We sought comments on the question: Do you think that by addressing the constraints to value chain development in one country there is the ability to generate research results and technologies applicable in other countries? What can be done to strengthen such benefits?

Results from the survey:

N=43

Strongly agree: 25.6%     Agree:    62.8%                 Disagree: 2.3%    Strongly disagree: 2.3%        No opinion: 7.0%

Concerns raised:

• Different constraints and weak collaboration between researchers across countries will limit applicability

To strengthen the applicability for other countries:

• Organize pilot interventions / simultaneous demonstration / on-farm testing in other countries, e.g. Lake Victoria Research Initiative
• The IAR4D process will need to repeated in the new areas and this will allow adapting to the particular context and constraints
• Ensure information sharing
  • Share experiences from other countries to solve value chain constraints
  • Networking across countries, with flexibility to adapt to different conditions
  • Create forum for information sharing
  • Knowledge networks to support global efforts to link knowledge hubs
• Work through partnerships
  • Collaboration with research institution
  • Involve already intended regional beneficiaries
  • Recognize role for regional organizations
• Capacity building – build skilled global teams
• Depends on choice of value chains to maximize generalizability of constraints
• Use appropriate research approach:
  • Characterizing constraints (versus empirical approach linking cause and effect) will generate more widely applicable results
  • Need to have paired sites within and across countries that permit comparisons and contextualize the constraints
  • Coordinate design and trialing of interventions at regional/sub-regional level
  • View the scope of the focus value chains are already expanding cross borders
  • Prepare a 360 degree profile on existing state of an enterprise
  • Use farmer need assessment studies to identify strategic interventions
  • Focus on developing vertical links in value chains, less on horizontal joints
• There must be continuous reference to target countries during research process