WEBINAR: Engaging youth and the private sector in extension and agricultural advisory

19 August 2020. Effective private sector engagement in extension and advisory services: Engaging youth and the private sector in extension and agricultural advisory.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the event, originally planned for April 21-22, 2020 was rescheduled and will now be held virtually in several webinar sessions during August - September 2020. See below for more details.

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To interrogate the state of extension systems in East Africa and devise mechanisms to take advantage of existing opportunities, the Feed the Future Developing Local Extension Capacity (DLEC) Project in collaboration with the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS), Eastern Africa Field Schools Support Hub and Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services – Kenya (KeFAAS) are organizing an online community of practice event on ‘Engaging youth and the private sector in extension and agricultural advisory services.’ The event will bring together experts, practitioners, researchers and funding partners to share, discuss and learn about issues of extension and advisory services in East Africa. The key messages and lessons will be documented into policy briefs that will be shared with East Africa policymakers to inform the extension policy agenda.

See full event concept note for more details.

Webinar session 1: August 5,  03:00 PM (Nairobi) 

Role of private sector and youth  in propelling digital disruption for invigorating extension and advisory services

See flyer with more details

Webinar recording (presentations):

Q&A session:

Webinar session 2:  August 19, 2020 03:00 PM (Nairobi) 

Effective private sector engagement in extension and advisory services

Download flyer (PDF)

Recording forthcoming

The event brought together experts, practitioners, researchers, and funding partners to share, discuss and learn about issues of extension and advisory services in East Africa. The key messages and lessons will be documented into policy briefs that will be shared with East Africa policy makers to inform the extension policy agenda.

Introduction:

• George Chemining’wa, Chairman, KeFAAS 
• Silim Mohammed Nahdy, Partnerships, Executive Director, AFAAS.
• Kristin Davis, Senior Research Fellow, Development Strategy and Governance Division, IFPRI and Project Co-Director, DLEC

Presentations:

• Linking farmers to quality inputs and advisory - Odede Ochieng, Sidai
• Providing mechanization services Jehiel Oliver, Founder and CEO, Hello Tractor
• Linking farmers to market Josephine Miingi, Founder and CEO, Building Rural Incomes Through Entrepreneurship (BRiTEN)
• Village Agent Model in Uganda John Ariko Okelai, Lecturer, Makerere University Business School, Agribusiness Consultant and Researcher

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Webinar session 3: August 26, 2020 03:00 PM (Nairobi) 
Topic: Gainful youth participation in extension and advisory services
Register

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Webinar session 4: Sep 2, 2020 03:00 PM (Nairobi) 
Topic: Double benefits for youth and private actor participation in scaling up successful extension approaches:  Opportunities and challenges
Register 

FARA Update: Individual Consultancy Opportunities

The Executive Director of FARA invites interested consultants to express their interest in carrying out the following assignments.

Consultants interested in this call must provide an Expression of Interest no longer than 10 pages, outlining proposed methodologies, references related to the execution of similar contracts, experience in similar areas or evidence of knowledge and/or involvement in climate change, and a proposed timeline. Brochures, CV’s, and other supplementary materials will not be included in the 10-page limit.

Expressions of Interest should be submitted electronically to [recruitment@faraafrica.org] and addressed to Dr. Yemi Akinbamijo, Executive Director of FARA, 12 Anmeda Street, Roman Ridge, Accra, Ghana, no later than Tuesday, 21st July, 2020, at 14h00 GMT. Tel: +233 302 772823/744888

Please find below links to Individual Consultancy Opportunities

Develop Continental Good Practice Guidance Notes based on AR4D Institutional Partnerships and Collaborative experiences of FARA, SROs and AFAAS to facilitate lesson learning and advocacy

https://faraafrica.org/2020/07/09/request-for-expression-of-interest-individual-consultant-develop-continental-good-practice-guidance-notes-based-on-ar4d-institutional-partnerships-and-collaborative-experiences/

Consultancy on Study on Africa Status Report on Research and Innovation – AfARR

https://faraafrica.org/2020/07/09/request-for-expression-of-interest-individual-consultant-study-on-africa-status-report-on-research-and-innovation-afarr/

  

Gender Mainstreaming in Regional and National Foresight Activities of the African Foresight Academy

https://faraafrica.org/2020/07/09/request-for-expression-of-interest-individual-consultant-gender-mainstreaming-in-regional-and-national-foresight-activities-of-the-african-foresight-academy/

Technical Support for strengthening of capacity for foresight among more professionals in African AR4D institutions and private sector.
https://faraafrica.org/2020/07/09/request-for-expression-of-interest-individual-consultant-technical-support-for-strengthening-of-capacity-for-foresight-ar4d-institutions-and-private-sector/

Facilitation of training and foresight analysis in Malawi.
https://faraafrica.org/2020/07/14/request-for-expression-of-interest-individual-consultant-facilitation-of-training-and-foresight-analysis-in-malawi/

For more information, visit: https://faraafrica.org

POLICY BRIEF and WEBINAR: Extension and Advisory Services: at the frontline of COVID-19 response for food security in Africa

30 June 2020. Recognising that the impact of COVID-19 and response measures are not uniform across the globe, FAO’s Research and Extension Unit, and Regional Office in Africa in collaboration with the Regional Network of Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (AFAAS) is organising a series of webinars to discuss the role EAS in the context of the pandemic in different regions.

Extension and Advisory Service (EAS) systems, through their network of actors (public, NGOs, private sector, Producer Organizations, farmer groups, etc.), can play an indispensable role in raising awareness of COVID-19 to reduce spread of the pandemic and assist in emergency operations, while ensuring that rural producers have relevant and accurate information, inputs and services to support their agricultural production, strengthen local value chains, both during and in the post-emergency period.

