Comprehensive assessment of national extension and advisory service systems
Comprehensive assessment of national extension and advisory service systems

Author: Sulaiman V, R., Chuluunbaatar, D., Mroczek, Z.K., Alexandrova, N., Holley, A., Mittal, N.

Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.

Published: 2022-04-05

Total Pages: 108

ISBN-13: 9251359326

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Extension and advisory services (EAS) play a key role in facilitating innovation processes, empowering marginalized groups through capacity development, and linking farmers with markets. EAS are increasingly provided by a range of actors and funded from diverse sources. With the broadened scope of EAS and the growing complexity of the system, the quantitative performance indicators used in the past (for example related to investment, staffing or productivity) are no longer adequate to assess the performance of EAS systems. This operational guide meets the longstanding demand for guidance on undertaking such a comprehensive assessment of national EAS systems. It provides detailed directions on how to organize the entire process, from preparation to implementation and consolidation. Its use will help identify gaps and entry points for targeting investments and realigning policies for transforming EAS.

Indicator framework for national extension and advisory service systems
Indicator framework for national extension and advisory service systems

Author: Sulaiman V, R., Chuluunbaatar, D., Djamen, P., Grovermann, C., Holley, A.

Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.

Published: 2022-02-21

Total Pages: 56

ISBN-13: 9251356777

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Extension and advisory services (EAS) play a key role in facilitating innovation for sustainable agricultural development. To strengthen this role, appropriate investment and conducive policies are needed in EAS, guided by evidence. It is therefore essential to examine EAS characteristics and performance in the context of modern, pluralistic and increasingly digital EAS systems. In response to this need, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has developed guidelines and instruments for the systematic assessment of national EAS systems. The Indicator Framework provides overarching guidance on EAS systems assessment, including a list of 40 indicators (10 core and 30 complementary) which cover all major aspects of EAS from inputs to impact. This Indicator Framework provides much needed structure to EAS assessment, taking into account contemporary, pluralistic services and is complemented by FAO’s instruments for participatory data collection in EAS, including quantitative and qualitative data.

Agricultural extension: Global status and performance in selected countries
Agricultural extension: Global status and performance in selected countries

Author: Davis, Kristin E., ed.

Publisher: Intl Food Policy Res Inst

Published: 2020-09-02

Total Pages: 380

ISBN-13: 0896293750

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Agricultural transformation and development are critical to the livelihoods of more than a billion small-scale farmers and other rural people in developing countries. Extension and advisory services play an important role in such transformation and can assist farmers with advice and information, brokering and facilitating innovations and relationships, and dealing with risks and disasters. Agricultural Extension: Global Status and Performance in Selected Countries provides a global overview of agricultural extension and advisory services, assesses and compares extension systems at the national and regional levels, examines the performance of extension approaches in a selected set of country cases, and shares lessons and policy insights. Drawing on both primary and secondary data, the book contributes to the literature on extension by applying a common and comprehensive framework — the “best-fit” approach — to assessments of extension systems, which allows for comparison across cases and geographies. Insights from the research support reforms — in governance, capacity, management, and advisory methods — to improve outcomes, enhance financial sustainability, and achieve greater scale. Agricultural Extension should be a valuable resource for policymakers, extension practitioners, and others concerned with agricultural development.

The Extension and Advisory Service Systems Yardstick (EAS-Y)
The Extension and Advisory Service Systems Yardstick (EAS-Y)

Author: Grovermann, C., Chuluunbaatar, D., Blockeel, J., Sulaiman V, R., Djamen, P., Holley, A.

Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.

Published: 2022-03-21

Total Pages: 48

ISBN-13: 9251358052

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Extension and advisory services (EAS) play a key role in facilitating innovation processes, empowering marginalized groups through capacity development, and linking farmers with markets. Advisory services are increasingly provided by a range of actors and funded from diverse sources. With the broadened scope of EAS and the growing complexity of the system, the quantitative performance indicators used in the past (e.g. related to investment, staffing or productivity) are not adequate anymore to understand whether the system is well-functioning. To enable evidence based and informed policy and investment decision for extension and advisory systems, the EAS-Yardstick (EAS-Y) has been developed through a consultative expert process. It constitutes a holistic scoring tool based on a comprehensive set of metrics that can capture all the nuances of the pluralistic EAS. Metrics are organized into two modules, related to EAS performance and to EAS outcomes, each subdivided into key EAS topics. These cover elements of the EAS enabling environment, scope and provision of services, and coordination, collaboration and learning in the system. At the outcome level, topics include the acquisition of skills, changes in behaviours and livelihood transformations. All metrics are operationalized through a scoring mechanism. EAS-Y is digitally enabled through the Kobo toolbox and is used for participatory assessments in various contexts. Assessments can support a systematic crosscountry analysis, complementing findings from more specific impact evaluations of EAS interventions or in-depth process evaluations. As such, it contributes to substantially enhance EAS system performance and outcomes by guiding investment and policy decisions.

FAO publications catalogue 2023
FAO publications catalogue 2023

Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.

