The New Extensionist : Roles and Capacities to Strengthen Extension and Advisory Services Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services (GFRAS) http:// www.g-fras.org/en/activities/the-new-extensi onist 1
What IS the New Extensionist? The new extensionist is a global view of extension and advisory services (EAS) as an institution. It gives an expanded role to EAS within agricultural innovation systems. The view goes beyond individual skills to look at organisations and systems and their capacities. EAS include actors from public, private, and civil society who support rural dwellers in many ways. 2
Organizing Principle: AIS Producer s 3
Why the New Extensionist? We want to increase clarity on the important role of extension & advisory services (EAS) within agricultural development We want to advocate for EAS and especially capacity development 2003 Anna Temu/IFPRI 4
How was the New Extensionist Produced? We looked at relevant literature We drafted a position paper (2012) Experts from different sectors reviewed the paper We conducted an online survey based on 2-page summary of paper An electronic discussion was held (2012) Paper & e-discussion report was discussed at GCARD-II in 2012* We prioritized the recommendations (2013) *Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development 5
Position Paper Outline Takes an agricultural innovation systems viewpoint Examines new roles, capacities, strategies for EAS Makes recommendations to strengthen capacity at individual, organizational, system level Gives recommendations for actions & actors at national, regional, global level 6
Wide Range of Roles for EAS EAS collectively performs wide range of roles developing networks organising producers facilitating access to credit inputs & output services convening innovation platforms promoting gender equality disseminating new knowledge through training & demonstrations 7
Capacities to Perform Roles Needed at: Individual level Organisational level Enabling environment (system) level 8
General Capacities Needed Individual level: technical + social process skills needed Organizational: Capacities to put in place systems & procedures to manage human & financial resources institutions to facilitate partnerships & learning frameworks to deal with institutional, legal, & regulatory issues System level: capacities for interaction, learning, & 9
Recommendations for Action to Strengthen EAS 12 recommendations at national level 5 recommendations at regional level 8 recommendations at global level Includes actors who are involved in actions 10
Feedback on Position Paper Overall agreement that recommendations at 3 levels (national, regional, global) are actionable & clear E-discussion debated further on need to focus on gender issues, the role of private and civil society EAS, and use of ICTs Recommendations need to be regionalised 11
Prioritisation: Pretoria, 2013 12
Top Prioritized Actions Action* Issue Region N2 N6 N11 R3 Survey EAS providers, analyse models, conduct research Support establishment of regional networks & synergise Develop curricula for vocational & continuing education & skill upgradation; regular curricula revision Develop policy briefs & position papers to influence policy process Africa, South Asia, Pacific, Latin America Asia, Pacific, Latin America, Caribbean Africa, North Africa, South Asia, Asia, Latin America, Caribbean Asia, Pacific, Latin America, Caribbean *N = National level ; R = Regional level 13
Results Prioritization (Pretoria) Major focus on N10/N11 (education & training) Call for research on extension & promotion of extension science Consortium of universities formed to conduct research & curricula reform Need to contextualize recommendations to various regions 14
Next Steps: 2013 and beyond Framework of EAS training curricula Synthesis of competencies needed Content analysis of existing curricula (& methodology) Criteria/guidelines for assessing curricula Directory of EAS training providers Methodology for identifying 15
Milestones Side event at FARA Science Week, Accra, July 15 2013 Discussions at AFAAS Extension Week, August 5-10 2013 Launch of Consortium at 4th GFRAS Annual Meeting, 23 September 2013 Assess progress at GCARD3*, 2014 *Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Developmen 16
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The New Extensionist Essence (Submissions from Pretoria participants) The New Extensionist : From transmission to transformation: Extensionist in the 21st century Transforming communities the extensionist way New innovative frontier for EAS The engine that drives the agricultural wheel Facilitating the move from innovation to sector-wide change 18