Uniting to drive transformative change in Eastern and Southern Africa, the CGIAR Scaling for Impact (S4I) program under Area of Work 5 (AoW5): Learning for Impact, recently brought together a diverse group of regional partners, led by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), for a one and a-half-day workshop held on 11-12 September 2025 in Kampala, Uganda.

This dynamic gathering of experts and innovators began with the ambition of co-creating a framework for identifying and supporting scaling champions. However, partners agreed that the first step should be a practical guideline that can be tested, validated, and later refined into a framework. This shift marked a major step in the quest to accelerate the uptake of innovations in food, land, and water systems (FLWSs) and ensure that proven solutions reach the communities that need them most.

At the heart of  AoW5 is the concept of scaling champions. According to Ngowenani Nohayi, a Senior Research Officer at IWMI, “Scaling champions are individuals or institutions who actively drive the widespread adoption of innovations, build trust, mobilize others, and bridge connections across systems.”

She emphasized that scaling champions are essential for sustaining momentum and ensuring that lessons learned extend beyond small pilot projects. In line with AoW5’s focus on monitoring, analyzing, and scaling science frontiers, the workshop underscored the importance of identifying and supporting these champions to enhance adoption of innovations and improve food systems.

One of the key lessons from the workshop was the importance of collaboration and government involvement in scaling agricultural innovations. Participants highlighted that breaking silos and working closely with local stakeholders, governments, and policymakers is crucial for successful scaling. Sustained government engagement and adequate resource mobilization are vital for long-term impact.

The workshop featured a diverse range of case studies on scaling, showcasing innovative approaches and lessons learned from various initiatives. These included Total Land Care (TLC) in Malawi, and the SAVE-WY project implemented by Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (MUAST) and Bindura University of Science Education (BUSE) in Zimbabwe, and led by IWMI.

Participants also drew lessons from IITA’s experience with scaling Aflasafe through its “From Science to Scale” initiative, RUFORUM‘s insights from the TAGDev 2.0 program, ASARECA’s work in strengthening scaling efforts, and the ERAAL project, an IITA scaling project that highlighted the importance of choosing partners wisely and aligning with government priorities.

Furthermore, FARA‘s Synergies for Accelerating the Digital Agriculture Revolution initiative and the Regional Knowledge Management and Scaling Insights based on Ukama Ustawi’s Learning Alliance scoping study provided valuable perspectives on leveraging digital technologies and knowledge management to drive scaling efforts. Collectively these case studies highlighted the importance of community engagement, tailored financial support, peer-to-peer learning, and strategic partnerships in scaling agricultural innovations.

Participants also emphasized the need for strong documentation and data to inform resource mobilization. As Dr. Tanyaradzwa Rukasha from MUAST university noted, “Documentation is key and let’s bring in the numbers.” This underscores the importance of monitoring and evaluation in scaling efforts.

By collaborating with local stakeholders, governments, and policymakers, and involving champions at all stages of technology development, we can ensure that scaling efforts are successful and sustainable. As Dr Abigael Otinga, from RUFORUM aptly noted, “We need to break the silos, collaborate and work together” This collaborative approach is crucial for driving the widespread adoption of innovations and improving food systems in Eastern and Southern Africa.

The workshop stressed that while innovation is important, scaling champions are equally essential and that collaboration, government involvement, and resource mobilization are critical components for successful scaling. Moving forward, prioritizing these elements will be key to making scaling efforts inclusive, practical, and sustainable, ultimately transforming food systems in the region.

The workshop brought together key stakeholders from the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), International Water Management Institute (IWMI), Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM), Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA), National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO), Ministry of Agriculture, Animal, Industries and Fisheries (MAAIF), Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), Total Land Care (TLC), Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (MUAST), AfricaRice, and other regional partners.