FAO paper presented at the International Conference on Innovations in Extension and Advisory Services, in November 2011, Nairobi, Kenya. The paper presents three experiences on the reform of agricultural extension reform in Lebanon, Mauritania and Niger carried out between 2004 to 2010. It provides a comparative analysis of the three cases, methodologies used, results achieved and a discussion of future prospects. The paper concludes with lessons learned from, and success factors for, the renewal of national extension systems. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

1. 1
Subdirección de Investigación y ExtensiónResearch and Extension Branch
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Stakeholder Processes for
Reviewing Extension Systems
May Hani & Magdalena Blum
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
(FAO)

2. 2
Research and Extension Branch
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Innovations in Extension and Advisory Services, Nairobi, Kenya, 15-18 Nov. 2011
Stakeholder Processes for Reviewing
Extension Systems: comparative
analysis of 3 country experiences
Lebanon, Niger and Mauritania
May Hani,
Magdalena Blum,
Abdoulaye Mbaye,
Aliou Diop

3. 3
Research and Extension Branch
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Innovations in Extension and Advisory Services, Nairobi, Kenya, 15-18 Nov. 2011
Background
 Declined national extension systems –
various reasons
 Weakness of the public extension services
 Involvement of multiple actors providing
advisory services
 Fragmented efforts, no coordination and
limited effectiveness

4. 4
Research and Extension Branch
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Innovations in Extension and Advisory Services, Nairobi, Kenya, 15-18 Nov. 2011
Background
 Governments recognized the negative impact
on small producers - majority of farmers
 Farmers, POs and civil society advocated for
better advisory services.
 National strategy documents prioritized
strengthening advisory services - immediate
action
Governments requested FAO technical
assistance

5. 5
Research and Extension Branch
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Innovations in Extension and Advisory Services, Nairobi, Kenya, 15-18 Nov. 2011
Core Questions:
 How to avoid mistakes of the past / copying
ready models
 Who are the key players in today’s advisory
services?
 What are the roles of the various
stakeholders?
 How can accountability to smallholders and
their organizations be achieved?
Need for country-specific processes – context
and diversity

6. 6
Research and Extension Branch
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Innovations in Extension and Advisory Services, Nairobi, Kenya, 15-18 Nov. 2011
The process
 Emphasis on a participatory and
consultative approach
 Crucial role for farmers and POs as clients
and partners
 Principles of pluralistic and demand driven
services
 Capacity development as an overarching
principle

7. 7
Research and Extension Branch
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Innovations in Extension and Advisory Services, Nairobi, Kenya, 15-18 Nov. 2011
The process
 Analysis and assessment
 Designing a new advisory system
 Developing a proposal, including
resources requirements
Active participation of all stakeholders
throughout the process

8. 8
Research and Extension Branch
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Innovation in Extension and Advisory Services, Nairobi, Kenya, 15-18 Nov. 2011
Constraints
Niger
 Conservatism – reluctance
to open up
 Delay of the
process/overload on SDR
secretariat
 Weakness of national
federations of POs and
rivalry among them.
 Weak analytical level of
national consultants.
Lebanon
 Process interruptions –
2006 war and other
 Several changes of
project consultants
 Several ministerial
changes during the
lifetime of the project
 Weakness of POs and
lack of national
federations

9. 9
Research and Extension Branch
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Innovation in Extension and Advisory Services, Nairobi, Kenya, 15-18 Nov. 2011
Strengths
Niger
 Commitment of the government
and RDS secretariat
 Representation of stakeholders
in the NSC
 Participatory process involving
NGOs and POs
 Capacity development process
for POs
 Commitment of POs - financial
contributions
 Legal framework allowed a
pluralistic advisory system
 Consultations with the donor
community - RDS
Lebanon
 Commitment of the Government
to strengthening extension
 Stakeholder dialogue initiated
by the MoA within ADS
 Participatory process involving
all stakeholders
 Systematic needs assessment
of farmers/ survey of SP
 Dynamic NGOs and private firms
- long experience
 High interest of all stakeholders
and SP in collaboration

10. 10
Research and Extension Branch
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Innovation in Extension and Advisory Services, Nairobi, Kenya, 15-18 Nov. 2011
Weaknesses
Niger
 No systematic assessment of
farmers’ needs &priorities
 Need for review of research
and education system
 Low capacity of POs
 Insufficient experience of
most NGOs
 Poor perception of different
roles of POs and the
Chambers of Agriculture
Lebanon
 Limited budget / delays &
interruptions
 Weak status and
understaffing of public
extension
 Weak involvement of
research
 Low capacity of POs
&federations
 Fragmented donor support
to the extension system

11. 11
Research and Extension Branch
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Innovation in Extension and Advisory Services, Nairobi, Kenya, 15-18 Nov. 2011
Results
Niger
 Proposal for a pluralistic and
DD advisory system.
 Budget and plan for
implementation
 Mechanism for defining POs’
priorities and demands for
services.
 Development fund plan
managed by POs
 Pilot phase is already under
way
Lebanon
 Proposal for a pluralistic, DD
advisory system
 Legal framework for
implementation
 Cost calculations and
proposals for funding
 Maps at Caza level for
effective resource planning
 Extension database at the
MoA - networking and
facilitation

12. 12
Research and Extension Branch
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Innovations in Extension and Advisory Services, Nairobi, Kenya, 15-18 Nov. 2011
Conclusions & guiding principles
 Multiple players providing RAS – new roles,
partnerships and coordination
 National government’s commitment and
openness - enabling environment and facilitative
role
 Stakeholder participation and involvement of
farmers and POs – ownership, commitment and
relevance
 Increased investment and different funding
modalities are needed – sustainability and
effectiveness

13. 13
Research and Extension Branch
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
Innovations in Extension and Advisory Services, Nairobi, Kenya, 15-18 Nov. 2011
Conclusions & guiding principles
 Organizational development and change
management for SPs and POs
 Weak organization of farmers limit their contribution
& influence – measures to address PO capacities are
needed
 Review of the role and capacity of research its and
linkages with RAS
 National leadership of the process, and adequate
delegation of authority
 Stability and consistency are essential for the
maturity and success of the process

14. 14
Research and Extension Branch
Food and Agriculture
Organization of the
United Nations
THANK YOU