Working Paper #2011-022
Beyond knowledge brokerage: An exploratory study of innovation intermediaries in an evolving smallholder agricultural system in Kenya
The recognition that innovation occurs in networks of heterogeneous
actors and requires broad systemic support beyond knowledge brokering
has resulted in a changing landscape of the intermediary domain in an
increasingly market-driven agricultural sector in developing countries.
This paper presents findings of an explorative case study that looked at
22 organisations identified as fulfilling an intermediary role in the
Kenyan agricultural sector. The results show that these organisations
fulfill functions that are not limited to distribution of knowledge and
putting it into use. The functions also include fostering integration
and interaction among the diverse actors engaged in innovation networks
and working on technological, organisational and institutional
innovation. Further, the study identified various organisational
arrangements of innovation intermediaries with some organisations
fulfilling a specialised innovation brokering role, even as other
intermediaries take on brokering as a side activity, while still
substantively contributing to the innovation process. Based on these
findings we identify a typology of 4 innovation intermediation
arrangements, including technology brokers, systemic brokers, enterprise
development support and input access support. The results indicate that
innovation brokering is a pervasive task in supporting innovation and
will require policy support to embed it in innovation support
arrangements. The paper is not normative about these arrangements.
- Keywords
-
- Smallholder agriculture
- innovation intermediaries
- agriculture innovation
- knowledge brokers
- Kenya
- JEL codes
-
- L26
- L32
- N5
- N57
- O13
- O19
- O31
- O32
- O55
- Q12
- Q13
- Q16
Cite this as
APA 7th ed.Kilelu, C. W., Klerkx, L., Leeuwis, C., & Hall, A. (2011). Beyond knowledge brokerage: An exploratory study of innovation intermediaries in an evolving smallholder agricultural system in Kenya (UNU-MERIT Working Paper No. 2011-022). UNU-MERIT. https://unu-merit.nl/publications/working-papers/abstract/?id=4374