Building partnerships with, and among, developing country institutions is fundamental to stimulating networks of innovation.  In Uganda, we have been working with government research and development agencies, with the emerging private-sector service providers, and with other stakeholders, to integrate smallholder demand for agricultural technology and market information with the supply of knowledge.  To improve the quality and effectiveness of private service-provision to farmers, we are developing a degree course in partnership with Makerere University, Uganda, that is specifically designed for the needs of private service-providers.  The programme includes many ‘soft skills’ such as communication and facilitation, conflict management and development of technical materials for farmers.  Resource people from government, NGOs and the private sector will be involved in course delivery.  We are supporting an initiative by FARA to strengthen capacity for agricultural research and development in sub-Saharan Africa (SCARDA).  With partners from the African regional research networks, we are helping to design, deliver and monitor the programme so that it contributes to the strengthening of innovation systems that include a much wider set of participants than was usual in previous, linear models of research and extension. 

More information on NRI's work on Processes and institutions for rural innovation.