This programme focuses on the functioning linkages among research, extension, education and communication in the promotion of agricultural production; policy and legal measures for harnessing agricultural biotechnology for food security; assessing the science content of agricultural policies and development strategies; and improving the state of knowledge on land degradation, land resources tenure and use, agricultural water use and associated best practices.
A recent highlight of this Programme was the introduction of a new project on ‘Advancing climate compatible development for food security through implementation of the National Climate Change Strategies’. This project builds on the past vast knowledge generated from both the Agriculture and Food Security and the Energy and Water Security programmes at ACTS. The Centre has also conducted research survey in collaboration with Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines (GALVmed) on the role and impacts of media advocacy in policy change in the livestock sector in Kenya.

Current projects under this programme include;

1. Advancing climate compatible development for food security through implementation of the National climate change strategies

The Centre is participating as a consortium member including three organizations in Germany (Germanwatch and Perspectives), BCAS from Bangladesh and Fundacion Vida (FV) from Honduras in a CDKN-DfiD funded theme of ‘Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Compatible Development’ that will run for 2 years beginning August 2011.
The project intends to build on the vast knowledge that has over time been generated from ACTS research work and specifically from Energy and Water Security programme and Agriculture and Food security programme. The goal of the project is to assist policymakers in developing countries to optimally harness climate change finance for food-security related elements in national climate change strategies. It thereby addresses key concerns, namely the vulnerability of agriculture as key sector relevant for food security as well as emissions from agricultural activities. The research aims to provide policymakers, in particular in the three case study countries Bangladesh, Honduras and Kenya, with tools to act as a national climate strategy “gatekeepers” in order to integrate climate funding streams for the agriculture sector in a way that mitigation and adaptation benefits of a given funding volume are maximized without jeopardizing food security. ACTS is leading the Kenyan project components.

2. The role and impacts of media advocacy on policy change in the livestock sector in Kenya

ACTS was commissioned by Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines (GALVmed) to conduct an evaluation of the “Kenyan Dream Initiative” campaign, an initiative that was carried out by GALVmed in partnership with a Nairobi based creative communications company : “Well Told Story” (WTS). The objective of the campaign was to get Kenyan policy makers to recognize the importance of livestock as an engine for growth and a potential pathway out of poverty and enhanced food security. ACTS carried out the study to evaluate the impacts of mass media as an advocacy tool in Kenya amongst policy makers in the sector. The study explored the perceptions of policy makers on the importance of livestock to the economy before and after the campaign. The study also explored the gaps and opportunities within the livestock sector for capacity building and collaboration in policy implementation. This research builds onto earlier work conducted by the Centre in collaboration with IGAD-Livestock Policy Initiative (LPI) on ‘Enhancing policy-relevant capacities for livestock sector development in the IGAD region. This study contributed to increasing awareness on the potential of media advocacy as a tool that can be adopted by research organizations to influence policy processes and change especially in the agriculture sector. In addition, it contributed to the strategic goal 1.3 on the ACTS Strategic Plan 2009-2013: “Developing policies that improve agriculture production and food security in rural areas”.

3. Gender and Agricultural Innovations

This was an activity under the DFID-funded Research Into Use programme. The research behind this activity endeavored to bring together two major streams of debate and policy analysis, gender issues and innovation in agriculture which could make a major contribution to equitable development. The purpose of this research was to reflect on the opportunities that a systems understanding of innovation provides for addressing gender issues and to provide some insight for policy and practice. The output was a call for two major shifts in practice and analysis: (1) A shift from gender analysis to gender learning and (2) A shift from women’s empowerment to empowering innovation system capacity. This is document in a discussion paper.

4. Disability and Urban Agriculture

This is a research project being conducted in collaboration with Leonard Cheshire Disability and Inclusive Development Centre,  Research into Use and  Real Impact .
This research project is exploring the nature of agriculture as a component of livelihoods for disabled people in  Kiandutu slum area in Thika, Kenya. It will also consider the constraints and barriers they face in this field, such as access to inputs for farming and gardening, agricultural extension services, and markets to sell produce.
The action-based second component of the research evaluates the issues faced by people with disabilities who grow home nutrition gardens. The project first assesses what needs to be adapted for the gardens to be successful as well as how to reach disabled people more effectively. Subsequently it will consider the impact of this programme (such as increased food availability, nutrition and income). It will also evaluate the effect of existing home nutrition gardens on disabled people’s nutritional status and the availability of food in their households.
For research dissemination and outreach, the project will use innovative media platform to reach out to  key stakeholders including the youth through the use of Shujaaz magazine – a popular  comic magazine and winner of the 2012 International Digital Emmy® Award.
This project started in January 2012 and runs until  December 2012.

Some past projects in this programme

• International Assessment of agricultural Science and Technology for development
• Environmental Change and maize Innovation Pathways in Kenya