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Overall Objective

To provide a space for sharing current thinking and practice and building coalitions of farmers, practitioners, policymakers and other key actors to advocate and implement policy reforms and innovations in extension and advisory services; especially those that benefit smallholder and resource poor farmers, including women and marginalized rural communities.

Conference Themes

There are four cross-cutting conference themes.

  • Policy: What are the policy lessons from the past two decades of reforms of governance structures, reductions in public funding and increased privatization of extension and advisory services? Have they resulted in increased accountability, efficiency, empowerment and impact? What is the future role of governments in providing extension and advisory services as public goods? What mix of regulations, goods and services is most appropriate for offering extension and advisory services that meet country-specific goals within any given socio-economic and agro-ecological context? What research is needed to fill the knowledge gaps?
  • Capacity Development: What new knowledge, skills, and infrastructure are needed in light of the expanded role of extension and advisory services? How best can the capacity of the actors (farmers, organizations and networks) be strengthened in the short to medium term? What good practices exist in capacity development? What research is needed to fill the knowledge gaps? What types and level of investments are needed?
  • Tools and Approaches: What innovative tools (including the use of ICTs and the mass media) and approaches are proving effective in the delivery of extension and advisory services? How can the islands of successes be captured and the lessons and best practices shared within countries and across regions with policymakers, development actors and extension practitioners? How can they be up-and out-scaled to ensure quality, cost-effectiveness, sustainability and impact of these services on agricultural productivity, sustainable livelihoods and natural resource management?
  • Learning Networks: What is the role of learning in enhancing the effectiveness of extension and advisory services and increasing their impact? What institutional arrangements need to be put in place to support lifelong learning by farmers and other key actors for continuous innovation? What form should they take and how should they evolve? What mechanisms exist for monitoring and evaluating extension and advisory services to support learning and make them more accountable and which are feasible? What research is needed to fill the knowledge gaps?

Extension agents and advisory service providers work with farmers, and several other actors; researchers, academicians and policymakers, to evaluate, interpret and share new and existing knowledge, research outputs, technology developments, policies and market opportunities that benefit farmers. They also serve as the conduit for bringing the challenges that farmers face to the attention of multiple actors in the value chain and wider innovation systems. Given the past decades of under-investments, many of these service providers do not have the necessary resources - training, skills, tools and financial support, to help farmers operate in the new dynamic business and market-oriented environment.

Evidence-based information on key priority issues for guiding future policies, strategies and practice and, for increasing investments in education, training and research for extension and advisory services, is not readily available. Policies are uncoordinated and implementation of new and promising initiatives is under-resourced. The recent efforts at reforms of governance structures, and attempts at privatization and cost recovery are yet to be fully evaluated.

Small-holder farmers, especially the resource poor in remote rural communities are not receiving adequate extension and advisory services. Their inability to articulate demand and the failure of other actors to understand their demands act as deterrents to fully benefitting from these services. The diminished role of extension and advisory services as public goods is a hindrance to future agricultural and rural development and urgency is needed for redesigning and revitalizing their role in reshaping the global food system. There is also need for coordination of development actors to articulate and advocate for investments in agricultural extension and advisory services and to ensure that they remain priorities on the national, regional and global development agenda.

Hunger, poverty, and unemployment are major challenges especially in developing countries and agricultural and rural communities are highly vulnerable to external shocks. National systems are unable to respond effectively to the interconnected challenges of high volatility in food and energy markets, climate change, and the global economic crisis. Revitalizing extension and advisory services, and strengthening their linkage with other actors in agricultural value chains and the wider innovation system are fundamental to the future of agricultural and rural development. Concerted action is needed to; support small-holder producers, including resource poor farmers and women, develop their capacities and build self-reliance.

After many years of under-investment in agriculture, particularly in extension, research, education and training, the tide has changed and governments and the international community are fully mobilized and committed to urgent action and making funding available to support agricultural and rural development. Within the past decade or more, there have been reforms to extension and advisory services to make them more pluralistic, demand- driven, cost effective, efficient and sustainable. The success and impact of these changes have not been fully studied and the time has come to reflect on the lessons learned to inform future policy and practice so that extension and advisory services can play a valuable role in addressing the failures in the global food system and assisting countries to respond to the diverse needs of their agricultural and rural communities.

