Institutional Learning and Change Initiative

Through the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR), an inventory by means of electronic media is now being launched. This inventory aims to identify and record forward-thinking activities that have been developed, in a systematic and documented way, on issues related to agriculture, rural development and farming systems for the next 10-20 years.

This inventory should help identify a) individuals and organizations that are or have recently been engaged in such forward-thinking activities and b) what future scenarios were envisaged. It is open to anyone who has engaged in this type of activity over the past five years. It is produced in seven languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish) to provide an opportunity for more people to participate.

What Do We Mean by Poverty Alleviation?
Presentation by Javier Ekboir, ILAC Coordinator
27 April 2010
Rome, Italy

Part I: What Does Poverty Alleviation Really Mean? 

Part II: The New Dynamics of Poverty

Part III: Trends Affecting the New Dynamics of Poverty (Globalization and Urbanization)

Part IV: Trends Affecting the New Dynamics of Poverty (Migration and Remittances)

During the First Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD) in March, 2010, a very important point, among others, was raised. The "need to map the different capabilities of different partners to strengthen (cross-sector) partnerships".

A quick interaction with colleagues in the area of knowledge management brought a series of interesting views to the topic:

• - application of stakeholder analysis (Stakeholder analysis guidelines by Kammi Schmeer http://new.paho.org/hss/documents/policytoolkitforstrengtheninghealthsec...)
• - qualitative mapping approach (http://netmap.wordpress.com)

What are your views/experience with methods/tools for mapping partners capabilities? Share your thoughts here.

Dear ILAC Learners:

The Standing Panel on Impact Assessment of the CGIAR Science Council has contracted Leslie Cooksy to do a scoping study on the use of ex-post impact assessment for purposes of learning and program improvement. Leslie is a professional evaluator from the US who has collaborated in the past with some evaluation work of the Science Council. She just sent me this message to me, and I thought it would be a good idea to stimulate some discussion within our group by requesting YOUR inputs on the definition of "institutional learning." The results will be of use not only to Leslie but to us as a "learning group."

Please send me your quick reactions to Leslie's definition below, and I'll prepare a response to Leslie that reflects your thoughts. I'll circulate the consolidated response as well to all of you.

Thanks in advance.
Doug

Begin forwarded message:

Dear colleagues: