Participation
AFAAS AEW is an open event; however, there will be a transparent and inclusive pre-selection of participants. The key participants in the AEW include: AEAS providers from public (Ministry of Agriculture officials especially Directors of Extension from AFAAS member and non-member countries), Farmer based organisations, farmers, fishermen/folks, Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs)as well as institutions and programmes actively involved in Agricultural and Rural Development. Private sectors[1] (e.g. Telecommunications companies, agro-processors etc.) will also attend and be given space to exhibit their innovations, staff of the Ministries of Agriculture who form part of AFAAS General Assembly, and are critical for policy influence in their respective countries, while equally central for the growth of AFAAS network. Other related ministries will also be in attendance.
[1] Targeted invitations shall be sent to private actor especially in agricultural value chains. AFAAS will also liaise with Africa Agribusiness incubation Network to moblise private sector participation.
Selection Process
The Local Organising Committee (LOC) and the Regional Planning Committee are the mandated organs, with a dedicated Selection Committee constituted from the above organs. In the selection process there shall be a regional balance within Africa. There will also be a consideration for international AEAS professionals with bias to private sectors champions, who have high capacity and profile in sharing AEAS knowledge. As a guiding criteria in selection participants, emphasis shall be placed on: Youth and gender considerations; level of contribution to the AEAS knowledge pool in the AEW theme; active role in national, regional and global AEAS activities; ability to positively influence national AEAS policies, institutions and programmes; further more ability to fully self-support or partly support own participation among others.