The objectives of this webinar were:

• Brief on the key challenges posed by COVID-19 in agricultural sector, markets and supply chains that affect EAS assess and delivery;
• Explore and discuss the potential roles of EAS actors and regional networks and policy aspects in providing essential services to the rural population in a short and medium term including socio-economic recovery;
• Share experiences of key measures that EAS actors are undertaking by adapting their capacity, activities, and operational mechanism to respond effectively to COVID-19;
• Highlight specific country examples from Cote d’ lvoire, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda and Liberia and responses to overcome challenges of COVID-19 impact and related measures;
• Discuss the way forward in transforming EAS to provide effective support to food security and sustainable agriculture.

Speakers:

• Mr Ade Freeman, Regional Programme Leader, FAO Regional Office for Africa - Impact of COVID-19 on food and agriculture sector in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Dr. Puyun Yang, Agricultural Training and Extension Officer, FAO Research and Extension Unit (AGDR) - Extension and advisory services (EAS): at frontline of COVID-19 response to ensure food security.
• Dr. Rasoanindrainy Andrianjafy, African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Service (AFAAS) Secretariat. (based in Madagascar)- AFAAS’s experiences on supporting its national constituencies to provide EAS at frontline of COVID-19 response in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Ms Rose Kamau, Principal Agriculture Officer, Crop Protection Division, State Department of Crop Development and Agriculture Research, Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Cooperative, Kenya - E- Plant Clinics - A digital approach to agricultural extension. 
• Dr. Nathalie Bogui Konan, National Rural Development Support Agency (ANADER), Cote d’ lvoire - Agricultural advisory services response to impact of COVID-19 on food security in Cote d’ lvoire. 
• Dr. Richard Miiro, Lecturer, Makerere University, Department of Agriculture Extension and Innovation Studies, Academia Representative-Uganda Forum for Agricultural Advisory Service - Responding to the COVID-19 lock down: experiences of agricultural extension and advisory services (AEAS) actors in Uganda. A survey by UFAAS.
• Ms. Nevena Alexandrova, FFS Expert, FAO Country Office in Malawi - Innovating for continued farmer field school’s engagement amidst COVID-19 uncertainties in Malawi.
• Mr. Edward Perry, Ministry of Agriculture, Liberia. - Experiences on the role of EAS in response to the COVID-19 and outbreaks of Ebola in Liberia.

Policy brief: 

Extension and advisory services: at the frontline of the response to COVID-19 to ensure food security (FAO, April 2020. 6 pages) 

• The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is expanding daily. Governments around the globe are confronted with multiple challenges related to minimizing the devastating health impact and protecting human lives, and ensuring sufficient food supplies and the functioning of services to those most in need. All this while coping with the economic consequences of COVID-19, which is expected to push an additional 548 million people below the poverty line. 
• Between present disruptions and future threats to the food supply chain, the COVID-19 outbreak has generated extreme vulnerability in the agriculture sector. It is therefore crucial to mobilize all available instruments, institutions and stakeholders from both public and private sectors and civil society to ensure appropriate and timely response.
• Agricultural Extension and Advisory Service (EAS) systems play an indispensable role at the frontline of the response to the pandemic in rural areas. However, in order to adapt to the emergency context within the government regulations, EAS providers need to rapidly change their way of operating.

Field guide:

“Running farmer field schools in times of COVID-19: a resource handbook” 

• This field guide for extension and advisory services contains key information, and COVID-19 related activities. 
• In French: http://www.fao.org/3/ca9472fr/ca9472fr.pdf

Previous Webinar

19th May 2020. EXTENSION AND ADVISORY SERVICES: at the frontline of COVID-19 response ensuring food security in Asia

Webinar: Running farmer field schools and field-based activities in times of COVID-19

Farmers wear masks during a Farmer Field School session
on COVID-19 prevention in Malanje Province, Lombe community.
Angola has very few cases of COVID-19, and FAO together
with the Angolan government, is working to keep it that way

24 June 2020. Webinar: Running farmer field schools and field-based activities in times of COVID-19 Organized by the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS), Eastern Africa Hub and the Global Farmer Field School Platform from FAO’s Plant Production and Protection Division (AGP). Co-organized with the Resilient Food Systems Programme (RFS). 

This webinar discussed:

• Introductory remarks by the Eastern Africa Field School Support Hub, hosted by AFAAS
• Discover FAO Angola’s communication campaign with posters on basic precaution measures for FFS
• How this campaign became global and used across the world by FFS practitioners
• The work of the global farmer field school platform to support the FFS community in times of COVID-19
• Basic precaution measures and key considerations when running an FFS
• Suggested FFS activities on COVID-19 and how to implement them

Presenters 

• Catia Marinheiro, Communication Officer – FAO Angola 
  FAO’s focus in Angola is to strengthen livelihoods and food security. This is especially important in times of crisis, like this one. Though Angola has so far recorded only a small number of positive COVID-19 cases, it is paramount that the disease is kept at bay, both for the health of the population and to limit the impact that restrictions on movements and other preventive measures have on livelihoods. FAO, the Ministry of Agriculture and the World Health Organization’s information campaign aims to reach 1 million rural families in Angola.
• Anne-Sophie Poisot, Lead Technical Officer, FAO Plant Production and Protection Division (AGP).

REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (Individual Consultant): Consultancy to conduct Continental Mapping of Climate Change Initiative in Africa

Archive: Science for Agriculture consortium write-shop, 
Washington DC September 2016.

