Agricultural Extension Methodologies, Approaches and Tools in the context of AIS

Agricultural Development Administration – Korea and African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services

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Background

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, through its 17 Sustainable Development Goals, addresses the interconnected root causes of the most persistent ills communities face today and sets an ambitious target of ending hunger and malnutrition for all, by 2030. It recognizes that a lasting end to hunger and undernutrition cannot be achieved in isolation but through partnerships and collaborations. This ambition is consistent with African Union Commission (AUC) agenda 2063, and Malabo declaration, with particular reference to the commitment of ending hunger by 2025. Furthermore, in accordance with the Rome Principle, the Korean agricultural technology transfer to developing countries supports country-led agricultural technology development programs. It’s against this strategic orientation thatRural Development Administration(RDA) and African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS) have been inspired by their common objectives and reached mutual understanding to cooperate and to combine their resources and efforts to address issues in Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services (AEAS) as one of the pillars for poverty reduction and sustainable development in Africa. RDA and AFAAS signed a partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)in April 2017 to formalise their cooperation.

The RDA is a central government organization responsible for agricultural research and extension services in Korea. RDA has solved key scientific and technological issues for Korean agriculture and has implemented international collaborative programs known as the Korea-Africa Food and Agriculture Cooperation Initiative, Asian Food and Agriculture Cooperation Initiative and Korea-Latin America Food and Agriculture Cooperation Initiative which aim to contribute to ensuring food security and enhancing economic growth through modernized agriculture by drawing on the experience, knowledge and resources of the Republic of Korea. RDA is committed to the advancement of international agriculture through research leading to the development of technology. While,AFAAS is a Continental Forum for AEAS in Africa. Its objective is to create efficient, effective and synergistic linkages and partnerships between AEAS of member countries to improve the delivery of AEAS to farmers and other value chain actors. It operates within the framework of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). AFAAS signed anMoU with AUC in April 2015 and hence legitimizing it as the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) institution. AFAAS operates through Country Fora, established as multi stakeholder fora for AEAS actors at national level.

Traditional approaches to extension have changed to pluralistic, group-based and participatory approaches which have the potential to overcome barriers to participation, foster inclusiveness, and lead to demand-driven services. In addition to disseminating new knowledge through training & demonstrations, AEAS performs a wide range of roles including: networking; organizing producers; sensitizing on food and nutrition security; facilitating access to credit; inputs & output services; convening innovation platforms; facilitating knowledge management; promoting gender equality; and supporting adaptation to climate change among others. Therefore, as demands for development agents expand continuously, it needs to foster experts with capabilities for agricultural technology, communication skills, and multi-cultural comprehension. Extension agents have the wealth of skills and experience of agricultural and community development. They can be good resource persons for technology and innovation transfer if they have good softskills for instance communication competencies.

The RDA, AFAAS and their partners are planning to strengthen the capacity of agricultural extension workers to deal with AEAS challenges in Africa, thus the purpose of this proposed Training of Trainers (ToTs). The training is one of the initial activities to be jointlyimplementedfor extension workers mainly from the public sector, sponsored by RDA and hosted by AFAAS. The training is premised in the fact that, there still exist key challenges of AEAS in Africa including: low capacity of extension workers in dealing with a dynamic changing AEAS environment; limited knowledge and skills in using AEAS methods,approaches and tools; limited competency in multi-stakeholders facilitation with an increasing landscape of service providers; and weak capacity for planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of extension programs.

Objectives of the training : To build capacity of extension workers in use of different extension methods, approaches and toolsthrough Training of Trainers, who will replicate the training in their respective countries. The training will also serve as a platform to expose the participants to the on-going global debate on the changing role of AEAS, and how individuals, organisations, and systems can better be equipped to deal with the changing paradigms.

Target Audience/ participants: The Target countries are: Comoros, Kenya, Morocco, Senegal, Ghana, Cote Dvoire, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Sudan, Ethiopia, DRC, Uganda, Malawi, Zambia, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Korea.

Expected Number of Participants: 30- 35

Training Methodology: The training workshop shall be designed as a Training of Trainers (ToT) whereby the participants master theoretical and practical knowledge and skills of agricultural extension sciences and methodologies. The training shall use participatory and adult learning trainingapproach toensure active participation of trainees.Variety of interactive training methods shall be used including brainstorming, buzz group, group exercise, role playing, case study, etc.Upon completion of this training, all participants shall initiate similar training in their respective countries in partnership with Country Forum and/or Ministry of Agriculture and other partners to build capacity of more extension workers.RDA and AFAAS Secretariats shall continue to play backstopping roles.

Topics to be covered:i) The New Extensionist concept; ii) Agricultural Extension methods and approaches; iii) Training methodology; iv) Agricultural Extension program planning, monitoring, evaluation and learning; v) Agricultural extension professionalization; vi) Agricultural Innovation Systems; vii) ICT and Knowledge management; viii) facilitation for development, and ,ix) Cross cutting issues in Agricultural extension and networking

Partners: i) The Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services – GFRAS; ii) Developing Local Extension Capacity – DLEC, USAID, feed the future project, iii) DAFF, iv) SASAE, iv) Country Fora

Host Country: The training will take place in Durban South Africa

Date: From 26 to 29 October for workshop, 30 October – 3 November 2017 for extension week (9 days)

Location/ Venue:Durban, South Africa

Funding: The funding of the training Workshop is provided by RDA – Korea, with a total budget of about $90,000.

Trainers: Dr. ChoGyoung-Rae, Dr. Song, Dr. Choi So Young from KAFACI-RDA, Korea; Ms. Hlamalani Ngwenya – International Development Consultant; Dr. Samson Eshetu- AFAAS Consultant- capacity and Institutional development, Mr. Andrianjafy Rasoanindrainy – ICT & KM expert and RAS champion and Dr. Dan Makosa – AFAAS Consultant-evaluation part

Facilitator and Coordinator: Mr. Max Olupot; Rapporteuring team: Jerry Egesa and Eunice; Logistics: Summaya Nalwoga and Eunice

TRAINING WORKSHOP PROGRAM

Training workshop theme: Agricultural Extension Methodologies, Approaches and Tools in the Context of Agricultural Innovation Systems.

Date: 26^th October to 29^th October 2017                                                                     Venue: Durban, South Africa