The 6th AAEW 2023 theme is: “Harnessing Agricultural Extension & Advisory Services in Scaling Regenerative Agriculture and Nature Based Solutions for Food System Transformation in Africa”
Sub-Themes:
- i. Strengthening Agriculture and Agricultural Extension & Advisory Services (AEAS) Policy Environment and Institutional Frameworks.
- ii. Capacitating and Supporting AEAS Demand and Delivery Systems for Access and Quality Improvement.
- iii. Mobilising AEAS and Research, in Innovation Platforms for Resilient Regenerative Agriculture (RA) & Nature based Agri-production and marketing systems.
- iv. Leveraging Digital Potentials for AEAS & RA.
- v. Adopting Inclusive Strategies/Approaches for Service Provision.
- vi. Human Capacity Strengthening and improving research and entrepreneurship in AEAS & RA
About the AFAAS Extension Week
AFAAS uses the Africa Wide Agricultural Extension Week as a unique avenue for sharing experiences and learning between professionals from different backgrounds, strengthening interactions with policy-makers and investors and developing strategic partnerships. In addition, the AAEW provides a platform to discuss AFAAS strategic directions and functioning, new developments, emerging needs, paradigms and defining new directions for AEAS for the coming years.
The 5 past Extension weeks
AFAAS has organized and held five successful AAEWs as follows: i) The first was held in Gaborone, Botswana in August 2013 on the theme “Value Chain Approach in Agricultural Development: Coping with new demands for Agricultural Advisory Services”. The second one took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in October 2015 on the theme “Reinvigorating Extension Services for Market-led Agriculture within the Context of the Malabo Declaration”. In October/November 2017, the third was held in Durban South Africa on the theme “Scaling up climate smart agriculture: integrating youth, women, and the digital revolution”. The fourth took place in Abidjan Cote d’Ivoire in November 2019 in November 2019 on the theme “Private Sector and Agricultural Advisory Services Synergies for Sustainable Agricultural Development in Africa”, and the fifth was held Kampala Uganda in November 2021, under the theme “Effective Agricultural Extension Systems for Sustainable Agripreneurship in Africa". This theme was contextualized under the Uganda Third National Development Plan and informed by the international Agricultural Research and Development paradigms. Prior to the above four convenings, AFAAS held three symposia in 2004 and 2006 in Kampala Uganda and 2011 in Accra Ghana.
Additionally, AAEWs guides in re-thinking and re-shaping AEAS for inclusive and resilient agri-food systems in Africa. Specifically provided space for:
- i. Raising awareness and develop knowledge and skills in relation to the different sub-themes;
- ii. Facilitating networking and foster collaboration and partnerships across the different stakeholder’s groups and actors;
- iii. Providing a platform for discussion/dialogue on key policy debates and development outcomes, and
- iv. Deliberating on concrete actions and a road map for the future of AEAS in Africa.
In each of the AAEWs, stakeholders came up with a declaration as a policy document. These have been presented to African Union Commission and other stakeholders to inform them on AEAS issues while providing some key strategic guidance to the continental and sharing Knowledge, AEAS innovations within and outside Africa.
Written by: Sharon Ibenu, Communication and Stakeholder Engagement Expert, AFAAS - African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services
Further information
Weblinks
Afaas-africa.org:
Aaew.afaas-africa.org:
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