The Science for African Agriculture (S4AC) Consortium comprising AFAAS, ASARECA, CCARDESA, CORAF and FARA, has secured resources from the European Union (EU)

The overall objective of the CAADP-XP4 is to increase the contribution of Africa’s regional and country level agriculture and food innovation systems towards the achievement of climate relevant and sustainable transformation of the continent’s agriculture and food systems. This call for expression of interest is to facilitate the engagement a suitable consultant to work with FARA staff to generate comprehensive information on the state of climate change preparedness in African countries.

The Consultant will inter alia carry out the following functions;

• Design the data collection instrument for use at the country level to collect all needed information that will make a comprehensive mapping of the climate change action in the last 10 years for collation at the country and at sub-regional level.
• Support the design of ToR for the engagement of suitable consultant at the SRO level to carry out of the country studies.
• Collate the information from the different SROs and by implication the countries to form the continental reports.
• Work with an ICT expert [consultant] to develop the continental map of climate change initiative with digital strings and geographical referencing- This will be an online repository for update and real time information.
• Support FARA 2IPs Lead Specialist to organize the continental climate change conference in alignment with key continental and global organization. (a). Facilitate discussion at the conference and collate report, (b). Prepare the report and package the information in a publishable form.
• Produce a documentation on the future of climate change with needed action based on smart analysi.
• Develop coherent policy briefs suitable for continental use through the SRO reports as well as at the country studies.

The Executive Director of FARA invites interested consultants to provide an Expression of Interest no longer than 5 pages, outlining proposed methodologies, references related to the execution of similar contracts, experience in similar areas or evidence of knowledge and/or involvement in climate change, and a proposed timeline.

• The consultant is expected to deliver on this consultancy within 40 man-days spread over a maximum of 6 months.
• The consultant will be selected based on procedures defined in the Procurement Guidelines of FARA.
• Interested consultants can obtain supplementary information and reference documents from the Director of Research and Innovation, Dr. IreneAnnor-Frempong and or the Lead Specialist on Innovation Systems and Partnerships, FatunbiOluwole, during the following hours: 9:00 to 15:00 GMT, Monday to Friday.
• Expressions of Interest should be submitted electronically to [recruitment@faraafrica.org] and addressed to Dr. Yemi Akinbamijo, Executive Director of FARA, 12 Anmeda Street, Roman Ridge, Accra, Ghana, no later than Wednesday, 20th May, 2020, at 14h00 GMT. Tel: +233 302 772823/744888
• For more information, visit the consultancy announcement.

African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS) Extension Week

25-29 November 2019. Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire). The African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS) organized, in partnership with the West and Central Africa Network of Agricultural and Rural Advisory Services (RESCAR-AOC), the National Agency for Rural Development (ANADER) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Cote d’Ivoire, the 4th Africa-Wide Agricultural Extension Week back to back with the continental Agricultural and Animal Resources Fair (SARA) under the theme “Private Sector and Agricultural Advisory Services: What Synergies for Sustainable Agricultural Development in Africa” 

The AFAAS Africa Wide Agricultural Extension Week (AEW) is an international event that brings together averagely 600 participants from across Africa and the World to take stock on a strategic theme for a better contribution of agricultural extension and advisory to sustainable development in Africa.

Its purpose is to facilitate processes for improving the use of knowledge, technologies and innovations by agricultural value chain actors to achieve their individual and national development goals.

The context of the 4th AEW is characterized by growing efforts at national, regional and international levels to make agriculture in Africa more productive, profitable and sustainable. This transformation expected to lead to increased technical, economic and environmental performances of agricultural value chains entails a paradigm and operational shift from farming for subsistence to farming for business i.e. sustainable wealth creation.

FARA and SROs Kick-Start SISTA

As part of the Development Smart Innovation through Research in Agriculture (DeSIRA), the European Commission (EC) and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) are jointly supporting the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) ex-pillar IV Organisations in implementing a science-led and climate-relevant agricultural programme; Supporting Implementation of a Science-Led and Climate-Relevant Agricultural Transformation in Africa (SISTA).

The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA) and partner sub-regional agricultural research organizations are benefiting from the programme, which seeks among other things to contribute to progressive achievement of zero hunger (Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2), the action to combat climate change and its impacts (SDG 13), to promote progress towards ending poverty (SDG 1), gender equality (SDG 5), decent work and economic growth (SDG 8), and responsible consumption and production (SDG 12). The Programme will additionally contribute to Agenda 2063 and the Malabo Declaration of the African Union (AU).

With financing from the European Union, the five organizations – FARA, AFAAS, CORAF, ASARECA, CCARDESA –  will implement individual projects as part of the overall programme with overall objective to enable agricultural research and innovation, including extension services, to contribute effectively to food and nutrition security, to economic development and climate mitigation in Africa. This will be achieved by improving the capacity, effectiveness and positioning of the regional and sub-regional agriculture research and extension organizations as well as National Agriculture Research Systems, and by promoting collaboration and knowledge sharing among the organizations.

The SISTA Inception Workshop was held in Johannesburg from 21^st to 25^th October and was attended by representatives of the implementing organisations and other partners and collaborators.

Sourced From: FARA Africa

Postharvest Management in Sub-Saharan Africa (PHM-SSA) Project

The Postharvest Management in Sub-Saharan Africa (PHM-SSA) Project aims to improve food security (increased food self-sufficiency and incomes) of smallholder farmers in SSA through reduction of postharvest losses of food crops (grains and pulses) by addressing major constraining factors of technology dissemination and adoption, knowledge and information sharing, rural advisory services (RAS) and policies related to PHM.

The PHM-SSA project is coordinated by Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation (HSI) and implemented in a consortium with FANRPAN, with AFAAS and AGRIDEA as further partners.

