Scaling Week2026

Scaling against the odds: Responsible scaling for lasting impact in fragile settings

Josey Kamanda (IWMI), Ngowenani (Nina) Nohayi (IWMI)

WithAnna Okello (CGIAR), Sandra Ruckstuhl (IWMI), Hampus Eriksson (Worldfish), Regina Schmidt (WFP), Claire McPherson (FCDO), Dominic Ayoola (Koolbox)

What does it take to scale innovations where uncertainty is the norm? Join leading experts from CGIAR, WFP, FCDO, and the private sector as they explore responsible scaling in fragile settings, sharing practical lessons, challenging assumptions, and uncovering pathways to achieve lasting, inclusive impact.

Scaling in action: Scaling practice and lessons from the CGIAR Scaling Fund, Enabel & WFP

Esther Kihoro (ILRI)

WithMarc Schut (CGIAR), Toon Driesen (Enabel), Representatives from the WFP

Come experience scaling in action! Explore lessons from three years of the CGIAR Scaling Fund, see how our partnership with Enabel is taking Scaling Readiness beyond CGIAR, and hear about our emerging work with WFP’s 2026 SAPA cohort. Hear directly from innovation teams, donors, and scaling practitioners about what works, what remains challenging, and where we go next.

Connected hubs, collective impact; How to align regional and global scaling efforts?

Sumitra KC (IWMI), Andrea Castellanos (Alliance Bioversity-CIAT), Till Rockenbauch (ILRI), Selim Louafi (CIRAD), Sabrina Deforge (Agropolis)

WithPanelists and hub partners (SA Hub, IHH Benin, KALRO, to be confirmed)

Scaling Hubs hold real potential to close the gap between scaling science and practice — yet often remain fragmented and disconnected from delivery systems. Using the CGIAR Regional Scaling Hub Network and International Innovation Hub as examples, this session explores how to close gaps and build synergies to strengthen scaling partnerships and cross-regional learning.

From forecast to funding: Five AI tools for the decisions scaling demands

Juhi Jain (Busara), Agnes Schneidt (ILRI), Ojongetakah Enokenwa Baa (IWMI), Thai Minh (IWMI), Paula Smits (Save the Children)

Five AI-supported scaling tools, five stages of maturity, one set of questions. Climate advisories, scaling strategies, enabling-environment analysis, adaptive toolkits, and scale-strengthen-sunset assessments - each answers what it solves, who it serves, and what it leaves to you. Then sit down with the ones that matter to your work.

Masterclass on scaling science: Building a Global South curriculum

Nicoletta Buono (ILRI), Marc Schut (CGIAR), Esther Kihoro (ILRI), Cees Leeuwis (Wageningen University)

Join an intensive masterclass with leading scaling scientists and university peers from Africa and Asia to sharpen your understanding of scaling, innovation systems and responsible scaling. Then help shape the first Global South scaling curriculum, and take these ideas back to your students and institution.

Expand, embed, inspire: Epistemic justice and agency in responsible, inclusive scaling

Katharina Schiller (CIMMYT), Birgit Habermann (ILRI)

This session uses Liberating Structures methodology to facilitate joint reflection by the participants on questions of justice, responsibility, and inclusion in scaling processes: how to integrate and leverage these in order to achieve greatest possible impact.

Public-private partnerships that turn research into markets!

Joshua Okonya (ASARECA) with the World Bank Group

WithNigusse Dechassa (EIAR, Ethiopia), Thomas Bwana (TARI, Tanzania), Seei (BSI, New Zealand), Joshua Okonya (ASARECA)

What does it take for a NARS to transition from a grant-dependent institution to one that generates sustainable commercial returns from its innovations? This session brings together NARS leaders and development partners for a conversation on the realities of research commercialisation, drawing on WBG’s Innovation Impact @ Scale diagnostics.

From principle to practice: Equity, legitimacy and power in scaling

Esther Kihoro (ILRI), Ojongetakah Enokenwa Baa (IWMI), Hanna Ewell (Alliance Bioversity-CIAT)

This interactive session introduces responsible scaling through key dimensions, including equity, legitimacy and power, as well as existing tools to support its implementation in practice. Participants identify personally relevant principles, put on their creative hats by drawing what sticks with them most, and apply principles to scaling scenarios through facilitated groupwork.

