the concept of the - department of agriculture

Roles , Strategies and Capacities to

Strengthen Extension and Advisory Services

The Concept of the

“NEW EXTENSIONIST”

FILMA C. CALALO, PhD | University of the Philippines Los Baños

Global Forum for

Rural Advisory

Services

Initiated by …

Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services

A network of organizations

and affiliates.

A platform for learning and

exchange.

Smallholder reach through

national level platforms.

What is the

“New Extensionist”

A global view of extension

and advisory services (EAS).

Strengthening individual

skills to look at capacities at

organizations and systems

level.

The “New Extensionist”

Multiplicity of actors.

Implies changes in EAS

organizations, systems and

enabling environments.

Re-skilling.

The “New Extensionist”

Why the

“New Extensionist”

EAS traditional role:

RESEARCH EXTENSION FARMER

• poverty, sustainability,

participation, vulnerability, food

and nutritional security, climate

change, water scarcity, etc.

Issues:

• “Beyond technology transfer” • Effective and responsive links to markets

• Reducing vulnerability and enhancing

empowerment of the rural poor;

• Promotion of environmental conservation;

• Coupling technology transfer with other services

• Capacity development

Challenges:

Organizing Principle: AIS

SOURCE: GFRAS (2015)

developing networks

organizing producers

facilitating access to credit

inputs & output services

convening innovation

platforms

EAS roles in AIS:

facilitating knowledge

management

promoting gender equality supporting adaptation to climate

change

disseminating new knowledge

through training &

demonstrations

EAS roles in AIS:

Capacity Development

Levels in EAS

FAO Corporate Strategy

SOURCE: FAO (2010)

General Capacities Needed

• Technical skills

• Functional skills Individual Level

• Partnering

• Learning and adaptation

Organizational

Level

• Alliance building

• Networking System Level

Individual level:

Technical:

• Technologies

• Practices

• IPRs

• ICTs

Functional:

• Community mobilization

• Facilitation

• Leadership

• Critical thinking

• Coaching

• Networking

Organizational level:

In the areas of …

• Strategic management functions

• Structures

• Relationships

• Processes, systems, procedures

Organizational level:

In the areas of …

• Incentives, rewards

• Human and financial resources

• Knowledge and information resources

• Infrastructure

The „New Extensionist‟

Learning Kit

Description:

A learning resource for individual extension

field staff, managers, lecturers, farmer

organizations, NGOs, etc.

Informed by the core competencies at

individual level.

Focus on Functional Skills

Designed for self-directed, face-to-face,

blended learning

Overall Purpose:

Equip the extension professional

who can effectively function

within the Agricultural Innovation

System with the ultimate aim of

benefitting producers and

related actors.

Specific objectives:

• Better understanding of the

concept

• Enhance professional capacity

• Improve performance

Introduction to

the New

Extensionist

Extension Approaches and Methods

Extension Programme Management

Professional

Ethics

Adult Education for

Behavioral

Change

Knowledge Management

for RAS

Modules

Facilitation for

Development Community Mobilization

Farmer Organization

Development

Modules

Value Chain

Extension Agricultural Entrepreneurship

Modules

Gender in Extension and

Advisory

Services

Risk

Management and Adaptation

in RAS

Developing Capacity

for Evaluation of Extension and RAS

Policy Advocacy for

RAS

The NELK +

Nutrition Sensitive Extension

The NELK products

–

–

–

–

We looked at relevant literature We drafted a position paper (2012) Experts from different sectors reviewed the paper We conducted an online survey based on 2-page summary of paper

–

–

An electronic discussion was held (2012) Paper & e-discussion report was discussed at GCARD- II in 2012*

– We prioritized the recommendations (2013)

39

Manual

Workbook

Lecturer’s Guide

Visual Presentation

YouTube

Online Learning

Dissemination options

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40

Testing

Sensitization

Training

Mainstreaming

Malawi: July 2016

• Learning kit sensitization

• Gender module testing

CAEPNET: August 2016

• Organized a 3-day session

• Tested 5 modules

involving 11 of the 15

Caribbean Islands.

India and Uganda

February 2018

Africa wide extension week

November 2017

GFRAS Annual meetings

Cameroon, 2016

Australia, 2017

Cameroon, September 2016

Gender mainstreaming in value chains

Benin, 2016

Farmer Organizational Development

Mainstreamed

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–

–

–


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46

University of Free State (South Africa)

University of Africa (Zambia)

Njalo University (Sierra Leon)

University of Pretoria (South Africa

University of Cairo (Egypt)

University of West Indies (Trinidad)

Finland

MONITORING

Country/

Region

Date Mode Description Champion Contact No M No F Total

No

Summary

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48

What is new is not necessarily the

competencies needed by individuals, but

the EXPANDED role of EAS. The focus on organizational and system

level capacities.

Changes in EAS organizations, systems,

and enabling environments.

Re-tooling of individuals to better

contribute to increasing the productivity

and effectiveness of AIS to improve the

livelihoods of smallholder farmers.

www.gfras.org

Thank You!

the concept of the - department of agriculture

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