The DeSIRA Initiative supports Research and Innovation projects targeting both technical and behavioral changes. These innovations are most often developed at the level of innovation niches in the various contexts where projects are implemented and form, or articulate into, innovation systems. These innovation systems intent to generate outcomes in different domains.
DeSIRA projects therefore have a dual purpose of supporting innovation with and to the benefit of direct and multiple stakeholders while aiming at making these innovations impactful in broader domains.
Innovation Systems
DeSIRA projects contribute to strengthen Agricultural Innovation Systems – AIS at different levels: innovation niches, innovation support services, and enabling policy and regulatory frameworks for agricultural innovation.
Innovation Domains
Innovation Domains are the technical or sectoral areas targeted in the Action Documents of the DeSIRA Initiative.
They encompass:
• Strengthening of AIS Systems,
• Support to risk management and surveillance systems,
• Support to sustainable livestock and pastoralism,
• Support to the nexus of the energy-agrifood system,
• Support to water management in fragile and coastal states in Africa,
• Support to improved nutrition and food security,
• Support to agro-ecology transitions,
• Support to agroforestry.
The types of innovation, the organization of innovative activities and the types of stakeholders engaged in DeSIRA Projects greatly differ across these domains.