Connected intelligence for scale: Exploring FAO Agrifood Systems Technologies and Innovations Outlook (ATIO) and CGIAR’s Demand Intelligence journey from signals to scaling decisions

Martina Miracapillo (FAO), Gerald Atampugre (IWMI), Andrea Castellanos (Alliance Bioversity-CIAT)

WithMichael Dürr (GIZ), Fabiana Anabel Woywod (GIZ), Delgermaa Chuluunbaatar (FAO), Fabrizio Bresciani (FAO), Deissy Martínez Barón (Alliance Bioversity-CIAT), Taisa Brosler (IWMI)

The first half showcases FAO's ATIO Knowledge Base as a platform connecting agrifood innovation ecosystems — interoperability, quality assurance, coordinated knowledge sharing — and makes the case for partnering with ATIO. The second half introduces CGIAR's emerging approach to demand-driven research and scaling, with the Demand Intelligence Platform and a hands-on card-sorting exercise that brings the demand discovery journey to life.

Scaling for Impact in fragile and conflict-affected states

Marcel Gatto (CIP), Gerrit-Jan van Uffelen (Wageningen University)

WithAtillio Augustino (Ministry of Agriculture, Sudan), Tony Ngalamu (University of Juba), Amey Bansod (International Rescue Committee)

Drawing on experiences from South Sudan, this session explores how locally led pathways, resilient seed systems, strategic partnerships, and adaptive learning enable scaling in fragile and conflict-affected settings. Featuring perspectives from the Government of South Sudan, the University of Juba, and IRC, participants will discover pathways to lasting impact.

Investable, not invisible: The right partner, the right capital, the right stage

Mahlatse Nkosi (IWMI), Vandana Thottoli (DFCD), Ignacio Blanko (IAP), Carlos Urmeneta (SNV, TBC)

WithAlinafe Kaliwo (Mechro Malawi), George Maina (Shamba Records, TBC), Josephine (SIDA, TBC)

Promising innovations rarely fail because the technology does not work; they stall when the right partner, capital and visibility do not meet at the right stage.

Scaling takes a coalition. But what makes a coalition work and for whom?

Mariëlle Karssenberg (Netherlands Food Partnership), Marjan Riepma (Netherlands Food Partnership), Nicoletta Buono (ILRI), Till Rockenbauch (ILRI)

WithScaling Coalition Representative (TBD)

What does it take to build co-ownership in scaling partnerships from a multi-stakeholder and Global South perspective? Drawing on 18 months of the Scaling Coalition and Netherlands Food Partnership experience, we put current models and assumptions to the test: What's in it for you, what gets in the way, and how do we move to collective action?

Beyond the push: Designing demand-driven pathways to scale

Toon Driesen (Enabel)

WithMaureen Leyen (Enabel)

Too often, scaling efforts follow a push logic while systems are not ready to absorb innovations. Drawing on Enabel's support to nearly 50 social innovators, participants will challenge prevailing assumptions, identify adoption bottlenecks, then explore demand-driven approaches - incentives, financing, partnerships - that pull innovations into systems rather than pushing them.

EU Global Gateway - following €300 billion of investment: Mapping agricultural innovation onto strategic corridors

Nicolaas van der Wilk (CGIAR SO), Inga Jacobs-Mata (IWMI, TBD)

WithRepresentative from the EU Delegation to Kenya (TBD)

How can proven agricultural innovations become investable within the EU Global Gateway? Using solar irrigation in an East African strategic corridor, participants will step into the roles of European and local businesses, financiers and public actors to build an investment proposition and identify what Global Gateway needs to finance, convene or de-risk.

How do you know if scaling worked? Evaluating scaling efforts in research for development

Ibtissem Jouini (CGIAR - IAES)

WithFAO Investment Centre (TBC)

How do you evaluate whether the scaling effort was worth it? This session presents a new framework for evaluating scaling efforts, developed by CGIAR for its 2027 midline portfolio evaluations. Drawing on a recent Kenya country evaluation, we'll explore how this framework works in practice and invite participants to shape priority questions and tackle methodological challenges, whatever their organisation.

Scaling for Impact solution tracks: Wins, fails and field truths

Tim Krupnik (CGIAR), Rica Joy Flor (IRRI)

Practitioners from Scaling for Impact solution tracks across Africa — climate services, forage systems, school feeding, mechanisation and digital advisories — unpack what makes large-scale scaling campaigns work, and what does not. Expect the unfiltered version, interrogated live by other scaling experts. Full details to follow from the hosts.

Who will scale tomorrow? Preparing the next generation of scaling champions

Million Getnet Gebreyes (ILRI), Ngowenani (Nina) Nohayi (IWMI)

WithDaniel Nigussie (University of Gondar), Kenu Emiyamre Daytie (University of Gondar), Noel Mulinganya (IITA), Dina Najjar (ICARDA)

Young people are not only future beneficiaries of innovation but potential scaling champions. This session explores what is different about scaling with and through youth, asking who gets recognised, who is prepared to scale, and who gets the opportunity to lead. It examines the capabilities, support and access needed to build a more diverse generation of responsible and inclusive scaling leaders.

