Dear GFRAS affiliates,

We'd like to update you on the latest activities and upcoming events in rural advisory services (RAS) and GFRAS. Find more information on www.g-fras.org.

The GFRAS secretariat wishes you all the best for the holidays and a Happy New Year!

2^nd GFRAS Annual Meeting 2011 in Nairobi

The 2nd GFRAS Annual Meeting was successfully held in Nairobi on 13-14 November. The meeting gathered 120 people from all over the world who shared ideas and experiences on RAS. A special emphasis was given to the topics of networking, capacity strengthening, and evaluation. The meeting also issued resolutions that were fed into the International Conference on Innovations in Extension and Advisory Services that took place also in Nairobi after the GFRAS meeting.

More information as well as the presentations and minutes will be posted here.

Rural Advisory Services Worldwide

At the International Conference on Innovations in Extension and Advisory Services GFRAS launched the publication "Rural Advisory Services Worldwide". The publication is a synthesis report of actors and issues in RAS that provides background information and analysis on RAS by continent.

The publication can be downloaded here.

Asia and Pacific Islands Network for Rural Advisory Services (APIRAS)

APIRAS organised a "Regional Forum on Strengthening Rural Advisory Services in Asia and the Pacific Islands" on 14-15 September 2011. At this event the priority issues in RAS in Asia were discussed and a structure and strategy for APIRAS were designed.

Find more information on the APIRAS website.

Latin American Network on Rural Advisory Extension Services (RELASER)

• RELASER held its second meeting in Managua, Nicaragua, on 26-28 September. The participants coming from 19 different Latin American countries discussed four key areas: Institutionalism and public-private relations; Extension based on demand and the linking to markets, Extension for small-farmers and poor rural population, and finally Extension as a part of an innovative system.
• RELASER has joined with FORAGRO (Foro de las Américas para la Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico Agropecuario) in preparing a common position for GCARD Conference 2012 on 29 October – 1 November in Uruguay.
• More information can be obtained from Francisco Aguirre faguirre@rimisp.org

African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS)

• Dr Silim Nahdy was appointed to the post of Executive Director of AFAAS and took office on 1 November. Dr. Nahdy is also chair of the steering committee of GFRAS.
• AFAAS held a Showcasing Event on 11-12 November in Nairobi to highlight the work of AFAAS, and share information, experiences, and lessons with the aim of moving the extension agenda forward in Africa. Special attention was given to the Country Fora: This AFAAS initiative supports the installation of RAS fora on a country level and has started very successfully.
• For more information contact Max Olupot molupot@afaas-africa.org