program, as well as agricultural innovation systems to ensure active participation of key stakeholders in Program delivery. Humidtropics’ R4D and Innovation Platforms ensure stakeholder equity, accountability, transparency, and inclusive decision-making, and also develop partnerships and networks amongst different stakeholders that promote scalability and sustainability of successful innovations.
Last November, to better assess the efficiency of these platforms and document stories of Innovation Platforms from various countries in the developing world, Humidtropics launched an Innovation Platforms Case Study Competition. In February, twelve candidates were selected to participate in a writeshop focused on writing stronger, more reflective and cohesive cases.
Earlier this month, the team of editors* reviewed all the final submissions, and decided that eight cases will be featured in a Humidtropics Anthology to be published before the end of 2015, with two additional cases recommended for publication as stand-alone cases.
When judging the cases, editors looked at the ‘maturity’ of the platforms in relation to the themes of the competition:
- Systems trade-offs;
- Platforms focusing on multiple commodities;
- Scaling up agriculture;
- Learning from failure.
Case studies were assessed based on the following criteria announced in the competition notice: content strength, quality of writing, and usefulness of the case study.
In the end, it was Rebecca Kalibwani, lead author of the case study entitled Can an Innovation Platform Succeed as a Cooperative Society? The story of Bubaare Innovation Platform Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd., that came out ahead as the winner of the competition.
The editors found this to be an excellent case because of the legal precedent of creating a cooperative out of an Innovation Platform, which will be very useful for other country contexts with common law settings. Furthermore, it does a great job in illustrating a true multipurpose Innovation Platform, with the capacity to innovate and scale up its innovation to the benefit of members. This platform came up with technological, market and policy innovations, and tells a compelling story about sustainability and platform impact.
The runners up are Thanammal Ravichandran, lead author of the case entitled MilkIT Innovation Platform: Changing Women’s Lives – One Cow and One Litre of Milk at a Time – Deep in the Foothills of India’s Himalayan Mountains; and Perez Muchunguzi, lead author of the case entitled Overcoming Challenges for Crops, People and Policies in Central Africa – the Story of CIALCA Stakeholder Engagement.
The MilkIT case demonstrates a clear pathway to addressing constraints of dairy farmers in India, with development and policy impact, and powerful lessons, while the CIALCA case provided an interesting example of an emerging platform process, with identification of success elements – both cases hold many valuable lessons for platforms around the world.
Humidtropics wishes to congratulate the winners, and all the participants in this competition!
* The team of editors comprises Iddo Dror and Jo Cadilhon from the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Marc Schut from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA)/Wageningen UR, Michael Misiko from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), and Shreya Maheshwari, Consultant Writer.
Notice written by Iddo Dror, Co-Leader, Capacity Development, Humidtropics, and Head of Capacity Development, ILRI; and Valérie Poiré, Communication Officer, Humidtropics. Notice edited by Jo Cadilhon, Senior Agricultural Economist, ILRI. Photos by Samuel Mungai/ILRI.
Find a slightly modified version of this story posted on the ILRI News website.