Given the renewed interest in agriculture and the vital role of extension and advisory services in increasing access to knowledge and markets especially for millions of small- holder farmers; there is need to take stock of promising initiatives and opportunities, define and promote mechanisms for up-scaling successful models and improve policy and practice to support the global effort to reduce hunger, and improve livelihoods especially of millions of small-holder farmers.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The call for abstracts and papers for the International Conference on Innovations in Extension and Advisory Services: Linking Knowledge to Policy and Action for Food and Livelihoods, which will take place in Nairobi, Kenya is now open. Your abstract must reach the organizers by 15 July, 2011 to be considered for inclusion in the Conference. Entries can be submitted in English, French or Spanish to extension2011@cta.int with a copy to info@fara-africa.org; info@g-fras.org. Upon receiving approval of the abstract, a full paper must be submitted to the organizers by September 30, 2011.

Your submission must correspond to one of the four main cross-cutting Conference themes:

  • Policy: What are the policy lessons from the past two decades of reforms of governance structures, reductions in public funding and increased privatization of extension and advisory services? Have they resulted in increased accountability, efficiency, empowerment and impact? What is the future role of governments of governments in providing extension and advisory services as public goods? What mix of regulations, goods and services is most appropriate for offering extension and advisory services that meet country-specific goals within any given socio- economic and agro-ecological context? What research is needed to fill the knowledge gaps?
  • Capacity Development: What new knowledge, skills, and infrastructure are needed in light of the expanded role of extension and advisory services? How best can the capacity of the actors (farmers, organizations and networks) be strengthened in the short to medium term? What good practices exist in capacity development? What research is needed to fill the knowledge gaps? What types and level of investments are needed?
  • Tools and Approaches: What innovative tools (including the use of ICTs and the mass media) and approaches are proving effective in the delivery of extension and advisory services? How can the islands of successes be captured and the lessons and best practices shared within countries and across regions with policymakers, development actors and extension practitioners? How can they be up-and out- scaled to ensure quality, cost-effectiveness, sustainability and impact of these services on agricultural productivity, sustainable livelihoods and natural resource management?
  • Learning Networks: What is the role of learning in enhancing the effectiveness of extension and advisory services and increasing their impact? What institutional arrangements need to be put in place to support lifelong learning by farmers and other key actors for continuous innovation? What form should they take and how should they evolve? What mechanisms exist for monitoring and evaluating extension and advisory services to support learning and make them more accountable and which are feasible? What research is needed to fill the knowledge gaps?

CTA

CTA logo

The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA) is a joint institution operating under the framework of the Cotonou Agreement between the ACP Group of States (Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific) and the European Union (EU) Member States. CTA’s mission is to advance food security, increase prosperity and support sound natural resource management through information, communication and knowledge management, facilitation, capacity-building and empowerment of agricultural and rural development organisations and networks in ACP countries.

Website: www.cta.int

AFAAS

AFAAS logo

The African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS) is a continental body that brings national Agricultural Advisory Services under one umbrella. The mission of AFAAS is to “promote lesson learning and add value to initiatives in Agricultural Advisory Services through sharing information and increased professional interaction.” It operates within the framework of the fourth pillar of the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP Pillar IV) which has the objective of enhancing the livelihoods of African farmers and pastoralists.

Website: www.afaas-africa.org/

FAO

FAO Logo

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) leads international efforts to defeat hunger. It serves as neutral forum for countries to negotiate agreements and debate policy. It helps developing countries and countries in transition modernize and improve agriculture, forestry and fishery practices and secure good nutrition for all. FAO provides advice to its member countries in modernizing and strengthening pluralistic and demand-led extension systems within an inclusive innovation systems framework. Advisory services for smallholders and others in the value chains are supported in policy, institutional and human capacity development. FAO further supports advisory service enhancement by knowledge management and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). FAO led the development of farmer field schools that are widespread today.

