Institutional Learning and Change (ILAC)

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The Institutional Learning and Change (ILAC) Initiative consists of an evolving community of individuals committed to increasing the contributions of agricultural research to sustainable poverty reduction around the world. This group uses innovation systems thinking and tools to understand agricultural change processes and guide interventions to stimulate pro-poor innovation.

ILAC is hosted by Bioversity International (formerly known as the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute) which is one of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) Centers.

The ILAC Initiative complements other broader initiatives to promote innovation for poverty reduction and sustainable development, such as the “LINK” initiative of the United Nations University.

In 2003, the Rockefeller Foundation provided initial support for ILAC in the context of the CGIAR’s reform initiative. In 2004 and 2005, GTZ-BMZ and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) provided funding support for the initiative. In 2005 and 2006, the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DGIS), DGIS provided annual grants of Euro 150,000 for ILAC.

Professionals from several research and development organizations have developed and field tested approaches for fostering learning and pro-poor innovation. The organizations involved include Bioversity International, the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), the United Nations University (UNU), Xavier Institute of Management (India), the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), the International Center for Maize and Wheat Improvement (CIMMYT), the International Potato Center (CIP), and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT).

The approaches developed and tested in partnership with many regional and national partners include ones for:

  • Facilitation of participatory decision-making
  • Preparation of innovation and institutional histories
  • Participatory evaluation
  • Establishing and managing learning alliances
  • Impact assessment
  • Developing collaborative agreements
  • Outcome Mapping

These and other approaches for ILAC have been outlined in a series of ILAC Briefs that are available in print publications and on the ILAC website.

[edit] See also

Knowledge management for development

[edit] External links