NIPOFERD CONSORTIUM (NIGERIA) INCEPTION WORKSHOP

PARTNERSHIP INCEPTION WORKSHOP FOR NIGERIA POULTRY FEEDS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (NIPOFERD) CONSORTIUM ORGANISED BY PAEPARD, 16-19 APRIL, 2012, IBADAN, NIGERIA

DAY 4

On the fourth day, which is the final day of the workshop, the participants arrived at the usual time and were all settled by 9:00am to resume the day’s activities. The session was started by David Suale after a welcome from him. The individual groups made their presentations on the content reflections and implications of the previous day’s activities at the workshop. After the presentations, David Suale facilitated and led a discussion on access to low cost quality livestock feed on three major points:

i.                    Identify the innovation challenges

ii.                  Identify the functions required to meet the challenges

iii.                Identify the actors to fulfil these functions

The innovation challenge was identified to be how to access low cost quality livestock feed production delivery to Nigerian Poultry Industry

 

The functions required to meet the challenge and the actors are as follows:

	Functions	Actors
1	Feed milling	Feed millers Association of Nigeria (FAN)
2	Capacity Development	Partnering institutions (FUTO, UDS, UPB, ISRA-BAME)
3	Agricultural inputs	FAN
4	Self organisation by farmers for using economies of scale	Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), FAN
5	Engineering services (Supply of farm implements, quality spare parts and maintenance)	FUTO
6	Flexible, affordable financial services	Bank of Industry, Bank of Agriculture, Cooperatives
7	Provision of grants	Donor agencies: CORAF, AU, EU. DFID, SIDA,RMRDC, NDDC, ARCN
8	Link actors and sources of innovation	PAEPARD, FARA, IITA

The next discussion was on logical framework (logframe) analysis. It was pointed out by David Suale that the logframe is a requirement by several calls as part of documents for submission for research grants. It is usually part of the project management tools. The advantages and disadvantages of a logframe where all highlighted.

Advantages

i.                    Creation of a hierarchy of objectives by identifying the different levels of achievement

ii.                  Shows how different activities and output of a project are related

iii.                Shows the link between internal project elements and external factors

iv.                Shows how the project will be monitored and evaluated

Disadvantages

i.                    The emphasis on quantifiable indicators results in projects with concrete or physical products rather than dynamic processes

ii.                  The rigidity of the logframe can lead to a loss of flexibility to adjust activities as and when new information becomes available which might require new activities or a re-evaluation of the project viability

After the discussions on logframe analysis, Dr Tunji piloted a session on funding opportunities in Nigeria and elsewhere identifying several organisations and donor agencies that can work with the partnership.

It was suggested to set up a team that will be responsible for a desk review on  how to reach these bodies, make contact with them and follow them up, what are their procedures and requirements for funding.

Furthermore, to develop an action plan for the future and sustainability of the partnership, the following activities were carried out.

i.                    Constitution of a steering committee.

ii.                  Identification of secretariat for the partnership at Federal University of Technology, Owerri

iii.                Steering committee follow-up meetings

iv.                Sensitization and advocacy activities through leaders of partnering entities

v.                  Launching of the partnership

vi.                Registering of members

The workshop evaluation was distributed, filled by participants and then collected by David Suale. At this point, Dr Tunji gave an appreciation speech to PAEPARD, Dr Jonas and Francois Stepman for their immense contribution to the success of the workshop. He also thanked his co-facilitator, David Suale for his time and commitment to the success of the workshop as well. At this point, he declared the workshop closed.

