DeSIRA

DeSIRA-LIFT (Leveraging the DeSIRA Initiative for agri-food systems transformation), which ran between 2021 and 2025, was a service facility supporting the DeSIRA Initiative. It managed and delivered pre-defined services and emerging on-demand services in support of the DeSIRA research and innovation projects, African apex organisations for research on agricultural development, extension and higher education, DG INTPA, African Union Commission and stakeholders at large.

DeSIRA-LIFT has worked closely with a wide range of partners to strengthen capacities, conduct scoping studies, foster dialogue, and co-generate knowledge on how R&I projects can prove and improve their impacts. This included a wide range of publications: 

Lessons from the DeSIRA Initiative

• Lessons and Recommendations from the DeSIRA Initiative (2025)
• Synthesis Brief: Actionable learning Proving and improving R&I impacts in agrifood systems through project-based approaches (2025)
• Conference report: Boosting agrifood research and innovation cooperation for impact at scale (2025)
• Stories of Change, book 1: Activating agricultural transitions to sustainability through participatory research and co-innovation (2024)
• Stories of Change, book 2: Pathways to agrifood system transformation: From Local Innovation to Policy Change (2025)

Knowledge Briefs

• Addressing biodiversity loss and agrobiodiversity (2022)
• Biosolutions for improved farming systems (2022)
• Digitalisation for smallholder farmers (2022)
• What agroecology brings to food security and ecosystem services: a review of scientific evidence (2024)
• The potential of the off-farm production, marketing and use of organic & biofertilisers in Africa (2024)
• Farmer-managed seed systems' essential role for food security and agrobiodiversity in Africa (2025)

Policy Briefs

• Promoting the rights of farmers and their varieties under seed policies on the African continent (2022)

Learning Briefs

• Actionable learning from a review of DeSIRA projects’ contributions to policy change (2024)
• Actionable learning from a review of DeSIRA projects’ contributions to agroecology transitions (2025)
• Actionable learning from a review of Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration for Agricultural Innovation in DeSIRA (2025)

Perspective Briefs

• The future of R&I as driver of agrifood system transformation and sustainability transitions: Perspectives from Latin America and the Caribbean (2025)
• The future of R&I as driver of agrifood system transformation and sustainability transitions: Perspectives from East and Southern Africa (2025)
• The future of R&I as driver of agrifood system transformation and sustainability transitions: Perspectives from West and Central Africa and Madagascar (2025)
• The future of R&I as driver of agrifood system transformation and sustainability transitions: Perspectives from Asia-Pacific (2025)
• The future of R&I as driver of agrifood systems transformation and sustainability transitions: Perspectives from Burkina Faso (2025)

Study Reports

• Africa climate smart agriculture - implementation plan 2022-2032 (2022)
• Durban+10 synthesis report (2022)
• Current developments in seed laws harmonisation in Africa (2022)
• Exploring the off-farm production, marketing and use of organic and biofertilisers in Africa (2024)
• Regional Economic Communities in Africa and agroecology. A rapid review of policy opportunities, challenges and gaps (2025)
• E-learning platforms for agricultural innovation management and facilitation in Africa (2025)
• Co-certification mechanisms for short-term professional agricultural training programs in Africa (2025)
• Review of national science, technology, and innovation landscape for translation of university research and innovation into enterprises (2025)
• Women-led innovation, social inclusion and sustainability in Africa’s agri-food systems (2025)

Event reports

• The contribution of agroecology to climate change adaptation and mitigation (2022)
• Compatibility assessment of agroecology and CSA practices (2022)
• Gender-responsive mechanisms or incentives for locally based private-sector engagement in strengthening capacity of seed systems in Africa (2023)
• Views and experiences of regional organisations on continental agricultural & food research and innovation strategies (2023)
• Improving Climate Resilience and Sustainability of Farming and Food Systems: Exploring the Contribution of Agroecology (2023)
• Emerging opportunities with organic and bio-organic fertilizers for soil health in Africa (2024)
• The role of agroecology and regenerative agriculture in farming and food systems in Africa (2024)

Others

• Mapping of Science, Technology and Innovation actors championing agroecological practices for sub-Saharan Africa (2023)
• Mapping of Green Transition actors championing agroecological practices for sub-Saharan Africa​ (2023)