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PROLINNOVA–UGANDA is an NGO-led initiative to build a global learning network on promoting local innovation in ecologically-oriented agriculture and Natural Resource Management (NRM).
Evolution of PROLINNOVA
PROLINNOVA was a product of GFAR (Global Forum on Agricultural Research) efforts to scale up existing approaches to participatory innovation in agriculture and NRM through a Global Partnership Program (GPP). In 2003 Uganda became one of the first three countries to embark on the program with support from IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development).
Objective
Currently PROLINNOVA–UGANDA’s central objective is up-scaling, mainstreaming and institutionalization of community-led approaches to Agriculture and Natural Resource Management.
Specific Objectives:
- To set up an effective Prolinnova partnership program in Uganda
- To set up lasting mechanisms for linkages between these initiatives for
analysis of and learning from Prolinnova–UGANDA experiences and for mutual support
- To synthesize lessons from these new initiatives and similar experiences, document and widely spread the lessons
- To encourage wider application and institutionalization of Prolinnova approaches within formal research, development and education.
Components of PROLINNOVA-UGANDA
- Developing, piloting, new things and sharing results
- Participatory Innovation Development (PID): study innovations, joint experimentation
- Piloting and up-scaling Local Innovation Support Fund (LISF)
- Alternative policy dialogue methods
- Documentation of innovations through publications, participatory video
- Sharing of learnings through internal meetings, Farmer to farmer exchanges and exhibitions
- Capacity building in:
- Participatory Innovation Development
- Policy advocacy and documentation,
- Gender and HIV-Aids,
- Farmer-institutions development
- Institutionalisation through:
- Mainstreaming and institutionalizing community-led NRM at national and international levels
- Giving continuity to national level platforms, awareness raising, policy lobby
- Changing PID Curriculum
- Working with specific organisations for an in-depth institutional change (with external coaching, etc)
- Program/network management aimed at
- Building the capacity of development actors to implement and advocate community-led NRM
- Ensuring effective functioning of decentralised, democratic learning networks
Approach
PROLINNOVA-UGANDA builds on and scales up existing practices – many pioneered by NGOs – in research and development (R&D) focused on promoting local innovation.
- PROLINNOVA-UGANDA seeks collaboration with relevant existing programs. The experiences that have already been made offer valuable examples for others interested in this approach, and serve as sources of inspiration and learning. Moreover, these often-isolated initiatives join forces in lobbying for institutional and policy change in mainstream research, extension and education.
- Most activities are implemented through a mixture of stakeholder groups including farmers, researchers, extension agents of government institutions / NGOs and NGO networks. These programs are linked using mechanisms for sharing and mutual learning.
Partnerships
The partnership includes innovative farmers and their organizations, national and international NGOs, national agricultural research and extension organizations, Government programs, regional fora and networks, and international research centers dealing with agro-ecosystems and related policy research.
Management
- The program is guided by a steering committee comprising of:
- Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST)
- Development Network of Indigenous Voluntary Associations (DENIVA)
- National Agricultural research Organisation (NARO)
- National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS)
- International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)
- Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF)
- Uganda Local Authorities Association (ULAA)
- Makerere University Faculty of Forestry and Nature Conservation.
- Uganda National Farmers’ Federation
- A core team provides technical support and comprises Environmental Alert, Participatory Ecological Land Use Management (PELUM) Association-Uganda, Africa 2000 Network, Kulika Charitable Trust, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, National Agricultural Advisory Services.
- Technical backstopping is undertaken by the International Support Team which comprises ETC Eco-culture, IIRR, Free University of Amsterdam and LBL.
Click here to read more about PROLINNOVA Uganda.
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