RIU Sierra Leone features in the following RIU publication:

Annex 8: Evidence on the social development findings - case studies

Expected impact

The expected impact of RIU Sierra Leone is set out in the RIU ambition statement which states that membership of Partnership in Agricultural Innovation for Development (PAID) is strong and growing; by March 2011 it will be financially independent and delivering to its membership the following outputs:

• mobilized resources
• enhanced capacity to deliver quality services
• approaches developed and adopted to work in innovative ways
• ability to acquire and use information and knowledge
• lessons learned for continuous improvements.

During the PAID Annual General Meeting, held on 25 February 2010, PAID memberships increased to 150 paid-up organizations. PAID membership already represents about 26% of the country's population and 48% of the total farming population.

• Two fast-track platforms, Solar Fruit Drying Innovation Platform and Poultry Feed Innovation Platform are in operation. The potential outcomes of these platforms could affect as many as 1.7 million farm households dependent on fruits/horticultural crops. By the end of the programme, the ultimate impact will be an established and operational solar drying platform supporting viable small-scale enterprises.
• In the case of the poultry, almost all rural households in the country have poultry in the semi-intensive system. This is mainly practiced by the women members of households. Besides providing a major source of protein, this enterprise also provides a major source of income generating activity for these households. The platform has potential outcomes that could affect as many as one million people, representing 24% of the total population.
• By March 2011, a number of new (pro-poor, gender responsive and environmentally sustainable) innovation opportunities will have been (externally) financed through platform activities. Some innovative technologies or practices (drawing on RNRRS or other research) will be in the process of adoption by 'poor' farmers.
• Private sector agricultural development will have gained momentum in the national agenda for change (Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers). Encouraging and creating the environment for private sector involvement is seen as crucial to innovation.
• Social agenda and context is seen as critical to speed of innovation. Issues such as deep and entrenched poverty, gender inequalities, youth disaffection, unemployment and environmental degradation will inform the context for development and agricultural innovation.
• We will have developed strong case studies demonstrating how communication works in Sierra Leone and how it can enhance getting research into use.

Outputs

• A national partnership (based on getting research into use) is established
• Innovation platforms have put at least one piece of research into use
• Lessons learnt on approaches for getting research into use

Outcomes

• An increased access to and use of agricultural knowledge
• Increased capacity to work together in partnerships and in terms of access to knowledge
• Policy makers able to access information on successful agricultural development based around agricultural innovations

Impact

• Improved performance of rural service providers and entrepreneurs as essential intermediary actors in the innovation system
• Research is better orientated towards its users
• Agricultural policy reflects the opinions of the whole agricultural system.