About the Certified Innovation Facilitators
Innovation facilitators are a new and important profession to support innovation processes and partnerships. In this directory, all innovation facilitators have been trained by DeSIRA LIFT and received acknowledgement of their competencies in facilitating agricultural innovation.
Benin
👤 Last name: Imorou
👥 Given name: Lucien
📧 Email:
About: Research Assistant at the Santés et Territoires Project. Focal Point for the Agroecological Transition Project in the Cotton Zones of Benin. I conduct research and design activities with farmers on innovative agroecological systems for the sustainability of cotton-based cropping systems.
About: I am an agronomy engineer specializing in plant production science and techniques, with a focus on plant protection, and I am also a socio-anthropologist in social mediation and development facilitation. Currently, I serve as a research assistant for the Health & Territories project in the Benin component. I am passionate about everything related to agricultural innovations, especially how to encourage rural and urban stakeholders to adopt their implementation for impactful goals such as food security and overall health. Beyond all this, I have always been motivated by the desire to be a reference and an active player in contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. I firmly believe that having the privilege of being part of the DeSIRA LIFT innovation facilitators’ network will undoubtedly serve as a lever for realizing this vision.
About: Martin Agboton is an international consultant with 10 years of experience in the development, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of development programs/projects. He currently coordinates the FO-RI program at AgriCord. FO-RI stands for Research and Innovation in Agroecology Led by Farmers’ Organizations. The program includes 13 action-research projects on agroecology in 17 countries, as well as 14 regional lobbying and advocacy projects on agroecology worldwide. Before joining AgriCord, Martin Agboton held significant positions in various organizations, including the University of Namur/ENABEL, SOJAGNON-ONG, CRADIB-ONG, RENOVA, REDAD, and the European Commission. In his free time, he dedicates himself to developing Agboton International Business, a company that promotes sustainable agricultural practices and provides technical services to national and international agricultural entities.
Madagascar
👤 Last name: RAKOTONIRINA
👥 Given name: Albert
📧 Email: albert.rakotonirina@gmail.com
📍Place: Antananarivo
👤 Last name: RALAIVELO
👥 Given name: Lovasoa Dimby Antenaina
📧 Email: ralaivelonaina@gmail.com
📍Place: Malaho Bevalala, Commune rurale Ampanefy, District Antananarivo Atsimondrano
👤 Last name:ANDRIANIMPANANA
👥 Given name: Daniel
📧 Email: dandrianim@agrisud.org
📍Place: Antananarivo
👤 Last name: ANDRIANJAFY
👥 Given name: Nirina Etiannah
📧 Email: etiannahandria@gmail.com
📍Place: Antsirabe
About: Agronomist by training, specializing in environmental economics and natural resource management, I aim to strengthen my connections with development stakeholders and the research community, both nationally and internationally. Staying connected with a network of innovation facilitators is one of the key factors in achieving this.
About: I am an agro-manager by training, and I have worked as an adult trainer since 2002—that’s over 24 years. Later, I became a teacher-researcher at a university, specifically at MAGIS University in Madagascar. For over 8 years, I have led a small project focused on the well-being of rural households. The idea was to share technical, economic, and social skills to improve household incomes. Additionally, the project served as an exchange platform between technicians and family farmers. I am interested in all forms of skill enhancement through a framework of reciprocal sharing.
About: A passionate agronomist focused on enhancing the technical and economic performance of very small family farms in rural and peri-urban areas, I believe it is essential to recognize that this improvement relies on the transition of production systems. This transition is driven by innovation, innovation is propelled by facilitation, and facilitation itself is a fascinating profession.
About: I am an agronomist passionate about research and development, particularly drawn to participatory approaches and modeling. My experience as an innovation facilitator has enriched my skills in these areas. My professional goal is to advance in participatory research to meet local needs in an effective, sustainable, and innovative way.
👤 Last name: ANDRINANTENAINA
👥 Given name: Fifaliana Lanto Nirina
📧 Email: hiranyaina@gmail.com
📍Place: Antananarivo
👤 Last name:H ARENANIAINA
👥 Given name: Bakomalala Onintsoa
📧 Email: harenanyony@gmail.com
📍Place: Antananarivo
👤 Last name: RAKOTOARISOA
👥 Given name: NafindraTsilavina Elisé
📧 Email: rakototsilavna@gmail.com
📍Place: Antsirabe
About: Passionate about transforming challenges into opportunities, I aim to guide innovative processes to contribute to sustainable development and the improvement of professional practices.
About: PhD candidate passionate about agronomy and rural development, I delve into the heart of the challenges of food security and agroecology.
About: Grandson of farmers, I was fortunate to pursue higher education in agriculture and earn my degree. I chose this path upon noticing that agriculture in my grandfather’s locality was underdeveloped and neglected by the community, which regarded it as the least desirable profession. I also realized that the majority of the population in my country shares this perspective. My commitment to agricultural development motivates me to change this mindset and demonstrate to people the importance and nobility of this profession.
