Pro-Poor Value Chain Development - Capacity.org

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Pilot innovation projects
The purpose of a BOAM pilot innovation project (or pilot) was to test an intervention
with a view to upscaling proven practices. The point of departure for any pilot
innovation project was the relevant Strategic Intervention Plan developed by
each value chain coordinating group with a view to identifying constraints and
opportunities for the further development of the chain. Any value chain actor with an
innovative idea to solve a specific constraint or leverage a potential opportunity could
submit a concept note to the executive committee of the coordinating group. For
each concept that received a positive appraisal by the BOAM Executive Committee,
a pilot innovation project development team was established to develop a proposal
and to monitor the implementation of the project if it received a final go-ahead from
the BOAM coordinator. The pilot innovation project development team was made up
of the project proposer, a BOAM-appointed coach and possibly a service provider or
researcher. The value chain lead adviser coordinated the implementation of the pilots
and ensured that the learning objectives of each pilot were well understood by all
involved. Table 3.2 provides an overview of pilot innovation projects as a proportion
of all projects carried out within the different value chains.
Table 3.2 Overview of BOAM-facilitated pilot innovation projects and their upscaling
Sectors
projects
Business
projects
(2009)
Upscaling
business
innovations
Apiculture Dairy Oilseeds Fruits
32 13 19 21
30 15 15 15
10 7 4 6
2 1 6 1
Knowledge exchanges
The knowledge development processes supported by the BOAM programme, varied
from one value chain to another. Nevertheless, the process followed as well as the
outputs of each process might well be relevant for the other value chains as well. In
order to prevent the emergence of knowledge ‘silos’ the BOAM learning coordinator
organised regular joint meetings for actors involved in the different pilot innovation
projects to address emerging lessons on issues that concerned all value chains.
BOAM used a number of tools to encourage systematic knowledge exchange, one
of which was to organise regular thematic exchanges. At one exchange a group of
BOAM advisers involved in implementing pilot innovation projects explored different
types of contract arrangements between value chain actors. The experiences of each
value chain as well as relevant reference literature were shared and documented.
Critical issues identified at the conference were taken up at a follow-up meeting and
further elaborated by individual members. These issues included: the role of the
government in contract arrangements between value chain actors; the importance
of embedding inputs, technologies and other services in contract arrangements; the
role of BOAM advisors in establishing and coaching contract arrangements; and the
importance and options for producer groups in contract arrangements.