Phase 1 started from April 2013 to March 2017, in 2 pilot countries: Republic of Benin in the communities of Atacora (North) and Savalou (South); and in Mozambique in the communities of Nampula and Cabo Delgado. During phase 1, technologies, methods and practices were developed and tested, that further resulted into elaborating materials on PHM including; technical manuals, factsheets, farmer training materials (Calendar of good practices, flyers). These materials are downloadable from AFAAS online platforms for adaption and use by extension workers in Africa.

Key results: 

• a vibrant input supply and distribution networks for metal silos and hermetic bags were established in Tanzania, Benin and Mozambique; through training and deploying over 73 active local artisans, local production of metal silos was established and over 2,700 metal silos were sold to the farmers. 
• In addition, according to an own survey, over 52,745 farming households directly adopted at least one improved PHM option. There was a 33% reduction in the number of food insecure households in the lean season, and households reported an additional income of over USD 90 per household from saved grain that was sold at higher prices. 
• This approach has attracted interest from policy makers culminating in national strategies and by-laws on PHM being currently developed. There is a wide-scale interest and uptake of PHM solutions by other countries helped by the examples
• Further reading

Phase 2. The project is now in its second phase, implemented from April 2017 to March 2020. The major emphasis of the second phase is on promoting adoption of proven technologies and good practices on PHM to scale, at national and regional level.

Related:
Post harvest Access Agriculture videos

Webinar: The adoption of Post Harvest Management in policies and development plans
25th September 2018. Webinar.

Webinar: The adoption of Post Harvest Management in policies and development plans

 25th September 2018. Webinar. What can be done on policy level to reduce postharvest losses for better food security? In what way can local organizations support the sustainable introduction and integration of postharvest management (PHM) policies?

These and other related questions were discussed at our next webinar on, with distinguished Prof. Joao Mutondo (Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN)). He presented best practices for ensuring the adoption of PHM in policies and development plans, with a special focus on experiences from Mozambique.

Resources

• PRESENTATIONS can be downloaded here 
• YOUR FEEDBACK: feedback and ideas for next webinars here.
• FURTHER RESOURCES will be soon published here

Background:
The webinar series on Postharvest Management (PHM) started in 2017 and will continue this year (2018) under the theme “Scaling up proven technologies and practices of postharvest management in Africa”. We will be happy to exchange with you on the questions of how we can take advantage of proven technologies and practices that diminish postharvest losses and foster their adoption by smallholder farmers.

The webinars are organized by the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS), supported by FANRPAN and backstopped and facilitated by the Centre for Agricultural Extension and Rural Development (AGRIDEA) on behalf of the project Postharvest Management in Sub-Saharan Africa (PHM-SSA).

About the PHM-SSA project:

• The PHM-SSA project is being implemented by a consortium including Helvetas, AFAAS, FANRPAN and AGRIDEA in Mozambique and Benin. 
• The project aims to improve food security of smallholder men and women farmers in SSA through reduction of postharvest losses of food crops (grains and pulses) with a market system approach. 
• The project draws lessons and experiences from the implementing countries that are shared at the continental level. A similar project, Grain Postharvest Loss Prevention Project (GPLP) is being implemented in Tanzania. 
• The projects are funded by the Swiss Agency for International Development and Cooperation (SDC).

For more on the PHM-SSA project, contact:

• Talentus Mthunzi, FANRPAN (TMthunzi@fanrpan.org)
• Angela Deppeler, AGRIDEA (Angela.Deppeler@agridea.ch)
• Jerry T. Egessa, AFAAS (jegessa@afaas-africa.org)

AFAAS Webinar: Bringing Postharvest management solutions to scale

5 June 2018. The AFAAS webinar series on Postharvest Management (PHM) started in 2017, and continues this year (2018) under the theme “Scaling up proven technologies and practices of postharvest management in Africa”.

This first 2018 webinar with Raphael Dischl from Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation was an opportunity to exchange and discuss with you on your experiences on; awareness creation and, private sector engagement and financing for PHM. About 15 countries were represented by close to 40 participants.

PHM Webinar Raphael 5June2018 - v2.pdf
PHM Webinar Angela 5June2018 - v2 (2).pdf
PHM Webinar 5th June 2018 - CHAT.pdf

Background
The PHM-SSA project is being implemented by a consortium including Helvetas, AFAAS, Food and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN) and AGRIDEA in Mozambique and Benin. The project aims to improve food security of smallholder men and women farmers in SSA through reduction of postharvest losses of food crops (grains and pulses) with a market system approach. The project draws lessons and experiences from the implementing countries that are shared at the continental level. A similar project, Grain Postharvest Loss Prevention Project (GPLP) is being implemented in Tanzania. The projects are funded by the Swiss Agency for International Development and Cooperation (SDC).

Managing aflatoxin in smallholder groundnut production in Southern Africa

Managing aflatoxin in smallholder groundnut production in Southern Africa: Paired comparison of the windrow and Mandela cock techniques
Limbikani Matumba, Lazarus Singano, Bruno Tran, Mweshi Mukanga, Beatrice Makwenda, Wycliffe Kumwenda, Sharif Mgwira, Sam Phiri, Frazer Mataya, Talentus Mthunzi, Sharon Alfred, Tshilidzi Madzivhandila, Jonas Mugabe, Ben Bennett, Tim Chancellor
Elsevier Crop Protection Volume 112, October 2018, Pages 18–23

(above link allows downloads for 50 days' free access to the article. Anyone clicking on this link before July 05, 2018 will be taken directly to the final version of your article on ScienceDirect).

