1. Background

African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS) is a Continental body that brings National Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services (AEAS) stakeholders in Africa under one umbrella. The AFAAS bi-annually organises the Africa-wide Agricultural Extension Week (AAEW) through the Host Countries and Institutions that express interest in collaboration with the respective Country Fora (CFs). The AAEW is an international event that brings together Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services (AEAS) stakeholders and other value chain actors across Africa and globally to deliberate on selected strategic and topical themes on AEAS for sustainable development in Africa. Its purpose is to facilitate processes for improving access to and use of knowledge, technologies and innovations by agricultural value chain actors to achieve their individual, national and global development goals.

Africa Wide Agricultural Extension Week:  The AFAAS uses the Africa Wide Agricultural Extension Week as a unique avenue for sharing experiences and learning between professionals from different backgrounds, strengthening interactions with policy-makers and investors and developing strategic partnerships. In addition, the AAEW provides a platform to discuss AFAAS strategic directions and functioning, new developments, emerging needs, paradigms and defining new directions for AEAS for the coming years.

AFAAS has organized and held five successful AAEWs as follows: i) first was held in Gaborone, Botswana in August 2013 on the theme “Value Chain Approach in Agricultural Development: Coping with new demands for Agricultural Advisory Services”; ii).second took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in October 2015 on the theme “Reinvigorating Extension Services for Market-led Agriculture within the Context of the Malabo Declaration”; iii) third was held in Durban South Africa October/November 2017 on the theme “Scaling up climate smart agriculture: integrating youth, women, and the digital revolution”; iv).fourth was held in Abidjan Cote d’Ivoire in November  2019 in November 2019 on the theme “Private Sector and Agricultural Advisory Services Synergies for Sustainable Agricultural Development in Africa”, and v)  fifth was held Kampala Uganda in November 2021 , under the theme “Effective Agricultural Extension Systems for Sustainable Agri-preneurship in Africa“. This theme was contextualized under the Uganda Third National Development Plan and informed by the international Agricultural Research and Development paradigms. Additionally, prior to the above four convenings, AFAAS held three symposia in 2004 and 2006 in Kampala Uganda and 2011 in Accra Ghana.

Additionally, AAEWs guides in re-thinking and re-shaping AEAS for inclusive and resilient agri-food systems in Africa. Specifically provided space for: (i). Raising awareness and develop knowledge and skills in relation to the different sub-themes; (ii) Facilitating networking and foster collaboration and partnerships across the different stakeholder’s groups and actors; (iii) Providing a platform for discussion/dialogue on key policy debates and development outcomes, and (iv) Deliberating on concrete actions and a road map for the future of AEAS in Africa.

In each of the AAEWs, stakeholders came up with a declaration as a policy document. These have been presented to African Union Commission and other stakeholders to inform them on AEAS issues while providing some key strategic guidance to the continental and sharing Knowledge, AEAS innovations within and outside Africa.