http://hdl.handle.net/10568/69556 2017-07-15T00:39:40Z http://hdl.handle.net/10568/71157 Follow-up action by the Rethinking Impact Workshop participants and organizers CGIAR Institutional Learning and Change Initiative; CGIAR Systemwide Program on Participatory Research and Gender Analysis for Technology Development and Institutional Innovation; International Livestock Research Institute The Rethinking Impact Workshop (RIW): Understanding the complexity of poverty and change was held in Cali, Colombia, March 26–28, 2008. The workshop discussed (1) how agricultural and natural-resources research can be more effective in contributing to solutions for poverty alleviation and improving gender, social inclusion and equity; (2) how its impact can be assessed; and (3) how such research and impact assessment can be brought into the mainstream. An open-space session was held on the third and fi nal day of the workshop to enable participants to organize themselves into groups for action-planning purposes. Nine action-planning groups were: Principles and standards; Networking and community of practice; Methodologies guidelines (including ‘soft’); Institutionalization; Ex-ante impact assessment, priority-setting and planning; Organizing framework; Capacity-building; Communications; and, Histories and political economy of agricultural and natural-resources science and technology. This Brief reports some of the follow-up actions that the participants and organizers (ILAC Initiative, PRGA Program and ILRI’s Innovation Works) committed themselves to undertaking. 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10568/71156 Suggested actions for CGIAR leaders CGIAR Institutional Learning and Change Initiative; CGIAR Systemwide Program on Participatory Research and Gender Analysis for Technology Development and Institutional Innovation; International Livestock Research Institute This Brief provides practical, concrete action options for CGIAR management to address the key issues raised at the Rethinking Impact Workshop (RIW): Understanding the complexity of poverty and change. 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10568/71153 Rethinking Impact Workshop: key issues International Livestock Research Institute; CGIAR Systemwide Program on Participatory Research and Gender Analysis for Technology Development and Institutional Innovation; CGIAR Institutional Learning and Change Initiative Six key issues emerged from the Rethinking Impact Workshop (RIW): Understanding the complexity of poverty and change held in Cali, Colombia, March 26–28, 2008. The workshop discussed (1) how agricultural and natural-resources research can be more effective in contributing to solutions for poverty alleviation and improving gender, social inclusion and equity; (2) how its impact can be assessed; and (3) how such research and impact assessment can be brought into the mainstream. 2008-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10568/70212 Monitoring the composition and evolution of the research networks of the CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB) Ekboir, J.; Blundo Canto, Genowefa; Sette, C. Several tools have been developed in the last three decades to manage not-for-profit research activities. Most of these tools have focused on research outputs or outcomes, while few have analysed the processes of research and innovation to identify emerging problems and opportunities during the course of a project. This brief presents a cost-effective methodology that can be used to monitor changes in research networks. Since these networks change as the research projects mature (Kratzer, Gemuenden and Lettl, 2008), tracking the network structure provides information on the nature and evolution of research activities. 2013-07-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10568/70211 Making causal claims Mayne, J. An ongoing challenge in evaluation is the need to make credible causal claims linking observed results to the actions of interventions. In the very common situation where the intervention is only one of a number of causal factors at play, the problem is compounded – no one factor 'caused' the result. The intervention on its own is neither necessary nor sufficient to bring about the result. The Brief argues the need for a different perspective on causality. One can still speak of the intervention making a difference in the sense that the intervention was a necessary element of a package of causal factors that together were sufficient to bring about the results. It was a contributory cause. The Brief further argues that theories of change are models showing how an intervention operates as a contributory cause. Using theories of change, approaches such as contribution analysis can be used to demonstrate that the intervention made a difference – that it was a contributory cause – and to explain how and why. 2012-10-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10568/70210 Perspectives on partnership: Highlights of a literature review Horton, D.; Prain, G.; Thiele, G. Working in partnership has become central in efforts to address complex environmental, socio-economic, and technological problems. The terms partner or partnership appear more than 100 times in the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness and more than 200 times in the version of the CGIAR's new Strategy and Results Framework presented at the recent Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development. It is promoted as an effective means to mobilise the resources and capacities needed to generate knowledge, stimulate innovation and influence decision-making. Nevertheless, partnering is often experienced as timeconsuming and frustrating, and it has proved difficult to demonstrate its 'value added'. To improve partnering at the International Potato Center (CIP), we reviewed publications, evaluations and reports dealing with partnership. Rather than a single 'partnership literature' we found several different literatures that approach the subject from different perspectives. Several themes – relating to partnering processes vs. partnership structures, partnership dynamics, types of partnership, incentives for partnering, the key role of trust, power and equity issues, success factors and evaluation – cut across the distinct literatures. This ILAC Brief presents findings in each of these areas, notes some prominent knowledge gaps and identifies areas for future study. 2010-04-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10568/70209 An accountability framework for technological innovation Whitty, B. Technological innovation in agricultural science forms an important element in the effort to reduce poverty. In this Brief, we offer recommendations to help an organization conducting technological research and design (R&D) to become more accountable. These recommendations are based on four principles developed by the One World Trust which capture the dimensions of accountability. 2010-02-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10568/70208 Working in virtual environments: Three practical collaborative web tools Staiger-Rivas, Simone; Shelton, P.; Kosina, P.; White, N. In our work as researchers and development workers, we are tasked with producing more and more information, even though we complain about information overload. Collaboration is increasingly complex but is fundamental to achieving our goal of reducing poverty and hunger through high-quality international agricultural research, partnership and leadership. Recent developments in information and communications technology (ICT) can make data, information and knowledge more available, accessible and applicable (CGIAR ICT-KM Program, 2008), which should contribute significantly to the effectiveness of our collaborative work. This Brief describes three web tools that can enhance participation and collaboration in geographically distributed teams: wikis, blogs, and social bookmarking. Each tool is briefly explained, examples of use are provided and analyzed, and some useful practices are suggested. It is our assumption that by making it easy to produce and share information, we can empower our staff, engage more effectively with our partners, and reach a wider audience of end users. 2009-11-01T00:00:00Z