The 15th GFRAS Annual Meeting, held for the first time in West Africa and hosted in Senegal with RESCAR-AOC and ANCAR, brought together nearly 40 countries to discuss how rural advisory services can be better integrated into higher education and agricultural policy. Participants highlighted growing momentum with more visibility in policy, stronger involvement of universities, rising youth engagement, and expanding digital tools, while also noting persistent gaps in coordination, training pathways, and recognition of community-level advisors. 

The meeting called for stronger links between research, training and service delivery; clearer competency frameworks; institutionalised national platforms; improved support for endogenous advisors; and better evidence of impact. The event closed with a shared commitment to position advisory services as a central driver of sustainable agricultural transformation, with West Africa helping lead the way. We thank all organisers and participants!