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The quest for innovative solutions to complex agricultural problems has been a major theme of agricultural research for development, leading to a shift from technology-oriented approaches to systems-oriented solutions, and more recently to innovation approaches.

The evolution of these approaches parallels the evolution of development interventions in general from a top-down approach to a participatory one. The Transfer of Technology approach reflects the top-down transfer of research knowledge and technologies by extension staff to farmers, while the Farming Systems approach focuses on socio-cultural, economic, and agro-ecological drivers that influence performance of agricultural innovation at the level of the individual field, farm, or collection of farms. But these approaches retain power in the hands of scientists who obtain information from farmers to identify what might be good for them. The Agricultural Innovations Systems approach emphasizes the institutional and political dimensions of change processes and considers innovation as a process that is shaped by interactions between actors and institutions inside and outside the agriculture sector.

Beyond the different dimensions (i.e. biophysical, technical, socio-cultural, economic, institutional and, political), agricultural problems are entangled in interactions across different levels (international, national and subnational), and involve multiple stakeholders, including researchers, farmers, policy makers, private sector and civil society. The approach of working together to find solutions to complex agricultural problems such as impacts of climate change on food security has been given various names that include innovation platforms, multi-stakeholder platforms, learning alliances, social learning, or self-help groups.

Learning alliances are increasingly seen as a promising vehicle for agriculture innovation and development. Since 2014, the CCAFS-funded Policy Action for Climate Change Adaptation (PACCA) project has assisted in the establishment of learning alliances in Uganda and Tanzania, with the goal of influencing and linking policies and institutions from national to local level for the development and adoption of climate resilient food systems in East Africa. Learning alliances have catalyzed collective cycles of learning, action and reflection around climate change impacts and policy related issues, in addition to being at the heart of strengthening relationships between key stakeholders where the project is implemented.

The Uganda Ministry of Water and Environment through its Climate Change Department has partnered with PACCA to build not only capacity of district stakeholders on the National Climate Change Policy (2012) but also proactively engage them on the process of drafting the Climate Change Bill, with the aim of making the process all-inclusive and adapting the policy to local contexts using district ordinances and sub-county bylaws.

Mbale District Local Government, through the district learning alliance, prioritized reinstating the Coffee and Cotton Ordinance (1998) during a two-day learning alliance planning meeting that took place at the District Council Hall on 29 – 30 March 2017. This event was organized with support from the PACCA project in partnership with USAID, Family Health International, and Uganda's National Agricultural Research Organization.

The ordinance is necessary in my view as a technical person because it will address the constraints of the coffee industry,” said Julius Ayo, the district agricultural officer, while presenting the achievements and challenges of the ordinance that was suspended after only two years of implementation.

Stakeholders in the region agreed to use the ordinance to address the impacts of climate change, rampant pests and diseases, and quality of coffee, but there was need to further consult key stakeholders at community, sub-county and district levels to get their position, and to set up a review committee as well as a sectoral committee to draft the revised coffee ordinance before it is sent to the District Council for approval.

What council is interested in is that the ordinance will work this time and the existing gaps that led to its suspension are addressed,” said the Deputy Speaker, Rose Nafuna, adding that it is important to secure farmers with a guiding framework.

During the coming months, stakeholders from the Mbale Learning Alliance will work on revitalizing the Coffee Ordinance by involving key stakeholders within the districts of Mt. Elgon region to pass similar ordinances that not only address the impacts of climate change but also the quality of coffee beans as well as pests and diseases.