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Making the case for sustainable agricultural intensification: lessons from SAIRLA

SAIRLA was not a traditional research grant programme; the establishment of the National Learning Alliances (NLAs) and their use of social learning to underpin active engagement of decision makers with the programme’s research evidence were both innovative approaches, particularly in agriculture. As the programme draws to a close, what worked and didn’t work so well? And […]

How preparation and practice can prompt policy change

Credit: IUR

Presenters from SITAM and ResLeSS were given an objective ahead of a national workshop in Burkina Faso in March – to each create a Powerpoint presentation that would deliver a pithy and powerful story of their recent research on ways to step up efforts on sustainable intensive agriculture in that country. But how would a […]

Remembering, retelling and reshaping stories for research engagement

Participants at the recent SAIRLA International Learning Alliance (ILA) event in Ethiopia were set a challenge – to produce a very short pitch that encapsulated their learning and encouraged sustainable agriculture investors to listen further.  How easy would it be to undo years of academic training and tell an engaging story in less than 100 […]

Créer des Powerpoints avec raffinement et style pour inciter à un changement de politique

Credit: IUR

Les présentateurs de SITAM et ResLeSS lors d’un atelier national au Burkina Faso en mars se sont vu attribuer un objectif – chacun de créer une présentation Powerpoint qui fournirait une histoire concise et puissante de leurs recherches récentes sur les moyens d’intensifier les efforts sur l’agriculture intensive durable dans ce pays. Mais comment une […]

ILA 2019: What are the trade-offs involved in SAI pathways and choices?

During the fourth International Learning Alliance workshop  in Tanzania, members from SAIRLA research projects and National Learning Alliances were invited to share their lessons and experiences and share key findings and tools. Three research projects and one NLA presented on the theme of trade-offs under which the SAIRLA programme is exploring how the economic, social […]

ILA 2019: What processes can improve smallholder farmers’ access to services for SAI?

During the fourth International Learning Alliance workshop  in Tanzania, members from SAIRLA research projects and National Learning Alliances were invited to share their lessons and experiences and share key findings and tools. Two research projects and three NLAs presented on the theme of services under which the SAIRLA programme explores the services are needed to […]

ILA 2019: How are issues of equity being considered in relation to sustainable agricultural intensification?

During the fourth International Learning Alliance workshop in Tanzania, members from SAIRLA research projects and National Learning Alliances were invited to share their lessons and experiences and share key findings and tools. Two research projects and two NLAs presented on the theme of equity under which the SAIRLA programme explores why and how issues of […]

Turning knowledge into power for Ethiopia’s farmers

If agricultural extension is to make a real difference for farmers, then responses and measurements of success need to go beyond simply trying to get them to adopt agricultural technology packages. SAIRLA’s National Learning Alliance in Ethiopia, together with the MoA-Directorate of Extension and other partners, hosted a workshop to encourage stakeholders to understand the […]

Learning from the most successful farmers: How can SAI be achieved in Southern Tanzania despite trade-offs?

New DFID-funded study demonstrates how research can identify promising strategies for SAI with innovative farmers who already achieve higher SAI performance than others Steinke et al. (2019): Prioritizing options for multi-objective agricultural development through the Positive Deviance approach. PLoS ONE 14(2): e0212926. The wired door gives a soft groan as Mariam Ally enters her brickwork […]