Institutionalizing SIMLESA in ESA: lessons from on farm research and scaling in development

Abstract

SIMLESA is a unique partnership-based regional programme. It is sustainably improving the lives of more than 650,000 households in ESA through research-led efforts in CA-based SI, institutional arrangements, and adaptive capacities. Gains made since project initiation in 2010 are being secured through: i) Adoption of SIMLESA model among projects and work of national agricultural institutions. For instance, other donors (e.g. IFAD, USAID and World Bank) are applying SIMLESA model. ii) Integration of CA-based guides and portfolios, manuals, strategies, with existing initiatives. iii) Private Sector Engagement: for example a scaling partner AGRIMERC has effectively linked scaling farmers to maize markets in Mozambique. iv) Regional Initiatives, especially the ESA Policy Forum of October 2015 held at Entebbe Uganda involving Ministry of Agriculture representatives. This led to the Entebbe declaration of 2016 (www.cimmyt/simlesa). We propose countries adapt their annual planning and budgeting based on a National Adaptive Strategic Competencies policy/ framework, to ensure SIMLESA gains are nationally owned and scaled.