The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), working in collaboration with the University of Illinois (UIUC), FAO, and the Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS), developed the Worldwide Extension Study database as part of the assessment of the status of agricultural extension and advisory services worldwide between 2009-2013.  Also collaborating were the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the Danish Agricultural Advisory Services (DAAS), and the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD).  The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) supported the work. This report briefly outlines the status of public extension in these countries by region and sub-region. Much more detailed information, data, web links, and secondary documents on most countries can be found at http://www.g-fras.org/en/world-wide-extension-study.html. 

Roles, Estrategias y Capacidades para Fortalecer los Serviciosde Extensión y Asesoría

A pesar que durante los últimos años se ha discutido mucho sobre el fortalecimiento de la extensión y asesoría en apoyo a las comunidades rurales, menos se sabe acerca de cómo construir las capacidades necesarias dentro de los servicios de extensión y asesoría (SEA). Tampoco se sabe lo suficiente sobre el papel que juegan los SEA dentro del sistema de innovación agrícola (SIA). Es por esto que este documento pretende llenar este vacío de conocimiento mediante la articulación de una nueva visión de los SEA dentro de los SIA, a lo que llamamos el «Nuevo Extensionista», reconociendo que esto no sólo se trata de funciones y capacidades individuales, sino a nivel organizacional y de sistema. El documento analiza las formas de desarrollar las capacidades necesarias para poner en práctica la referida visión en estos niveles.

Roles, Estrategias y Capacidades para Fortalecer los Serviciosde Extensión y Asesoría

A pesar que durante los últimos años se ha discutido mucho sobre el fortalecimiento de la extensión y asesoría en apoyo a las comunidades rurales, menos se sabe acerca de cómo construir las capacidades necesarias dentro de los servicios de extensión y asesoría (SEA). Tampoco se sabe lo suficiente sobre el papel que juegan los SEA dentro del sistema de innovación agrícola (SIA). Es por esto que este documento pretende llenar este vacío de conocimiento mediante la articulación de una nueva visión de los SEA dentro de los SIA, a lo que llamamos el «Nuevo Extensionista», reconociendo que esto no sólo se trata de funciones y capacidades individuales, sino a nivel organizacional y de sistema. El documento analiza las formas de desarrollar las capacidades necesarias para poner en práctica la referida visión en estos niveles.

The fifth anniversary of GFRAS provides an opportunity to celebrate the past as well as look to the future. With that in mind, we offer you this snapshot of our accomplishments over the past half-decade and a taste of what lies ahead for us as the international community defines the global sustainable development agenda that will succeed the Millennium Development Goals in 2015.

2014 was an exciting year at GFRAS. We focused on several different endeavours. The first of these was the position paper on the role of producer organisations in rural advisory services (RAS). This was linked to the International Year of Family Farming. GFRAS believes that producer organisations (including farmers and other rural entrepreneurs) play a critical role in advisory services. As follow up to the 2013 annual meeting, which focused on the role of producer organisations in RAS, in 2014, GFRAS engaged in a series of online dialogues, face-to-face discussions, literature review, and gathering of experiences on this topic, which culminated in the position paper. 

This report contains the full audited financial statement that is not present in the printed copies.

The brief calls for the reform of curricula and learning materials. It urges decision makers to better balance the training of extension professionals between technical and functional competencies. It promotes the idea of the “extension professional,” and the need for professional associations where extension professionals can exchange experiences and gain new knowledge.

Esta Guía de Evaluación de Extensión Rural ha sido desarrollada por el Foro Global para los Servicios de Asesoría Rural (GFRAS). El propósito es apoyar a las personas involucradas en la evaluación de extensión a elegir cómo llevar a cabo evaluaciones más completas, rigurosas, creíbles y útiles. La Guía ayuda a los lectores a entender los diferentes tipos de evaluación, para tomar decisiones sobre lo que es más apropiado para sus circunstancias, y para acceder a otras fuentes de información teórico-prácticas.

This Position Paper was written to raise awareness of the roles of producer organisations in rural advisory services, and to contribute to discussions about how their effectiveness in these roles can be increased so that they contribute to improved livelihoods and poverty reduction. It is aimed at all actors involved  in the provision of rural advisory services, including  producer organisations themselves.

