MLN Community of Practice: Progress so far

S. Mugo, S. Kibet, F. Mwatuni, B. Wawa, and BM Prasanna

Presentation at the USAID-funded MLN Diagnostics and Management Project -

Annual Review and Planning Meeting (Nov 18-19, 2016)

A Community of Practice (CoP) is: “A group of

people who share a concern or a passion for

something they do and learn how to do it better as

they interact regularly.” (Etienne Wenger)

The purpose of this MLN Phytosanitary CoP is to

create and ensure a structure that allows the

stakeholders to promote the best practices in

controlling the spread and impact of MLN in SSA,

and to build common capability in MLN-related

phytosanitary procedures and practices across the

organisations.

Why have a MLN Phytosanitary CoP?

1. To identify, gather, and seek agreement on the

phytosanitary community requirements, especially for

effective control of MLN in SSA.

2. To provide a forum/platform for the cooperation of activities

where the MLN Phytosanitary CoP adds value to the

existing initiatives.

3. To share learning across borders on key aspects, such as

standardized MLN diagnostics procedure(s), providing

training on MLN diagnostics, expediting adoption of

appropriate phytosanitary and diagnostic procedures,

identifying/validating and deploying novel and low-cost

MLN diagnostic protocols, etc.

MLN Phytosanitary CoP: Objectives

4. To identify linkages and opportunities for collaborative

strategic and technical projects related to MLN

phytosanitation and diagnostics in SSA.

5. To report on progress and provide updates of the projects

and programmes that have phytosanitary and diagnostics

components related to MLN.

6. To review maize seed certification and import/export

procedures in relation to MLN, and formulate appropriate

SOPs.

MLN Phytosanitary CoP: Objectives

1

3 2

4

5

6 7

8

Key

1. Ethiopia

2. Uganda

3. Kenya

4. Rwanda

5. Tanzania

6. Malawi

7. Zambia

8. Zimbabwe

MLN endemic countries

Non - MLN endemic countries

Membership of the MLN Phyto CoP

Membership of the MLN Phyto CoP

6

No Category Institution

represented

Designation

1 Phytosanitary

and seed

quality experts

Ministry of Agriculture Oic of phytosanitary unit.

NPPO Head of NPPO

Seed Quality Agency Head of the Seed Quality

Assurance

2 Seed industry Regional umbrella

body

MD, AFSTA

National umbrella body Seed Trade Association

Major seed company MD or Phytosanitary Officer

3 Subject matter

specialists

Expert on CoP Manager / member of a successful

agricultural CoP

Expert on MLN

diagnostics

public/private expert on MLN

diagnostics

4 CIMMYT Management CIMMYT-GMP Director; CRR, MLN

Project Manager

Pathology / Seed

Health Unit

MLN Pathologist / Head, Seed

Heath Unit

5 USAID (Donor) As observers USAID responsible for MLN Project

6 Regional

bodies

EAC / COMESA Relevant staff

Executives of the MLN Phyto CoP

7

Office Source Mode of selection Duration

Chair To be selected by the

CoP from among the

members outside

CIMMYT and USAID

Election (MD

KEPHIS as first

chair) – Mr Simeon

Kibet, GM KEPHIS

Annual

rotation

Co-Chair To be selected by the

CoP from among the

members outside

CIMMYT and USAID

Election (First Co-

chair to be elected)

- Dr. Weldehawariat

Asefa, DG, Animal &

Plant Health & quality

Annual

rotation

Secretary CIMMYT’s MLN

Project Manager

N/A Permanent

Members Original list N/A Permanent

Meetings of the MLN Phyto CoP

1. First face-to-face inception meeting

2. Second face-to-face meeting coinciding with the

Project Annual Meeting

3. Quarterly one hour meeting – Virtual meeting

8

Structure of the MLN Phyto CoP

Five main section agenda:

● Introduction of the members (5 min)

● Roundtable on ongoing initiatives against MLN in

each country / institution (5 min per member)

● Focus Presentation on a specific topic of interest -

from a CoP member or external person – planned

by the chair (20 min).

● Open Discussion on important topics - open but

moderated (20 min).

● Future Agenda and Next Meeting Timeframe (10

min).

9

Meetings of the MLN Phyto CoP in 2016

10

Meeting Date Type Mem

bers

Main activity / decisions

First 29th Feb

2016

Face-to-

face

26 Shared vision; successful CoP;

Designed structured meetings;

developed country situation

analysis; selected leadership.

Second 3rd May

2016

Telephone 10 Country reports; institutional

report; Project update.

Third 4th Aug

2016

Telephone 23 Country reports; institutional

report; Project update;

Presentation on appropriate MLN

viruses diagnostics for

surveillance and seed certification.

Fourth 19th Oct

2016

Face-to-

face

?? ??

formed and members interest has been maintained

developed a situation analysis for the five East

African MLN endemic countries

meetings have provided for a to communicate info

on advances in MLN research

members shared the various initiatives in their

countries / institutions

Brought the key industry national and regional players in

a joint effort for management of MLN disease

Achievements of MLN Phytosanitary CoP

members received technical information (trained?)

on options for diagnostics for surveillance and seed

testing.

Increased national strategy approaches in

combating spread of MLN.

Increase of involvement of multidisciplinary

stakeholders along the value chain

Training and awareness about field diagnosis and

control has helped to limit the disease spread

Achievements of MLN Phytosanitary CoP

1. To identify, gather, and seek agreement on the

phytosanitary community requirements, especially for

effective control of MLN in SSA.

2. To provide a forum/platform for the cooperation of

activities where the MLN Phytosanitary CoP adds value

to the existing initiatives.

3. To share learning across borders on key aspects, such as

standardized MLN diagnostics procedure(s), providing

training on MLN diagnostics, expediting adoption of

appropriate phytosanitary and diagnostic procedures,

identifying / validating and deploying novel and low-cost

MLN diagnostic protocols, etc.

MLN Phytosanitary CoP: Objectives

4. To identify linkages and opportunities for collaborative

strategic and technical projects related to MLN

phytosanitation and diagnostics in SSA.

5. To report on progress and provide updates of the

projects and programmes that have phytosanitary and

diagnostics components related to MLN.

6. To review maize seed certification and import/export

procedures in relation to MLN, and formulate appropriate

SOPs.

MLN Phytosanitary CoP: Objectives

Mode for Virtual meetings:

● Webex / Skype / dial-in telephone limited by access to

internet services

● Telephone connectivity

● Telephone / skype / webex / dial-in / teleconferencing

services

● Shortage of time (1 hr for country reports, MLN project

update & technical brief)

Minimal debate outside the bi-monthly call

Low participation social media forum discussion

Inadequate resources for 1) effective and routine

surveillance and monitoring, 2) sensitizing farmers in proper

management of the MLN, training seed company

technicians and contract farmers (seed out-growers) on

sampling and testing for MLN.

Challenges

Regional approach ensured that countries strived to

achieve set goals

There is need to inform and interest high level agricultural

administrators in the MLN project countries

MLN phytosanitary CoP has been received as an

important aspect of combating MLN

MLN phytosanitary CoP has potential to be used for other

R4D projects

Lessons

Are the four meeting in a year adequate?

2016 = 2 face-to face and 2 virtual

2017 onward = 1 face to face and 3 virtual

Are we ready to include members from non

MLN-endemic countries?

Can CoP members adopt clear NPPO practices

for seed testing for MLND and threshold levels

for contaminated seed?

How can CoP help in ensuring affordable

diagnostic and testing kits.

Issues for discussion

Thank you

for your

interest!