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Strengthening the resilience and sustainability of Uganda's coffee sector: investigating governance mechanisms in coffee innovation platforms
Abstract
Effective governance mechanisms for coffee innovation platforms are crucial to fostering resilience and sustainability in Uganda’s vital sector. Despite extensive research on the governance of innovation platforms, a clear and unified definition of innovation platform governance mechanisms remains elusive. This lack leads to inconsistencies in interpreting and implementing innovation platform governance mechanisms, obstructing efforts to tackle critical challenges in the coffee sector. This study examines the governance mechanisms of coffee innovation platforms in Uganda, which serve as collaborative networks for stakeholders throughout the coffee value chain. Coffee innovation platforms play a crucial role in addressing sector-specific challenges by facilitating knowledge exchange, encouraging stakeholder engagement, and promoting the co-creation of solutions. Data from 91 farmers (54 males, 37 females) on the coffee innovation platform were collected using qualitative methods, specifically focus group discussions and individual interviews. Thematic analysis generated overarching themes for governance structures, processes, and principles. The study reveals that innovation platform governance structures encompass a diverse range of stakeholders, facilitators, interaction spaces, and frameworks. The innovation platform processes include stakeholder engagement, knowledge sharing, and capacity building. The fundamental principles of these platforms are participation, partnerships, and collaborative knowledge sharing. This research yields actionable insights for agricultural extension policymakers, leaders of coffee innovation platforms, and extension workers to enhance the governance of coffee innovation platforms.
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DOI: 10.33687/ijae.013.001.5443
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