ABSTRACT 

Timely drying of groundnuts is important after harvest. In most parts of sub-Saharan Africa, moisture content reduction is practically achieved by solar drying. In particular, the groundnuts are traditionally cured in the field using the inverted windrow drying technique. Recently, the Mandela cock technique, a ventilated stack of groundnut plants with a chimney at the center, has been introduced in the southern Africa region with the aim of reducing moisture content and the risk of aflatoxin contamination. 

An on-farm study was conducted in Malawi to compare the effectiveness of the Mandela cock and Windrow drying techniques with respect to aflatoxin control. 

• For two consecutive years, farmers (2016, n = 29; 2017; n = 26) were recruited to test each of the two drying techniques. 
• A mixed-design ANOVA showed that the Mandela cock groundnut drying technique led to significantly (p < 0.001) higher aflatoxin levels in groundnut seed compared to the traditional inverted windrow drying (5.7 μg/kg, geometric mean vs 2.5 μg/kg in 2016 and 37.6 μg/kg vs 8.4 μg/kg in 2017). 

The present findings clearly demonstrate the need for regulation and technology validation if farmers and consumers are to benefit.

See also: 

• video Managing aflatoxins in groundnuts during drying and storage
• slide player video Aflatoxin In Malawi: Prevalence, Actions and Way Forward
• The government of Malawi, through the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism, has produced a video documentary to sensitize the public on the causes, risks, prevention and control of aflatoxins. The video documentary will be accessible online via the PACA website.

The African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS) backstopped and facilitated by the Centre for Agricultural Extension and Rural Development (AGRIDEA) on behalf of the project Postharvest Management in Sub-Saharan Africa (PHM-SSA) will hold two webinars:

1. the first Webinar on Tuesday 5th June 2018 
2. and the second Webinar on Tuesday 4th September 2018, 
3. all from 14:00-16:00 East African Time (12:00-14:00 West African Time and 13:00 to 15:00 South African/Central European time).
4. The webinars will feature specialized panelists on the topic including:
Raphael Dischl from Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation
Limbikani Mutumba /Joao Mutondo from Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy Analysis Network (FANRPAN)

Online discussion: Partnerships, innovations and financing for youth in climate-smart agriculture

23 April-21 May 2018. The CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) and the Climate Smart Agriculture Youth Network (CSAYN) are organizing an online discussion on partnerships, innovations and financing opportunities available for young people in Africa to adopt CSA. 

The discussion will also highlight the role of mentorship, training and share cases of successful young farmers as role models. 

The discussion runs from 23 April to 21 May 2018, and emerging issues will be shared by Divine Ntiokam, Founder and Managing Director of CSAYN, during the Africa Climate Smart Agriculture Summit on 15 and 16 May in Nairobi, Kenya.

Guiding questions for the discussion:

1. Week 1: What innovative ways can be employed to make climate-smart agriculture more attractive to the youth? This will include sharing of successful case studies involving the youth.
2. Week 2: How do partnerships affect and influence climate-smart agriculture on the continent? Give practical examples.
3. Week 3: What mechanisms are available for climate-smart agriculture financing? And, are youth able to access these finances?
4. Week 4: What are the key recommendations for donors, policymakers, researchers, development workers and other stakeholders to engage youth in Africa in CSA?

Please register to take part in the discussion – it takes only a minute!

Background:
Sub-Saharan Africa has the world’s youngest population and is home to over 200 million young people.

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is gaining popularity as a concept where agriculture, forestry and fisheries become part of the solution to climate change rather than the problem. This means using resources more efficiently, taking greater care of the surrounding environment and planting trees and crops that can ensure the land copes better with extreme changes in weather.Sustainable and efficient livestock management systems are also a key component of CSA.

There is a need to make climate-smart agriculture activities attractive and accessible to the youth. 

• This means exploring and introducing more business and market-oriented approaches to agriculture for youth engagement in the sector, as well as making the agricultural sector a more productive and attractive profession. 
• The government, the private sector, and development partners need to play a central role in the development of CSA technologies, especially in creating new employment opportunities for young people, nurturing linkages between education and business, and improving access to markets, financial services and innovation, as well as in the transfer of technology and skills. 
• Existing case studies on CSA must be documented and shared for the benefit of the youth. Regional platforms and other awareness mechanisms must be created to increase the uptake of CSA initiatives by the youth.

Partners: Climate Smart Agriculture Youth Network (CSAYN), CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), Global Alliance on Climate Smart-Agriculture (GACSA), the Technical Center for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation (CTA), African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS), ICCO Cooperation and AgriProfocus.

The 3rd AFAAS Africa-Wide Agricultural Extension Week

30 October - 3 November 2017. Durban, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. The 3rd AFAAS Africa-Wide Agricultural Extension Week combined with the 51st Annual Conference of the South African Society for Agricultural Extension. Event Theme: “Scaling up climate smart agriculture: integrating youth, women, and the digital revolution”.

• Africa Wide - Agricultural Extension Week - Working Concept Note_ August 2017- Circulation.pdf
• Final Draft Programme AEW 2017 Durban SA.pdf

Team of the University of Free State of SA
presenting success stories in Agric. Extension

The theme was selected by the AFAAS Board and stakeholders in recognition of the negative impact of climate change on the right to and access of productive resources (finance, land, water and assets) by the most vulnerable populations, specifically the youth and women.

In this respect, there is need to actively boost an inclusive access of information, knowledge, technologies and innovations to rural farmers in order to enhance their utilisation of productive resources for improved livelihoods.

