Learning-workshop 5 ParkingLot

imGoats project: Learning and reflection workshop

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Parking lot: remaining issues

Roberto: Comment/recommendations for ILRI Roberto: Need to reflect on timing of research for development projects; the two year period for this project is not adequate

• Saskia: Agree. But some donors are changing attitudes. There is also a struggle to put livestock on the research agenda.

Ramkumar: What kind of strategy can adopt to ensure continuity of the activities ("thinking beyond the donor box")?

• Ewen: Would require strong partnerships and local resources but is an option. Another is to start with a short pilot that would give proof of concept before funding a larger initiative.
• Saskia: imGoats wasn't designed as a pilot project, but was merely piloting new approaches. If BAIF has some ongoing components that they can continue working with, it would be useful if BAIF & CARE can come up with something that ILRI could support as there is an ILRI office in India and Southern Africa.
• Kees: clarification that the project was actually a three-year project but the first year was lost because of a lot of administrative and contractual issues. Perhaps we would have achieved more if the effective starting date had been earlier.

Ewen: Any ideas on how will you communicate and learn from each other? Across countries and sites?

• Ann has a private wiki with resources on M&E; email her and she will subscribe anyone interested.
• Saskia: What platforms can we use to avoid endless email conversations?
• Ann: Can use Ning; it's very easy to use. Advantage is that you can have asynchronous conversations so people don't have to be online at the same time unlike Skype (this is good, considering our time zone differences). Ewen: but would it be feasible to set up a Ning space, set up guidelines etc. since time is short?
• An alternative could also have a short, simple email newsletter that doesn't need too much editing but would keep us all updated on what is happening in each team. [AGREED]. The contact persons responsible for collecting the information from each team:

Navneet - Jharkhand Nikhilesh - Rajasthan Amosse and Saskia - Mozambique with support from Ewen and Tezira