A bottom-up approach where smallholder farmers are engaged from the start to determine key production constraints and co-create sustainable solutions.
Our Mission
Co-creating innovations that are suitable, cost-effective, and adaptable to existing farming systems
Evolution of Innovation Delivery
From top-down technology transfer to participatory co-innovation
Technology Transfer
Researchers promote innovations through extension staff to farmers
Not sustainable, low adoption rates
Farming Systems
Integrated approach considering entire farming system
Limited stakeholder involvement
Pluralism
Recognition of multiple stakeholders influencing innovation
Coordination challenges
Co-Innovation (ODS)
Public-private partnerships with farmer-centered design
Current best practice
Why Outreach,
Dissemination and Scaling?
A lot has changed since "technology transfer" was coined in the 1960s
The Problem with "Technology Transfer"
Technology transfer represents awhere researchers promote innovations through extension staff and farmers are expected to take up technologies. This approach has proven top-down approach with low adoption rates not sustainable.
The ODS Solution
ODS represents a bottom-up approach where smallholder farmers are engaged right from the start to determine key production constraints. We move upward with selection of best-bet innovations through farmer sensitization, creating demand-driven sustainable solutions.
"Innovations that are suitable for communities, cost-effective, and adaptable are easy to integrate with existing farming systems. By starting with outreach and sensitization, we create demand for our services, share knowledge to encourage practice, and develop scaling approaches with strategic partners."
The ODS Continuum
A systematic continuum getting innovations from research to target groups through strategic partners
Research
Innovation development
Outreach
Awareness & demand
Dissemination
Knowledge sharing
Scaling
Partner amplification
Continuous Feedback Loop: Adaptive research and joint monitoring ensure continuous learning and improvement
The Three Pillars of ODS
Interconnected strategies driving sustainable transformation
Creating Awareness
Reaching out and sensitizing communities about innovations and technologies. Creating demand for sustainable solutions through farmer engagement.
- Community sensitization
- Demand generation
- Innovation awareness
- Stakeholder mobilization
Sharing Knowledge
Sharing knowledge and encouraging practice through proven innovations. Building capacity across value chains for sustainable adoption.
- Knowledge transfer
- Hands-on training
- Practice encouragement
- Capacity building
Amplifying Impact
Developing scaling approaches with partners for innovations with wider demand and value. Creating sustainable pathways for large-scale adoption.
- Partnership development
- Wide-scale implementation
- Impact amplification
- Sustainability focus
Factors Underpinning Success
Four foundational elements ensuring effective innovation delivery
Cataloguing & Packaging
Taking stock of available innovations and bundling technologies to bring more value to farmers engaged in various value chains.
Livestock-crop integration and integrated vegetable push-pull systems
Participatory Approaches
Farmer-driven development using participatory methods. Engagement of stakeholders along value chains enhances dissemination and adoption.
Multi-stakeholder platforms for joint innovation development
Feedback Loop
Adaptive research with joint monitoring and evaluation. Continuous learning and improvement through stakeholder feedback.
Iterative refinement based on field experience and farmer input
Value Propositions
Clear economic gains for all stakeholders. Development of bankable innovations enhances commercialization and green job creation.
Incubation programs for youth and women entrepreneurs
Our Approaches
Seven strategic approaches for sustainable innovation delivery
Adaptive Research
Location-specific validation with farmer participation
Technology Placement
Innovation audit and suitability mapping
Value Chain Approach
Bio-circular economy integration
Business Incubation
Supporting entrepreneurship and commercialization
Monitoring & Evaluation
Process documentation and learning
Guides & Manuals
Comprehensive implementation resources
Capacity Development
Training and skill enhancement programs
Flagship Scaling Strategies
Thought leadership initiatives addressing critical niches with innovative delivery models
Waste to Cash
Challenge
African cities face serious public health challenges from poor waste management, including malaria and disease outbreaks.
Solution
Novel low-cost technology for recycling organic waste into nutrient-rich, disease-suppressing insect-frass organic fertilizers using black soldier fly (BSF) larvae.
- Managing urban waste challenges
- Producing organic fertilizer addressing soil degradation
- Creating low-cost, high-quality protein for animal feed
Royalty to Loyalty (PPP)
Challenge
Traditional royalty models require constant monitoring and supervision, often creating trust challenges between research institutions and private sector.
Solution
Trust-based partnership where private sector contributes to development of innovations they deem bankable, ensuring continuous research and supply of relevant technologies.
- Win-win partnerships built on trust
- Uninterrupted research funding
- Continuous innovation pipeline
Corporate Social Responsibility
Challenge
Many businesses seek social corporate responsibility opportunities with lasting societal impact, while Africa faces critical human capital development needs.
Solution
Collaboration between icipe and private sector to jointly develop capacity of underprivileged young scientists, strengthening sustainable human capital development.
- Training young African scientists
- Emphasis on underprivileged groups
- Sustainable human capital development
Innovation Dissemination Ladder
A systematic progression from research to widespread impact
Awareness
Outreach and sensitization
Knowledge Transfer
Training and capacity building
Farmer Practice
Integration into farming systems
Commercial Viability
Business models and income generation
Scaling & Impact
Widespread adoption through partner networks
Addressing the Gaps
Critical needs for strengthening ODS capacity and effectiveness
Human Resources
Communication Officer
Drive effective communication across ODS initiatives
Digital/Audiovisual Officer
Digital media and social content creation
Postdoctoral Researchers
Handle adaptive research activities
Structural Needs
ODS Staff Coordination
Project-based staff reporting to Head of ODS
Cross-Program Service
ODS as service provider across TRPs
Continuous Training
Refresher courses on new innovations for ODS team
Ensuring Consistency
All project-based ODS staff should align with the agreed icipe way of implementing ODS, with ODS time covered by different projects. This ensures consistent and effective delivery across all Thematic Research Programs (TRPs).
