Bio-innovation for Poverty Alleviation. Networking among S-S Researchers. Lena Sthapit Asian Institute of Technology Thailand 17 th Dec, 2010

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Gwendolyn Long
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1 Bio-innovation for Poverty Alleviation & Networking among S-S Researchers Lena Sthapit Asian Institute of Technology Thailand 17 th Dec, 2010

2 Presentation Outlines Part I: Enabling Bio-Innovation for Poverty Alleviation in Asia, at a glance Project Overview Objectives Small Projects Grant Part II: Networking among researchers in the field of bio-innovation Workshops and conferences Project website

3 Brief Description of the Project Project Title: Enabling Bio-Innovation for Poverty Alleviation in Asia Project Duration: 3 years Project funding: International Development Research Centre (IDRC) To enhance biological innovative capabilities, policies & institutions to support just, equitable & sustainable social & economic development in developing countries.

4 Project Overview Workshop on Integrated Policy for Bio-innovations in Agriculture and Health in Asia Objectives: examine existing policies on bio-innovations in the region identify existing knowledge gaps recommend policy-relevant focuses for research and a strategy for information sharing, learning across borders and partnering in the region Recommendations to conduct more thorough research on policy and governance systems that stimulate, enable and/or constrain bio-innovation for poverty reduction to examine the social, economic and ethical implications of bio-innovation

5 Project Objectives To organize, conduct and manage competitive grants selection process for potential researchers on bio-innovation and its social and policy implications for poverty alleviation in the Asian region To manage the grants awarding process and to monitor the progress of awardees To maximise the opportunities for interactive learning through the networking of researchers on bio-innovation for poverty alleviation To share the knowledge gleaned and to facilitate dissemination of research outputs through publications in journals, book chapters and via the project website

6 Project Management Structure AIT Core Team & Project Manager Coordinate the project Publish Call for Proposals Receive applications Select external evaluators Communicate results to all proponents Organize workshops Compile reports Liaise with donors and grantees Donor (IDRC) Select the competition themes Evaluate the proposals & select the awardees Advisory Committee members Develop proposals Implement projects Write reports Research Grantees

7 Launching of Small Grants Program Small Grants Program was launched in March 2009 and August 2009 to support research projects focused on poor people s livelihoods and basic health Each small grant research project is awarded up to CAD 18,000 Research project duration: 1 year 1 st call for proposal (March 2009): 96 letters of intent received 16 shortlisted for full proposal 7 research projects granted 2 nd call for proposal (August 2009): 108 letters of intent received 15 shortlisted for full proposal 7 research projects granted

8 Small Grant Projects under First Batch South Korea-1 India-1 Vietnam-2 Thailand-2 Philippines-1

9 Small Grant Projects under First Batch Exploring Effects of Bio-Innovation on Shrimp Farmers in Vietnam, Vietnam Impacts of Bio-Innovative Drug on Health Disparity between Asian and Developed Countries, South Korea Role of Professional Associations in pro-poor Biofertilizer and Biopesticide Innovation System, India Challenges and Recommendations to Harness the Poverty Alleviation Potentials of Bio-Nitrogen Fertilizers in the Philippines, Philippines Lazy Gardens: A Sustainable Alternative for Remote Poor Rural Communities in Northern Thailand, Thailand Social Dimensions and Institutional Factors that Enable and/or Constrain a Biogas Program at Community Level, Vietnam Surge of High-input Vegetable Production in Northern Thailand: Is the Innovation Pro-Poor and Gender Sensitive?, Thailand

10 Small Grant Projects under Second Batch Nepal-1 China-2 Thailand-2 Philippines-1 Cambodia-1

11 Small Grant Projects under Second Batch Intellectual Property Pooling and open Source Innovation: Promoting Alternative Innovation Systems for Public Health, Thailand Benefits and Risks of Genetically Modified Crops-the impact on the rural poor in China, China Impact of Biosand Filter on Access to safe Drinking Water in the Rural Communities of the Philippines, Philippines Mapping the Transmission of Knowledge in Natural Farming Innovations in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand Bio-Innovation for Edible Mushroom Cultivation and Trade for Poverty Alleviation, China Participative Distributed Innovation Processes and Biochar: Carbon Reduction, Sustainable Agriculture and Soil Management, Cambodia Small scale aquaculture initiative in Nepal: Understanding gender implications and sustainability of innovative approach, Nepal

12 Part II: Networking among researchers in the field of bio-innovation

13 Networking among South-South Researchers Activities to build networking among S-S Researchers Launching of project website Face to Face workshops- Inception workshops Social network- Facebook Conducting session in an International Conference on Innovation and Sustainability Transitions in Asia Synthesis Workshop

14 Networking among S-S Researchers (contd.) Bio-Innovations Asia online portal unveiled The project official website, was launched in January The website contains relevant information, resources on bio-innovation policies, news & useful links. a tool to disseminate small grant reports to the public. Serve as a blog-site to exchange ideas and build networks.

15 Networking among S-S Researchers (contd.) Face to Face Workshop- Inception Workshops Inception workshops were held - June 2009 for the 1 st batch & Dec 2009 for the 2 nd batch

16 Networking among S-S Researchers (contd.) Social networking- Facebook The project has also launched its page on social networking site- Facebook. Striving to build stronger & effective network among researchers.

17 Networking among S-S Researchers (contd.) Conducting session in International Conference in Malaysia International Conference on Innovation & Sustainability Transitions in Asia, Kuala Lumpur in Jan Organizing session entitled Transitions challenges facing bioinnovations for the poor. Six researchers from 1 st batch presenting papers based on their projects. Each paper is a case study of distinct technologies in socioeconomic contexts but with a shared focus on the social and institutional constraints facing bio-innovations for the poor in the policy domains of rural livelihoods and health.

18 Networking among S-S Researchers (contd.) Synthesis Workshop in Sept 2011 Synthesis Workshop in Sept to gear the network among researchers. 14 researchers, advisory committee members and Project core team members gather to discuss & to exchange ideas and findings.

19 Enabling Bio- Innovation for Poverty Alleviation in Asia

20 Thank You

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