Program Area
Transdisciplinary & Transformative Research
Overview
This program area designs and implements interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, participatory, and transformative research activities addressing complex rural and agricultural challenges. Drawing on extensive social science expertise from both the Global North and South, the area combines qualitative and quantitative methodologies within interactive innovation and multi-actor research settings.
Key Activities
- Conducting participatory and multi-actor research in agrifood and rural innovation projects
- Applying qualitative and quantitative social science methods, including surveys, interviews, focus groups, stakeholder mapping, and participatory observation
- Facilitating co-creation, stakeholder engagement, and collaborative inquiry processes
- Analysing social, institutional, behavioural, and governance dimensions of innovation and transformation
- Integrating scientific, local, and experiential knowledge into research and innovation processes
- Supporting reflective and transformative learning within research and innovation projects
- Carry out Organizational Capacity assessment and development for innovation support
Our Methodology
Field Initiatives
CANALLS
CANALLS aims to drive agroecological transitions in the humid tropics of Central and Eastern Africa via multi-actor transdisciplinary Agroecology Living Labs (ALLs) and providing holistic agroecological solutions that meet the challenges of the local food systems
COINS
The goal of COINS is the sustainable intensification of agriculture, i.e. increasing productivity without converting additional land. The German-African project team is investigating which efficient forms of land management are effective in intensifying agriculture on the same area in a sustainable manner – taking into account local conditions such as water availability and soil properties, but also socio-economic conditions in particular.
SERVINNOV
Strengthening innovation support SERVices to enhance INNOVations for sustainable food production, ensuring rural population well-being, and reducing environmental degradation and resource depletion
INCAA
Food Security and Climate Action Theough Soil and Water conservation
POTINNOC
Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the German Development Agency (GIZ), case country: Cameroon, 2015-2016
Potential farm to landscape impact and adoption of forage technologies
Potential farm to landscape impact and adoption of forage technologies in smallholder dairy production systems in Tanzania, German Development Agency (GIZ), case country: Tanzania: 2015-2016
CA2Africa
CA2AFRICA is an important EC funded project seeking to understand why Conservation Agriculture (CA) techniques have not been adopted widely throughout Africa. The results of the project are used to tailor future CA efforts to local conditions and needs. The objective of the project is, therefore, to examine the agro-ecological, socio-economic and institutional conditions that determine success or failure of CA. Where and to whom CA works, and what conditions (spatial, temporal and hierarchical) need to be satisfied if CA is going to go to scale?
AgriSpin
Far from all innovation processes succeed. In fact, many go awry even before they begin. So what makes an innovation process move forward? And what stops it? The EU-project “AgriSpin – Space for innovations in Agriculture” seeks to find the answers to those questions and many more by identifying best practices for innovation and support systems in European agriculture.
IRRINN
The IRRINN project is a research and development initiative that aims to bring together stakeholders in small-scale irrigation—ranging from producers and irrigation equipment suppliers to field agents, financiers, and researchers—around innovation platforms to co-create solutions that are sustainable and adapted to the local context.
FAIR
The FAIR project leverages agroecology to boost the resilience of Sahelian producers. Could agroecology enable the sustainable intensification of agricultural production in the Sahel, a region facing profound vulnerabilities? This is the central focus of the FAIR Sahel project, coordinated by CIRAD. Co-funded with €9 million by the European Union and the French Development Agency, the project will bring together ten European and West African partners over four years for activities in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Senegal.
PRO AKIS
PRO AKIS aimed to answer the following question: How and from what sources can farmers get reliable & relevant knowledge, as well as orientation & support, in order to continuously evolve, to successfully solve problems, and to respond to external expectations & development opportunities?