The International Potato Center (CIP), one of the 15 centers of the Consultative Group on InternationalAgricultural Research (CGIAR), has explored different ways of working with partners in national agricultural research systems.
During the 1980s and 1990s CIP collaborated with the Swiss Agency for the Development and Cooperation (SDC) to strengthen national potato research programs of the Andean region through bilateral projects.
Papa Andina began in 1998 continuing previous SDC support but with a regional focus and a more horizontal approach to collaborate between its national partners and CIP.
Papa Andina gives special attention to innovation to improve small-scale farmer productivity and market access, whilst ensuring pro-poor, gender enhancement and empowerment focuses.
Poverty alleviation implies a more complex agenda related to linkages with many different types of actors. Papa Andina has used concepts of innovation systems to bring together research, development organizations and users in a process of 'learning by doing'. This process allows greater participation of the different stakeholders in the generation, use, and disseminationof knowledge; contributing more efficiently to R&D andtechnology development.
Papa Andina stimulates 'collective learning', supports capacity development and innovation in order to help partners to adapt to circumstances, resources and changing opportunities. This requires not only technological innovation but also institutional responses to help partners adapt to changing economic and political contexts.
|
 |
|
Collective actions through intensive networking allowing small farmer’s to take advantage of market opportunities |