1. Deliberate on the draft research framework and suggest improvements Resource for implementation Attention at regional level for cross- cutting issue like gender Monitoring and evaluation

LIVES Action-oriented research Process Priority setting and targeting within target areas to best address needs and opportunities; With Partners Identifying, piloting and evaluating technology and other interventions to improve productivity and market performance; With Partners and potential beneficiaries Analysis of innovation processes to better refine and design capacity building and scaling out of activities (changed position) Outcome and impact assessment to evaluate the benefits emanating from project investments Complementing this action-oriented research will be the RBME&L framework from which the strategic lessons will be learnt about the processes and innovations

Research Areas Input supply and services – Input supply – Credit/Finance and Insurance Extension – Knowledge management – Capacity building – Market information and linkages – Innovation platform Production – Production technologies – Production management – Production systems – (recording and data Management)

Research Areas (2) Post harvest handling, processing and marketing – Post harvest handling and management – Processing – Marketing and distribution – Consumption and food safety – Quality control and assurance – Packaging, labeling and branding Cross cutting issues – Gender in market oriented development – Environmental implications of market oriented development

Research partnership Collaborative research between LIVES, IWMI, ILRI programs, ICARDA, EIAR, RARIs, universities and NGOs, private sectors and other projects Joint research and supervision of graduate students (MSc/MA). Collaborative research expected to contribute to building capacity within the knowledge systems of the regions – strengthened capacity of Ethiopian researchers and research institutions – promote results to policy makers, implementers, farmers and investors.

Project Manager Research Coordinator Research Officer RBM&E Expert Regional Coordinators ( Livestock & Irrigation Experts/Coordinators) LIVES Scientists (ILRI, IWMI) Zonal Coordinators Research Assistants Database Analyst GIS Analyst Research Implementation- LIVES Structure

District level coordinator, Finance, administration and logistics

Research Implementation Research team by commodity composed of – National coordinator(s) – RARI Scientists – LIVES HQ Scientists – IWMI Scientists – LIVES regional expert – LIVES research assistant – ILRI/ICARDA Scientists – NGOs and private sector and other stakeholders

2. Priority research areas

Diagnostic dairy research Assessment of dairy input and service supply Access to knowledge/skills development peri-urban and rural dairy production for male, female and youth farmers Assessment feed improvement and feeding practices dairy animals in peri-urban and rural system Rapid assessment/action planning communal grazing area development Assessment of dairy market linkage and their interactions Rapid assessment butter and cottage cheese market channels and consumers Assessment of fertility problems and fertility management dairy cows Assessment of Animal health such as Zoonotic diseases (Example BTB), mastitis Assessment on-farm (milk) butter processing systems Assessment of traditional dairy product preservation and storage practices Assessment of on farm milk production and productivity Assessment fluid milk/butter quality at different stages of the value chain Assessment of milk consumption pattern Assessment of dairy cooperative performance and challenges

Action research dairy Innovation history of dairy value chain development Assessment dairy specific knowledge/capacity interventions, including dairy platforms Studies on mass insemination program vis a vis other institutional approaches Cost benefit analysis of selected dairy production interventions in peri-urban and rural system Studies on communal grazing area development Studies on forage seed multiplication system Different institutional arrangements for dairy processing in peri-urban fluid milk system/rural butter system Study on irrigated fodder/Forage production, utilization and conservation Study on leguminous tree, alley cropping and area closure Study on household consumption of dairy products Study on milk quality and food safety Study on milk production under different production systems

impact research Dairy value chain impact research With and without project Before and after intervention Production Productivity Economic Environmental impact Biodiversity Sustainability of market linkage Gender equity Consumption pattern and expenditure on dairy products