ASARECA and UniBRAIN Implementation in Eastern and Central

Africa

Presentation to the Annual Review Mission Entebbe

May 2015

ASARECA Geographic reach

Established in 1994 by 10 member countries; now 11 member countries

ASARECA region covers 8.5 million km2 with about 350 million people

Agriculture forms the source of livelihood for the bulk of the population

Agriculture accounts for 43% of the sub-regional GDP.

Why was ASARECA established

Countries in the region are facing similar challenges and opportunities to improve agriculture’s performance.

Agro-ecological zones cut across political boundaries, and therefore, technologies developed in one country frequently find application in similar environments of other countries.

Great opportunities to promote agricultural led growth through sharing of Agricultural research results

Need for Regional collective action, collaboration and specialization – Research Networking

Leverage on resources where possible

ASARECA adds value to National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) through:

ASARECA secretariat takes a coordinating role

Strategy being implemented under 2 Operational Plans : 2008 – 2013 and 2014 – 2018

Development of 2014 – 2018 OP completed

ASARECA is operating on a 10 year Strategic Plan (2008 – 2017) supported mainly via a W/Bank

managed MDTF

CONSULTATIVE PROCESS

OP 2 Thematic areas

Natural Resource management and Eco-system services.

Market, market linkages and trade

Sustainable agriculture, Food and Nutrition

PROPOSED ASARECA KI HUB

Platforms for Info Exchange

Platforms for Info Exchange

Learning and

Innovation for AR4D

Learning and

Innovation for AR4D

AR4D Think Tank

AR4D Think Tank

KEY OUTCOME

Equitable access & utilization of agricultural knowledge & information within and beyond ECA sub-region

Techn. & Information

Clearing House

Techn. & Information

Clearing House

Research Networking: How ASARECA operates

At continental level ASARECA has partnerships with FARA, COMESA and AU-NEPAD to contribute to the CAADP agenda and the MDG goals

The CGS is a process of creating partnerships for effective agricultural innovation

Dublin initiative on aligning CGIAR to National CAADP processes

- Linking CG with ASARECA programs- Productivity workshop- Science Agenda for African Agriculture

Partnerships for delivery of the ASARECA mission in the member countries in OP 1

By end of OP 1, ASARECA had implemented about 70 projects in the 11 member countries.

The projects were implemented through about 420 partnerships (read sub-agreements) under CGS

The 420 are formalized through sub-agreements. Many other informal partnerships could be identified

OP 1: Types of organizations in Partnerships with ASARECA

Type of Institution Number of Partnerships

NARIs 223

Universities 59

International Research Institutions

33

Private sector 22

Government agents 42

NGOs 37

Others 7

Total partnerships 423

UniBRAIN Implementation

Role of ASARECA: Linking Incubators with research through: Sensitization of National & regional Research systems on UniBRAINIdentification of research areas to be addressedIdentification of research productsEnsuring fair use of research productsWorking with other partners to ensure smooth implementation

Implementation of UniBRAIN: Some key activities Study to inventorize incubatable technologies:

Some key observations: - coffee, banana and sorghum subsectors

- IP management will be crucial in business development

- financing for business take-off a challenge

Training on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and technology valuation for incubators

Workshop linking Private Sector & incubatees to prioritize TIMPs for commercialisation

A study to establish IPR issues around prioritized TIMPs

Highlights of achievements

Sensitized over 200 Researchers on the UniBRAIN initiative and concept of incubation, which led to formation of AIICs

Developed an inventory of Technologies, Innovations and Management Practices (TIMPs) under the sorghum and banana value chains which have potential for commercialization

Coffee value chain Banana value chain Sorghum value chain

Tissue Culture coffee 

Tissue Culture bananas Sorghum varieties for food, feed, fiber and bio fuels

Natural sweetener  

Fresh Vacuum Sealed Matooke (FREVASEMA)

Sorghum processing technology

Farmers ownership model 

Banana Juice, syrup and wines

Organizational innovation in sorghum production and marketing (contract farming)

Geographical indications

Banana Briquettes

List of prioritized TIMPs under UniBRAIN

•Shared & validated the TIMPs with researchers, AIICs, incubatees and other stakeholders

•Enhanced skills of 42 (29m, 13f) researchers, AIICs, incubatees and UniBRAIN partners in book keeping for SMEs (in collaboration with Certified Public Accountants CPA- Uganda)

•Trained 60 (41m, 19f) researchers, UniBRAIN partners, incubators & incubatees on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and Technology valuation 9

Achievements

• Enhanced skills of 42 (29m, 13f) researchers, AIICs, incubatees and UniBRAIN partners in book keeping for SMEs (in collaboration with Certified Public Accountants CPA- Uganda)

• Conducted a study to establish IPR issues around prioritized TIMPs. Study also aimed at documenting status of IP systems and proposing appropriate systems

Achievements

Planned activities Validate the study on IPR and support

incubators to draw road maps for establishing appropriate IPR systems

Establish research needs for the UniBRAIN incubators

Conduct a training workshop on Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) and Value chain development approach

Planned activities

A project on supporting business incubation through the establishment of business incubation centers had already been proposed under the Markets, Market Linkages and Trade theme of ASARECA’s OP II

The project has not been funded due to unavailability of funding under ASARECA’s MDTF. It is hoped that this project will be implemented as soon as funding is available, thus directly complementing the work of UniBRAIN

Thank you