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The recognition that innovation occurs in networks of heterogeneous actors and requires broad systemic support beyond knowledge brokering has resulted in a changing landscape of the intermediary domain in an increasingly market-driven agricultural sector in developing countries. This paper presents findings of an explorative case study that looked at 22 organisations identified as fulfilling an intermediary role in the Kenyan agricultural sector. The results show that these organisations fulfill functions that are not limited to distribution of knowledge and putting it into use. The functions also include fostering integration and interaction among the diverse actors engaged in innovation networks and working on technological, organisational and institutional innovation. Further, the study identified various organisational arrangements of innovation intermediaries with some organisations fulfilling a specialised innovation brokering role, even as other intermediaries take on brokering as a side activity, while still substantively contributing to the innovation process. Based on these findings we identify a typology of 4 innovation intermediation arrangements, including technology brokers, systemic brokers, enterprise development support and input access support. The results indicate that innovation brokering is a pervasive task in supporting innovation and will require policy support to embed it in innovation support arrangements. The paper is not normative about these arrangements.

The process of knowledge brokering in the agricultural sector, where it is generally called agricultural extension, has been studied since the 1950s. While agricultural extension initially employed research push models, it gradually moved towards research pull and collaborative research models. The current agricultural innovation systems perspective goes beyond seeing research as the main input to change and innovation, and recognises that innovation emerges from the complex interactions among multiple actors and is about fostering combined technical, social and institutional change. As a result of adopting this innovation systems perspective, extension is refocusing to go beyond enhancing research uptake, and engaging in systemic facilitation or what has been called ‘innovation brokering’. Innovation brokering is about performing several linkage building and facilitation activities in innovation systems, creating an enabling context for effective policy formulation and implementation, development and innovation. Conclusions are that an innovation systems perspective also has relevance for sectors other than agriculture, which implies that in these sectors knowledge brokering as enhancing research uptake and use should be complemented with broader innovation brokering activities.

Increasingly, value chain approaches are integrated with multi-stakeholder processes to facilitate inclusive innovation and value chain upgrading of smallholders. This pathway to smallholder integration into agri-food markets has received limited analysis. This article analyses this integration through a case study of an ongoing smallholder dairy development programme in Tanzania. Value chain upgrading and innovation systems perspectives were combined in an analytical framework to interpret the findings, which show that multi-stakeholder processes enhance horizontal and vertical coordination but limit process and product upgrading. The main conclusion is that, although such processes may catalyze smallholder market inclusion, their effects are largely bounded by existing value chain structures (e.g. production system, fragmented markets), timeframe and how prevailing institutional constraints are addressed, which may constrain the intentions of such collaboration action. This calls attention to the starting points of value chain interventions and the socio-political dynamics that are part of multi-stakeholder processes.De plus en plus, on intègre l'approche de la chaîne de valeur à celle de l'étude des processus de diverses parties prenantes, afin de faciliter l'innovation inclusive et l'amélioration de la chaîne de valeur des petits cultivateurs. Le trajet d'intégration des petits agriculteurs aux marchés agroalimentaires n'a pas été très analysé. Cet article examine cette intégration à travers une étude de cas, celui d'une petite exploitation agricole et laitière, faisant partie d'un programme de développement en Tanzanie. Au sein d'un cadre analytique d'interprétation des résultats, on a intégré les perspectives d'amélioration de la chaîne de valeur et des systèmes d'innovation. On a vu que les processus impliquant divers parties prenantes renforcent la coordination horizontale et verticale, mais au même temps ils limitent la valorisation des produits et des procès. La conclusion principale est que même si ces processus servent de catalyseurs a l'intégration des petits cultivateurs au marché, leurs effets sont délimites par la structure existante de la chaîne de valeur (par exemple, le système de production, la fragmentation des marchés), par la période considéré, et par comment les contraintes institutionnelles sont abordés, puisqu'elles peuvent limiter les intentions de ces actions collaboratives. D'ici on veut porter l'attention sur le point de départ des interventions sur les chaînes de valeur, et aussi sur les dynamiques sociopolitiques qui font partie des processus avec diverses parties prenantes.

