Evaluating Different Rice-Based Innovation Bundles and Scaling Pathways with National and Regional Partners

Ndindeng, S.A.; Nwilene, F.; Bah, S.; Twine, E.; Tang, E.; Savadogo, E.; Tchatcha, D.; Ndungu, J.; Kittika, M.; Faye, F.; Dembele, A.; Konan, G.

Evaluating Different Rice-Based Innovation Bundles and Scaling Pathways with National and Regional Partners

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Activity 2.3.4.3 focused on the systematic evaluation of rice-based innovation bundles and their scaling pathways, in close collaboration with national and regional partners across West, Central, and East Africa. The activity was implemented within the context of TAAT-II, Seeds4Liberia, RIZAO, and HealthyDiets4Africa (HD4A), and addressed a critical scaling gap: while multiple rice innovations have been successfully deployed, there has been limited partner-validated evidence on how integrated bundles perform in real delivery systems and which pathways are most effective for sustainable scaling. Building on large-scale implementation experience under TAAT-II—including the dissemination of over 6,000 MT of certified rice seed and the scaling of 40+ rice technologies through Innovation Platforms—the activity brought together public institutions, private enterprises, farmer organizations, processors, youth and women groups, and regional bodies to jointly evaluate bundled approaches combining seed systems, mechanization, post-harvest processing, digital tools, and nutrition-sensitive value addition. Seeds4Liberia contributed national-level evidence on bundled value-chain delivery through five rice seed clusters, competitive engagement of private seed enterprises, and integration of mechanization and processing services. HD4A and RIZAO provided complementary Living Lab and enterprise-level evidence on processing performance, employment, and market outcomes. A major milestone under this activity was the Africa-wide Rice Seed Network and Rice Processing Partner Engagements, including the Africa-wide Rice Seed Network Inaugural Meeting and the RIZAO Pillar 3 national workshop at AfricaRice M’bé. These engagements convened over 120 stakeholders from more than 18 countries and 114 rice processing SMEs, generating quantitative, partner-owned evidence on capacity utilization (40 60%), employment (over 960 jobs documented), installed processing capacity, and revenue performance, while jointly validating scaling pathways and institutional roles. Through Innovation Platforms, Living Labs, and structured partner consultations, stakeholders evaluated which innovation bundles are scale-ready, which require strengthening of business models, finance, capacity, or policy alignment, and how responsibilities should be shared across actors along scaling pathways. The evaluation confirmed that bundled, system-oriented approaches consistently outperform isolated interventions, but also highlighted that sustainable scaling depends on clear role definition, viable service delivery and business models, digital monitoring, and strong institutional coordination. Overall, Activity 2.3.4.3 strengthened CGIAR Scaling for Impact (S4I) by embedding evaluation within real implementation platforms and grounding scaling decisions in quantitative evidence and partner validation. The activity reduced scaling risk, improved coherence across programs, and generated actionable insights to guide the replication and expansion of rice-based innovation bundles through national and regional systems beyond project lifecycles.