KIT works from an innovation system perspective, which integrates knowledge and information services, market services and policies

Rural innovation policies

The Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) aims to improve the livelihoods of vulnerable producers in developing countries, focusing on stimulating pro-poor growth in rural areas through action research, policy development and training.

The overall objective of KIT's Knowledge for Rural Innovation Programme is to improve rural people’s livelihoods by enhancing multi-stakeholder processes for innovation through institutional development and capacity strengthening of the stakeholders involved.

KIT develops methods and tools, adapted to the African context in particular, that increase the effectiveness of all parties - agricultural service providers, farmer organizations, local governments and the private sector - to take part in the innovation process.
For many years, support for innovation tended to focus mainly on strengthening agricultural research. Innovation, however, is the result of interaction among stakeholders rather than a result of research. It is therefore important to involve farmers’ organizations, the private sector, and even policy-makers, as full-fledged partners for enhancing rural innovation.

Specific objectives of the Knowledge for Rural Innovation Programme include: 

• Knowledge is generated on the conditions in Sub-Saharan Africa in which stakeholder configurations are effective drivers of rural innovation, become socially inclusive, and add economic value as well as improve sustainable rural livelihoods of the poorest people;
• The capacities of the different stakeholders – particularly of producer organizations and service providers – are strengthened to fully seize new opportunities for rural innovation; and,
• The institutional dynamics are facilitated for stakeholder configurations and interactions to enhance rural innovation.
   

The Programme conducts research, and provides facilitation, action-research, training and advisory services. The research activities are aimed at developing evidence-based tools and methods that can be used to strengthen interaction amongst stakeholders.