NIPOFERD CONSORTIUM (NIGERIA) INCEPTION WORKSHOP

PARTNERSHIP INCEPTION WORKSHOP FOR NIGERIA POULTRY FEEDS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (NIPOFERD) CONSORTIUM ORGANISED BY PAEPARD, 16-19 APRIL, 2012, IBADAN, NIGERIA
                                                                 
                                                                    DAY 3
The participants arrived at the venue of the workshop before 9:00am. Dr Tunji Babatunde called the workshop to order and welcomed participants to the day 3 of the PIW. David Suale took over and requested for group presentations on the previous day’s assignments. The different groups took their turn in making presentations on day 2 content reflections and their implications as well as the different group’s view on the partnership vision and mission statements.
After the presentations, the workshop continued in group formations, with each group discussing what activities should the partnership undertake to deliver what it will be accountable for, and what inputs are required, followed by group presentations on the topic. Further, how the partnership will be governed and managed after the inception workshop was discussed and also presented. At the end of the plenary presentations, it was agreed to set up a steering committee to develop a scheme for governance and management of the partnership.
In capturing the operationalization of the partnership, each participant was required to respond to the questions of what to bring to the partnership and what will each participant be needed to contribute effectively to the partnership. The workshop at this point had individual group presentation on the partnership’s governance and management before the lunch break.
To buttress more on operationalizing of the partnership, Dr Jonas discussed the role of PAEPARD in achieving this, by highlighting the priority actions and start-up PAEPARD partnership work plan. Goodwill messages were exchanged between Dr Okoli on behalf of the partnership and Dr Jonas on behalf of PAEPARD before Dr Jonas left for Ghana later in the day.

The workshop returned from the lunch to continue a final discussion on the vision and mission statement of the partnership. After a long deliberation, a 3-man steering committee was set up to finalize the vision and mission statements and make a presentation to the participant on the next day.
David Suale at this point called on Dr I.C. Okoli to present the concept note on ‘improvement of cost effective quality poultry feed production systems for small-scale farmers in West Africa’ which was prepared in response to AU research grant, under the post-harvest and agriculture lot. The concept note proposes 5 locations across West Africa –Owerri, Anyigba (both in Nigeria), Tamale in Ghana, Parakou in Benin Republic and Dakar in Senegal. The Principal applicant in the concept note is Dept of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria with partners from Ghana, Benin Republic and Belgium. The duration of the action is 36 months and the amount requested for EU contribution is 597, 232.03 Euros. The overall objectives of the actions are
i.    Improved productivity and income of poultry farmers
ii.    Nutritional status of consumers enhanced
iii.    Health Status of consumers improved
Dr Okoli’s presentation received a very good response from the participants and members of the partnership. The effort invested in putting together the proposal was well commended and every one promised to henceforth contribute to every demand in the future in order to put up a proposal for any call.

In response, members of the partnership made financial contributions to show their commitment to the success of the partnership to ensure its sustainability as follows:
  
 Name                              Amount donated

1    Uzoma Obasi                  N 10, 000
2    Emeka Chinweze             N 5, 000
3    Uchegbu M.C.                N 5,000
4    Idowu Fagbolu                N 5, 000
5    Charles I Ihenanetu          N 5, 000
6    Gina Ariaga                    N 5,000
7    Nnadi F.N.                     N 5, 000
8    Japhet Duru                    N 5, 000
9    Tobias A. U. Iwuh          N 5, 000
10    Franklyn Ezetoha          N 5, 000
11    Chika Ukwu                 N 5, 000
       Total                             N 60, 000

The section ended with a strong word of commendation from Dr Tunji Babatunde and David Suale for the spirit of commitment shown by the participants. At this point, the workshop closed for the day to re-convene the next day.

NIPOFERD CONSORTIUM (NIGERIA) INCEPTION WORKSHOP

PARTNERSHIP INCEPTION WORKSHOP FOR NIGERIA POULTRY FEEDS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (NIPOFERD) CONSORTIUM ORGANISED BY PAEPARD, 16-19 APRIL, 2012, IBADAN, NIGERIA

DAY 2
Participants arrived for the second day of the PIW by 9:00am. Dr Tunji welcomed the participants and pointed that Dr Jonas has commended the frank discussions observed among participants when compared with previous PIWs by other consortia.                     
The first activity of the day was a plenary presentation and discussions on recap on day 1 by groups through the presentation of content reflections of the day and their implications and the partnership’s vision and mission.