Beyond what works: A practical framework for taking evidence-based interventions to scale

Karla Petersen (Innovations for Poverty Action)

Scaling evidence-based interventions in food, land, and water systems requires more than strong evaluation results. IPA's scaling ingredients framework and scalability assessment give researchers and practitioners a shared structure for diagnosing what must be in place before scale-up begins. This session presents both tools and equips participants to apply them.

Scaling finance for climate and nature: What stands in the way? What makes it possible?

Alex Lotsch (World Bank Group), Matías Piaggio (World Bank Group)

WithFaith Kimaiyo (IFPRI), Anton Eitzinger (Alliance Bioversity-CIAT), Dawit Mulatu (World Bank Group), Asuka Okumura (World Bank Group, TBC), Wilikister Wayeeko (myFarmTree, Siaya farming community), Government of Bangladesh (TBC), Mary Maingi (Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, TBC)

Current finance falls short of addressing global climate and nature challenges. Carbon markets and payments for ecosystem services can benefit farmers and rural communities while improving climate outcomes. Yet they remain underutilised. This session explores tools to prioritise climate action in agrifood systems, mobilise finance, and overcome barriers to scaling.

Climbing the ladders, dodging the snakes: A game-based look at scaling in practice

Hanna Ewell (Alliance Bioversity-CIAT), Evan Girvetz (Alliance Bioversity-CIAT), Takemore Chagomoka (ICIPE)

WithRobert Zougmore (Alliance Bioversity-CIAT), Loraine Ronchi (World Bank Group)

This interactive session draws on five years of evidence from AICCRA (Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa) to explore what it really takes to scale climate solutions across diverse African contexts through a live game of snakes & ladders, reimagined around real scaling dynamics: ladders represent proven enablers while snakes represent recurring barriers.

Making scaling impact practical and fun! Insights from the field

Dena Lomofsky (CultiAF+ - IDRC / Southern Hemisphere)

WithJulliet Ogubi (NutriFish+, Makerere University), Michael Ugen (Beanovate, NARO), Hanna Ewell (Alliance Bioversity-CIAT)

Scaling impact is a strategic balancing act, which requires dynamic evaluation to achieve optimal and responsible scale. A World Café format invites participants to learn with us and explore these concepts through two CultiAF+ cases and discuss indicators and approaches for assessing scaling performance more holistically.

What travels: Scaling rice innovations across Asia and Africa

Rica Joy Flor (IRRI), Trang Vu (IRRI), Barbra Muzata (IITA)

Scaling journeys in rice-based systems from Asia and Africa, told honestly — followed by a joint look at what travels between contexts and what doesn't. Further session details are still coming in from the host.

Feet on the ground: Driving last-mile delivery through local champions

Amos Ngwira (AGRA), Qureish Noordin (AGRA) and colleagues

WithEng Kova (County Government Representative), George Mabuka (CGA), Village-based Advisors

Bridging agricultural innovation and smallholder adoption, AGRA and partners including CGA, NPCK, Farm Africa, county governments, and Village-Based Advisors showcase proven last-mile scaling pathways. This panel highlights how grassroots extension, inclusive market systems, and multi-stakeholder partnerships accelerate technology delivery to transform African food systems at scale.

Bringing scaling support where ecosystems need it

Marie-Christine Lemire (GIZ)

Capacity sharing on scaling is fragmented — let's change that together. In this interactive session you'll test a prototype repository chatbot from the Scaling Coalition, exchange insights with peers, and co-shape its next version. A small act of building something that can serve ecosystems far beyond this room.

From innovation to scale: Connecting CGIAR innovations to IFI investment pathways

Masud Rana (CGIAR), Maha Al-Zu'bi (IWMI)

WithTimothy Krupnik (CGIAR), Solomon Assefa Gizaw, World Bank Group, African Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank (remotely TBC)

This session will explore how CGIAR and international financial institutions (IFIs) can bridge the gap between innovation and investment, connecting proven solutions with country priorities and development-finance pipelines. It will test the proposed Innovation Clearinghouse as a demand-driven mechanism to move innovations from evidence and scaling readiness toward investment, implementation and impact at scale.

Strategic communications for scaling: Moving beyond awareness to adoption

Rhys Bucknall-Williams (Alliance Bioversity-CIAT), Sarah Cardey (University of Reading)

We treat communications as the last step — awareness, reporting, results. But communication shapes adoption, trust, partnerships and investment decisions, which makes it a scaling pathway, not a wrap-up. Drawing on AICCRA's communications strategy and examples across CGIAR, a short provocation opens a discussion on embedding it from the outset.