Purpose: The important role of learning is noted in the literature on demandÁdriven approaches to supporting agricultural innovation. Most of this literature has focused on macrolevel structural perspectives on the organization of pluralistic innovation support systems. This has provided little insight at the micro-level on the dynamics of demand articulation, and the related interplay of matching farmers' demand with supply of innovation support services. This paper contributes to understanding this interplay using the concept of the dynamic learning agenda. Design/methodology/approach: We present a case study of a project supporting smallholder commercialization of onions in Kenya. Data were collected in selected project sites over seven months using key-informant interviews, focus group discussions, participant observation at various meetings and project document reviews. Findings: The results show that because learning in agricultural innovation processes is dynamic, static notions of demand articulation and related support are inadequate. Supporting learning and innovation requires an understanding of how farmers' demand evolves, a flexible matching process with various innovation support services to achieve 'best-fit', and an awareness of sometimes competing interests of actors. Practical implications: The findings are useful for enhancing support of innovation processes by pointing to the need for paying attention to evolving demands and how these are matched with the right type of services, guided by effective monitoring in order to adapt the dynamic learning agenda accordingly. Originality/value: We add to the debate on demand-driven approaches to innovation with a dynamic analysis of pluralistic innovation support service provisioning, which has mainly been analyzed statically.

SUMMARYRecent literature suggests that to make value chains in changing agrifood systems in sub-Saharan Africa more inclusive, intermediary institutions should foster coordination. The hub concept has been applied as such an intermediary institution that coordinates advisory services, input supply and smallholder access to markets. This study unravels hub coordination in smallholder dairy in Kenya, conceptualising the hub as a mix between a broker of relationships, a one-stop-shop for services and a cluster of producers and service providers, enabling horizontal coordination (between smallholders) and vertical coordination (between smallholders and value chain actors and service providers). Findings indicate that, in resolving challenges that limit smallholders’ integration in value chains, synergies emerged as the hub combined different types of horizontal and vertical coordination. This was done by simultaneously organising clusters of farmers and input and service providers (clustering role) and actively facilitating delivery (broker and one-stop-shop role), where the hub structure stimulated the matching of demand (better articulation) to supply (better organised access). However, tensions emerged in the combination of horizontal and vertical coordination as farmer organisations as hub operators had to balance a role as an honest broker between farmers with the intent of enhancing collective action and as a business-oriented entity which resulted in the exclusion of some farmers who cannot deliver the quantity and quality required to minimise coordination costs. Given these tensions and capacity problems of farmers’ organisations, complementary intermediary arrangements may be necessary to fulfil some coordination roles.

. Sustainable growth of the Kenyan dairy sector; A quick scan of robustness, reliability and resilience. Report 3R Kenya/WLR 979. AbstractThis report provides an overview of how the Kenyan dairy sector performs in three analytical domains: the robustness of the supply chains, the reliability of institutional governance and the resilience of the innovation system. Analysis is by literature review, stakeholder interviews and a validation workshop guided by a SWOT framework to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. The findings inform the existing opportunities and challenges that potentially impede growth in the sector.The report is a first step towards documenting and sharing insights that support the move towards a more Robust, Reliable and Resilient (3R) dairy sector. The findings and recommendations presented will guide policy engagement and action in the transition of Dutch government bilateral engagement in Kenya from development aid-support to a trade approach in the agricultural sector, with a focus on partnering opportunities to drive competitive market-oriented dairy sector development that attracts investments. Work in progressThis working paper aims to identify how the dairy sector in Kenya performs in terms of the robustness of supply chain, reliability of institutional governance and resilience of innovation systems, by analysing the opportunities and constraints with respect to the 3Rs. The working paper entails the first output of the 3R project and provides a first stepping stone in project implementation. Therefore this is work in progress and the authors welcome any feedback from stakeholders on this working paper. DownloadThis working paper can be downloaded for free at http://dx

a series of opportunities to reflect and learn from precedents of research and practice from an ecohealth perspective and to foster the development of a community of practice on Ecohealth (COPEH). The profile not only places the contents of the supplement and the Forum within a larger context, but also provides an overview of other IDRC activities that are building capacity for future research and practice, and are strengthening the emerging COPEH.