Ufaas update october 2014

PROGRESS REPORT OF THE UGANDA FORUM FOR AGRICULTURAL ADVISORY SERVICES (UFAAS)

Uganda Forum for agricultural Advisory ServicesWeb platform: www.networking.afaas-africa.org/uganda/

Presented at the AFAAS Review and Validation Workshop at Beshale Hotel, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

13th October 2014

By Beatrice Luzobe (Focal Person)

• Planned Activities

• Achievements since last meeting under

– CF strengthening

–and Communication, Information, and Knowledge Management (CIKM)

• Challenges and Lessons Leant

• Plans up to end of year

• Budget

Uganda Forum for agricultural Advisory ServicesWebsite: www.networking.afaas-africa.org/uganda/

• CF strengthening – Sensitization of AEAS actors about UFAAS– AAS stakeholder and institutional analysis– Proposal development– Validation of the Proposal– Institutional Development– Development and Validation of Strategic and

operational plan – Facilitating the CF processes (FP Support)


• Communication, Information, and Knowledge Management (CIKM)– Development of a CIKM strategy– AAS Innovation Development– AFAAS Extension Week– National Extension Activities– Engaging the media


Country Mobilization, Sensitization &Profiling of actors

•Registration of members: – More than 100 AEAS actors were registered, 27 of

these are already paid-up

•Regional Mobilization of AAS actors – 222 AEAS actors from all sector mobilized – FAQ packaged and disseminated– Recommendations from the field captured


AEAS Actors mobilized during the regional meeting

District Public Private Academia NGOs Media Farmer Organizations

Development Partners

Total

Mbarara 5 8 4 8 3 5 5 38

Kampala

7 6 1 9 2 1 5 31

Tororo 6 1 1 6 2 4 0 20

Soroti 17 2 1 3 1 1 0 25

Lira 17 3 1 2 2 0 1 26

Gulu 9 2 0 5 0 0 2 18

Kitgum 29 3 0 2 2 0 1 37

Adjuman

20 1 0 5 0 1 0 27

Total 110 26 8 40 12 12 12 222

Country Mobilization, Sensitization &Profiling of actors…

•Exhibited UFAAS at the Jinja Agricultural Show (twice-2013 and 2014)

– over 500 AAS actors during the 17 day of exhibition

– Other members also exhibitedover 500 AAS actors



•Mobilization of AEAS actors at the National level

– Ministry (MAAIF and NAADS) including Minister– The parliamentary committee on Agriculture– Main media houses visited ( UBC, Vision group,

Uganda Radio Network)– ICRAF, Heifer, FAO, Grameen Foundation




• National Stakeholders Conference (2013)– 171 (35 women) AEAS actors

from all over Uganda, and from all sectors

– Theme: “Towards an effective, efficient and innovative Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services (AEAS) system in Uganda

Institutional Development

•Finalising the Financial Policy

•Proposal Development – Gender Responsive Agricultural Services For Rural Poverty

Reduction – GRASP together with FARA. • Scoping studies approved and soon beginning.

– Capacity Development of agricultural extension systems and local communities for Sustainable Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture – International Treaty – No response yet

– USAID Feed the Future Enabling Environment for Agriculture Activity- Consultant did not perform


Lobbying and Advocacy

•Two position papers written, published and disseminated to cabinet/ ministry, Parliament and development partners

– On the proposed reforms to mainstream extension into MAAIF and restructure NAADS into the national agribusiness promotion agency

– On the involvement of the Army in agricultural service delivery


Facilitating the CF processes (Focal Point Support)•Focal Desk facilitated in terms of internal travel and Communication •Extra work by the Focal person•Several Board members have also supported the focal desk

– Worksheets developed•Editors identified and need discussion and approval by the board (Mrs Gloria Gummah and Dr. Samuel Luzobe (*need to discuss this one)

– Draft of proposed TORs shared•Cabinet and printer purchased


Website and virtual platform roll-out

•Website Management– Updating of the website embarked on but there is

a challenge of the webmaster– Face book page formed – Not yet very active

•Activation of the virtual platform through training and facilitation of champions

•Issues for discussion posted but response is still poor


AEAS Innovation Support

•Booklet on Innovative Approaches compiled– Need verification by partners, typesetting,

production and dissemination

•One partner identified for proposal development – ICRAF willing – need one more-who ??


