MLN community of practice
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1. A Community of Practice was formed to promote best practices for controlling maize lethal necrosis (MLN) in Sub-Saharan Africa. It brought together stakeholders from government, seed industry, and research to share knowledge on diagnostics, procedures, and training. 2. The CoP has held regular meetings since 2016 to discuss members' initiatives for managing MLN, provide technical training on diagnostics, and identify opportunities for collaboration. 3. Challenges remain in ensuring adequate surveillance, farmer education, and diagnostic resources, but the regional approach has helped countries work towards common goals for addressing the spread of MLN.
MLN community of practice
- 1. 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)
- 2. 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?
- 3. 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. 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
- 5. 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
- 6. 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
- 7. 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
- 8. 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
- 9. 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
- 10. 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 ?? ??
- 11. 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
- 12. 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
- 13. 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
- 14. 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
- 15. 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
- 16. 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
- 17. 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