Gender Transformative-Socio-Technical Innovation Bundles (GTSTIBs)-Scaling stakeholder workshop report

This report documents the proceedings and outcomes of the two-day stakeholder Scaling workshop on “Gender Transformative- Socio-technical Innovation Bundles (GTSTIBs),” held on September 24-25, 2025, at ILRI Campus, Addis Ababa. Convened by the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT in partnership with the World Vegetable Center, SNV, Green Agro-Solution PLC (Lersha Platform), Pan African Bean Research Alliance (PABRA) and the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology. The workshop brought together a diverse coalition of government representatives, private sector actors, NGOs, researchers, and smallholder farmers. The primary objective was to transition from successful GTSTIB pilots in Welmera and Ejere woredas to a coordinated, multi-level scaling strategy, culminating in the co-creation of practical, woreda-level and national scaling roadmaps that integrate this innovation into country projects and programs. The workshop yielded several critical findings that will directly inform the scaling strategy. Preliminary baseline data confirmed initial GTSTIBs adoption and revealed a positive correlation between the bundled services and enhanced farmer resilience, particularly among women. Farmer reflections provided powerful ground-level insights, highlighting a strong demand for integrated services alongside persistent barriers, including untimely credit access, high input costs, and climate vulnerabilities. These discussions underscored the crucial link between reliable financing and the meaningful participation of women and youth in vegetable production. Considering this, through collaborative breakout sessions, participants identified priority scaling areas. This workshop represents a significant strategic pivot from concept validation to systemic expansion planning. The BRAINS Project, which stands for Building Equitable Climate-Resilient African Bean and Insect Sectors, aligns closely with the objectives of the Gender Transformative Scaling Socio-Technical Innovation Bundles (GTSTIBs) initiative and would be using the same innovation in insect, fruit tree, honey and common bean value chains. The co-developed roadmaps provide an owned-by-all blueprint for action that directly aligns with national agricultural goals and the broader CGIAR agenda on Food, Land, and Water Systems. The event successfully established a foundation of trust and shared understanding among diverse actors, setting the stage for a coordinated, impactful scaling initiative that promises to enhance the productivity and resilience of Ethiopia’s smallholder farmers while deliberately advancing gender and youth empowerment