Prolinnova is an international network that fosters local innovativeness and joint processes of innovation development. It focuses on the dynamics of indigenous knowledge and learning how to enhance innovation capacities of local resource users so that they can adjust better to changing conditions, developing and adapting their own site appropriate systems and institutions of NRM for food security, sustainable livelihoods and a sound environment.

It builds on good practices in participatory research and development (R&D) focused on promoting joint innovation processes led by farmers (including livestock keepers, forest dwellers and other natural resource users):
• discovering how farmers develop new ideas to make better use of natural resources
• supporting these initiatives through joint experimentation by farmers and other actors in a participatory innovation process, linking local and outside knowledge
• integrating participatory innovation approaches into institutions of research, extension and learning
• using these experiences for multistakeholder reflection on policy change needed to enable such approaches
• increasing farmers' influence in planning, implementing and governing R&D, including funds to support farmer-led local innovation processes.

In each country, stakeholders in agriculture and NRM design their own national or subnational network(s) and activities, tailored to their specific situation. The coordinating units, usually NGOs, are guided by national steering groups composed of diverse stakeholders, e.g. from other NGOs, farmer organisations, development projects and institutions of research, extension and learning.

In the international network, representatives from the country networks share and learn from each other's experiences, and plan and implement joint initiatives, e.g. related to local innovation and climate change, HIV/AIDS, farmer-led documentation, curriculum development and gender mainstreaming.