We argue that rural advisory services will contribute to improved rural livelihoods and poverty reduction  if they are demand-driven and pluralistic. Demand-orientation ensures that services meet the expressed needs of farmers. Pluralism – the co-existence of a variety of rural advisory service providers with specific comparative advantages – ensures that services can match the diversity of rural livelihoods.

In 2013 GFRAS underwent a mid-term review. The GFRAS steering committee wished to be informed if the forum was doing the right things and doing things right. Different aspects of GFRAS, such as organisational structure and processes, objectives and strategic orientation, governance and management, and work performance – as well as the forum’s role and position in an evolving international context of agricultural development – were appraised, and the forum’s main accomplishments and challenges faced during the period of 2010 to early 2013 were assessed. The review serves as a policy and managerial tool for GFRAS steering committee decisions regarding the immediate future, and includes forward-looking insights and practical recommendations regarding future options for GFRAS, within the existing strategic framework and beyond.

This brief explains the concept of gender equality in advisory services and discusses the opportunities that gender equality in rural advisory services can create for global and local food production, women’s economic empowerment, household food security, and nutrition. It summarises experiences of how gender equality can be pursued in advisory services and provides some practical examples.

This publication is reviewed on Twitter. Follow #genderinras

A Synthesis of Experiences, Lessons, and Recommendations

An executive summary

A Synthesis of Experiences, Lessons, and Recommendations

The major purpose of this study was to analyze and document the past, current, and future role of EAS, with regard to human nutrition. This report summarizes the current state of knowledge on the role of nutrition in EAS resulting from an extensive literature review, analyzing survey responses, and conducting interviews with actors from worldwide development organizations, governmental agencies, educational and research institutions, and the private sector.

The Executive Summary of ths report is available as a separate publication.

Este guia foi financiado por recursos da Fundacao Bill & Melinda Gates.Os resultados e conclusões contidos neste documento são dos autores, e não necessariamente refletem posições ou politicas da Fundacao Bill & Melinda Gates. O Instituto de Recursos Naturais - Natural Resources Institute (NRI ) contribuiu com os documentos de referencia e uma versão inicial deste guia.

2012 was a year of building on preceding GFRAS work. Forum members participated in several major international events to advocate for the importance of rural advisory services for global development. GFRAS also continued to strengthen its evidence and capacity strengthening functions. 

Roles, Strategies, and Capacities to Strengthen Extension and Advisory Services

Extension and advisory services (EAS) 1 play an important role in agricultural development. However, these services need new capacities to address the current challenges in agriculture and to contribute better to agricultural innovation – a process that that requires interactions and knowledge flows among a wide range of actors in the agricultural innovation
system (AIS).

A summary of this paper is available here.

Roles, Strategies, and Capacities to Strengthen Extension and Advisory Services

Extension and advisory services (EAS) 1 play an important role in agricultural development. However, these services need new capacities to address the current challenges in agriculture and to contribute better to agricultural innovation – a process that that requires interactions and knowledge flows among a wide range of actors in the agricultural innovation
system (AIS).

The full position paper is available here.

Extension services enable farmers to take up innovations, improve production, and protect the environment. Extension shows positive effects on knowledge, adoption, and productivity. With studies showing very high (13–500%) rates of return to extension, it is a cost-effective way to improve farmer productivity and income.

Experiences with extension programmes show the positive impact that they have on productivity and farmer incomes. For instance, a programme with cacao farmers in Peru saw productivity rise from 340 to 600 kg per ha in three years.

Extension services are essential to enable farmers to improve their practices and help them respond to emerging challenges. Knowledge, ideas, and skills gained through extension programmes can help farmers increase their productivity, reduce losses, and gain better access to markets.

The positive impact of extension services is well demonstrated globally. Whether through Farmer Field Schools, marketing training, or by using innovative technologies, knowledge sharing underpins sustainable agricultural practices.

The examples illustrate the importance of participatory processes and farmers’ proactive participation in extension programmes to ensure they meet their needs. The case studies highlight the diversity of issues that can be tackled through extension and advisory services, and the positive impacts these can have on farmers’ livelihoods. In many cases, extension services are an addition to existing structures, such as farmer co-operatives, and are offered as part of a package of services. This helps to ensure that the positive outcomes from extension, such as increased yields, can be translated into positive outcomes for farmers, for example by supporting the marketing of the improved crops.