Dr. Rex Chapota Senior Adviser Strategy and Growth at FRI (left) having a handshake with the Executive director AFAAS, Dr. Silim Nahdy (Right) after the signing of the MOU.Speke Resort Munyonyo: The African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS) together with Farm Radio International (FRI) have actualized their partnership by signing a memorandum of understanding.
The main objective of the MOU is to provide a framework for continued collaboration between the parties to improve the quality of life of millions of farming households in Sub Saharan Africa through agricultural e-extension and advisory services.
The two organizations will channel their synergies towards increasing small-scale farmers’ access to relevant, accurate and up-to-date information and knowledge regarding agricultural improvements in Africa. This partnership was sealed during the 5th Africa Wide Agricultural Extension 2021 that brought together all partners in Agricultural extension from all over Africa.
According to Dr. Silim Nahdy, the signing of this MoU is very complementary and strategic as AFAAS is ready to facilitate and increase the reach of knowledge to farmers through the digital channels.
“AFAAS mission is to promote lesson learning and add value to initiatives in agricultural advisory services through sharing of information and increased professional interaction we believe that with the signing of this MOU, we shall go a long way towards achieving our overall objectives towards e-extension delivery”
AFAAS among other things will Provide strategic guidance and support to the development and implementation of the Agriculture Extension and Advisory services agenda and Agriculture Extension Education and Training/lifelong learning issues at regional, continental and global levels, Strengthen research and documentation in AEAS, for evidence-based policy formulation and implementation, and publish, and disseminate research and good practices and make them available to the public and private sector actors to improve livelihoods and
Lead and facilitate the scaling up and out of the good practices and lessons across sectors and regions through AFAAS network and partners.
Dr. Rex Chapota in his remarks applauded AFAAS management for this exceptional move affirming that Africa is ready to scale up digital advisory services.
“Digital Advisory Services isn’t an option but a must to spur Agripreneurship in Africa “Says Dr. Rex.
The MoU with AFAAS will see FRI strengthen and take to scale interactive radio and other digital solutions for more inclusive and effective demand responsive extension services serving rural communities in close collaboration with AFAAS networks.
Dr. Rex also said that FRI strives to be a global leader in providing services that allow our radio partners to better: share information and knowledge with and among rural citizens; promote equality, especially between women and men; and serve those who are most vulnerable to hunger, poverty and poor health.
Farm radio international will among other obligations, Champion the use and scale up of digital extension and advisory services, Support participatory content development processes with Departments of Extension and other stakeholders in the AEAS ecosystem such as knowledge partners in national research institutes and CG centres including members of AFAAS Country Fora and Continuously promote shared learning, including generation of knowledge, packaging, publishing and disseminating it to inform replication and future programming.
