Guiding the Livestock and Fish gender capacity assessment and development process

In 2014, the International Livestock Research Institution (ILRI) undertook a survey with partners in targeted Livestock and Fish CGIAR Research Program value chains in four countries (Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania and Nicaragua) to ascertain their gaps in gender capacity related to integrating gender into agricultural programming. In all four countries, the primary obstacles to integrating gender included lack of financial resources, lack of staff training and lack of appropriate gender tools. The results from the survey motivated the Livestock and Fish Program to commission a more systematic gender capacity assessment. Continue reading →

Are you game for (Theories of) Change in an unpredictable world ?

This week I am attending a workshop organized by our CGIAR Research Program on Livestock and Fish to refine frameworks and tools for a new Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system based on the program’s Theory of Change and Impact Pathways, aiming to ensure common understanding of theories, to discuss how they can be used for planning, critical reflection and accountability; and to develop change pathways for the pilot value chains in which it will be tested. Continue reading →

Egyptian fish farmers learn best aquaculture practices

Through training fish farmers on “best management practices”, the Improving Employment and Income through Development of Egypt’s Aquaculture Sector (IEIDEAS) project aims to sustainably strengthen this growing industry by helping farmers to increase the productivity and profitability of their ponds. Continue reading →

Livestock and Fish gender capacity development initiative for the small ruminant value chain in Ethiopia

Capacity development is a priority in the Livestock and Fish Program gender strategy. As part of this strategy, the program has embarked on an initiative to strengthen the capacity of its national partners in mainstreaming gender in their work to achieve gender equity, improve food security, nutrition and agricultural development. Continue reading →

What does it take to make capacity development happen in a research for development program?

The global dominant development issue this year Sustainable Development is front and centre. Though sustainability means different things to different people, one thing becomes clearer: Convergence on the importance of Capacity Development and Partnerships with over ten references made in the UN Sustainable Development Goals document. 2014, my first full year working for ILRI and … Continue reading →

The value of knowledge in rural development – ‘I also have a right to decide.’

Increasing the productivity of small-scale production systems to make animal-source foods more readily available to poor consumers is a complex issue which requires a multi-faceted approach. With this concept in mind, scientists are working alongside territorial alliances to generate knowledge and initiatives to improve resource management through research. An example of this initiative, called the Learning Alliance. Continue reading →

What big data for organizational development?

Reflecting on the report by the UN Secretary General’s Data Revolution Group, Diana Brandes explores ways the data revolution mean for organizational and human capability development? Continue reading →

Piecing together the (gender) research for (capacity) development puzzle

Conducting Research for Development is at the heart of the Research Program on Livestock and Fish’s value chain approach. Diana Brandes argues that, in a world of complex sustainable development challenges, the solution(s) to ensure program outputs respond to localized demands to facilitate value chain transformation is a puzzle, where any number of rural communities, organizations, institutions may hold different pieces. Continue reading →

Ugandan pig disease researcher, Joyce Akol, receives bioinformatics training through the BecA-ILRI HUB

Joyce Akol, a molecular biology MSc student with Makerere University and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), has been selected to participate in a two-week training organized by the Biosciences east and central Africa-ILRI (BecA-ILRI) Hub. Continue reading →

Capacity development: facilitating the leap from individual learning to sustainable livelihood outcomes

The CGIAR Research Program on Livestock and Fish is leading a major initiative to consolidate research and development efforts for a pro-poor transformation of smallholder value chains. This multi-centre research program will make its scientific research relevant by fostering the leap from individual learning to sustainable livelihood outcomes and impacts through an integrated capacity development approach. Continue reading →