International Centre for Evaluation and Development (ICED)

In the last 2 weeks of November, the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture program team went on a tour of visits to the Lab's East Africa Regional Hub programs. From Uganda to Kenya, the team, represented by Lydia Maranga (program officer) and Michel Kabirigi (post-doctoral researcher), joined Peninah Yumbya, PhD (East Africa Regional Hub manager) to visit the various project sites and teams. Throughout their visits and training activities, they also sat down for discussions with the Principal Investigators (PI) on the projects' progress, potential challenges, impacts on the target beneficiaries, and future opportunities for enhancing Kenya's horticulture sector. 🔗 Read the full story of the team's tour here: https://lnkd.in/dkSvBAV4 📸 Check out photos from the team's full tour experience: https://lnkd.in/dRWxt4zU

This morning, we were privileged to host Katheryn Gregerson and Kristen Becker from the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture. The discussions centered on assessing emerging impacts and lessons from the Horticulture Innovation Lab-funded projects in strengthening East Africa’s horticulture sector. The team also explored ways to deepen the partnership between ICED and the Horticulture Innovation Lab to continue investing in smallholder farmers while driving evidence-based policies for inclusive socio-economic development in the region. #FeedtheFuture #EndHunger David Sarfo Ameyaw | Peninah Yumbya, PhD | Simon Gicheha, PhD (Agricultural Economics) | Emma Nyamai

During the recent East Africa regional tour, the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture program team, represented by Lydiah Maranga (Program officer) and Michel Kabirigi (Post-doctoral researcher), had the pleasure of visiting ICED's Kenya office. Their tour included visits to GROOTS Kenya and Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), two research project teams managed by the Horticulture Innovation Lab's East Africa Regional Hub. Along with hosting the East Africa Regional Hub, ICED is also managing an impactful project focused on determining the cost-benefit of integrating horticulture into staple crop production in Kenya, led by Kwadwo Danso-Mensah as the Principal Investigator (PI). Discussions held during Lydiah and Michel's visit centered on ongoing project activities across East Africa and the incredible opportunities for scaling these initiatives to drive sustainable agricultural growth.

Nearly two weeks ago, I attended the 6th #AfricaLics (The Africa network for the economics of Learning, Innovation and Competence building Systems)Research Conference hosted at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. The theme for the conference was “The The Africa We Want: Leveraging Innovation and Digital Transformation.” The conference saught to bring to the fore the need to harness the power of innovation and leverage on digital technologies to enable Africa to forge a path toward #sustainable #development.  I had the opportunity to contribute to a thematic session where I was engaged in a panel discussion on #Agricultural #Innovation and #Digital #Solutions. As part of my presentation, I shared insights into the level of digital literacy and access to digital innovation among small-holder farmers in Africa as well how funding organizations (especially those within the continent like International Centre for Evaluation and Development (ICED) can use local led research as a pathway to successful scaling of digital innovations. The Advancing Local Leadership and Innovation Network (ALL-IN) initiative by International Centre for Evaluation and Development (ICED) is an example of such a pathway for scaling innovations in Africa, Read more about ALL-IN at https://lnkd.in/dqN4MvTf. (swipe to see images from the discussions during the panel session and the event). Bijou Attey

Earlier today, we were honored to host Ms. Serah Nderitu of Global Innovation Fund (GIF) at Greening Mua Environmental Initiative (GMEI), an ICED-supported community-based organization that is implementing innovative solutions to tackle climate change while improving the lives and livelihoods of communities in Kenya's Machakos County. In its growth journey, ICED has been a capacity building partner to GMEI in areas like establishing robust M&E systems and tools to measure their impact on the environment and communities, and unlocking access to international platforms for them to amplify their impact and best practices. As a research leader in the region, ICED continues to focus on evidence generation to strengthen evidence-based climate change policies and practice to support actions by locally-led organizations like GMEI. We're excited about the collaboration with GIF to scale this agenda. David Sarfo Ameyaw I Julius Muia, PhD FCPA(K), FCS(K), AKIB, ACIArb I Simon Gicheha, PhD (Agricultural Economics) I Peninah Yumbya, PhD I Emma Nyamai I Stephine Ogutu

What role do 3-wheel tricycles play in market access? Where are the gaps in the literature around infrastructure's impact on nutrition and gender equality? These, and other questions, were part of our interview with Professor Takyiwaa Manuh on ICED's recently publicized project, "Infrastructure's Impact on Nutritious Diet, Women's Empowerment and Gender Equality" (IINDWEGE). 🎥 Check out this trailer of Professor Manuh's in-depth discussion on the intent of the IINDWEGE project in Ghana and its potential impact on research and policy: https://lnkd.in/gzv2xf9J Earlier this year, in February, ICED's researchers shared the results of its project on nutrition, women's empowerment and gender equality. The subsequent dissemination event brought together various stakeholders for an engaging and informative discussion and demonstration. Various members of the research team shared their experiences on the research project and their expectations for post-event results ( 🔗 check out the interviews here: https://lnkd.in/gZKC_GBc). Keep an eye out for the full interview, coming soon!

