Curtain falls on Bio-Innovate phase I

On 1st February 2010 ILRI signed a contract with the Swedish International Development and Cooperation Agencies (Sida) to execute and manage the Bio-Innovate (Bio-resources Innovations Network for Eastern Africa Development) Program. Fast forward 30 September 2015, and the curtains have now fallen on phase I. I am happy to inform you that Bio-Innovate was positively evaluated by independent reviewers in 2015 and Sida has committed to fund Phase II. The achievement we have recorded over the past five years would not have been possible without the exemplary hosting and administrative support that ILRI provided.

On behalf of the Technical Advisory Committee, the Program management office and Bio-Innovate partners, I take this opportunity to thank ILRI management as well as BecA management and other departments at ILRI that made it possible for the Program to be able to deliver on its mandate in the eastern Africa region of supporting bioscience research and innovation activities. It has been a pleasure working with ILRI and we have enjoyed our stay here.

Phase II of the program is under consideration and is projected to commence early 2016. The program has learned a lot during this period and the lessons learned will be useful for the next phase and also other entities operating in the bioscience space. Attached is useful information on the program achievement and lessons learned. Please visit our website (www.bioinnovate-africa.org) for more information and updates.

For any official business related to Bio-Innovate during this transition period, you may contact BecA director Dr Djikeng. My official email address will still be active during this period if you would like to reach me.