1. ICT Initiatives – the Bridge to Agricultural Extension Dr. Don Richardson Gartner Lee Limited June 5, 2007

3. Two Basic Strategies & Examples of Best Practice Solutions Strategies to get the right tools to where they are needed: Extension advocating for ICT access Strategies to assist people to harness the right tools to improve livelihoods: Extension employing/linking to ICTs

4. Strategies to get the right tools to where they are needed: Extension advocating for ICT access

5. Getting the right tools to where they are needed The on-going challenge of rural access Best practice solution: Empower rural and ag stakeholders to participate in rural telecom reform Encourage regulators to get out of the cities to speak directly with rural leaders

6. Example: Caribbean Telecommunications Union Bringing rural/ag stakeholders together with regulators and operators to develop Universal Access policies and programs

7. ELEMENTS / ISSUES LEARNING NEEDS WHYHOWWITH WHOMWHEN Public Awareness Programmes Sensitize stakeholders to UA policy process/Issues Increase participation Media, Events Cultural & Sports Icons Regulators Non-tech. editors Providers Stakeholders Portfolio Ministry Q1/ 04 Consultative Process Get position of stakeholders, regulators & providers on issues To inform UA policy process Workshops Internet Community meetings Stakeholders Regulators Providers Portfolio Ministry Q1/ 04 Baseline Studies Broad gauge of stakeholders position on issues & Stakeholder Circumstances To maximize support for policy for UA policy developed Pollsters Social scientists Educational institutions Pollsters Regulators Stakeholders Q1/ 04 Jamaica U/A Planning Matrix

8. ELEMENTS / ISSUES LEARNING NEEDS WHYHOWWITH WHOMWHEN User-Friendly Consultative Documents Wider audience for Consultative Document Greater participation in UA policy process Non-technical editors work with Regulators & Portfolio Ministry Regulators Non-technical editors, CBO Providers Stakeholders, Q1/04 Leaders Responsibility to inform Stakeholders Know level of dissemination To ensure wider circulation of material Follow-up process Get feed-back Stakeholders Leaders Related govt. agencies Q1/ 04 Jamaica U/A Planning Matrix

9. Strategies to assist people to harness the right tools to improve livelihoods: Extension employing/linking to ICTs

10. Harness the right tools to improve livelihoods Ability to make more informed decisions about livelihood strategies e.g. income diversification, reducing disaster impacts, agricultural supply chain goal congruence Improvements in access/reach of health, education and agricultural knowledge services/resources (See handout with matrix of ICT project possibilities)

11. Nine Elements of Successful ICT Initiatives 1. Good understanding of the market and demand-driven; 2. Employ strong awareness building campaign; 3. Identify and support local “ champions; ” 4. Build strong strategic partnerships to ensure all project objectives are met; 5. Promote sustainability; 6. Provide capacity-building for project staff and clients; 7. Employ appropriate and user-friendly technology, and put in place a sound technical support system; 8. Monitor, evaluate and share experiences; and 9.“ Lego block ” orientation – many pieces / many outcomes (Based on a framework developed in partnership with Winrock through an analysis of multiple Latin American ICT initiatives)

12. Example 1 – People First Network of the Solomon Islands www.peoplefirst.net.sb

13. Example 1 – People First Network of the Solomon Islands

14. Goal: facilitate equitable and sustainable rural development by enabling better information-sharing and knowledge-building Project of the Rural Development Volunteers Association (RDVA) - affiliated with the Rural Development Division (RDD) of the Ministry of Provincial Government and Rural Development

15. Example 1 – People First Network of the Solomon Islands

16. Distance educationSustainable livelihoods Rural credit + solar power + communications = Rural “business incubator” Farmer’s networking Applications

17. Disaster managementWomen’s networking Community consultations: i.e. Constitutional reform Community policing Rights awareness

18. ICT4D strategy: Objective clusters PFnet is working in all these priority areas identified in a national ICT strategy building workshop

19. PFnet & Nine Elements 1. Understanding of the market / demand-driven – link to Solomon Telekom, fee-for-service, donor market 2. Strong awareness building campaign – multiple partners, micro- level projects 3. Local “ champions ” – 17 community managed rural stations 4. Strong strategic partnerships – Gov ’ t, private, NGO 5. Promote sustainability – introduce training, longer operating hrs, retail sales, Solomon Telekom link 6. Capacity-building for project staff and clients – distance learning, rural e-government, low-cost email for decentralized gov ’ t units, rural credit, etc. 7. Appropriate and user-friendly technology, and put in place a sound technical support system – Solomon Telekom link 8. Monitor, evaluate and share experiences – web portal 9. “ Lego block ” orientation – absolutely!

20. Example 2 – PestNet www.pestnet.org

21. Example 2 – PestNet Email network that helps people in the Pacific and South East Asia obtain rapid advice and information on plant protection, including the identification and management of plant pests. Founded in 1999 - over 500 participating members. Links the Pacific and South East Asian regions with plant protection specialists worldwide.

22. Example 2 – PestNet Uses Yahoo ’ s free “ Yahoo! Groups ” feature, which links all participants in an on-line discussion group. Members can send digital photos of insects, weeds, or affected crops for identification and diagnosis by experts. Web site complements email with a comprehensive database of plant protection resources and photographs

23. PestNet & Nine Elements 1. Understanding of the market / demand-driven – free use of Yahoo Groups! Simple digital cameras and multi-country workshops 2. Strong awareness building campaign – outreach program – leaflets, posters, workshops, dissemination champions 3. Local “ champions ” – extensionists via multi-country workshops 4. Strong strategic partnerships – FAO, CTA, extensionists 5. Promote sustainability – volunteer driven, low operating costs 6. Capacity-building for project staff and clients – donor grants for workshops, digital cameras 7. Appropriate and user-friendly technology, and put in place a sound technical support system – Yahoo Groups! with existing tech support 8. Monitor, evaluate and share experiences – web portal 9. “ Lego block ” orientation – a block for others to use!

24. Example 3 - VERCON - Egypt www.vercon.sci.eg

25. Example 3 - VERCON - Egypt Virtual Extension and Research Communication Network VERCON pilot aimed at addressing in particular the needs of small-scale Egyptian farmers through the exchange of information between agricultural research and extension A multi-stakeholder dialogue Government ministries (e.g., agriculture, science, energy, water resources), national agricultural research centres, providers of extension services (public and private), agricultural education institutions, and farmer organizations

26. Example 3 - VERCON - Egypt A multi-stakeholder VERCON Steering Committee Nation-wide expansion after pilot Strong financial support from government Now becoming a rural development network - RADCON

27. VERCON & Nine Elements 1. Understanding of the market / demand-driven – use of existing local ISPs, PRA assessment of farmer/extensionist needs 2. Strong awareness building campaign – regional workshops, partner workshops 3. Local “ champions ” – District extensionists & researchers 4. Strong strategic partnerships – strong inside MOA, weak outside 5. Promote sustainability – Egyptian gov ’ t funded as core service 6. Capacity-building for project staff and clients – established programs for workshops, training programs – gov ’ t focused 7. Appropriate and user-friendly technology, and put in place a sound technical support system – Arabic adoption of web- discussion tools, technical support team in place 8. Monitor, evaluate and share experiences – Regional conferences and workshops; FAO 9. “ Lego block ” orientation – modest – progressing with RADCON

28. Example 4 – e-Sri Lanka Telecentres Planning & implementation approach supported by the World Bank Project loan from World Bank An example of how to plan effectively

29. e-Sri Lanka

30. e-Sri Lanka Project Planning Highlights Engaged a number of rural and agricultural stakeholders in the planning and the implementation phase Organized and conducted a information and communication needs assessment throughout the country Organized and conducted a survey of existing cyber caf é s / telecentres

31. e-Sri Lanka Project Planning Highlights Prepared draft M&E and incorporated inputs and comments from the stakeholders Completed the planning phase Conducted extensive consultations throughout the country with rural and remote communities Coordinated with other projects under the e- Sri Lanka initiative

32. e-Sri Lanka Project Planning Highlights Implemented rural pilot projects / evaluated outcomes Completed the planning phase for the main project – reviewed with key stakeholders Completed the M&E framework – reviewed with key stakeholders Completed the necessary documentation for the WB approval process

33. E-Sri Lanka Outcomes 350 Telecentres in place – 1,000 planned Voucher system - e-Sri Lanka subsidy - 40 to 50 people per day per telecentre on vouchers Partnership with Sarvodaya – Sri Lanka Telecentre Family Transition from gov ’ t extension to farmer ’ s organizations Sarvodaya is the extension champion – Agri- clinic model for improving livelihoods of farmers; capacity development for farmers and farmer ’ s organizations harnessing ICTs

34. e-Sri Lanka & Nine Elements 1. Understanding of the market / demand-driven – national needs assessment; understand existing telecentres; driven by entrepreneurs; blogs, email, chatrooms; market price info 2. Strong awareness building campaign – Sri Lanka Telecentre Family – telecentre network; Sarvodaya 3. Local “ champions ” – Early stages; Sarvodaya relatively strong; e-Sri Lanka early; entrepreneur operators; weak links to district extensionists & researchers 4. Strong strategic partnerships – Weak with MOA & agricultural NGOs 5. Promote sustainability – Revenue based; vouchers – early stages 6. Capacity-building for project staff and clients – Sarvodaya training programs, service & quality standards 7. Appropriate and user-friendly technology, and put in place a sound technical support system – Built on parallel telecom backbone 8. Monitor, evaluate and share experiences – Early stages 9. “ Lego block ” orientation – Evident with Sarvodaya; little evidence with e-Sri Lanka

35. ICT Initiatives – the Bridge to Agricultural Extension Dr. Don Richardson Gartner Lee Limited drichardson@gartnerlee.com