Outputs: 

1. Knowledge on scaling up Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) in Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services (AEAS) for multiple actors to support farmers, especially youth and women to increase and add value to their agricultural productivity, production and marketing shared; 
2. Best fit practices on CSA for reducing vulnerability profiled and a framework developed for sharing among AEAS actors 
3. Strong linkages of IFAD Country programs and other Development Partners’ programmes/ projects within the continental AEAS knowledge and innovation networks developed; 
4. To follow up on operational meetings held for internal reflection and lesson learning; 
5. Reporting from “Africa-Wide Extension Week” (AEW) proceedings generated and shared with participants.

Group photos of officials @ the launch
of the 3rd Agric extension week in Durban

Scaling up ICT innovations for CSA 

In 2015, during the 2nd Extension Week held in Ethiopia, the ICT working group put ICT innovations high in AFAAS agenda. 

• In partnership with other international development partners like CTA, GFRAS, AGGRA, the working group organized a set of activities to enhance awareness and sensitization of AFAAS stakeholders in the use of ICT for RAS in Africa. 
• A dozen of young innovators were invited to present their ICT solutions during the plug and play session co-organized with CTA (www.ict4ras.org) and innovation demo sessions, web 2.0 trainings, multimedia production trainings and a video competition enriched activities of the 2nd Extension Week. 
• The ICT working group will link ICT innovations to Climate Smart Agriculture.
  

Extracts of the programme

• SA best practices: Reaching the plate: Success stories of South African Agriculture in a changing climate by means of Extension, Dr. J A Van Niekerk (RSA, FAO, University of Ghent)
• The South African Rural Advisory experience;50 years in retrospection and embracing the radical agrarian transformation agenda, Mr. K Moodley: President of SASAE
• Integrating agricultural videos in rural extension as tools to enhance climate smart agriculture in Cameroon. Labu, N.B.; Ngouambe, N.
• Introduction of biogasdigester technology as a climate change mitigation measure in small-scale farming communities of Amatole District Municipality (Easter Cape) Ndzimande, N.; Dumani, A.; Moeketsi, M.; Nape, M.
• Capacity development for scaling up Climate Smart Agriculture: The Sasakawa Africa Fund

  

  15th AFAAS Board meeting ongoing in Durban

  for Extension Model of experiential learning. Naibakelao, D.; Akeredolu, M.; Oladele, O.I.
• A farmer-centred Innovation Systems Approach to scale up Conservation Agriculture (CA) in South Africa Smith, H.
• Assessing the potential and farmer-based dissemination of conservation as a climate-smart option for semi-arid West Africa Djamen, P
• The New Extensionist and Professionalisation of Rural Advisory Services. Ms H Ngwenya, GFRAS.
• Determinants of farmers’ adoption alternate wet and dry techniques in lowland rice production in Ghana and Uganda for climate smart agriculture Oladele, O.I
• Developing Agripreneurship Behaviour of Innovative Youth Farmers in Ethiopia
  
  Teklehaimanot, A.
• Performance Levels of Agri-SMMEs in Entrepreneurial Leadership: A Call for Effective TQMempowered Agricultural Extension Services Sonandi, A.; Neuland, E.; Ladzani, W.
• Presentation of Science Agenda for Agriculture in Africa and its implications for Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services: Dr. Yemi Akinbamijo; Executive Director; Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA)
• Strengthening Extension and Rural Advisory Services Systems in Africa. Ms. N Ernst, GFRAS

Related:

29 October 2017. In countries such as India and Bangladesh with high population densities and lots of potential customers, local ICT-savvy entrepreneurs have developed popular apps to help farmers monitor real-time market prices and weather forecasts on their mobile phones.

Sousa, F., Nicolay, G. and Home, R. (2016) Information technologies as a tool for agricultural extension and farmer-to-farmer exchange: Mobile-phone video use in Mali and Burkina Faso. The International Journal of Education and Development using Information and Communication Technology 12(3), 19-36. 

CCARDESA booth

Fernando Soussa, a Swiss researcher, and colleagues interviewed 460 farmers in Mali and Burkina Faso about their use of mobile phones. They found that many villagers, including young women who had until recently had limited access to information services, were now using 3G mobile phones with Bluetooth to watch videos. 

Videos on mobile phones help to reach illiterate farmers, so new business ventures are more likely to emerge as it gets easier to watch videos and as good farmer training videos become increasingly available. Entrepreneurs typically innovate when new products like cell phones meet old demands for information, to create new market potential. Farmers increasingly want audio-visual information, and businesses will play a role to make this happen, for example selling inexpensive smart phones and charging phones for customers off the grid.

Good Practices in Extension Research and Evaluation

MANUAL ONGOOD PRACTICES IN EXTENSIONRESEARCH and EVALUATION

Agricultural Extension in South Asia Network (AESA)

278 pages

This manual was developed as a hands-on reference tool to help young researchers, research students, and field extension workers in choosing the right research methods for conducting quality research and evaluation in extension.

Extension research is a unique social science inquiry where research ideas are gathered from the field problems and put through a systematic cycle of objective investigations that result in significant solutions. Apart from developing theories and models that advance scientific knowledge, extension research should also provide new insights for improving extension policy and practice.

A Workshop was organised on ‘Good Practices in Extension Research and Evaluation’ at the ICARNational Academy of Agricultural Research Management (NAARM), during 29 November-2 December 2016, for young extension researchers and PhD students in extension and this Manual is the outcome of this workshop. 

