1. Introduction to the New Extensionist
Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS)
Part of the New Extensionist Learning Kit

2. What is the New Extensionist?
A set of core competencies required for extension providers
Built on the wider Agricultural Innovation System (AIS)
A shift towards professional training and accreditation
Pluralistic approach among extension providers

3. Rationale for the New Extensionist
Study unit 1
Rationale for the New Extensionist

4. Overview Study unit 1 is about:
Trends observed in the rural sector with a focus on globalisation and the need for pluralism
The development of the AIS to address the changing rural context
Types of EAS providers and their roles

5. Changes in rural farming/ livelihoods
Trends affecting rural agricultural development:
Globalisation
Marginalisation of rural communities
Diverse socio-economic conditions

6. Pluralism Rural communities have diverse needs
Collaboration of rural advisory service providers
Different methods and approaches to address specific problems
Divided into public/government and non-government actors

7. Extension and AIS
Aimed at meeting the ever-changing needs of rural communities

8. AIS framework
Built on the agricultural knowledge and information system (AKIS)
Aimed at connecting actors within the agricultural sector to promote interaction
Focused on innovation

9. Implementation Focus Capacity Actors and their roles
Identify actors and their roles
Aimed at value addition, output marketing, social mobilisation, institutional development, policy advocacy, coordination, and networking
Patterns of interaction that exist between different role players
The level of connection between actors
The identification of isolated institutes and organisations
Methods of linking actors

10. Implementation Focus Capacity Actors and their roles
How organisations operate and considering social and infrastructure aspects
Their readiness to link other actors
How their structuring will affect linking with other actors
Patterns of interaction that exist between different role players
Challenges and limitations
Policies available to promote linking actors
Abilities of actors to influence policymaking

11. Role of extension in AIS
Identifies gaps in service delivery
Facilitates the interaction between actors
Assists in the distribution of resources
Depends on public or private extension provision

12. EAS providers and their roles
Pluralism involves identifying the roles of all extension providers

13. Private extension providers
Farmer organisations
Both recipients and providers of extension services. Used to spread extension programmes among farmers by farmers
NGOs
Normally focused on addressing welfare, gender equality, and environmental stability issues
Private companies
Corporate organisations who also provide extension services often through the use of outgrower schemes

14. Public extension providers
Government run extension programmes
Meant to be impartial and focused on the public good
Normally able to assist through training programmes and financial aid

15. Combined systems
Combinations of both private and public extension systems

16. New Extensionist capacities
Study unit 2
New Extensionist capacities

17. Overview Study unit 2 is about:
The vision, mission, and guiding principles of GFRAS
The strategic fields and different levels of capacity development
How these fields relate to one another
The core competencies to be covered in the New Extensionist Learning Kit.

18. GFRAS principles Focused on Demand-drive and accountability
Pluralism and partnership
Harmonisation
Subsidiarity
Alignment
Results

19. Capacity development

20. Capacity development levels
The capacity development levels defined by the FAO form part of the guiding principles of GFRAS
Basis for the mission and vision of GFRAS

21. Capacity development levels
Goal
Level 1: Enabling environment
Focus on strengthening the enabling environment for pluralistic RAS networks and actors
Level 2: Organisational
Create and further strengthen regional RAS networks and forums
Level 3: Individual
Develop appropriate and comprehensive human resources in rural advisory services

22. Strategic fields of action
Ensure the achievement of GFRAS’ mission and vision based on the capacity development levels

23. Strategic fields of action
Goal
Field 1: Advocacy and support
Increased recognition of rural advisory services in policies and investments
Field 2: Professionalisation of RAS
Strengthening the performance of RAS
Field 3: Facilitation and enhancement of effective and continuous knowledge generation and exchange
Enhanced learning in RAS

24. Core competencies Competency
The ability to do something efficiently and effectively
Core competencies outlined by the GFRAS consortium
Aimed at promoting professionalism in extension
Divided into 13 modules

25. 13 core competencies Module 1: Introduction to the New Extensionist
Module 2: Extension approaches and tools
Module 3: Agricultural extension programme management
Module 4: Professional ethics
Module 5: Adult learning for behavioural change
Module 6: Basic knowledge management and extension
Module 7: Introduction to facilitation for development
Module 8: Communication mobilisation
Module 9: Farmer organisational development
Module 10: The role of extension in value chains
Module 11: Agricultural entrepreneurship
Module 12: Gender in extension and advisory services
Module 13: Risk management and adaptation in extension and advisory services

26. Acknowledgements
This module was made possible through the support of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). The contents of this module are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of GIZ or their government. All work by Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services is licensed under a CC BY-NC 3.0 Unported License.