At a recent workshop discussing the design of a new research project on the sustainable intensification of crop-livestock farming systems in Ethiopia, we asked Tsedeke Abate from ICRISAT about the workshop. He emphasized the collaboration among the CGIAR centers: "No one institution can do it alone" - especially when the challenges are complex. He noticed especially the 'cultural change' in which the different centers are really coming together.More information on the project at: http://africa-rising.net/

In this video interview, Tilahun Amede of ILRI and IWMI introduces a new book 'Integrated natural resource management in the highlands of East Africa.' The book captures learning by farmers and researchers on NRM research - how to do it; what institutional mechanisms and arrangements are needed for NRM to work for farmers. He emphasizes that NRM, including watershed management goes beyond hydrological boundaries - the social boundaries and networks around specific landscapes are the important ones. Further, farmers need to be brought into planning and decisions by researchers and policy makers. The evidence the book reports on was 'generated with farmers' ... so the researchers were actually bringing farmers' options to farmers' fields. More information on the book is at http://nilebdc.org/2012/01/04/integrated-natural-resource-management-in-the-highlands-of-eastern-africa/

In November 2011, Berhanu Gebremedhin of ILRI/IPMS Project trained staff of the Ethiopian Agricultural Growth Program (AGP) on results-based monitoring and evaluation (November 28-December 3 2011 in Debrezeit Ethiopia). He outlined the main topics covered in the workshop: An introduction to results-based M&E; the development of a logic model and performance framework of a project; the performance measurement framework; the need for participatory M&E with stakeholders and how to do this; the selection and specification of indicators; data collection and analysis; the production and dissemination of of timely M&E reports; and the institutionalization of M&E and M&E units. He concludes by emphasizing the focus of the training- it was a training of trainers event - the participants are expected to train on their colleagues; they are also expected to lead M&E efforts at the regional level - guiding implementation as well as writing reports.

Tirfu Yadeto participated in the recent IPMS-supported Training of Trainers (ToT) workshop on result-based monitoring & evaluation (November 28-December 3, 2011, Debrezeit Ethiopia).

Speaking at the Increasing Agricultural Productivity and Enhancing Food Security in Africa conference held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 1-3 November, 2011, ILRI's Ayele Gelan discusses ways to integrate livestock in the CAADP framework. See the full document at http://mahider.ilri.org/handle/10568/12444. He also discusses how livestock is neglected when it comes to policy making compared to crops.

‘No bees no honey’ presents the experience of the Improving Productivity and Market Success (IPMS) project on apiculture value chain development in Bure distrct, Amhara, Ethiopia. IPMS together with the woreda office of agriculture, farmers, input suppliers and other stakeholders worked in the district to produce high quality honey by using integrated commodity development approach. On this video, all successive value addition activities and processes such as production, where queen splitting was a major intervention, input supply, and marketing interventions made by the project are highlighted.

On 15 and 16 November 2011, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) held a workshop on Sharing Research Results on Trypanotolerance in Indigenous Cattle Breeds and Experiences of Community Based Breed Improvement of Indigenous Sheep in Ethiopia. Here, Professor Jan Philipsson from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences explains how some breeds - such as the Sheko - are Trypanotolerant AND endangered. Thus it is important to exploit such breeds by conserving them, and multiplying them for long term use to benefit smallholders in Ethiopia.

On 15 and 16 November 2011, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR) and the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU)held a workshop on Sharing Research Results on Trypanotolerance in Indigenous Cattle Breeds and Experiences of Community Based Breed Improvement of Indigenous Sheep in Ethiopia. Here Okeyo Mwai from ILRI explains the importance of community breeding programs.

One project of the Nile Basin Development Challenge (http://nilebdc.org) aims to match land and water 'practices' and interventions to the needs of specific landscapes. In 2011, we experimented with a game - modeled on the 'happy families' childrens' game - to discuss the challenges involved. In this video, Alan Duncan (ILRI) and other game members explain the results of a game played at the 3rd International Forum on Water and Food in November 2011. The game used a fictional landscape derived from real NBDC sites in Ethiopia.

ILRI's Alan Duncan was asked to share a Nile Basin Development Challenge (NBDC) 'story' at the recent International Forum on Water and Food. Alan's story introduces some of the challenges that the Ethiopian Government faces in seeking to improve natural resources management at the local level, in the Blue Nile Basin. He reports that the sectors need to be better connected (water, agriculture, livestock); and more dialogue between officials and communities towards more participatory approaches to rainwater management. One approach the NBDC is trying is to support local 'innovation platforms' - spaces for diverse actors to come together to engage in dialogue, to jointly identify and address issues. The idea is that these will catalyze greater local participation and ownership of interventions, connect with national initiatives, and help make Ethiopian landscapes more productive. He concludes stating that Ethiopia is known as the 'water tower' of Africa ... with strong community participation and ownership, it could also be Africa's breadbasket!

On 9 and 10 November 2011, the ILRI Board of Trustees held a 2-day 'liveSTOCK Exchange' to discuss and reflect on livestock research for development. The event synthesized sector and ILRI learning and helped frame future livestock research for development directions. During the meeting, Brian Perry interviewed Segenet Kelemu, Director of the Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA) Hub

In Kiswahili, English subbtitles

For the November 2011 'liveSTOCK Exchange' event at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Roger Pellé, reflects on ILRI's biotechnology research accomplishments, from the past 10 years, that involved partnerships with other centres and countries in Africa.

For the November 2011 'liveSTOCK Exchange' event at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Okeyo Mwai reflects on livestock genetics research work with the native red Maasai sheep breed in Kenya

Ketema Yilma introduces IPMS project experiences with the development of fruit value chains in Ethiopia. A particular feature was giving support for farming couples to set up nurseries where they could become producers of inputs to other farmers. He was speaking at the IPMS experience-sharing workshop on Market-Oriented Smallholder Development in Ethiopia, 2-3 June 2011 in Addis Ababa.

Abebe Shiferaw discusses how the IPMS project at ILRI used the value chain approach to help Teff producers become more competitive. He was speaking at the IPMS experience-sharing workshop on Market-Oriented Smallholder Development in Ethiopia, 2-3 June 2011 in Addis Ababa.

Azage Tegegne introduces how the IPMS project at ILRI uses knowledge management and capacity building. He was speaking at the IPMS experience-sharing workshop on Market-Oriented Smallholder Development in Ethiopia, 2-3 June 2011 in Addis Ababa.

Azage Tegegne introduces how the IPMS project at ILRI uses the value chain approach to increase market opportunities for Ethiopian farmers. He was speaking at the IPMS experience-sharing workshop on Market-Oriented Smallholder Development in Ethiopia, 2-3 June 2011 in Addis Ababa.

Lemlem Aregu explains how gender and the role of women are taken into account in the IPMS project at ILRI. She was speaking at the IPMS experience-sharing workshop on Market-Oriented Smallholder Development in Ethiopia, 2-3 June 2011 in Addis Ababa.

Jan de Leeuw from ILRI reflects on the recent conference in Addis Ababa on the future of pastoralism in Africa. He concludes that pastoral systems in Africa are very much in transition. He notes that external influences on pastoralism (education, religion, land rights etc) are much more visible than in the past; the "full mobility" pastoralism that we knew is changing. He comments on so-called 'land grabbing' and pastoral development; and the particular challenges of development in drylands where the interventions of governments and others are increasingly impacting on the livelihoods of pastoralists. The Addis Ababa conference (21-23 March 2011) was organized by the Future Agricultures Consortium with Tufts University.