Science of scaling research agenda for the CGIAR Regional Integrated Initiative for Diversification in East and Southern Africa (Ukama Ustawi)

Abstract

Finding out how to successfully scale technological innovations (e.g. crop varieties, fertilizer, machines) and non-technological innovations (e.g. knowledge on how to access finance, policies and partnership models) is high on the agendas of researchers, practitioners and policy makers involved in agricultural development. However, scaling innovations is not so straightforward. It
is a complex and political process where bottlenecks for scaling innovation are often context or country specific. There is a lot that we do not know yet about how innovations scale can be supported. Science of scaling offers a new academic field that is concerned with addressing these scaling knowledge gaps. Twenty-nine (29) experts working in the east and southern Africa region shared their views on key opportunities and bottlenecks for scaling, that informed a science of scaling research priorities.

Results show that research priorities include better understanding of (1) sustainable finance mechanisms, (2) partnerships and private sector collaboration, (3) (gender-)responsible scaling, (4) institutional arrangements that support outcome-oriented scaling, and (4) user-centered design (ensure innovations meet user-demand and conditions). In addition, there is a need for investment in capacity development for scaling (internally and with partners) and learning (e.g. about strengths and weaknesses of different approaches). Prioritized science of scaling research domains and questions tend to prefer an action-research program with partners.

Country-specific analysis of constraints for scaling confirm that many bottlenecks differ across countries. However, we could see some similarities between countries in eastern Africa (facing more constraints related to political commitment and investment, mechanization, and quality infrastructure), and the countries in southern Africa (facing more constraints related to training/
capacity, and access to the market).

A science of scaling research program could build on these findings in the following way:
• Investment in regional-level science of scaling studies science on sustainable finance, private sector collaboration and (gender-)responsible scaling at the regional level, with perhaps some sub-regional specification based on differences between east Africa and South Africa.
• Investment in country-level science of scaling studies that tackle country specific bottlenecks to scaling
• Investment in cross-cutting scaling themes including partnerships for scaling, policy and institutional arrangements, strengths and weaknesses of different scaling models and approaches.

The visual on the next page shows how these three focus areas could be brought together in an
integrate and coherent research framework.