The Agribusiness Learning Alliances (ABLA)

Consultancy to Test and Validate the Agribusiness Learning Alliances (ABLA) Proof of Concept Based on Innovation Platforms of Six Third-Party Projects (TPPs) Expressions of Interest should be submitted no later than October 14, 2024.

Drawing from past lessons with the Integrated Agriculture Research for Development (IAR4D) approach, Innovation Platforms (IPs) have proven essential in putting the approach into practice. IPs, established as forums for stakeholders in a commodity value chain, support knowledge exchange, technology development, collaboration, capacity building, agribusiness growth, and policy influence. By adopting IPs, engagement is enhanced, strengthening the entire agricultural innovation system (Schut et al., 2017), including researchers, producers, the private sector, extension services, and policymakers etc.

Despite their potential value, many Innovation Platforms (IPs) have struggled to achieve sustainability and economic efficiency, particularly in increasing farm profitability. This is often due to their project-based nature, leading to a decline and disintegration after project completion, coordination challenges, limited government support, and a failure to leverage innovations like digital technologies. One key limitation of many IPs towards their sustainability has been identified as general lack of their linkages with businesses and the private sector which provide business services such as marketing and financial support to the IPs. 

To address these issues, one strategy that is being developed and tested by FARA is the concept of the Agribusiness Learning Alliance (ABLA). 

• ABLA strengthens linkages and entrepreneurship within IPs, incubators, and similar facilities by integrating business development learning. 
• This approach helps generate solutions, build capacities to overcome business challenges, and scale business ideas, providing socio-economic benefits for stakeholders and beneficiaries.

With financial support from the European Union Commission (EUC) under the CAADP-XP4 FARA, in collaboration withASARECA and tEAFF, has been piloting the Agribusiness Learning Alliances (ABLA) model in Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda under the “Strengthening Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Ecosystem for Inclusive Rural Transformation and Livelihoods in Eastern Africa” (AIRTEA) project. The ABLA concept is aimed at enhancing an alliance between the IPs and the private sector to provide business approach and services needed to sustain the IPs.

The main goal of the AIRTEA project is to support sustainable agrarian livelihoods and rural transformation by fostering an inclusive innovation environment. Implemented through the Innovation to Impact Framework, the programme focuses on institutionalizing Innovation Platforms (IPs) to guide national prioritization, IP management, and multistakeholder collaboration. By facilitating partnerships and connecting stakeholders, the ABLA approach helps generate business development insights, create solutions, and build capacity to overcome business challenges and scale up ideas.

A recent assessment was conducted to review and articulate the ABLA concept, develop a methodology for establishing proof of concept to guide its implementation. This was needed to establish a baseline for the AIRTEA third-party projects to better understand the status, challenges, and areas for improvement for the various IPs operating under the third-party projects to bring them to a level where they would be viable for private sector engagement.

The baseline highlighted key areas for improvement, such as weak IPs-private sector engagement, improving market access, financial sustainability, and business models. Clearer governance roles and responsibilities within IPs are necessary, and limited access to capital remains a barrier for stakeholders in implementing and scaling innovations. Leveraging ICT and digital platforms is crucial for modernizing operations and improving engagement. Additionally, engaging women and youth is essential for fostering diverse and innovative ideas. The process also highlighted the need to empower stakeholders in third-party projects by enhancing their understanding and practical application of the Agribusiness Learning Alliance (ABLA) concept. This would include building capacity for business development and market access strategies, providing critical insights, and developing valuable skills along priority value chains.

This request for expression of interest aims at engaging a consultant to carry out the following functions:

1. Prepare and present a brief inception report detailing the process and methodology for the assignment including identifying an assistant scientist to work with to carry out this assignment.
2. Validate the selected TPPs based on their representativeness within the AIRTEA project and opportunities within the respective value chains.
3. Develop a template for assessing the status and situational position of IPs in selected Third-Party Projects (TPPs) across Kenya (TPP1, TPP8, TPP9), Uganda (TPP5, TPP6), and Rwanda (TPP2).
4. Facilitate the development of detailed action plans for IPs, including timelines, to address gaps and enhance the capacity (skills, knowledge, and resources) of IP members.
5. Define the criteria and identify a facilitator for capacity building in business planning, financing, youth and gender inclusion, policy advocacy and partnership building, as part of the ABLA concept validation.
6. Create user-friendly and simplified training materials for IPs as a guide to improve their viability for private sector engagement. (Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda)
7. Develop an ABLA publication (a manual / handbook) that can be adopted across the ARD network as a support mechanism for IPs and MSPs.
8. Develop a final consultancy report summarizing the activities, findings, and recommendations.