Dynamics of Communication and Knowledge Management in an Agriculture Innovation Network: Case of Bioinnovate Africa Programme

Abstract

Agriculture is central to African livelihoods, and national economies, yet its resilience is increasingly undermined by climate change, food insecurity, and systemic vulnerabilities, further compounded by the COVID 19 pandemic. Agricultural Innovation Platforms (AIPs) have emerged as collaborative mechanisms for fostering knowledge exchange, problem-solving, and co-creation of solutions across diverse stakeholders. However, their effectiveness depends on robust communication and knowledge management processes, which largely remain underexplored in the African context. This study employed a qualitative multiple case study approach to examine the dynamics of communication and knowledge management within agricultural innovation networks, focusing on the BioInnovate Africa Programme in Eastern Africa. Guided by Deleuze and Guattarri’s Assemblage Theory, the research mapped the network stakeholders, analysed communicative interactions, and identified the enablers and barriers influencing these processes. Five cases representing the projects within the network were studied in detail. These projects comprising of different organisations from five eastern African countries. Data were gathered through purposive sampling, using interviews and document analysis. The findings reveal that discursive practices, institutional frameworks, technological tools, and material resources shape communication and knowledge management processes. While diversity of actors and strong partnerships enhance collaboration, challenges such as limited resources, weak institutional linkages, and uneven access to technology constrain knowledge sharing and communication processes. The study contributes to scholarship on agricultural innovation by offering a nuanced understanding of how communication and knowledge processes operate within multi-stakeholder networks. It offers actionable insights for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners aiming to strengthen innovation platforms as pathways for building more resilient and sustainable agricultural systems in Africa.