Highlights of the content reflections are
i.    The workshop is informative, coming to realize the existence of a platform like PAEPARD
ii.    Understanding of the concept and scope of PAEPARD, its objectives and activities, partnering institutions and projects
iii.    Understanding of the importance of synergy (team work), thus encouraging the sharing of experience, ideas and tapping into one another’s competence
iv.    Strengthening of linkages between individuals and organisations in the consortium

Implications from the content reflections
i.    Partnership is imperative for profitability in poultry production
ii.    Each partner knows his/her roles in the partnership for sustainability
iii.    The partnership formation should be done as quickly as possible with the obvious advantages accruable to it
iv.    There should be a functional framework for an efficient operation of partnership.

This was followed by group presentations on the Partnership’s vision and mission and the highlights are as follows:
Why the Partnership exists?
i.    Novel platform through which the researchers can transfer knowledge directly to the farmers as a viable researchers-industry linkage
ii.    To identify needs of the members of the partnership
iii.    To forge a synergy among the stakeholders in the poultry industry to meet the identified needs and ensure the production of quality feeds at low cost
iv.    To develop collaboration that meets the needs of stakeholders, especially end users
v.    To tap into individual partner’s expertise, competence and experience
vi.    To have better access to funds for the promotion and benefits of the activities of the partnership
vii.    To better access to information on low cost and quality poultry feeds
viii.    To develop a demand driven technology that solves the envisaged problems of the end-users and improves earnings
ix.    Develop a functional framework/structure for the operation of the partnership for increased access to low cost and adequate feeds
What should it look like by the end of 2012
i.    Farmer-Researcher partnership fully established with necessary linkages
ii.    Farmers must have learnt to formulate cost effective quality poultry feeds
iii.    The farmers’ productivity and income would have been positively influenced by the knowledge delivered
iv.    The partnership shall be able to develop better collaborative partnerships
v.    Reduce protein deficiency gap through the provision of affordable poultry products using low cost quality feeds
vi.    Resource pool for both human and material resources for the partnership

After the group presentations, David Suale coordinated as session on developing strategic interests for the partnership and then the group re-convened to discuss the partnership’s goal and purpose in order to determine the beneficiaries and what should be the benefits to them with the following high points identified:
Beneficiaries identified
Farmer organisations (small-scale poultry farmers and feedmillers), research organisations in the field of poultry science, policy makers in the field of poultry production, feed raw materials producers, consumers of poultry products, financial houses and donor organisations
Benefits to them
•    1. Researchers in poultry science
-    Gain knowledge in recent advance in poultry feed production and fulfilment that comes from validation of his ideas and theory
•    2. Small-scale poultry farmers and feed-millers
-    Increased knowledge
-    Increased and improved productivity
-    Increased income
-    Improved livelihood
•    3. Policy makers in poultry production
        -   Better information to formulate policies to guide poultry production and feed manufacturing
•    4. Consumers of poultry products
-    Improved quality of poultry products and protein intake
-    Better products at better prices
-    Readily available products for consumers
-    Improved nutritional status of poultry products consumers
•    5. Feed raw materials Producers
       -    Increase in production of feed raw materials due to increase in demand
-    Increased sales and income for raw materials producers
•    6. Financial Houses
-    Assurance of return on interest due to farmers ability to fulfills credit demands on time as a result of increased profitability
•    7. Donor agencies
-    Will have access to the research reports increasing its database of information
-    The success of the partnership fulfills the vision/mission of the donor organization(s)
Expected changes in behaviour of the beneficiaries
•     Better ways of doing things
•    Enhanced capacity
•    Improved livelihood
•    Improved knowledge and skills
•    Increased confidence
The workshop went for a lunch break after group presentations on partnership goal and purpose. On return, group presentations continued on partnership outputs highlighting what should the partnership be accountable for in bringing about the changes in behaviour and what should be their indicators of success. This was followed by group discussions and presentations on partnership outputs highlighting what should the partnership be accountable for in bringing about the changes in behaviour and what should be the indicators of success.
The partnership’s outputs highlighting what should the partnership be accountable for bringing about the changes in behaviour and what should be the indicators of success.
The day’s workshop ended with group assignments on day 2 content reflections and their implications and partnership’s vision and mission statements which will be presented on day 3.

