Year 1 Overview I. Hoeschle-Zeledon Africa RISING Coordinator Africa RISING Review and Planning Meeting Tamale, Ghana, October 2012

Oct. 2011: Brain storming meeting; agreement on countries and regions: UER, UWR, NR [Ghana], Sikasso [Mali]; agreement on key farming systems Nov./Dec. 2011: Development of Concept Note 3 farming systems: sorghum-, maize-, rice-based Jan. 2012: Inception workshop Tamale: +/- agreement on objectives, outcomes, outputs; confirmation of regions and farming systems; need for a thorough research framework; fast track workplan building on existing work to produce results by September 2012 The Start

Feb. 2012: First disbursement of funds to AfricaRice and ICRISAT; recruitment of systems agronomist; in ESA decision on program approach March: Stakeholder workshop for site selection in Ghana 4 districts/region, 5 communities/district April 2012: set up of Project office in Tamale; recruitment of admin staff; Next steps

May: Community analysis in Ghana; Community Action Plan District stratification and characterization (rainfall, elevation, population, market access) by IFPRI June 2012: development and summission of joint workplan; sub-agreements with partners; disbursement of funds Continuously: Strategic Program documents developed

Sub-Agreements InstitutionAmount ILRI$195,000 UDS$25,000 WIUC$32,000 SARI$80,000 KNUST$16,000 IWMI$100,000 AVRDC$200,688 ICRISAT$754,490 AfricaRice$299,822

Generic to be applicable across all three Africa RISING regions flexible to allow site specific adaptation Program Research Framework Task Force initiated by Jerry Glover, USAID, and coordinated CIMMYT Workshop in July in Ibadan, Nigeria, to advance draft Completed, presented later Research framework

Led by IFPRI Workshop in Addis Ababa in September Requires finalization of site selection process and research plan Status presented later M&E Plan

Program Management Structure

Provides advice and oversight on Project activities Provides science guidance to Project implementers to ensure conformity with Program Research Framework and Program Objectives Guides Project planning and activities Approves annual Project workplan and budget Oversees coordination between project components and partners Liaises with MET to oversee M&E; cc PCT on all reporting Keeps PCT informed of activities via the Project Coordinator Reviews and makes suggestions to Project Coordinator on semiannual technical progress reports to USAID Plans yearly stakeholder meetings with support from Program Communications Team. Decisions made by consensus. Meets annually in personal and virtually as called by the Chair. WA Steering Committee ToR

Chair: IITA (R. Asiedu, Regional Director West Africa) Project Coordinator, serves as Secretary (I. Hoeschle- Zeledon) Project Chief Scientist (A. Larbi, IITA) Project M&E Lead (IFPRI) Project Communications Lead (K. Lopez, IITA) Research partners: CGIAR (1 rotational [ICRISAT]), CORAF (E. Asiedu), CSIR (A. Salifu), AGRA (K. Makinde) USAID Activity Manager (J. Glover) Membership

Communication Strategy and Tools wiki page, website, image and document repository Program Logframe Program Document: assembly of all strategic documents program context purpose, objectives, outcomes guiding principles and conceptual framework research design logframe M&E plan communication strategy management structure Other strategic documents

to inspect bilateral and multilateral food security programs in northern Ghana met by SARI Director and Africa RISING chief scientist visit of demonstration trails of drought and Striga tolerant maize; rice seed multiplication and varietal trials interactions with farmers 17 August: Visit US Congressional Staff

Africa Research in Sustainable Intensification for the Next Generation africa-rising.net