Website: www.fao.org

FARA

FARA Logo

The Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa is an apex organization bringing together and forming coalitions of major stakeholders in agricultural research and development in Africa. FARA is the technical arm of the African Union Commission (AUC) on rural economy and agricultural development. FARA is also the lead agency of the AU’s NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency to implement the fourth pillar of the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), involving agricultural research, technology dissemination and uptake. FARA provides a strategic platform to foster continental and global networking that reinforces the capacities of Africa’s national agricultural research for development systems.

Website: www.fara-africa.org

GFRAS

GFRAS Logo

The Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS) is a non-profit international organisation formed in 2010 to provide a space for advocacy and leadership on pluralistic, demand-driven rural advisory services. GFRAS does this in the context of the global development agenda, with a goal of promoting sustainable growth and reducing poverty.

Website: www.g-fras.org/

IFAD

IFAD Logo

The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), a specialized agency of the United Nations, was established as an international financial institution in 1977 as one of the major outcomes of the 1974 World Food Conference. IFAD is dedicated to eradicating rural poverty in developing countries. Working with rural poor people, governments, donors, non-governmental organizations and many other partners, IFAD focuses on country-specific solutions, which can involve increasing rural poor peoples' access to financial services, markets, technology, land and other natural resources.

Website: www.ifad.org

NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency

NEPAD Logo

The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) is a programme of the African Union (AU) adopted in Lusaka, Zambia in 2001. NEPAD is a radically new intervention, spearheaded by African leaders to pursue new priorities and approaches to the political and socio-economic transformation of Africa. In February 2010, the 14th AU Assembly established the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NEPAD Agency) as a technical body of the AU to replace the NEPAD Secretariat. The NEPAD Agency is a key outcome of the integration of NEPAD into the AU structures and processes. The core mandate of the NEPAD Agency is to facilitate and coordinate the implementation of regional and continental priority programmes and projects and to push for partnerships, resource mobilisation and research and knowledge management.

Website: www.nepad.org/npca

World Agroforestry Centre

World Agroforestry Centre Logo

The World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), a member of the Consultative Group on International Agriculture Research (CGIAR), is an autonomous, non-profit research organization. The Centre generates science-based knowledge about the diverse roles that trees play in agricultural landscapes and uses its research to advance policies and practices that benefit the poor and the environment.

Webite: www.worldagroforestry.org  

ICRA

ICRA Logo

The International Centre for development oriented Research in Agriculture (ICRA) is an international centre established by European members of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) to support leadership and develop critical mass in facilitating knowledge-based rural and agricultural innovation. ICRA does so, by providing training to professionals of education, research, and development organisations, and by strengthening the competency of inter-organisational and multidisciplinary teams to put their knowledge to work for innovation. At ICRA we believe that food and nutrition security, pro-poor economic growth and poverty reduction, and sustainable resource use can only come from people and organisations empowered to address their collective challenges themselves by working together and sharing knowledge. ICRA therefore also supports local level multi-stakeholder partnerships in the South (involving ICRA’s alumni), to establish: 1) dynamic learning networks and develop clusters of innovation and, 2) national level partnerships facilitating institutional change in support of research and education for development.

Website: www.icra-edu.org

AGRA

AGRA LogoAlliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) is a partnership-based organization that was established in 2006 and works across the African continent to help millions of smallholder farmers and their families lift themselves out of poverty and hunger. African-led and Africa-based, AGRA develops programs aimed at implementing practical solutions to significantly boost smallholder farm productivity and incomes while safeguarding the environment and promoting equity all geared towards achieving a green revolution. AGRA works in 13 African countries: Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

ANAFE

ANAFE Logo

The African Network for Agriculture, Agroforestry and Natural Resources Education (ANAFE) is a Pan African network registered in 2007 in Kenya, Tanzania and Niger as an International NGO of over 134 Agricultural colleges and Universities teaching Agriculture, Agroforestry, Forestry and environment and incorporating important elements of agricultural sustainability. ANAFE facilitates change in agriculture and natural resources management by linking education to rural communities and by empowering member institutions to act as cornerstones in the implementation of activities, paying great attention to grassroots ownership, empowerment and decision making.

