The policy environment for agricultural innovation in Lao PDR has never been better. Agricultural development is high on the agenda at the most senior levels of government, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry recently published a strategy framework that lays out multiple pathways for innovation. Based on the work to date, CDAIS National Innovation Facilitators are well positioned to continue shaping the agricultural innovation process long after the project ends.

Rwanda has benefited from ‘hard’ agricultural invest­ ment projects in the past two decades, promoted by a supportive and responsive government in collaboration with various donors and development actors. CDAIS looked to increase the impacts of such investments through strengthening ‘soft’ skills in three innovation niche partnerships surrounding significant public, private or donor­funded infrastructure developments, and linking this to organisational and national levels.

The CDAIS project, funded by the EU and jointly implemented by Agrinatura and FAO, enhances innovation in agriculture by improving the functional capacities of individuals, organizations and systems. It brings partners together and uses continuous learning cycles to address the challenges and opportunities in and around selected ‘innovation niche partnerships’ in eight pilot countries in Central America, Africa and Asia.

Powerpoint presentation on training for NIFs.  They have the skills and resources to conduct the Capacity Needs Assessment (CNA) at innovation partnership/niche level

- Common understanding of concepts/terminology
- Capacity to use tools/methods
- Facilitation skills

Powerpoint presentation on the Common Framework on Capacity Development for Agricultural Innovation Systems (CD for AIS) - Training of National Innovation Facilitators.

Powerpoint presentation on what is Capacity / Capacity Development and on effective Capacity Development for CDAIS. Training for National Innovation Facilitator’s (NIFs).

Powerpoint presenation on basic concepts and definitions of Capacity Development (CD) for Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS).

Powerpoint presentation on Global Partnership on Developing Innovation Capacities in Agriculture.

A poster on Capacity Needs Assessment displayed in simple steps.

Powerpoint presentation on Capacity Development for Agricultural Innovation Systems - Toolkit for Capacity Needs Assessment (CNA) at innovation niche partnership level.

Key tools for use in CNA at niche level:

- Timeline
- Problem tree/solution tree
- NetMap mapping
- Capacity assessment questionnaire } Action Planning