CHANGE AGENTS, RIPPLE EFFECTS, WIDER IMPACTS

Abstract

The CARP platforms were designed to galvanise action among stakeholders and build their own momentum. This meant the CARPs often generated spinoffs and ripple effects beyond the platforms’ stated objectives. Through meeting direct goals such as strengthening farmer groups, wider impacts were also often catalysed in such areas as climate change adaptation, food security, biodiversity and gender inclusion. Through such spinoffs, the CARPs demonstrated their potential to impact society and contribute to sustainable development through emergence and unanticipated outcomes. Researchers became skilled facilitators of generative knowledge co-creation processes. Students, farmers and TVET technicians discovered new entrepreneurial niches and established innovative businesses with community impacts. In universities, CARPs helped to solidify new areas of strength and expertise. They provided the seeds of new centres of leadership. These now have potential to become wider and more influential centres of excellence through which the universities can further strengthen their roles as fulcrums of development. Institutions outside the universities, including TVETs, NGOs and government agencies, formed stronger linkages with one another and with communities through the CARP platforms, enabling lasting collaborations. All these emergent spinoffs have helped to extend the life and impacts of the CARPs in diverse ways.