Global Forum for Rural
Advisory Services
Space for Advocacy and
Leadership on RAS
13-Apr-15
Presentation: What does GFRAS do?
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Definition: Rural Advisory
Services
Different
activities that:
 Strengthen capacities
 Empower people
 Promote innovations
So people can…
 Obtain skills and
information
 Address rural
challenges
13-Apr-15
© 2003 Anna Temu/IFPRI
Improved livelihoods
Presentation: What does GFRAS do?
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Who are we?
 A forum and network
 Rural advisory service actors
• Extension providers (public, private, civil
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society)
Farmer organisations
Regional bodies including research
Academics, educational institutions
Donors
Policy makers
13-Apr-15
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History of GFRAS
 Recognition of need for regional
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information sharing among extension in
Africa (AFAAS)
Discussions at the Neuchâtel Initiative
(NI) annual meeting
NI links to AFAAS
2009 NI meeting: Demand for dynamic,
proactive, formal structure to assure
credible and clear voice for RAS at
global level
13-Apr-15
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Why GFRAS?
RAS key to rural development, but…
 Limited voice at global level
 Lack of evidence-based advice on policies,
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approaches, investment options
Limited experience-sharing at local, regional
level
Lack of individual, organisational,
institutional capacity strengthening
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GFRAS Mission
Provide space for
advocacy and
leadership on rural
advisory services
within the global
development
agenda...
© 2006 Yohannes Lemma/IFPRI
...that promote sustainable rural growth
and help the poor
13-Apr-15
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GFRAS Objectives
 Voice in global policy dialogues
 Evidence-based approaches and
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
policies
Interaction and networking for capacity
strengthening
Creation of enabling environment for
investment
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Where GFRAS Works
Global level
 international networks, apex
organisations, development partners,
inter-governmental structures, food
security initiatives, climate change
forums, research organisations
Regional/national level
 farmer’s umbrella organizations,
regional networks, government
agencies, NGOs, civil society, private
sector, academic networks
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Governance and Support
(Inception Phase)
 Open structure with no formal membership
 Managed by secretariat
 Governed by steering committee :
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African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services
Agridea
Danish Agricultural Advisory Services
Food and Agriculture Organisation
Glemminge Development Research
Global Forum for Agricultural Research
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
World Bank
13-Apr-15
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GFRAS Activities: Overview
 Map and match RAS actors and interests
 Raise awareness for RAS globally
 Producing documents
 Attending meetings
 Coordinating development of toolkit for
evaluation of RAS
 Help regional RAS to network
 Holding a meeting for inter-continental
experience sharing
13-Apr-15
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GFRAS Activities (1)
Engagement with stakeholders
from different sectors
 Africa
 Asia + Pacific
 Latin America + Caribbean
 Europe
 Global
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GFRAS Activities (2)
Evaluation toolkit development
 Based on demand from stakeholders
 Overview of case studies
 Review of methods
 Tools, methods, frameworks: toolkit
 Workshop and validation
 Field testing in 2011
13-Apr-15
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GFRAS Activities (3)
Harmonise worldwide data
collection on RAS
 IFPRI worldwide assessment
 FAO investment assessment
 Joint data collection- over 100 countries
 Joint publication of summaries and data
 Available online through GFRAS?
13-Apr-15
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GFRAS Activities (4)
Support to regional networks
 African Forum for Agricultural Advisory
Services (AFAAS)
 Joint Latin America consultation on
extension with Rimisp
 Asian extension event for 2011
 Pacific Islands Extension Network
 Central Asia Extension Network
13-Apr-15
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GFRAS Activities (5)
Inter-continental experience
sharing
 Partnering with AFAAS, Rimisp
 50-75 participants
 Bringing participants from Africa, Asia,
Pacific, Central Asia, Latin America,
Caribbean, Europe
 Regional experience sharing
13-Apr-15
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Upcoming activities (2011)
 Field testing evaluation toolkit
 African advisory services symposium with
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AFAAS
Global extension conference with CTA
Data sharing on status of extension
worldwide with FAO, IFPRI
Working with initiative to provide training
materials, do pilot studies, do in-depth
assessments in RAS
13-Apr-15
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Conclusion
...advocacy and leadership on
pluralistic, demand-driven RAS
within global development agenda
that promote sustainable rural
growth and help the poor
13-Apr-15
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For More Information:
www.g-fras.org
info@g-fras.org
© 2006 Tumuluru Kumar/IF