About: As an agronomist, I believe that it is the details around us that make all the difference in each of our actions.
👤 Last name: RANDRIAMPENO
👥 Given name:Tsirihasina Voahirana
📧 Email: hrandriampeno@gmail.com
📍Place: Antananarivo
About: I am married and have three children. Trained as an agronomist, I have been working for 20 years in a French NGO that prioritizes the quality of life for farmers through aquaculture. I wish to continue facilitating the synergies of action among stakeholders, as the challenges are diverse and evolving.
Burkina Faso
Cameroon
👤 Last name:KENGNI MAKALLA
👥 Given name:Jules Trevor
📧 Email: trevorkengni0@gmail.com
📍Place: Garoua
About: Jairus GUEDJO TCHETCHE is an Engineer in Rural Development, passionate about creating sustainable and resilient ecosystems. He focuses on empowering local communities and seeking innovative solutions to address climate and socio-economic challenges, promoting active collaboration among development actors.
About: I am a young Cameroonian, passionate about agriculture and working in action-research to solve farmers’ problems. Being in constant contact with farmers, I have strong skills in facilitating innovations in rural areas and managing multi-stakeholder processes.
About: I am motivated by the desire to inspire others, encourage creativity, support the development of new ideas, and help transform those ideas into solutions that have a positive impact on communities. I am interested in participatory development mechanisms and tools that can facilitate their involvement in innovation processes.
Ethiopia
👤 Last name: Kicha
👥 Given name: Chaluma
📧 Email: chaluama.kicha@yahoo.com
📞 Phone: +251911339673/+251913331110
📍Place: Addis Ababa
👤 Last name: MekdesShiferaw Sintayehu
👥 Given name: Mekdes
📧 Email: Mekdela18@gmail.com
📍Place: Jimma
👤 Last name: Assegid Worku
👥 Given name: Meseret
📧 Email: meseretassegid2@gmail.com
📍Place: Addis Ababa
👤 Last name: Gebru Gebremeskel
👥 Given name: Mestawet
📧 Email: mestigbr@gmail.com
📍Place: Addis Ababa
About:I hold an MSc in Climate Change and Development from Hawassa University and a BSc in Natural Resource Management from Ambo University. With over 15 years of experience in government and NGOs, I currently work as Project Coordinator for the EU-DeSIRA project at PHE Ethiopian Consortium. I have completed various training programs in innovation and forest restoration. As a creative problem solver, I enjoy thinking outside the box and am always open to feedback and new ideas.
About:I currently manage the development and scaling of innovative food-based nutrition solutions through a public-private partnership as part of DeSIRA-LIFT. I am a public health nutrition specialist with a background in rural development, certified in project management, and have over 14 years of experience in multisectoral nutrition program design and humanitarian action in East Africa. I am eager to contribute to the DeSIRA-LIFT program’s impact on agriculture and food security while utilizing my skills as an innovation facilitator.
About: A nutritionist and researcher at the Alliance Bioversity – CIAT focusing on food systems research. Passionate about sustainable food systems and diet quality, motivated by the desire to create long-term change through research and innovation. I’m looking for possibilities to work with various teams, apply my skills, and contribute to projects that promote a sustainable healthy diet.
👤 Last name:Tesfaye Shenkute
👥 Given name: Alemu
📧 Email: cyberalext@gmail.com
📍Place: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
About: An innovation facilitator with expertise in research communication, dissemination, and knowledge management across social sciences, agriculture, and health. Skilled in stakeholder engagement, community initiatives, and translating research into actionable insights using data visualization and communication technologies.
Malawi
👤 Last name: TENTHANI PHIRI
👥 Given name: Austin
📧 Email: phiriaustin534@gmail.com
📍Place: Lunyangwa Agricultural Research Station, Mzuzu
About: Chief Agricultural Research Scientist, responsible for soil fertility and plant nutrition and agroforestry research under the soils and agricultural engineering commodity group in the Department of Agricultural Research Services of the Ministry of Agriculture, Malawi. He recently has a new drive in climate change adaptation and mitigation research.
Colombia
👤 Last name: Salinas Echeverry
👥 Given name: Haydid Norfalia
📧 Email: norfalia85@gmail.com
📍Place: San José del Guaviare y Bogotá – Colombia
👤 Last name: Yerson Duban
👥 Given name: Suarez Cordoba
📧 Email: yersuarez1@gmail.com – yer.suarez@udla.edu.co
📍Place: Florencia (Caquetá), Colombia
👤 Last name: Castañeda Salazar
👥 Given name: Edna Rocío
📧 Email: ednarcas@gmail.
📍Place: Bogotá, Colombia
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