1. Principles and Plan for Organizing ESA Research Across Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia Group II

2. Building Blocks FTF – Zambia: SIMLEZA CIMMYT and IITA (maize-legume systems) Eastern Zambia FTF – Zambia: ICRISAT – Groundnut + aflatoxins FTF – Tanzania (Morogoro (rice); Manyara and Dodoma (maize); Mbeya (horticulture), etc) SIMLESA (maize-legume systems) Malawi, Tanzania, Mozambique, Kenya, Ethiopia Spillover – Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, Botswana ZIMLESA – maize, legumes, livestock

3. Principles Impact orientation - shared vision to change livelihoods through integrated interventions Country participation and ownership – not contract research Engagement of all relevant stakeholders Identify a lead national partner (research) Alignment with national and regional investment and food security priorities Foster the systems perspective Capacity strengthening to rebuild national capacity Ensuring participation and recognition of farmers’ contributions Gender equity - inclusion of women (and men)

4. Structure Regional coordinator (lead center) National coordinators (assigned by national lead partner) Regional objective or theme leaders (key partners) – National focal points for each theme/objective Site coordination by regional/zonal research centers Coordinated reporting systems – Regional, national, objective focal point

5. Partnerships to make this work Research centers (germplasm and technologies) Extension agencies Private sector (feed, seed, fert, vet, finance, etc) Farmer groups NGOs – out-scaling Regulatory agencies, bureau of standards, etc Link with other projects (scaling up/out, spillover)

6. Learning process Knowledge management system for the project (website, data, newsletter, etc) Innovation platforms to support learning and farmer-led innovation Farmer exchange visits – Across farming system in each country – Cross-country visits Scientist and partner exchange visits Farmer field days Demonstration plots/model farms Participatory on-farm trials

7. Facilitating and spillover Regional planning meeting – Sharing of results – National coordinator plus 4-5 reps from country team – Field day – Media Support from SRO for spillovers (CCARDESA, ASARECA, ECA, COMESA, etc)

8. Recognition Regional level (in-kind awards for team work) National level awards to recognize team work and excellence Recognition of farmer contributions and lead innovators