Year 1 Overview

I. Hoeschle-ZeledonAfrica RISING Coordinator

Africa RISING Review and Planning Meeting Tamale, Ghana, 23-25 October 2012

Oct. 2011: Brain storming meeting; agreement on countries and regions: UER, UWR, NR [Ghana], Sikasso [Mali]; agreement on key farming systems

Nov./Dec. 2011: Development of Concept Note3 farming systems: sorghum-, maize-, rice-based

Jan. 2012: Inception workshop Tamale: +/- agreement on objectives, outcomes, outputs; confirmation of regions and farming systems; need for a thorough research framework; fast track workplan building on existing work to produce results by September 2012

The Start

Feb. 2012: First disbursement of funds to AfricaRice and ICRISAT; recruitment of systems agronomist; in ESA decision on program approach

March: Stakeholder workshop for site selection in Ghana 4 districts/region,5 communities/district

April 2012: set up of Project office in Tamale; recruitment of admin staff;

Next steps

May: Community analysis in Ghana; Community Action PlanDistrict stratification and characterization (rainfall, elevation, population, market access) by IFPRI

June 2012: development and summission of joint workplan; sub-agreements with partners; disbursement of funds

Continuously: Strategic Program documents developed

Sub-AgreementsInstitution Amount

ILRI $195,000

UDS $25,000

WIUC $32,000

SARI $80,000

KNUST $16,000

IWMI $100,000

AVRDC $200,688

ICRISAT $754,490

AfricaRice $299,822

Generic to be applicable across all three Africa RISING regions

flexible to allow site specific adaptation Program Research Framework Task Force initiated by Jerry

Glover, USAID, and coordinated CIMMYT Workshop in July in Ibadan, Nigeria, to advance draft Completed, presented later

Research framework

Led by IFPRI

Workshop in Addis Ababa in September

Requires finalization of site selection process and research plan

Status presented later

M&E Plan

Program Management Structure

Provides advice and oversight on Project activities Provides science guidance to Project implementers to ensure conformity

with Program Research Framework and Program Objectives Guides Project planning and activities Approves annual Project workplan and budget Oversees coordination between project components and partners Liaises with MET to oversee M&E; cc PCT on all reporting Keeps PCT informed of activities via the Project Coordinator

Reviews and makes suggestions to Project Coordinator on semiannual technical progress reports to USAID

Plans yearly stakeholder meetings with support from Program Communications Team.

Decisions made by consensus. Meets annually in personal and virtually as called by the Chair.

WA Steering Committee ToR

Chair: IITA (R. Asiedu, Regional Director West Africa) Project Coordinator, serves as Secretary (I. Hoeschle-

Zeledon) Project Chief Scientist (A. Larbi, IITA) Project M&E Lead (IFPRI) Project Communications Lead (K. Lopez, IITA) Research partners: CGIAR (1 rotational [ICRISAT]),

CORAF (E. Asiedu), CSIR (A. Salifu), AGRA (K. Makinde) USAID Activity Manager (J. Glover)

Membership

Communication Strategy and Toolswiki page, website , image and document repository

Program Logframe Program Document: assembly of all strategic documents

program context purpose, objectives, outcomes guiding principles and conceptual framework research design logframe M&E plan communication strategy management structure

Other strategic documents

to inspect bilateral and multilateral food security programs in northern Ghana

met by SARI Director and Africa RISING chief scientist visit of demonstration trails of drought and Striga tolerant

maize; rice seed multiplication and varietal trials interactions with farmers

17 August: Visit US Congressional Staff

Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation

africa-rising.net