This section gathers core learnings from DeSIRA projects with regards to the innovation domains and the innovation systems they promote and support.
It also gathers learnings about how the action from DeSIRA LIFT is supporting them in being more efficient in the matter.
A library of publications, documents, tools, guidelines, etc. relevant to projects management and impact is provided below.
Additional resources can also be found on the DeSIRA LIFT institutional website’s Digital Resource hub featuring studies and analyses from the broader DeSIRA Community.
| Title | Content | Image | Categories | Link | hf:doc_categories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| What is Developmental Evaluation? | “Developmental evaluation supports innovation development to guide adaptation to emergent and dynamic realities in complex … |  | |||
| What is a Theory of Change? | A theory of change (ToC) is a visual and narrative depiction of how a project … |  | |||
| What is Utilization-Focused Evaluation? | About this brief: Utilization-focused evaluation (UFE) is a decision-making framework that allows projects to take … |  | |||
| The role of agroecology and regenerative agriculture in farming and food systems in Africa | The Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit (AFSHS) was organised by the African Union and … |  | |||
| Emerging opportunities with organic and bio-organic fertilizers for soil health in Africa | The Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit (AFSHS) was organised by the African Union and … |  | |||
| Compatibility assessment of agroecology and CSA practices | The 2022 edition of the Biennial Climate Smart Agriculture Conference was held during the Science … |  | |||
| The contribution of agroecology to climate change adaptation and mitigation | The 2022 edition of the Biennial Climate Smart Agriculture Conference was held during the Science … |  | |||
| Improving Climate Resilience and Sustainability of Farming and Food Systems: Exploring the Contribution of Agroecology | On 6 June 2023, DeSIRA-LIFT, the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), and the … |  | |||
| Mapping of Science, Technology and Innovation actors championing agroecological practices for sub-Saharan Africa | The DeSIRA Initiative (Development Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture), funded by the European Commission, … |  | |||
| Mapping of Green Transition actors championing agroecological practices for sub-Saharan Africa | The DeSIRA Initiative (Development Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture), funded by the European Commission, … |  | |||
| Regional Economic Communities in Africa and agroecology. A rapid review of policy opportunities, challenges and gaps | This report presents the findings of a rapid review of agricultural policies of Regional Economic … |  | |||
| Views and experiences of regional organisations on continental agricultural & food research and innovation strategies | There are multiple and complex demands (economic, social, environmental) on agriculture and food systems in … |  | |||
| Gender-responsive mechanisms or incentives for locally based private-sector engagement in strengthening capacity of seed systems in Africa | Seed production, processing and trade have an important role to play in the economic growth … |  | |||
| Stories of Change, book 2: Pathways to agrifood system transformation: From Local Innovation to Policy Change | In the pursuit of its objectives, the DeSIRA initiative has fostered various types and forms … |  | |||
| Stories of Change, book 1: Activating agricultural transitions to sustainability through participatory research and co-innovation. | Over the past decades, the contributions to innovations and transitions by agricultural research have been … |  | |||
| Synthesis Brief: Actionable learning Proving and improving R&I impacts in agrifood systems through project-based approaches | This Synthesis brief presents the overall learning from DeSIRA Pilar 1 The DeSIRA-LIFT Service Area … |  | |||
| Enseignements et recommandations tirés de l’initiative DeSIRA |  | ||||
| Lessons and Recommendations from the DeSIRA Initiative |  | ||||
| Harvest Highlights: Biosolutions for improved farming systems |  | Harvest Highlights | harvest-highlights | ||
| Harvest Highlights: Empowering Women & Youth for Food Security in Africa |  | Harvest Highlights | harvest-highlights | ||
| Harvest Highlights: What agroecology brings to food security and ecosystem services: a review of scientific evidence |  | Harvest Highlights | harvest-highlights | ||
| Harvest Highlights: DURBAN +10 Synthesis Report |  | Harvest Highlights | harvest-highlights | ||
| Promoting the rights of farmers and their varieties under seed policies on the African continent | Access to seed in the African agricultural environment remains a challenge for many (small-scale) farmers … |  | Policy Briefs | policy-briefs | |
| Le potentiel de la production hors exploitation agricole, la commercialisation et l’utilisation de fertilisants organiques et biofertilisants en Afrique | La productivité agricole sur le continent africain, en particulier en Afrique subsaharienne, se classe parmi … |  | Knowledge briefs | knowledge-briefs | |
| The potential of the off-farm production, marketing and use of organic & biofertilisers in Africa | Agricultural productivity on the African continent, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), ranks among the lowest … |  | Knowledge briefs | knowledge-briefs | |
| What agroecology brings to food security and ecosystem services: a review of scientific evidence | There is a growing body of scientific evidence regarding the outcomes and impacts of agroecology. … |  | Knowledge briefs | knowledge-briefs | |
| Digitalisation for smallholder farmers | Digitalisation has brought a vast array of opportunities to smallholder farmers in Africa, which, when … |  | Knowledge briefs | knowledge-briefs | |
| Biosolutions for improved farming systems | Biosolutions such as those used for soil fertility, pest management and livestock disease management, offer … |  | Knowledge briefs | knowledge-briefs | |
| Addressing biodiversity loss and agrobiodiversity | Agrobiodiversity is essential for the development of resilient and productive agri-food systems, yet it is … |  | Knowledge briefs | knowledge-briefs | |
| Promouvoir les droits des agriculteurs et de leurs variétés dans le cadre des politiques semencières sur les continent africain | L’accès aux semences dans l’environnement agricole africain reste un défi (petits agriculteurs) malgré les nombreux … |  | Policy Briefs | policy-briefs | |
| Évolution actuelle de l’harmonisation des lois sur les semences en Afrique | Le secteur agricole est important en Afrique. C’est un secteur dominant en termes d’emploi, de … |  | Study Reports | study-reports | |
| Current developments in seed laws harmonisation in Africa | The agricultural sector is important in Africa. It is a dominant sector in terms of … |  | Study Reports | study-reports | |
| Durban+10 synthesis report | Overview: This is the executive summary of the Durban+10 Synthesis Report on the United Nations … |  | Study Reports | study-reports | |
| Africa climate smart agriculture – implementation plan 2022-2032 | INTRODUCTION: This is the executive summary of the decadal Africa Climate Smart Agriculture Implementation Plan … |  | Study Reports | study-reports | |
| Reseña Metodológica: ¿Qué es la evaluación evolutiva? | Acerca de esta reseña: “La Evaluación Evolutiva apoya el desarrollo de las innovaciones guiando la adaptación … |  | How-to Briefs | how-to-brief | |
| Exploring the off-farm production, marketing and use of organic and biofertilisers in Africa | This scoping study provides valuable insights into the status of organic fertilisers and biofertilisers (OFBF) … |  | Study Reports | study-reports | |
| Manual Participatory Video for Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning | This handout is based upon the content from the 9-module course, given for DeSIRA-LIFT participants … |  | Manuals | manuals | |
| How-to-Brief: What is developmental evaluation? | About this brief: “Developmental evaluation supports innovation development to guide adaptation to emergent and dynamic … |  | How-to Briefs | how-to-brief | |
| Why Cultivating Your Innovation Ecosystem Is Worth the Work | For the full article, please see here Reference: Hoffecker, E. (2018). Why Cultivating Your Innovation … |  | Journal articles | journal-articles | |
| Powerpoint presentation: “Utilization-focused Evaluation (UFE): A decision-making framework” |  | Presentations | presentations | ||
| The unpacking and repacking of agricultural innovation: Embrapa’s translation roles and positions in the introduction of the pyramid model and hybrid pigs in Brazil | Authors: Jean Vilas-Boas, Laurens Klerkx, Rico Lie Agricultural Systems 216 (2024) 103880 Context: The notion … |  | Journal articles | journal-articles | |
| Anticipating social differentiation and unintended consequences in scaling initiatives using GenderUp, a method to support responsible scaling | Authors: Erin McGuire,Cees Leeuwis, Anne M. Rietveld, Bela Teeken ABSTRACT CONTEXT: A key strategy in … |  | Journal articles | journal-articles | |
| The ART of Readiness: A Practical Tool for Implementation Tailoring at the Activity Level | Authors: Victoria C. Scott · Tara Kenworthy LaMarca · Debra Hamm · Annalise J. Tolley … |  | Journal articles | journal-articles | |
| Guía Stories of Change (Español) |  | Guidelines SoC | guidelines-soc | ||
| Guide Stories of Change (Français) |  | Guidelines SoC | guidelines-soc | ||
| Guidelines Stories of Change (English) |  | Guidelines SoC | guidelines-soc | ||
| Advocacy and Social Justice: a guide to measuring impact | A monitoring, evaluation and learning guide on legal advocacy Powell et. al (2016) |  | Manuals | manuals | |
| Discerning Policy Influence – Lindquist 2001 | Abstract from introduction Understanding causal influence is difficult in the best of circumstances for any … |  | Guidance communication, Journal articles | guidance-communication journal-articles | |
