Overcoming constraints of scaling: Critical and empirical perspectives on agricultural innovation scaling

1. Overcoming constraints of scaling:
Critical and empirical perspectives on
agricultural innovation scaling
Million Gebreyes, Kindu Mekonnen and Peter Thorne
SLS Monday Coffee Presentation
June 14, 2021

3. Introduction
 Two phases: 1st- 2012-2016 and 2nd -2016-2021/22
 Funded by USAID’s through the US FtF initiative
 Principal focus – SI of mixed farming systems
 Operates– West Africa, E and S Africa and Ethiopia

4. Introduction
1st Phase:
 Implemented-8 research kebeles in 4 regions
 Partners:9 CGIAR centers, universities, research institutions,
4 agriculture offices, NGOs, farmers
 The focus was on R4D activities to validate technologies
2nd Phase:
-Focus: Scaling validated technologies & backstopping R4D
-Scope: Same regions but 28 districts
-Partnership: More diverse, mainly with Dev’t and Extension

5. Africa RISING scaling intervention areas

6. Introduction: Theoretical framing
 Scaling is a ubiquitous concept in agricultural research
 What is scaling?
 A CGIAR scaling glossary (CGIAR 2020) defines it as:
“a deliberate and planned effort to enable the use of innovations
to have positive impact for many people across broad
geographies”

7. Introduction: theoretical framing
• The science and practice of scaling are still in early stages of
development
• Theoretically, the scaling literature often refers to Multi-Level
Perspective (MLP) approaches for sustainable transition
• The MLP literature argues that innovations and changes
happen at the intersection of the niche, regime, and landscape
levels

8. Introduction: theoretical framing
• However, the MLP approach has been criticized for not taking
spatial perspectives seriously
• Spatial perspectives on scale problematize treatment of niches,
regimes and landscapes
• It underscore their relational tendencies network and power-
laden tendencies

9. Introduction: theoretical framing
• Hence, Herman et al (2016). proposed conceptualizing scaling
with explicit spatial attention.
• They have shown that scaling local innovations are embedded
in multi-level spatial levels.
• Within each level, multiple actors are involved in their
diffusion
• As they move between levels, they adapt and transform

10. Introduction: Theoretical framing
• We build on Herman et al (2016) ideas in explaining the multi-
level processes of scaling out and scaling up of innovations.
• We argue for expansion of the concept of scaling from
• an innovation/material centered approach
• to one that more effectively captures the complex social
relations
• Such an understanding of scaling, we argue, is important to
overcome critical power and governance related constraints

11. Introduction: Theoretical framing
• With theoretical inspiration from social geographical literature
on scaling; We proposed;
- Understanding scale as a social construction and
- Using spatial strategies to overcome scaling constraints
• With Africa RISING scaling experience as a springboard, we
aim to draw broader lessons on scaling of innovations

12. Introduction: Theoretical framing
Scale as a social construction
• Captures the involvement of state and non-state actors in scale
making
• Invites explicit attention to the role of power relations among
actors in an innovation network
• Expanding the focus of scaling from that of technical solutions
per se to governance and broad political contexts

13. Introduction: Theoretical framing
Spatial strategies to overcome scaling constraints
• Scale jumping
• refers to the condition in which political power established at
one scale is expanded to another
• it helps to tackle localism of constraints that could come in
the form of financial and capacity limitations
• actors expand their influence from local to national, national
to regional and regional to global levels

14. Introduction: Theoretical framing
• Scaling down
• Localizing high-level strategies in order to embed them in
cultural and place-based interests
• A form of devolution in which higher level actors engage
local actors in order to get space for implementation of
actions

15. Introduction: Theoretical framing
• Scale bending
• refers to a strategy of systematically challenging the
assumptions that link decision-making to certain levels
• finding alternative mechanisms for surmounting or even
resisting market, regulation and policy related constraints

16. Research Questions and Methods
Research Questions
• What are the social constituents of Africa RISING project
scaling work?
• What are the scaling practices of Africa RISING project?
• What strategies could help to overcome scaling constraints of
Africa RISING project?

17. Research Questions and Methods
Research methods:
• Qualitative approaches of data collection and analysis
• Documents review
• Key informant interviews and FGDs
• MAXQDA aided data analysis

18. Results and Discussion
On the social constituents of the Africa RISING project
scaling work
• The first phase (2011–2016) enabled the project to;
• generate scalable innovations and
• build trust and cordial relationships with its scaling partners
• set ambitious scaling targets
• The scaling stage involved identification of partners, capacity
building and scaling target setting with partners
• Engagements continued through field days, multi-stakeholder
innovation platforms meetings and capacity building trainings

19. Results and Discussion
• The scaling work mobilized partners from global to national, to
regional, zonal, district and village levels
• The scaling strategy of the project worked reasonably well,
• However, it has also been observed that it has been contingent
on scalar politics of its partners
• The extent of the scaling work has been influenced by
• government bureaucracies,
• coordination mechanisms of agricultural extension service
providers and
• multi-level political arrangements in Ethiopia

20. Results and Discussion
On constrains of scaling and spatial strategies of
overcoming them;
Scale Jumping:
• Constraints: Local traps, such as resource and capacity
limitations, or even resistance from local powerful actors,
• Spatial strategy: Scale jumping
• Scale jumping mechanisms:
• deeper understanding enabling environment environments
such as regional and national policy
• Reframing innovations to establish or strengthen linkage
with enabling environments

21. Results and Discussion
Scaling down:
• Scaling constraint: Disembedded policy support and project
initiatives
• Scaling strategy: Scale down
• Scaling mechanism:
• Expand the partnership portfolio
• Capacitate new partners to the innovation under scaling

22. Results and Discussion
Scale bending
- Constraint: restrictive regulatory and political environments
- Scaling strategy: Scale bending
- Scaling mechanism:
- Understanding the regulatory environment
- Advocacy for change
- Empowering local actors to take actions

23. Conclusions
• Scaling of agricultural innovations requires a balanced focus on
technical requirements and associated social dynamics
• Scaling is more complex than a linear rolling out of innovations
towards diffusion,
• Calling for understanding and addressing scaling
constraints

24. Conclusions
• Scaling may not be strictly planned;
• Better to be seen as extension of the innovation generation
process
• Relies heavily on long-term relationships with key partners,
trust, and continuous reflection and learning
• Scaling strategies need to be flexible, stepwise, and reflective
• Calling for approaches that are flexible to manage the
social, processual and emergent nature of scaling

25. Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation
africa-rising.net
This presentation is licensed for use under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence.