How can agricultural research translation projects targeting smallholder production systems be strengthened by using Theory of Change?

Elisabeth Rajala,Isabel Vogel,Anneli Sundin,Daovy Kongmanila,Maria G Nassuna-Musoke,Robert Musundire,Marianne Nasha Mulangala,Linley Chiwona-Karltun,Ulf Magnusson,Sofia Boqvist

doi:10.1016/j.gfs.2020.100475

Abstract

Sustainable development of smallholder agriculture production in low and lower middle-income countries are crucial for improving food security. To accommodate this science based evidence needs to bridge with agricultural practices and policy development, which requires coordinated actions and long term strategies involving multiple stakeholders. This paper argues that using a Theory of Change (ToC) approach, with strong emphasis on communication and stakeholder engagement, science based knowledge can be more effectively integrated in agricultural development, but also in policy development. Three projects addressing different challenges within livestock production are used to illustrate the use of and challenges with using a ToC framework. A key for reaching outcome was early involvement of relevant stakeholders in implementing teams and using the flexibility included in the ToC approach from design to implementation.

Highlights

Despite global economic growth and millions of people being lifted out of poverty, food insecurity and nutrient deficiency, known as hidden hunger (Godecke et al, 2018), remain major challenges in many parts of the world
The aim of this paper is to explore to what extent the benefits with Theory of Change (ToC) held true for three AgrifoSe2030 projects aiming to translate sci ence into policy and practice
Three projects focusing on insect production and consumption in Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC); goat man agement in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR); and dairy production and artificial insemination (AI) in Uganda, were selected through a call process targeting researchers that had previously engaged in the AgriFoSe2030 programme

Summary

Introduction

Despite global economic growth and millions of people being lifted out of poverty, food insecurity and nutrient deficiency, known as hidden hunger (Godecke et al, 2018), remain major challenges in many parts of the world. To increase produc tivity in smallholder farming systems, evidence based knowledge have to be better linked to policy development processes, and practises to include the best technologies and innovations in agriculture (Steenwerth et al, 2014; Johnson, 2018, Thornton et al, 2017). This requires coor dinated actions and investment by farmers, researchers, private sector, civil society and policymakers (Lipper et al, 2014; McDermott et al, 2010). Experience in agricultural research for development (AR4D) suggests that the process of improving agricultural productivity and sustainability using science based knowledge can be facilitated by employing a systematic, outcome-oriented approach to designing and implementing translations projects, for example by using Theory of Change (ToC) (Thornton et al, 2017; Douthwaite et al, 2017; Omore et al, 2019; Mayne and Johnson, 2015)

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