Re-orienting extension research is urgent, and calls for a coordinated approach by integrating state-of-the-art methods from other sciences in order to improve the utility and visibility of the extension research outcomes. Adopting several good practices, such as the following, can enhance the quality of extension research: 

• Creative generation of relevant research ideas using an intuitive/common sense approach; • Selection of a rigorous and robust research design; 
• Choice of right variables following alternate criterion-referenced validity assessment procedures; • Selection of appropriate sample sizes to maximise generalisability; 
• Estimation of reliability and validity through robust modelling procedures, such as Structural Equation Modelling; 
• Deployment of resource and time saving but accurate tools, such as shortened paper surveys and e-surveys; 
• Compensation of respondents so as to maximise the accuracy of responses; 
• Data cleaning by employing missing value estimation and assumption testing tools, and multivariate data modelling  

Broadening the funding base of GFRAS

31 January 2017. Brussels. Special event held in conjunction with the AGA on “Broadening the
funding base of the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS)”, co-hosted by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and GFRAS.

This event specifically seeked to engage development partners and other actors in a practical discussion on avenues to expand the funding base of GFRAS and increase the involvement of Platform donors and partners in the substantive work of the Global Forum.

• GFRAS Steering Committee Chair, Dr. Rasheed Sulaiman V (Director of the Centre for Research on Innovation and Science Policy, Hyderabad, India) set the scene, introduced GFRAS, reviewed how Rural Advisory Services (RAS) are operating in South Asia, their contributions to addressing development challenges in the region, and the development gaps that Rural Advisory Services can help to resolve. He then presented progress in organising, reforming and improving Rural Advisory Services in the region across the different stakeholders and provide perspectives on the strategic roles of RAS in broader development. He conclude by discussing the ways in which GFRAS supports Rural Advisory Services to take up these roles effectively.
• Mr. Karim Hussein, GFRAS Executive Secretary, provided a brief overview of the current GFRAS structure, vision, mission and strategic fields of action, its key partners and its ways of working (Working Groups, thematic initiatives etc.). He gave a snapshot of some thematic areas in which GFRAS has an interest: those it has focused on in the past, current activities of GFRAS and possible areas it will focus on in the future (e.g. producer organisations; policy for extension and RAS; Education and Training and the ‘New Extensionist’; Global Good Practices; ICT4RAS; nutrition; youth; rural-urban issues; access to services in fragile situations; etc.).
• The last speaker was Mr. Felix Fellmann of SDC, a donor representative in the GFRAS Steering Committee and GDPRD member representative. Mr. Fellmann presented the reasons why Switzerland has been interested in being a founding donor and active partner supporting GFRAS since its establishment and why it would like to see others join to scale up the activities and capacities of GFRAS to make a difference at the country, regional and global levels.

Resources from GFRAS:

• GFRAS Strategic Framework 2016 – 2025 
• GFRAS; The first five years 2010 – 2015
• AESA Policy Brief 1. CAPACITY NEEDS OF EXTENSION AND ADVISORY SERVICES (EAS) IN SOUTH ASIA. Agricultural Extension in South Asia (July 2016)
  Undertaking Capacity Needs Assessment (CNA) is critical for organizing appropriate capacity development interventions. AESA organised four workshops on CNA of EAS in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal with the following objectives: (a) Identify capacity gaps among EAS providers; (b) Finalise a methodology for undertaking capacity needs assessment.
• ASSESSING CAPACITY NEEDS OF EXTENSION AND ADVISORY SERVICES. A Guide for Facilitators Agricultural Extension in South Asia (2016)
  This guide is intended to assist facilitators in conducting a workshop with Extension and Advisory Service (EAS) providers for assessing their capacity needs. It builds on the outputs of the National Workshops on "Capacity Needs Assessment of Extension and Advisory Service (EAS) Providers" held in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal and it uses a blend of interactive approaches for different sessions with tips for facilitators for effective delivery.

Events:
Training for Facilitators - How to lead workshops and meetings efficiently and effectively
20 February 2017 - 24 February 2017, Geneva, Switzerland

PAEPARD video interviews:
Mr. Felix Fellmann of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) answers following questions:

• How to make sure GFRAS is not another platform but close to the field concerns?
• How can GFRAS be a good broker?

Dr. Rasheed Sulaiman V, GFRAS Steering Committee Chair, answers following question: "Why is GFRAS an important player in rural agricultural innovation systems?"

African Union launches technical networks for agriculture

2 - 3 September 2016. Nairobi. With the motivation of “less talk and more action” the African Unionconvened a two-day launch sitting.
Department of Agriculture and Rural Economy

The experts from organisations implementing programs along the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) were under one roof to launch their role-specific technical networks. These networks, according to HE Rhoda Tumusiime are meant to ease the implementation of the CAADP.

“This is a delivery mechanism for what the Heads of State and Governments in Africa agreed on under the CAADP in 2003. They want to see more results and impact in this new decade towards 2025. We believe that the technical networks will be the best machinery to facilitate this." Ernest Rusindaza, senior adviser to the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Economy 

The networks were officially launched by Dr Janet Edeme, Acting Director of the Department for Agriculture and Rural Economy at the AU Commission in the presence of the attendees from the AU, the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), the World Bank, African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS) and the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO).

As it stands, the AU is deliberating on which organisations will be convening each of the technical networks and how often. According to Ed Rege from the People Innovations and Change in Organisations (PICO Eastern Africa) co-organisers of the sitting, the networks will operate along the seven major commitments of the Declaration under one umbrella. 

Group discussion in seven networks focused on

1. Agricultural investment financing, 
2. Nutrition and food security, 
3. Agricultural research and extension, 
4. Agro-industry & value chain development, 
5. Markets and regional trade, 
6. Resilience, risk management and natural resources management and 
7. one on Knowledge Management, policy analysis and accountability for results.

Farmer to Farmer Extension: international learning event

14 – 17 June 2016. Kigali – Rwanda. In this event professionals actively involved in farmer to farmer extension systems learn more about “Twigire Muhinzi”. The Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI) organized this event in collaboration with the Belgian Technical Cooperation (BTC), and Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) with support from One Acre Fund/Tubura, World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF), Swiss Cooperation, EU and African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS).

