Integration of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) Clearinghouse into the CGIAR Scaling for Impact Program

The Clearinghouse

Established 6 years ago, funded by the Gates Foundation in support of the African Development Bank (AfDB)'s TAAT (Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation) flagship program, the Clearinghouse has proved a very effective scaling mechanism to drive CGIAR technology scaling across 34 African countries. Second, the Clearinghouse has demonstrated its ability to leverage AfDB's Agricultural Development Fund (ADF) grants and sovereign concessional loans to deploy high-impact innovations primarily developed by CGIAR programs. it plays a pivotal role in using the scaling readiness assessments of innovations from the CGIAR-led Commodity Compacts to facilitate their integration into IFI-financed national and regional agricultural investment programs. This role has positioned the Clearinghouse as a trusted technical partner within the investment processes of multiple IFIs, not only AfDB but also other concessional funders, including IsDB.

The Clearinghouse selects, profiles and validates the best technologies (or innovations in CGIAR parlance) and market them to government decision-makers that have received funding from AfDB and other IFIs to implement large-scale agricultural development programs. Likewise, It provides brokerage services to private sector entrepreneurs who are in a position to adopt and commercialize technologies or innovations.

After years of refining and developing its approach, the Clearinghouse has proven to be a very highly effective scaling mechanism, as recognized by its continuing support by the Gates Foundation. All this is only possible with a highly effective team, operating with focus and agility at the interface between research and adoption towards impactful scaling. The Clearinghouse team is made of a powerful mix of highly experienced staff as well as young professional who bring dynamism and adaptability

The TAAT Clearinghouse is transitioning into the CGIAR's S4I Program

Building directly on the model established by TAAT, Scaling for Impact will enhance the accessibility and scalability of CGIAR's proven suites of innovative solutions by facilitating their integration into national and regional agricultural investment projects primarily funded by IFIs (AfDB, WB, IsDB and IFAD). Transitioning TAAT into Scaling for Impact unlocks economies of scale and operational efficiencies across CGIAR. It transforms TAAT from a regional delivery mechanism into a globally connected platform backed by a common architecture and coordinated support. In doing so, CGIAR's Scaling for Impact Program will strengthen TAAT's effectiveness and sustainability, ensuring its innovations are better bundled, more precisely targeted, and fully embedded into IFI-financed large-scale agricultural development projects. This integration not only deepens TAAT's impact in Africa but positions it as a replicable scaling model for CGIAR globally.

Within the Scaling for Impact program, the TAAT Clearinghouse is being integrated into Area of Work 4 - where it can operate as a CGIAR-wide scaling support service, expanding its role beyond TAAT and enhancing systemwide delivery of innovation into IFI-funded programs across Africa, Latin America and Asia. By embedding proven innovations into national strategies and IFI-financed programs, Scaling for Impact ensures that CGIAR delivers not only excellent science but real-world impact, at scale.

The Clearinghouse's core functions

As a core CGIAR service, the Clearinghouse will receive CGIAR innovations from PRMS when they reach ready-to-scale status. The Technology Profiling team will develop those innovations profiles further, to ensure they are fully informative and impactful with decision-makers. The innovations will be validated and showcased in the powerful e-catalogs (https://e-catalogs.taat-africa.org/) and the Country Engagement team will then carefully select bundles of innovations that they will recommend to specific projects funded by various IFIs. Once integrated in these large-scale projects, CGIAR innovations will reach impact at scale that will be monitored and measured by the projects. A similar approach is used to scale through investment from the private sector. Whether it is through governments or the private sector, the Clearinghouse teams of advisors have developed an excellent working relationship with IFIs and will continue to do so. This is the key to scaling success in the Clearinghouse's model.

AFS announcement

During the recent AFS Forum in Dakar, a joint CGIAR-TAAT Clearinghouse CAADP Side Event, the Clearinghouse transition into the CGIAR S4I Program was formally announced to all stakeholders.