Project overview:

The overall objective of the project was to assess the strengths and weaknesses of agricultural innovation systems (AIS) in each country, as well as the respective needs of their stakeholders.

The project’s outputs were delivered in three phases under the coordination of the national project coordinator in each country and implemented by a national consultant hired for this purpose.

The phase of the project focusing on national studies included the preparation of a framework for AIS studies involving five national pre-study workshops and the subsequent gathering and drafting of data by a national consultant. A national workshop to discuss the findings and recommendations of the national study was organized and the feedback from the workshop incorporated into the national report. 

The findings of the five national studies were then integrated into a draft subregional synthesis document, which was presented at a subregional workshop attended by key stakeholders. A final synthesis document was then produced incorporating feedback from stakeholders.

The findings of the synthesis report and the discussions during the subregional workshop were used to formulate a follow up subregional project on AIS.

Key results of the project:

• Five in-depth country studies on AIS were carried out and country reports produced in all participating countries. The reports contained at least three case studies per country.
• Subregional trends and drivers for innovation were analysed according to the five national reports produced and the findings presented at a subregional workshop in May 2012, held in Izmir, Turkey.
• A synthesis report entitled: “Approaches to Strengthening Agricultural Innovation Systems in Central Asia, South Caucasus and Turkey”, based on the assessments of strengths and weaknesses of AIS in Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan, was then finalized.
• A total of 23 resource persons across the five participating countries were trained during the project’s lifetime and are now familiar with the analysis of AIS and opportunities for strengthening the systems. Fifteen of the 23 officials attended the May 2012 regional workshop in Izmir, where the strengths and weaknesses of their national AIS were discussed.
• A subregional project document strengthening existing or establishing new AIS was drafted.
• A network of resource persons was established and expected to continue exchanging information and experiences on agricultural innovation, either informally through email or through initiatives and meetings organized in collaboration with established institutions such as the Central Asia and the Caucasus Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (CACAARI).