The Rwandan Twigire Muhinzi extension model, a home-grown extension model operating in all Rwandan villages, was taken as a case study for in depth analysis. Around 350 national and international participants got a better understanding of how Twigire Muhinzi works and what its success factors are. Participants included government staff working in extension as well as staff of various organizations such as NGOs, Development partners, universities, private sector, and farmers’ organizations, among others. 

• Twigire Muhinzi is the home-grown decentralized, farmer-oriented national agricultural extension and advisory services delivery model of the Rwanda government.
• Twigire Muhinzi extension model combines two different kinds of Farmer to Farmer Extension approaches: Farmer Promoters (FP) with demonstration plots and Farmer Field Schools (FFS) with experimental plots.
• The idea is that if one farmer in a village is empowered with better skills to improve his yield, neighbors too will learn from him or her. Thus the Farmer Promoters program was born, with the motto, “Seeing is Believing”. At the same time, it was recognized that farmers also need to get in depth knowledge to understand why certain technologies work better than others. And so the Farmer Field Schools (FFS) Approach was born, with the tagline “The plant is the teacher”.
• Twigire Muhinzi has front line extension agents comprising 14,200 Farmer Promoters (one in each village) and 2,500 FFS facilitators who have been recruited from local communities and work on voluntary basis. Thanks to this model, the access to advisory services in Rwanda has increased from 32% in 2012 to 69% in 2015.The Facilitators are farmers who got an intense training to become a facilitator. They facilitate the knowledge transfer between the plant and the group members, because it’s the plant who is the teacher
• There are now more than 14.600 farmer promoters who are trained by Farmer Field School Facilitators. Their role is to invite farmers to the village demo plot 3 times per season and to give them an easy access to inputs (seeds, fertilizers, etc.)
• This extension model is enabling farmers to increase agricultural productivity significantly and those reached by Farmer promoters experience more than 12% increase in yields while those reached by the FFS approach benefit more than 37% increase in yields.
• On the international scene, FFS program in Rwanda was among the 10 Finalists for the global prestigious DAC Prize 2015 for taking development innovation to scale. 

The 4-day event was kicked off with an exciting opening show featuring videos, interview, debates and live performances. It also featured an interactive workshop about all kinds of Farmer to Farmer extension and in-depth field experiences to give participants the opportunity to observe and analyze the model. Participants were invited to present their own experiences and results in a structured manner. The event combine several activities that provide a different kind of experience from what you usually get at a conference. Among the activities were a TV Talkshow and Debate, interactive workshops and Plug and Play sessions focusing on related ICT.

“We hope that the event will trigger participants to reflect on their own experiences working with farmer to farmer extension in their countries leading to self-discovery of what is applicable for their own context,” explains Dr Gerardine Mukeshimana, the Minister of Agriculture and Animal Resources. “For us and partners, this will be a moment of learning, reflection and shaping Twigire Muhinzi to deliver better.” The minister expressed gratitude to the Belgian government not only for the support extended in the process of developing the decentralised extension system but also for the overall success achieved in the country's strategic plan for agriculture transformation.

"The results are impressive. Production is higher and income is higher too. The results are not only economic but also social. I am happy to see how farmers were trained to be facilitators and later on became professional service providers. When we talk about investment in the private sector, this is a good example because it is not only about building factories but it is also about investing in people to become more productive," Arnout Pauwels, the Belgian Ambassador to Rwanda

Recent Documents

• The plant is the teacher: Our new bookMarch 30, 2016
• Farmers in Rwanda get more access to advisory services March 29, 2016
• Twigire Muhinzi: How does it work and what are the results? March 29, 2016
• Twigire Muhinzi March 25, 2016

 Related:
Innovative and successful Farmer Field Schools experiences in Rwanda. Interview avec Jean-Pierre Busogoro, Conseiller technique Recherche et Vulgarisation, CTB Rwanda. Il évoque les principaux résultats obtenus depuis la mise en place du système en 2009.

Building extension and advisory partnerships in Africa

14-15 January 2016. AFAAS, an organisation for strengthening Africa-wide agricultural extension
and advisory services, has recently reviewed its 2015-2017 strategy, and has identified knowledge management (KM) as a key focal area. CTA’s expertise in KM will help support AFAAS in its new strategic direction.

As well as Dr Nahdy, the AFAAS delegation included Dr Dan Kisauzi, AFAAS technical adviser on knowledge management and communication and Max Olupot Olalatau, partnership officer and technical assistant to the executive director. The team had close discussions with CTA’s technical staff, facilitated by Krishan Bheenick, senior programme coordinator for KM and Dr Benjamin Kwasi Addom, ICT4D programme coordinator. Dr Ibrahim Khadar, CTA’s head of the learning monitoring and evaluation unit, presented practical areas where CTA could support AFAAS including on agricultural policies, markets and value chains, and ICTs for agriculture, learning and KM.

As a process with huge potential for impacting farmers in its new strategy, AFAAS made a
presentation on Country Fora (CF), which are ‘communities of practice’ that bring together a wide range of actors and stakeholders involved in - or benefitting from - rural advisory services in a country. Each stakeholder has an interest in extension but are not necessarily extension workers themselves.

“The CF process can make good use of CTA’s wealth of information for innovations and how to reach farmers. Whether it is information on climate-smart agriculture, value chains or the use of certain ICT tools,” said Dr Nahdy. “Working collaboratively with CTA and our networks for short, medium and long-term sustainability in African countries’ extension and advisory services is key for both CTA and AFAAS,” he added.