preinception_day2


 * Minutes of MilkIT Pre-inception meeting **

Day Two: Wednesday 25th January 2012 Room 720, ILRI Campus, Nairobi 8.30am – 1.00pm


 * 12. Internal communication strategy for MilkIT – Alan / Kara **


 * Yammer / Blog / Wikispaces


 * 13. Site selection – experiences from EADD – Isabelle **


 * Various criteria for site selection [See presentation]


 * 14. Site selection – MilkIT – brainstorming led by Ben **


 * // Systems //
 * // Production potential and what is already there (yield gap) //
 * Follow structured process – doesn’t have to be the same everywhere
 * Need evidence to back up site selection
 * ** In the context of 3.7 ** – does it really address our needs in terms of our long term research aims?
 * Criteria for site selection:
 * Population density
 * Poverty
 * Market access - as defined by population
 * Supply & demand
 * Feasibility
 * Potential supply
 * ======Strong negotiation later with partners======
 * ====== MilkIT is piloting a project that will be scaling out ======
 * ====== M&E framework for exactly how you measure impact (Concern - at what stage will M&E framework be rolled out?) ======
 * ====== Need to capture benefits of innovation platform ======
 * ====== No need for complicated baseline study if there is not enough funding - ask Qs, spark discussion ======
 * ====== Mobilising the communities – Irish Aid doing this, and MilkIT could too ======
 * ===** ACTION PLAN: **===
 * 1) Nils, Brigitte, Isabelle & An need to agree upon criteria [email or skype]
 * 2) Produce maps
 * 3) Do quickly what is possible (e.g. identify 10 blocks), then narrow it down

// Discussion //
 * To what extent can we have congruence in the sites? **
 * There is a tension between donor priorities
 * Necessary to work in at least one area IFAD are working in
 * Will IFAD continue to fund the work otherwise?
 * Ideally, both sites will be IFAD sites (IFAD region as a criteria?)

** Past experience **
 * Goblet (GIS software) – participatory tool


 * ==== **SITE SELECTION CRITERIA** (group discussion) ====
 * GIS

- Production system (mixed, pastoral, etc.) - Cattle population +% improved dairy - Poverty / food security - Market access / population density (distance to markets) - Production potential of feeds (LGP) - Milk deficit areas vs. surplus areas || Other

- Link between feed improvement and milk market - Stakeholders (R&D partners) - IFAD priorities - Complimentary to other projects (create synergies) - Prices - Proportion of improved cattle/buffaloes - Etc. ||


 * 15. Getting down to brass tacks: developing strategy and timelines for recruitment, partner selection, site selection – discussion led by Alan **

- An, Nils, Brigitte, Isabelle and Alan to finalize criteria imminently - An/Jeanette to give details of layers she plans to use for each criterion by mid-Feb - Maps produced by end of Feb (Potential for Pamela to help) to produce long list of sites - Maps presented at higher level Stakeholder meeting in mid-March to gather feedback (in Tz might be combined with larger stakeholder meeting, in Uttarakhand could be initial Steering Group meeting) by middle of March. - Detailed checklist data collection in long list of sites by end of March - Final selection of sites based on local stakeholder feedback and additional criteria in time for inception meeting in mid-April - Isabelle leads documentation of the process
 * Site selection for Irish Aid and MilkIT**

- In India, INHERE (good local NGO, implementation partner), IFAD NGO’s or SHG Federations, VPKAS (as knowledge partner), Pantnagar (as knowledge partner) - In Tz, SUA, TDB, MVIWATA. In Tz we invite a short list of potential implementation partners to inception meeting. Site selection process determines final choice of partners and they are invited to spend longer for detailed planning.
 * Partner selection**

- In India, Thanammal is ready to go - In Tz, Irish Aid project has 2 people on the ground: project co-ordinator; post doc has been advertised (from SUA) and additional funds to engage SUA consultants. Could think of joint Irish Aid/MilkIT person. Amos may travel next week – Brigitte may join.
 * Recruitment**

Tz: Joint Irish Aid, MilkIT meeting on March 9 in Dar. - Finalize list of invitees (target 40) by Feb 9 – Amos - Develop draft agenda and circulate by Feb 9. - Funding from IA India: Steering group meeting in early March (Dehradun). 2nd local stakeholder meeting for site selection end of March (Almora?).
 * Stakeholder Workshops**

- In Tz 24-25 April in one of the Tz sites. Extended for Tz local partners to 26, 27
 * Inception meeting**

// Discussion //
 * Irish Aid want to focus on poor - will this work?
 * Need to inform IFAD about links with the Irish Aid project
 * MilkIT need to work out which activities fit into which bit of CPR 3.7 (e.g. innovation or feeds) and develop concrete deliverables
 * MilkIT need to get down to working at specific sites with partners very soon
 * Look at SLP fodder market study (for Tanzania)