Best Practices & Innovations Initiative

With millions affected by the food, fuel and financial crises, and development programs feeling the constraints of a scarce resource environment, identifying and learning from “what works” has never been more crucial. To that end, in September 2009 InterAction launched its Best Practices & Innovations (BPI) Initiative with support from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The purpose of the initiative is to promote information sharing on effective program approaches, and to improve practice standards by boosting the efficiency and impacts of field programs. InterAction’s ultimate goal in highlighting these successful and promising interventions is to improve the lives of the millions of people suffering from poverty and hunger. While the first phases of this initiative are focused on agriculture and rural livelihoods, our intention is to expand it to other key sectors.

To learn more, see the initiative overview.

Round 2

InterAction and IFAD launched the second round of Best Practices & Innovations (BPI) Initiative on July 15, 2010. Organizations are invited to submit information on interventions that have succeeded in im­proving food security, reducing poverty, increasing resilience and/or improving productivity. Interventions in a wide number of program areas are eligible, from climate change adaptation to pest and disease management, to value chain development. All submitted interventions will be featured on InterAction’s online map of NGO food security and agriculture projects. Those receiving “best practice” and “promising innova­tion” designations will also be featured in InterAction’s monthly publication, Monday Developments. In addition, best practice and promising innovation programs will be presented at a technical approaches workshop in late 2010. The deadline for submissions is September 15, 2010.

To apply, download:

• Call for Submissions/How to Apply (Round 2)
• Submission Form (Round 2)

Round 1

In May 2010, InterAction completed the first agriculture and rural livelihoods round of the BPI Initiative. Below are the six round one award winners, chosen by an eight-person Selection Committee of experts in agricultural development.

For more information on the Best Practices & Innovations Initiative, download the resources above or contact Brian Greenberg, Director of Sustainable Development, or Danielle Heiberg, Program Associate.