| Story of Change – Angola CDAIS | A Story of Change from Angola from past CDAIS project Keywords: Story of Change, Story, … |  | Guidance communication, Stories of Change | guidance-communication stories-of-change | |
| Manual on the use of participatory approaches in agriculture studies | Suggested citation: Manalo, J.A., Alayza, B., Aya, R.A.M., Carlos, M.A., Cruz, D., Dev, D., De … |  | Manuals | manuals | |
| Handbook for Participatory Action Research, Planning and Evaluation | Chevalier, Jacques M, and Buckles Daniel J. (2021) Handbook for Participatory Action Research, Planning and … |  | Manuals | manuals | |
| Creating a Stakeholder Communications Plan | In its simplest form, a stakeholder communications plan outlines who you need to communicate with, … |  | Manuals | manuals | |
| How-to-Brief: What is a Theory of Change? | About this brief A theory of change (ToC) is a visual and narrative depiction of … |  | How-to Briefs | how-to-brief | |
| Evaluating complex interventions: A theory-driven realist-informed approach | Boru Douthwaite, John Mayne, Cynthia McDougall, Rodrigo Paz-Ybarnegaray (2017) Evaluating complex interventions: A theory-driven realist-informed … |  | |||
| Evaluating Living Labs – Annotated Bibliography | About this annotated bibliography: This annotated bibliography provides highlights from each citation with attention to … |  | Manuals | manuals | |
| How-to-Brief: What is Utilization-Focused Evaluation? | About this brief: Utilization-focused evaluation (UFE) is a decision-making framework that allows projects to take … |  | How-to Briefs | how-to-brief | |
| Théorie du changement participative au service de l’agroécologie | Castella, Blundo Canto (2023) |  | Journal articles | journal-articles | |
| Putting Theory of Change into Use in Complex Settings | Douthwaite, et. al (2020) |  | Journal articles | journal-articles | |
| Putting Theory of Change into Use in Complex Settings | Douthwaite, et. al (2020) |  | Journal articles | journal-articles | |
| Listening to the stars: the constellation model of collaborative social change | Surman & Surman (2008) |  | Journal articles | journal-articles | |
| Can participatory communication be taught? Finding your inner phronēsis | Ramírez et. al (2015) |  | Journal articles | journal-articles | |
| Promoting Environmental Communication and Policy Formation: A Utilization-Focused Evaluation Approach, Environmental Communication | Catherine E. Dobbins, Kristin E. Gibson & Alexa J. Lamm (2021): Promoting Environmental Communication and … |  | Journal articles | journal-articles | |
| Blending “hard” and “soft” science: the “follow-the-technology” approach to catalyzing and evaluating technology change | Douthwaite, B., N. C. de Haan, V. Manyong, and D. Keatinge. 2001. Blending “hard” and … |  | Journal articles | journal-articles | |
| Complexity-Aware Monitoring and Evaluation | Tilman Hertz, Eva Brattander, Loretta Rose (2021) Complexity-Aware Monitoring and Evaluation Journal of MultiDisciplinary Evaluation, … |  | Journal articles | journal-articles | |
| Learning through evaluation – A tentative evaluative scheme for sustainability transition experiments | Christopher Luederitz, Niko Schäpke, Arnim Wiek, Daniel J. Lang, Matthias Bergmann, Joannette J. Bos, Sarah … |  | Journal articles | journal-articles | |
| Learning How to Learn in Sustainability Transitions Projects: The Potential Contribution of Developmental Evaluation | Andrew S. Mitchell, Mark Lemon, 2020, Learning How to Learn in Sustainability Transitions Projects: The … |  | Journal articles | journal-articles | |
| Evaluation Criteria for Evaluating Transformation: Implications for the Coronavirus Pandemic and the Global Climate Emergency | Patton, M. Q. (2021). Evaluation Criteria for Evaluating Transformation: Implications for the Coronavirus Pandemic and … |  | Journal articles | journal-articles | |
| Moments of truth: An unexplored dimension to communicate effectiveness | Ramírez, R., (2010) Moments of truth: An unexplored dimension to communicate effectiveness. The Canadian Journal … |  | Journal articles | journal-articles | |
| Till Time (and Poor Planning) Do Us Part: Programs as Dynamic Systems—Incorporating Planning of Sustainability into Theories of Change | Sridharan, S., Nakaima A. (2019) Till Time (and Poor Planning) Do Us Part: Programs as … |  | Journal articles | journal-articles | |
| Evaluation Advisory Groups: Considerations for Design and Management | Voegeli C., Schmitt-Boshnick M., Krupa E. (2021) Evaluation Advisory Groups: Considerations for Design and Management. … |  | Journal articles | journal-articles | |
| Building a system-based Theory of Change using Participatory Systems Mapping | Wilkinson, H., Hills D., Penn A., Barbrook-Johnson P., (2021) Building a system-based Theory of Change … |  | Journal articles | journal-articles | |
| Communication for development: a medium for innovation in natural resource management | Ramírez, R., Quarry, W., (2004) Communication for development: a medium for innovation in natural resource … |  | Journal articles | journal-articles | |
| 2030 Agenda | Online learning | online-learning |