Website: www.anafeafrica.org/

Biovision

Biovision Logo

Biovision Foundation for Ecological Development is a Swiss organization whose Vision is "A world with enough healthy nutrition for all, produced by healthy people in a healthy environment." Its mission is to combat hunger and poverty at their roots, and to support the dissemination and application of ecological methods that sustainably improve living conditions in Africa whilst also conserving the environment. Biovision renders assistance for self-help and promotes ecological thought and action in both North and South. It uses an integrated approach that recognizes human, animal, plant and environmental health as the foundation for sustainable development. The ultimate goal is attainment of sustainable, ecological development. To achieve this, Biovision supports regionally adapted and sustainable solutions generated and promoted through information and training programmes in collaboration with local and international partner R&D organisations. These projects and initiatives contribute to achievement of the UNO’s Millennium Goals.

Website: www.biovision.ch

EIARD

EIARD Logo

The European Initiative on Agricultural Research for Development (EIARD) is a permanent policy coordination platform on Agricultural Research for Development (ARD) which aims to promote and implement coherent European policies at international, regional and sub-regional levels in order to increase the impact of ARD on poverty reduction, food security and sustainable management of natural resources in developing countries. It is active since October 1995 and was recognised in 1997 by a Communication of the Commission to the Council and the European Parliament. EIARD members are the Member States of the European Union, plus Norway, Switzerland and the European Commission.

Website: http:/www.eiard.org/

University of Nairobi logoUniversity of Nairobi

The University of Nairobi is an ISO 9001:2008 certified premier institution of higher learning in the East African region. It is the oldest and largest University in Kenya with a student population of 52,000 and a highly qualified staff complement of over 1,500 teaching staff and 4,000 administration staff. It also has a strong and active Alumni Association and over 100 international links and exchange programs which help to enrich learning. The university is partitioned in 6 thematic colleges; Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences, Architecture and Engineering, Biological and Physical Sciences, Education and External Studies, Humanities and Social Sciences and Health Sciences. The College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences (CAVS) offers training in Agriculture and Veterinary disciplines.

Website: www.uonbi.ac.ke/colleges/cavs

FSA, UWIUniversity of the West Indies Logo

The Faculty of Science and Agriculture (FSA), University of the West Indies, has been serving both the human capacity needs as well as the research and development needs of the contributing territories of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) for the past fifty years. The FSA is situated on the St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago. Teaching and Research in Agriculture began in 1960. The FSA provides agricultural extension training and outreach services and conducts research primarily through its Department of Agricultural Economics and Extension (DAEE) in association with the Department of Food Production. In the process, the DAEE works closely with all related government agencies both local and regional, commodity groups, CBOs and NGOs with the view of improving the quality of Extension delivery throughout the region and in the process impacting on food and nutritional security and the quality of life of its CARICOM citizens.

Website: sta.uwi.edu/fsa/

IRETA, USP

University of theSouth Pacific Logo

The Institute of Research, Extension and Training in Agriculture (IRETA) is one of the six Institutes of The University of the South Pacific (USP), set up in the 1980’s to complement agricultural development efforts of the South Pacific Region. IRETA has maintained strong collaborative relations with the School of Agriculture and Food Technology (SAFT) and the national governments of the Pacific- ACP countries.  IRETA’s mission as mandated by its Advisory Board is to improve food security and income generation opportunities within the context of sustainable development and equal participation of men, women and youth. IRETA also runs the USP-IRETA Agriculture farm that produces commercial crops and livestock and provides practical training to students of agriculture at SAFT.

