Innovating in a dynamic technical context - Water Scarcity, Livelihoods and Food Security - page 100

Box 5.1 Breakdown of the CPWF projects by Phase
Phase 1 (2004-2008):
Research projects—first call for proposals for competitive grants—31
Research projects—second call for proposals for competitive grants—11
Basin Focal Projects—10
Small Grant Projects—14
Commissioned projects—2
Phase 2 (2009-2013):
Basin Development Challenges projects for Andes, Ganges, Limpopo,
Mekong, Nile and Volta basins—43
Research Into Use projects—4
Innovation fund small grants—8
in Phase 2 (2009-2013) did use R4D and we use it to describe translating
research outputs into outcomes. But at the time of writing in late 2013, Phase
2 projects were still incomplete. There were fewer refereed papers, so reference
to Phase 2 projects comes partly from unpublished sources. We discuss research
on technologies from both Phase 1 and Phase 2 using an R4D framework.
Technologies for outcomes
CPWF has addressed issues of water, food and livelihoods in basins by using
outputs from research to engage with policymakers. CPWF started by focusing
on problems of water scarcity, water governance and water productivity, but
later focused on water-related Basin Development Challenges (BDCs). CPWF
research on technologies in Phase 2 was in the context of the principles of
R4D discussed in Chapter 3 (Box 5.2).
CPWF's research on R4D technologies was oriented towards outcomes. It
generated outputs that would be useful in engagement and dialogue with
decision-makers; enhance partner and stakeholder knowledge, attitudes and
skills; and foster stakeholder decisions to change practice.
Figure 5.1 is a conceptual framework that shows where technical research fits
in the larger innovation process. Outputs consist of knowledge that contributes
to better understanding a development challenge, and informs designing
strategies to address that challenge. Both understanding and strategies aim to
support decision-making and negotiation. Outcomes are when people decide
to modify what they do or how they do it.
“Define the problem” refers to breaking down the basin development
challenge into problems that research can solve. “Learning selection” (discussed