Program Year Three, First Quarter Report: Grain Research and Innovation (GRAIN)

The program is implemented by the Global Center for Food Systems Innovation at Michigan State University, with funding from the United States Agency for International Development. The report highlights key accomplishments in the first quarter of Program Year Three. To address these issues, the program implemented several interventions, including farmer training programs, infrastructure development, and market linkage facilitation. The program also facilitated research conferences and workshops, short-term training on presenting and publishing research results, and training on translation of research into extension and outreach. Additionally, the program strengthened collaboration between MAIL research units, public extension systems, and private sector stakeholders along the wheat value chain. This was achieved through facilitation of work groups between ARIA, Extension, Universities, and Private Sector, participation in and facilitation of stakeholder conferences and workshops. Implementation of the Small Grants Research Program (SGP) for Collaborative Research was also initiated, aiming to strengthen collaboration between MAIL and University researchers to respond to priorities in the wheat sector. Furthermore, the program implemented gender mapping in the wheat value chain, assessing research for gender-responsiveness, and training on gender-responsive research design and implementation. The report also highlights project management activities, including monitoring, evaluation, and learning, learning and adaptation, communications and outreach, partner and stakeholder collaboration, security, environmental compliance, staffing, sub-awards, and formal project submissions. The program's performance indicators are tracked and reported in the Detailed Performance Indicator Table (PIT) and Performance Indicator Table Explanations. The Grain Research and Innovation program aims to improve the knowledge and skills of wheat researchers in Afghanistan, with a focus on developing conclusions from research findings and disseminating results that inform future research. The program's activities are designed to strengthen collaboration between MAIL research units, public extension systems, and private sector stakeholders along the wheat value chain, and to improve knowledge and skills of wheat researchers and extension staff to recognize gender roles in the wheat value chain and develop research priorities that are gender-responsive.