Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
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The difficulty we face in moving forward with implementing innovation networks
and platforms more broadly is the lack of sufficient numbers of trained “innovation
network facilitators and brokers” (Kibwika et al. 2009; World Bank 2012; Moore et
al. 2014). An innovation broker can be an individual or an organization with a neutral
role in the platform that invokes actors around a problem and facilitates collaboration
throughout the innovation process (Nederlof et al. 2011). Klerkx and Gildemacher
(2012) identify three main functions of innovation brokers: analyzing the context and
articulating demand, bringing together stakeholders into networks, and facilitating
interaction for innovation. In contrast to traditional extension agents, their job is not
to deliver knowledge, but to catalyze the development of knowledge.
However, this role is challenged by formal education and training that reinforces
unilinear approaches (Davis et al. 2008). Even when an innovation broker is suf-
ficiently adept at facilitation, there are also difficulties in acquiring and maintaining
funding for these champions whose success rests in the invisibility of their con-
tributions (Klerkx et al. 2009). Another obstacle involves maintaining neutrality,
especially when brokers have overlapping functions. Klerkx and Gildemacher out-
line investments to overcome these challenges in the 2012 World Bank investment
sourcebook on agricultural innovation systems. They assert that a combination of
formal training and practical experience is needed to develop the skills necessary
for facilitating the innovation process: leadership, multistakeholder facilitation,
trust building, and communication. Furthermore, they argue that the value of inno-
vation brokers must also be recognized by national governments and the donor
com mu n it y.
REFERENCES
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