GFRAS-ICRA partnership

ICRA collaborates with GFRAS since 2011. GFRAS asked ICRA to facilitate two of its major events.

ICRA staff moderated the 1st GFRAS working group to prepare a dialogue on the role of rural advisory services (RAS) in the four regions (Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa). ICRA was responsible for the development of a Concept note for the Dialogue on the Role of RAS, and of steps for the implementation of this Dialogue.

ICRA facilitated the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS) showcasing event that was organised early November 2011, prior to the International Conference on Extension, (15-18 November 2011) in Nairobi. This event enabled 15 AFAAS Country Fora to present their progress so far, to be trained in strategic planning methodology and to discuss AFAAS' way forward. The event was also a very good opportunity to introduce ICRA to all Country Fora in view of the incoming SDC funded project enabling ICRA to lend support to 4 selected fora.

Following on this event, ICRA participated in the 2nd GFRAS annual meeting (13-14 November 2011, Nairobi), to share its experience with this newly established Global Forum for Rural Advisory Services on ways of evaluating demand-driven, pluralistic advisory services.

Support of ICRA to AFAAS Country Fora: AFAAS-ICRA collaborative project

SDC supports the African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS) country fora. ICRA will be assisting in this, starting in two pilot countries, Benin and Ethiopia, by facilitating the establishment of country fora in the two countries and by developing their members' capacities (including sensitization on NEPAD/CAADP, work on documentation of experiences and lessons learned to support the AFAAS strategy, and strengthen the capacity of the AFAAS secretariat.

Achievements to date

Two scoping missions have been conducted in Ethiopia and Benin by Nour Sellamna of ICRA and the two AFAAS country focal persons. Two concept notes have been produced together with action plans, and circulated to all organisations that were met during the scoping missions. Nour Sellamna is due to attend the GFRAS third annual meeting in September 2012 in Manilla, and a side meeting is planned with AFAAS and Ethiopia's and Benin's focal persons to decide on how best to move forward.

Another workshop by Nour Sellamna is planned to take place in January 2013.

Persevering for public-private partnership in agriculture, article in Ethiopian Herald 8-8-2012 (pdf, 152K)

AFAAS website