Published: 2023-10-10

Total Pages: 148

ISBN-13: 9251380570

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This catalogue aims to improve the dissemination and outreach of FAO’s knowledge products and overall publishing programme. By providing information on its key publications in every area of FAO’s work, and catering to a range of audiences, it thereby contributes to all organizational outcomes. From statistical analysis to specialized manuals to children’s books, FAO publications cater to a diverse range of audiences. This catalogue presents a selection of FAO’s main publications, produced in 2023 or earlier, ranging from its global reports and general interest publications to numerous specialized titles. In addition to the major themes of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, it also includes thematic sections on climate change, economic and social development, and food safety and nutrition.

Guide for monitoring and evaluation of the public agricultural extension and advisory service system
Guide for monitoring and evaluation of the public agricultural extension and advisory service system

Author: Yang, P., Ou, Y.

Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.

Published: 2023-03-24

Total Pages: 125

ISBN-13: 9251375569

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This guide is aimed to propose a holistic, systemic, and easy-to-use methodology that is multiscalar, multisectoral, and multidimensional for the M&E of public EAS systems to help identify gaps and pathways to strengthen and reform the public EAS system. It starts with analyses of the common objectives, subject, challenges, lessons learned, and prospects of the existing M&E systems and expounds on the logical framework, rationale and objectives of the proposed M&E methodology from a multistakeholder perspective. Then it proposes M&E frameworks at the national and grassroots levels following such order as the introduction, key M&E elements, indicator framework, and operational framework. Next, it looks at the issues of data sources, data collection, and capacity building, focusing on the institutionalization of the M&E system in the public EAS. Finally, it introduces the commonly used tools and methods of data analysis, focusing on the weighting of indicators, scoring methods, and integrated analytical frameworks.

Ensuring that rural advisory services are responsive to women: good practices from FAO experiences in Europe and Central Asia
Ensuring that rural advisory services are responsive to women: good practices from FAO experiences in Europe and Central Asia

Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org. [Author] [Author]

Published: 2024-05-02

Total Pages: 64

ISBN-13: 9251387230

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This report builds upon FAO’s work promoting gender mainstreaming in extension and advisory services, cataloguing challenges and suggesting strategies for increasing the gender responsiveness of rural advisory services globally. [Author] The purpose of this review is to apply FAO’s accumulated knowledge about gender equality in the context of rural advisory services to assess the situation in the Europe and Central Asia region. [Author] The report provides a snapshot of the extent to which gender considerations are currently integrated into rural advisory services in the region and highlights good practices that are in line with FAO’s gender equality strategies. [Author] The report concludes with recommendations for FAO, partner organizations and stakeholders in the fields of agricultural extension and rural advisory services, on how to further improve such services to extend their reach to rural women and men who have previously had limited or no access. [Author] This process requires moving away from gender‑neutral service provision, which often results in the exclusion of women, towards transformative extension and rural advisory services that challenge unequal gender relations and address underlying discriminatory norms and practices. [Author]

Comprehensive assessment of national agricultural research and extension systems with a special focus on agricultural research for development in Egypt
Comprehensive assessment of national agricultural research and extension systems with a special focus on agricultural research for development in Egypt

Author: Swelam, A., Abdallah, E., Salem, S.

Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.

Published: 2022-05-18

Total Pages: 148

ISBN-13: 9251362009

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This case study was conducted to provide a good understanding of the challenges and opportunities related to Egypt’s agricultural research and organizational development to draw lessons and develop supporting guidelines. This study aimed to enhance efforts exerted by Egypt’s NARS in the field of developmental research by formulating an integrated and coherent approach for research and dissemination of proven technologies and practices. Such approaches are expected to address key bottlenecks and provide the needed direction and means for sustainable improved implementation of AR4D. This can ultimately lead to enhancing and empowering the capacity of Egypt’s NARS to better inform and influence policies and facilitate institutional changes required in the agricultural sector. As part of the efforts of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to support and strengthen NARS’ research impact and their links to extension service systems, the present assessment was carried out to establish a deeper insight into challenges and opportunities that are facing NARS in Egypt.

Comprehensive assessment of national agricultural research and extension systems with a special focus on institutional linkages between various actors in Liberia
Comprehensive assessment of national agricultural research and extension systems with a special focus on institutional linkages between various actors in Liberia

Author: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

Publisher: Food & Agriculture Org.

Published: 2022-05-22

Total Pages: 105

ISBN-13: 9251361916

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As part of the efforts of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to support and strengthen NARS’ research impacts and their links to extension service systems, the present assessment was conducted in Liberia to establish deeper insight into these challenges and opportunities. The results presented in this comprehensive report can be used to support the development and adoption of guidelines for use by the NARS. The present study was undertaken to assess the implementation of AR4D in Liberia and the key actors involved to better understand the performance and the intuitional linkages amongst them and other relevant institutions to help identify potentials for fulfilling the agricultural research for development needs of the country with the over-arching goal of supporting small-scale farmers.