LEI is the leading organisation in the Netherlands for business economics and socio-economics in agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, forestry and rural areas. It employs an unique combination of joint learning and applied research in rural development and NRM and is actively involved in research and technical assistance projects in countries in transition and developing countries in the fields of policy analysis, agricultural and trade policies analyses, sector and market analyses, value chain development, livelihoods and poverty analysis, monitoring and impact assessments. LEI has specific experience in assessing the pro-poor aspects of horticulture in low-income countries and coordinates public-private partnership programmes on horticulture in East Africa (Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia). Relevant ongoing and past EU projects include: LEINUTS (1997–2001), NUTSAL (1998–2003), INMASP (2002–05), VINVAL (2002–05) and SAFRUIT (2006–09).

TAD  focuses on science and technology studies in research for development. It pays special attention to methodological approaches in interdisciplinary work. Knowledge, technology and societal change have always been central to TAD’s work, and its staff has broad expertise in relation to innovation systems. TAD is a key partner in the Convergence of Sciences (CoS) programme. It coordinates the Rockefeller Foundation supported PhD programme on Participatory Approaches in Technology Development and their Upscaling (PAU) and participates in various INREF-WUR research programmes. TAD has an extensive network of research partners and PhD students in Africa, including Kenya and South Africa.

Main tasks in JOLISAA

WUR–LEI is the leader of WP1, while providing support mostly WP2 and WP5.

Key staff involved

Jolanda van den Berg (development administration, LEI)  has wide experience in participatory and action-oriented research on improved agricultural systems in Southeast Asia and West and Central Africa in the fields of NRM and community development since 1993. She is an experienced coordinator of multi-disciplinary research teams in international projects such as the VINVAL project (Burkina Faso and Ghana), the Air Hitam Laut River Basin and the Central Kalimantan Peat Land projects (Indonesia) and the SAFRUIT project (Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger).

Dr Conny Almekinders (plant scientist and sociologist, TAD) has a wide range of experience related to participatory approaches in seed production and plant breeding and the conservation of agro-biodiversity. She focuses on interdisciplinary and design-oriented research. Since 2001, she coordinates the PhD programme supported by the Rockefeller Foundation on Participatory Approaches in Technology Development and their Upscaling (PAU).

Dr Todd Crane (anthropologist, TAD) has conducted research in Mali to explore farmers’ and pastoralists’ adaptations to environmental change, focusing on connections between subsistence practices, ethnic identity and land politics. He was a post-doctoral fellow with the University of Georgia Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, where he researched the potentials and constraints around farmers’ application of seasonal climate forecasts as risk-management tools. He participates in the CoS programme as co-researcher and supervisor of PhD students in West Africa.

Bette Harms  is a research assistant in LEI. (to be completed)