Agricultural Innovation Systems and Value Chains Development: A Training Manual

This is one of a series of training modules developed following several workshops on agricultural innovation systems (AIS) and value chains development (VCD) organized for principle investigators of ASARECA’s programs in 2010 and 2011. The modules were compiled to assist in facilitating similar training that participant trainees may organize. The principle behind teaching and presenting the two concepts of innovation systems and VCD is based on the fact that they are strongly related, and there is opportunity for thinking and applying the two together in most agricultural programs.

These modules are best presented in 2-hour sessions using a suggested 3, 4 or 5-day program. In the 4 or 5-day program, 1 day should be dedicated to a field activity, such as a visit to a value chain network or innovation system so that participants get hands-on experience of various aspects such as roles, contribution and benefits of the relationships in the innovation system, and participate in monitoring and evaluation.

The 3–5-day training period is too short to cover essential details of understanding and operations of innovation and VCD. The most affected is VCD, which, on its own, should be taught in not less than 5 days. A well-developed VCD training program extends for at least 10 consecutive days (or stretches for a full 2 weeks). However, these sessions have been designed for program managers to expose them to basic information that can be used to design and manage programs. The training sessions therefore present introductory modules to various related concepts. It is expected that by the end of the 3–5-day course, trainees will have a basic understanding of the two concepts and how they can be presented in proposals, detailed strategies and action plans as well as what could go into performance tracking. In addition, at the end of each topic there is a Reference and Further Reading section that shows areas and topics that the trainees should make efforts to get for more information (knowledge).

The full list of modules and suggested training program is shown in the following schedule.