NIPOFERD CONSORTIUM (NIGERIA) INCEPTION WORKSHOP

PARTNERSHIP INCEPTION WORKSHOP FOR NIGERIA POULTRY FEEDS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (NIPOFERD) CONSORTIUM ORGANISED BY PAEPARD, 16-19 APRIL, 2012, IBADAN, NIGERIA

Composition of the consortium
1. Department of Animal Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria
2. Poultry Association of Nigeria, Imo State Branch, Nigeria
3. Feedmillers Association of Nigeria, Imo State Branch
4. University of Ghent, Belgium
5. Faculte D’Agronomie, Universite De Parakou, Republique Du Benin
6. Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Development Studies, Nyankpala Campus, Tamale, Ghana.
7. Bureau d’Analyses Macro-economiques, Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles, Dakar, Senegal

DAY 1.
The Partnership inception workshop (PIW) opened at about 9:25am with a welcome note from Dr Tunji Babatunde, the AI facilitator for the consortium. He introduced David Suale, his co-AI facilitator who joined the workshop later on. The participants in the workshop introduced themselves immediately after the welcome note. The workshop management process was established by Dr Tunji. Dr Jonas Mugabe, the Africa co-Manager of PAEPARD from FARA was introduced after which Dr Jonas gave a presentation on the PAEPARD project highlighting the following:
 A.    What is PAEPARD?
 B.    What does PAEPARD do?
 C.    Problems identified by PAEPARD I and their solutions by PAEPARD II
 D.    Summary of the previous calls and consortia selected
 E.    Achievements of PAEPARD
After the presentation on PAEPARD, responses were taken on the new idea of having non-research organisations leading partnerships as envisaged in future PAEPARD multi-stakeholders Innovation Partnerships calls as highlighted by Dr Jonas. This is so because of the need for an inclusive demand-driven Agricultural Research and Development (ARD) partnerships among research and non-research partners.

Dr Jonas’ presentation was followed by Dr Tunji’s talk on the PIW objectives highlighting
-    Why are we  here?
-    What are we going to do for the next four days?
-    What are the responsibilities of every participant?
-    Are my views important?
He also pointed out clearly the differences between the AIFs and the leader of the consortium. At the end of his presentation, the leader of the consortium, Dr Ifeanyi Charles Okoli requested the AIF to keep the consortium communicated with information about opportunities that will help the consortium achieve its objectives.
A general discussion followed raising the points that:
i.    It was clearly noted that each stakeholder in the consortium cannot achieve results working alone.
ii.    The need to form synergy and consensus of opinion among stakeholders in the partnership
iii.    The need to place the peculiar situation of the needs of Africa in the forefront in forming European-African partnerships for ARD
iv.    The need for the sustenance of the PAEPARD project of providing support for multi-stakeholders Innovation Partnerships across Africa
v.    The emergence of PAEPARD as a beginning of a positive direction for Africa’s ARD and hence forward looking.
The next presentation on the consortium and its concept note on Low cost and quality livestock feed production knowledge delivery to Nigerian poultry industry was given by Mr Omede Apeh.
The facilitation of identification of strategic interests of the partnership and development of partnership baseline and vision was done by David Suale after breaking the participants into three working groups. Before then, He triggered a discussion that highlighted the following points
i.    Accessing of markets as a need that will help promote the sustainability of agricultural productivity in Africa
ii.    The dynamics of agricultural changes and the need for government support in helping farmers cope with the changes
iii.    Involvement of end-users of agro-products in the formulation of agricultural policies
iv.    The need to development processes for value-chain addition in agricultural practices.
The day ended with presentations on partnership concepts and development process by David Suale at about 5:45pm after a session of role play on “trip around the table”, process monitoring and content reflections by the various groups.