Website: www.usp.ac.fj/alafua

KARI

KARI Logo

The Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) is the premier national agricultural research organization whose mission is to contribute to increased productivity, commercialization and competitiveness of the agricultural sector through generation and promotion of knowledge, information and technologies that respond to clients’ demands and opportunities.  KARI is currently using the agricultural product value chain approach and works with an array of strategic partnerships to achieve its objectives. Website: www.kari.org/

Ministry of Agriculture Kenya LogoMinistry of Agriculture - Kenya

The Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kenya aspires to be the leader in achievement of food security, employment creation, income generation and poverty reduction by promoting competitive and sustainable agriculture through creation of an enabling environment and provision of support services. The Ministry is committed to efficient and effective service delivery guided by its quality policy objectives and promoting public-private sector partnerships in order to meet its clients changing needs.

Website: www.kilimo.go.ke/

The Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA), the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA), the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS), the New Partnership for Africa’s Development Planning and Coordinating Agency (NEPAD Agency), The International Centre for development oriented Research in Agriculture (ICRA) and the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) in collaboration with several national, regional and international partners including the African Network for Agriculture, Agroforestry and Natural Resources Education (ANAFE), the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI), the Ministry of Agriculture – Kenya, the European Initiative on Agricultural Research for Development (EIARD), the University of the West indies (UWI) and the University of the South Pacific (USP) will organise an international conference to take stock of current policies, thinking and practice, successes and failures of ongoing and past reforms in extension and advisory services and build a coalition moving forward to specifically address meeting the future needs of small-holder farmers, marginalized communities, women and youth in a sustainable and cost effective manner.

OBJECTIVE

To provide a space for sharing current thinking and practice and building coalitions of farmers, practitioners, policymakers and other key actors to advocate and implement policy reforms and innovations in extension and advisory services; especially those that benefit smallholder and resource poor farmers, including women and marginalized rural communities.

CONFERENCE THEMES

There are four cross-cutting conference themes.

    1. Policy: What are the policy lessons from the past two decades of reforms of governance structures, reductions in public funding and increased privatization of extension and advisory services? Have they resulted in increased accountability, efficiency, empowerment and impact? What is the future role of governments in providing extension and advisory services as public goods? What mix of regulations, goods, and services is most appropriate for offering extension and advisory services that meet country-specific goals within any given socio-economic and agro-ecological context? What research is needed to fill the knowledge gaps?
    2. Capacity Development: What new knowledge, skills, and infrastructure are needed in light of the expanded role of extension and advisory services? How best can the capacity of the actors (farmers, organizations and networks) be strengthened in the short to medium term? What good practices exist in capacity development? What research is needed to fill the knowledge and institutional gaps? What types and level of investments are needed?
    3. Tools and Approaches: What innovative tools (including the use of ICTs and the mass media) and approaches are proving effective in the delivery of extension and advisory services? How can the islands of successes be captured and the lessons and best practices shared within countries and across regions with policymakers, development actors and extension practitioners? How can they be up-and out-scaled to ensure quality, cost-effectiveness, sustainability and impact of these services on agricultural productivity, sustainable livelihoods and natural resource management?
    4. Learning Networks: What is the role of learning in enhancing the effectiveness of extension and advisory services and increasing their impact? What institutional arrangements need to be put in place to support lifelong learning by farmers and other key actors for continuous innovation? What form should they take and how should they evolve? What mechanisms exist for monitoring and evaluating extension and advisory services to support learning and make them more accountable and which are feasible? What research is needed to fill the knowledge gaps?

EXPECTED RESULTS

    • Shared understanding and enhanced profile of the vital role of extension and advisory services in agricultural value chain and wider innovation system within the context of the present environment for agricultural and rural development.
    • Good practice and policy options for improving the future delivery and effectiveness of extension and advisory services clearly defined, endorsed and widely disseminated.
    • Mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating extension and advisory services to provide lessons for policy and practice and contribute to enhanced knowledge sharing, learning, innovation and accountability identified, endorsed and widely disseminated.
    • Priorities for research, capacity development and investments that enhance the impact of extension and advisory services on agricultural productivity, food security, sustainable livelihoods and natural resource management identified and strategies for addressing these priorities elaborated, endorsed and widely disseminated.
    • Coalition of stakeholders committed to advancing extension and advisory services to contribute to developing resilience of small-holder farmers and redefining the global food system.

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    Video:

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    Prior to the conference an e-discussion is taking place. Click here for further details.

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