Students sitting in groups, discussing research hypotheses

Local Capacity Development

In Phase 2 (2020-2025), we will be moving from what we call Capacity 1.0 which focuses on particular types of technical and soft skills, such as lab management, statistical analysis, teaching, communication skills, etc. to Capacity 2.0. USAID’s forthcoming approach to local capacity development (LCD) argues that every organization has a system that needs to be appreciated. Previous efforts often focused on improving an organization’s ability to manage USAID projects and directives and less on strengthening system capacity. Capacity 2.0, then, is a combination of Capacity 1.0 focused on management, governance, strategic planning, monitoring, evaluation and learning, plus collaboration and creating social value through organizational and institutional strengthening.

Going forward, our focus will be on the capabilities of various livestock research organizations (collective ability) and competencies (of individuals within the broader research organization system) and apply LCD systems-wide approaches to engage policy and key decision makers to support and sustain changes in the system.

The priorities in Phase 2 will focus on:

- Launching and continuing collaborative/consultative meetings with LCD partners and stakeholders,

- Co-designing and implementing LCD pilot projects to address systemic issues in the livestock research systems, and

- Providing technical support to our LCD partners and collaborating with AOI and CCT leaders.

The LCD team is led by Dr. Nargiza Ludgate, Research Assistant Scientist at the Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department, IFAS.

Processes

Our LCD activities involve three interrelated processes, based on the Capacity Development for Agricultural Innovation Systems (CDAIS) toolkit:

1. Mapping and Engagement will involve various actors, resources and relationships of the system to agree on and share a common understanding of how innovation systems evolve, change and adapt. We will continue to work with partners from Phase 1 as well as expand to involve new partners and additional stakeholders who are identified as critical for systems change.

2. Analysis and Refinement will explore, analyze and reflect on existing research on capacities, needs, problems and bottlenecks in the system (identified in capacity gap analysis for certain organizations in target countries) as well as prioritize collectively the problems that can be strategically addressed. The stakeholder re-engagement will contribute to developing and refining LCD roadmaps to strengthen local research and education components of livestock systems. Jointly, we will refine the broader problem sets, define research system boundaries as well as identify key system domains, system actors and their relationships.

3. Design and Monitoring will enable joint work on the root causes of the bottlenecks with the mobilization of existing resources and capacities to co-create, implement, evaluate and revise proposed roadmaps. Through multi-stakeholder engagement, the process will be participatory and allow for joint ownership on the proposed solutions. The soon-to-be-launched LCD competitive award funding will allow the co-design and monitoring of pathways to change through local capacity development activities.

Resources

Courses

- Local Capacity Development – Concepts, Approaches and Best Practices (English & French)

- How to Keep Stakeholders Engaged in Your Research Project

- Integrating Gender and Youth into Livestock Research

Manuals & Trainings

Academic Writeshop Workshop Slides and Facilitation Guide, 2024

Qualitative research methods for livestock systems research: Course manual. April 2020.

Introduction to HICD's Qualitative Research Methods for Livestock Systems Course Manual Video. April 2020.

Participatory Training for Adult Learners. Activities and Examples for Trainers Manual. March 2020.

Introduction to HICD's Participatory Training for Adult Learners Manual Video. April 2020.

Video Series

- Good Laboratory Practices: These 10 "how-to" videos and a manual for trainers provide guidance on managing a complete and safe laboratory. (Available in French)

- Maximizing Your Research Impact: This series will help researchers improve their ability to publish and manage their roles.

- Publishing Best Practices: This series will give researchers helpful guidance and resources for publishing their research results.

- Library Access for Success: Finding Literature for Livestock Research. Here are free resources for researchers from developing countries.

- Integration of gender and nutrition into livestock research projects: Learn about how nutrition and gender deserve attention within research projects.

Gap Analyses

Burkina Faso

Brief. November 2020. Capacity development gap analysis: Burkina Faso

- French version: Capacite de developpement, analyse des besoins: Burkina Faso

Report. November 2020. Human and Institutional Capacity Development: Burkina Faso

Cambodia

Brief. July 2019. Capacity development gap analysis: Cambodia

Report. November 2020. Cambodia: Human and Institutional Capacity Development

Ethiopia

Brief. July 2019. Capacity development gap analysis: Ethiopia

Report. March 2019. Human and Institutional Capacity Development Gap Analysis in Ethiopia: Summary Report and Recommendations

Nepal

Brief. November 2018. Capacity development gap analysis: Nepal

Report. November 2018. HICAST Human and Institutional Capacity Development Gap Analysis: Summary Report and Recommendations for Work Plan and MOU Development.

Report. November 2018. AFU Human and Institutional Capacity Development Gap Analysis: Summary Report and Recommendations for Work Plan and MOU Development

Niger

Brief. November 2020. Capacity development gap analysis: Niger

- French version: Capacite de developpement, analyse des besoins: Niger

Report. November 2020. Human and Institutional Capacity Development: Niger

Rwanda

Brief. June 2020. Capacity Development Gap Analysis: Rwanda

Report. November 2020. Human and Institutional Capacity Development: Rwanda

Introduction to The Livestock Lab's Approach to Human and Institutional Capacity Development

Developing Training Manuals for Trainers

Posters

Leveraging the CDAIS-informed lessons to localize capacity development in the Livestock Systems Innovation Lab countries

Formulating an evaluation framework for localized capacity development initiatives in livestock systems in Nepal and Rwanda

Publications

Case Study. 2020. An Innovation Systems Approach to Capacity Development: Insights from Learning Exercises with The Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Livestock Systems in Ethiopia (website of Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Food Security Policy)

Case Study. March 2020. Improving the capacity to conduct research in Nepal

Policy Paper. April 2019. Prospects of Establishing a Land-Grant University Model: Policy Paper on the Agriculture and Forestry University of Nepal

Brief. July 2020. Reflection points for effective land-grant institutional structures in Nepal

Report. December 2019. Report on the Assessment of Forage and Non-Forage Laboratories in Burkina Faso

Report. December 2019. Report on the Assessment of Forage and Non-Forage Laboratories in Niger

Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Livestock Systems is part of Feed the Future

This work was funded in whole or part by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Bureau for Resilience, Environment and Food Security under Agreement # AID-OAA-L-15-00003 as part of Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Livestock Systems. Additional funding was received from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation OPP#060115. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed here are those of the authors alone.