This week, Peninah Yumbya, PhD, manager for the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Horticulture East Africa Regional Hub, joined Program Officer Lydia Maranga and Michel Kabirigi (Ph.D.), post-doc researcher, to visit the Lab’s project team, led by Prof Robert Kajobe (PhD, MSc, MPA, BSc), at Muni University, in Uganda. The team is implementing a horticulture project funded by USAID through the Horticulture Innovation Lab and coordinated by ICED at the East Africa Regional Hub. On Monday and Tuesday, the team focused on visit to stakeholders and collaborators of the project. They began their trip with a courtesy call to Omia Agribusiness Development Group Ltd (OADG), a collaborator on the project and host of the Coolbot cold room installation. They toured the facility and learned more about OADG’s work with small-scale farmers in the West Nile region and the impact of the Coolbot. According to Beatrice Mamasia, commodity marketing manager, since the installation of the Coolbot, the rate of postharvest losses has drastically reduced from 21kg of tomatoes per day to 8kg per day, and from 8 watermelons to 2, daily. The benefits have trickled to the small-scale farmers as OADG is capable of buying more produce from farmers at better prices. The team also paid a courtesy call to the Muni University Secretary’s Office and discussed the impact and sustainability of the Horticulture Innovation Lab project, concluding with a call for more collaboration. Michel then led the project team through a training on Social Network Analysis. On Wednesday and Thursday, the team toured the project experimental sites to see the ongoing research activities in the area, alongside conducting a training on DryCard technology with key stakeholders in the region. 📸 : Peninah Yumbya What you're seeing in pictures: 1. Lydia Maranga, program officer, and Michel Kabirigi (Ph.D.) are received by the OADG General Manager Adilu Kato Omia. 2. The team at OADG with Principal Investigator Prof. Robert Kajobe. 3-4. Posing for a group photo outside the solar-powered Coolbot at OMIA facility. 5. Prof. Kajobe (left, in black suit) updating the team. 6. Posing for a group photo at OADG. 7. Paying a courtesy call to Muni University Secretary's Office. 8. Michel Kabirigi (Ph.D.) training the Muni University project team on Social Network Analysis.

“Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.” - John Wooden. This quote represents one of the testimonies of impact from the recent leadership training at ICED's Ghana branch, led by the International Leadership Foundation, with certified facilitators Prof. Ibok Oduro, Percy Amoo-yankey, Prof. Eric Anum, and ILF Africa Executive Director Stephen Adu-Amoani. ICED Communications sat down for a conversation with four staff members who underwent the four-day training: Joseph Clottey (Ph.D), Sheila Agyemang Oppong (Ph.D), Symphorien AGBAHOUNGBA (Ph.D), and Emelia Enyonam Kuleke. Read about their experiences, the quotes that impacted them most, and more here: https://lnkd.in/duSsdE8Q

Over the last 5 days, 3 ALL-IN research teams held endline dissemination workshops as a conclusion to their 3-year USAID-funded ALL-IN research projects: Dr. Robertson Khataza (LUANAR-Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Malawi), Dr. Khadijat Busola Amolegbe, PhD, PMP (University of Ilorin, Nigeria), and Prof. OPEYEMI AYINDE (University of Ilorin, Nigeria). Read more about the dissemination events here: https://lnkd.in/gzHG6YDb Check out media coverage from the University of Ilorin dissemination event: https://lnkd.in/gHWnwsPg 📸: Jack Nyirenda, Kwadwo Danso-Mensah

Last week, ICED's Ghana branch directors and leadership underwent a 4-day leadership training to enhance their work processes and strengthen their leadership skills. The training was led by International Leadership Foundation's (ILF) certified facilitators, Prof. Ibok Oduro, Prof. Eric Anum, Percy Amoo-yankey, and ILF Africa Executive Director, Stephen Adu-Amoani. ICED's Ghanaian leadership trainees were treated to insightful sessions on creativity in leadership, teamwork and collaboration, and much more. Stay tuned for insights from the engaging workshop!