National Extension Activities•Participated in the 22nd National Agricultural show - 7th- 13th July 2014 combined with Borlaug’s 100 years celebrations

– Theme: Take it to the Farmers: Family Farming for Agricultural Revolution in Uganda

– Exhibited of Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services (AEAS) Fora at the Jinja Agricultural Show

– Adopted theme: Taking it to the Farmers through efficient and effective Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services

• Increased awareness about AFAAS, UFAAS and • Relevant information on AFAAS and UFAAS shared with the AAES

stakeholders

• … visited the stall • Registered … potential members (AEAS Actors)

– Also attended the Norman Boulaug’s Symposium

Engaging the media

•Visited the major media houses mentioned above and shared the UFAAS mandate and possible collaborations

•Published position papers in New Vision and an article in the Agribusiness Newsletter.

•Inventory of the media houses

•Planning a consultative meeting with Media (Sensitization, consultation and inventory)


CF Strengthening

•Annual General Meeting –note– ICRAF expressed interest to co-fund

• Finalise te 5 Thematic Concepts- 2 pple each)

•4th Board Meeting –When??


Capacity Development•FARA 4 days Training - Enhancing the Capacity to Implement IAR4D Concept for AFAAS Members and NARS in Uganda -9-12th Sept’24

– The general objective of workshop is to streamline the institutionalization of the IAR4D and IP concept into the existing structure for ARD in Africa.

– Specific objectives include;•To develop the capacity of AFAAS stakeholders in IAR4D/ IP concept for agricultural development in Africa.•To develop the capacity of strategic partners in the Uganda NARS of the systemic for deriving real impact from IP concept.•To establish a cadre of professionals who will support IP concept the national and district level•Note: UFAAS part of the organizers and identified 90% of the participant•Need to strategize on extra benefit from the workshop


Lobbying and Advocacy•Develop more position papers•Develop a strategy for involving more members•Studies on pertinent AEAS issues- ICRAF interested

Facilitating the CF processes (Focal Point Support)•Continue facilitating the F/Person

– Will go to Addis Ababa in October for the AFAAS CFs’ meeting

•Strategy of involving more board members, especially from up-country•Editors


Website and virtual platform roll-out•Identify an active webmaster•Strategy on how to make the Virtual platform active

AEAS Innovation Support•a. Finalize Booklet-Major output of IFAD project•b. Develop a proposal with ICRAF on Farmer to Farmer innovation

Engaging the media•Encourage members to engage with media where they are. Eg articles, talk shows, etc •Media consultative workshop on effective and efficient agricultural extension and advisory services delivery in Uganda.


Engaging the media…

•Media consultative workshopTheme: Effective agricultural news reporting for better informed farmers and extension workers.Purpose - to bring together and engage a broad range of media actors (agriculture news editors and reporters) and extension workers g Goal - to discuss critical issues concerning an effective and efficient delivery of agricultural extension and advisory messages, and come up with an agreed way forward. The specific objectives are:•To brief the media actors and extensionists about UFAAS mandate, strategic direction, activities and plans •To discuss the various critical issues concerning Agricultural Extension and Advisory messages. and come up with a way forward•To profile media actors/ programmes in AEAS for future networking and collaboration with other sectors. •Get extension workers’ perspectives on what works for them.•Inventory of the media houses


• ANY MORE ???

• Budget review


• Late funding

• Theme 4- Professionalization and standards

• Website mgt

• Budget for Advocacy

• Budget for AGM


Ufaas update october 2014

Documents

aas actors uganda forum

sensitization of aeas

media uganda forum

advisory services aeas

women aeas actors

jinja agricultural

field captured uganda

country mobilization