The DeSIRA initiative was launched in 2017. The objective is to contribute to climate-relevant, productive and sustainable transformation of agriculture and food systems in low and middle-incomes countries Three outcomes are expected: • Foster innovation in agriculture through research for Food, Nutrition Security, and Sustainable Agriculture with a climate change perspective • Strengthen national agricultural research (capacities, governance mechanisms) and innovation systems • Improve efficiency of research and innovation support services for climate resilient food systems by enhancing evidence for policy design and implementation The strategic approach for DeSIRA is based on the following key points: • Connecting both EU & EU Member States development agendas and national priorities regarding agricultural and food systems • Linking research and innovation to contribute to impacts at scale addressing climate change with clusters of projects funded by UE and Member States • Strengthening national research capacities both at individual and organizational levels • Contributing to the continental (Africa) and global governance of research (GFAR, CGIAR, AIRCA) • Building strong partnerships involving European, International and National research capacities • Contributing to the assessment and fostering of Agricultural Innovation Systems and national innovation policies with a Capacity to innovate based approach

1. 1Development Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture (DeSIRA)
Climate-Relevant Development for Smart
Innovation through Research in Agriculture
(DeSIRA) Initiative
Research and innovation for
agricultural and
food systems transformation
in developing countries

2. 2Development Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture (DeSIRA)
New direction for innovation
•Need for systemic changes for agricultural and food systems transformation to address SDG
•Importance of innovation to support systemic changes able to address urgent challenges (climate change, biodiversity,
food security, etc.)
•The top-down transfer of knowledge and technology model is no more valid to address systemic changes
•There is a need to strengthen Agricultural Innovation Systems with a multistakholder approach
• Key role of formal and informal networks with public and private actors to create knowledge, access resources,
mobilize competencies

3. 3Development Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture (DeSIRA)
CHANGING THE WAY TO DO
RESEARCH
• Key challenges
• Strengthen the capacity to innovate to a large range of actors : farmers, farmers’
organizations, local communities, NGO, private sector, public sector
• Put more science to development but also valorize all the type of knowledge
• Adapt the capacities of researchers and strengthen the research organizations
• Improve the governance of research to address key challenges
• To support Innovation, we need:
• To combien several research appraoches
• Academic research, participatory research, action-research, farmers research
• To conduct several research activities :
• knowledge production, design of methods, facilitation, capacity building, expertise

4. 4Development Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture (DeSIRA)
2017
DeSIRA - Development Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture Initiative was
launched supported by key commitments (COP21, One plant summit 2017,
Ougadougou declaration 2018) and key consultations (Member States, EUD, CAADP,
FAO, GFAR)
FUNDING
RESEARCH
AND
INNOVATION
BACKGROUND
FOSTER
INNOVATION IN
AGRICULTURE
THROUGH
RESEARCH
STRENGHTEN
RESEARCH
CAPACITIES AND
GOVERNANCE
MECHANISMS
ENHANCE
EVIDENCE FOR
POLICY DESIGN
AND
IMPLEMENTATION

5. 5Development Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture (DeSIRA)
AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD SYSTEM
TRANSFORMATION
● Sustainable, productive, inclusive;
● Climate-sensitive;
● In low- and middle-income countries (Africa
as a EU priority, Asia, Latin America),
INTENDED RESULTS
● Resilience of agricultural and food systems;
● Relevance of national agricultural research
and innovation systems;
● Coherence and efficiency of research and
innovation policies and advisory services for
climate resilience,
DeSIRA INTENTIONS
DeSIRA Initiative addresses multiples and
interconnected SDGs

6. 6Development Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture (DeSIRA)
• Connecting both EU & EU Member States development agendas and national
priorities regarding agricultural and food systems
• Linking research and innovation to contribute to impacts at scale addressing climate
change with clusters of projects funded by UE and Member States
• Strengthening national research capacities both at individual and organizational
levels
• Contributing to the continental (Africa) and global governance of research (GFAR, CGIAR,
AIRCA)
• Building strong partnerships involving European, International and National research
capacities
• Contributing to the assessment and fostering of Agricultural Innovation Systems and
national innovation policies with a Capacity to innovate based approach
STRATEGIC APPROACH FOR THE
DeSIRA INITIATIVE
• Fundings aims at:
• Supporting research and innovation projects in Africa,
Asia, Latin America
• Strengthening research governance involving key actors
(CORAF, ASARECA, CARDESA, AFAAS, GFAR,
TAP/FAO)

7. 7Development Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture (DeSIRA)
1) Research and innovation projects
• Addressing key challenges to promote FNSSA with climate change perspective
• Designing and monitoring an impact pathway approach based on a plausible theory of change
• Implementing a multistakeholder approach mobilizing farmers, private sector, public sector, civil
society and researchers to promote innovation processes
• Joint designing of innovation with local actors based on science and other source of knowledge
to change behaviors, skills and agricultural/managerial practices
• Strengthening innovation support services including advisory services
2) Projects for strengthening institutional research capacities
• Contributing to the governance of agricultural research and innovation in Africa and at global level
• Designing and monitoring an impact pathway approach for research institutions based on a plausible
theory of change with climate change perspective
•
PRINCIPLES FOR THE DESIRA
PROJECTS

8. 8Development Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture (DeSIRA)
• Projects are identified by
• EUD based on national or regional priorities
• Member States within a co-funding framework
• Concertation with global actors (CAADP, GFAR, TAP, …)
• Governance of the DeSIRA initiative
• Platform involving EU Member States and key partners
• Technical Advisory Board
• Support to the DeSIRA projects, knowledge sharing, capitalization (to be
tailored in 2020)
• Website and newsletter
• AGRINATURA project to improve the culture of innovation, to draw lessons and
design policy recommendations
• Monitoring and evaluation for the DeSIRA initiative based on key indicators
8
OPERATION OF DeSIRA
European Research
Organizations Network

9. 9Development Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture (DeSIRA)Fundings
• 2018 (contracts signed in 2019) :
• 20 projects (including support to GFAR, TAP/FAO and CAADP organizations),
• 13 countries (including 6 multi-countries projects)
• € 103,5 millions (including X co-funding)
• 2019 (contracts to be signed)
• 23 projects
• 31 countries
• € 93,5 millions (including X co-funding)
• 2020 (call to be launched)

10. 10Development Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture (DeSIRA)Research and innovation projects at a
glance
Thematic 2018 2019 Countries
#
proje
cts
(incl.
regio
nal
Fund
Diversified cropping systems with a value chain perspective
(including genetics, pest and diseases)
Agroecology and sustainable intensification (including agroforestry)
Livestock management with a territorial and value chain perspective
Sustainable resources management (including water, energy, forest)
Improved nutrition and food security
Strengthening of innovation support services and innovation policies We need to see which
projects are really focusin on
AKIS strengthening such as
mada, Mali, etc.
TAP project to be included

11. 11Development Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture (DeSIRA)Projects for strengthening institutional
research capacities
Thematic 2018 2019 Main objective
#
proje
ct
Fund #
pr
oje
ct
Fu
nd
Support to GFAR
Contribution to CGIAR (outside R&I projects) 1 1
Support to AFAAS 1
Support to CORAF, ASARECA, CARDESA 1
Support to pHd program (one planet fellowship program)

12. 12Development Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture (DeSIRA)Partners (applicant, co-applicant)
Type of partners 2018 2019 Comment
#
proje
cts
# of
org/p
rojec
t
National research organization
Other national organization
European research organization
International research organization
Other regional or internation organizations

13. 13Development Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture (DeSIRA)
THANK YOU