Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services Space for Advocacy and Leadership on RAS 16-Aug-15 1 Presentation: What does GFRAS do?

Definition: Rural Advisory Services Different activities that:  Strengthen capacities  Empower people  Promote innovations So people can…  Obtain skills and information  Address rural challenges © 2003 Anna Temu/IFPRI 2 16-Aug-15 Presentation: What does GFRAS do? Improved livelihoods

Who are we?  A forum and network  Rural advisory service actors Extension providers (public, private, civil society) Farmer organisations Regional bodies including research Academics, educational institutions Donors Policy makers 16-Aug-15 Presentation: What does GFRAS do? 3

History of GFRAS  Recognition of need for regional information sharing among extension in Africa (AFAAS)  Discussions at the Neuchâtel Initiative (NI) annual meeting  NI links to AFAAS  2009 NI meeting: Demand for dynamic, proactive, formal structure to assure credible and clear voice for RAS at global level 16-Aug-15 Presentation: What does GFRAS do? 4

Why GFRAS? RAS key to rural development, but…  Limited voice at global level  Lack of evidence-based advice on policies, approaches, investment options  Limited experience-sharing at local, regional level  Lack of individual, organisational, institutional capacity strengthening 16-Aug-15 5 Presentation: What does GFRAS do?

GFRAS Mission Provide space for advocacy and leadership on rural advisory services within the global development agenda Aug-15 6 © 2006 Yohannes Lemma/IFPRI Presentation: What does GFRAS do?...that promote sustainable rural growth and help the poor

GFRAS Objectives  Voice in global policy dialogues  Evidence-based approaches and policies  Interaction and networking for capacity strengthening  Creation of enabling environment for investment 16-Aug-15 Presentation: What does GFRAS do? 7

Where GFRAS Works Global level  international networks, apex organisations, development partners, inter-governmental structures, food security initiatives, climate change forums, research organisations Regional/national level  farmer’s umbrella organizations, regional networks, government agencies, NGOs, civil society, private sector, academic networks 16-Aug-15 Presentation: What does GFRAS do? 8

Governance and Support (Inception Phase)  Open structure with no formal membership  Managed by secretariat  Governed by steering committee : African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services Agridea Danish Agricultural Advisory Services Food and Agriculture Organisation Glemminge Development Research Global Forum for Agricultural Research Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation World Bank 9 16-Aug-15 Presentation: What does GFRAS do?

GFRAS Activities: Overview  Map and match RAS actors and interests  Raise awareness for RAS globally  Producing documents  Attending meetings  Coordinating development of toolkit for evaluation of RAS  Help regional RAS to network  Holding a meeting for inter-continental experience sharing Aug-15 Presentation: What does GFRAS do?

GFRAS Activities (1) Engagement with stakeholders from different sectors  Africa  Asia + Pacific  Latin America + Caribbean  Europe  Global 16-Aug-15 Presentation: What does GFRAS do? 11

GFRAS Activities (2) Evaluation toolkit development  Based on demand from stakeholders  Overview of case studies  Review of methods  Tools, methods, frameworks: toolkit  Workshop and validation  Field testing in Aug-15 Presentation: What does GFRAS do? 12

GFRAS Activities (3) Harmonise worldwide data collection on RAS  IFPRI worldwide assessment  FAO investment assessment  Joint data collection- over 100 countries  Joint publication of summaries and data  Available online through GFRAS? 16-Aug-15 Presentation: What does GFRAS do? 13

GFRAS Activities (4) Support to regional networks  African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS)  Joint Latin America consultation on extension with Rimisp  Asian extension event for 2011  Pacific Islands Extension Network  Central Asia Extension Network 16-Aug-15 Presentation: What does GFRAS do? 14

GFRAS Activities (5) Inter-continental experience sharing  Partnering with AFAAS, Rimisp  participants  Bringing participants from Africa, Asia, Pacific, Central Asia, Latin America, Caribbean, Europe  Regional experience sharing 16-Aug-15 Presentation: What does GFRAS do? 15

Upcoming activities (2011)  Field testing evaluation toolkit  African advisory services symposium with AFAAS  Global extension conference with CTA  Data sharing on status of extension worldwide with FAO, IFPRI  Working with initiative to provide training materials, do pilot studies, do in-depth assessments in RAS 16-Aug-15 Presentation: What does GFRAS do? 16

Conclusion...advocacy and leadership on pluralistic, demand-driven RAS within global development agenda that promote sustainable rural growth and help the poor 16-Aug Presentation: What does GFRAS do?

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