Strengthening the capacity of the extension system to use knowledge to sustain equitable locally led adaptation among smallholder farmers

 

If the smallholder farming communities in Africa are to continually adapt to the impacts of climate change as well as sustain their lives and livelihoods, more systematic and easily accessible knowledge and information sharing from credible sources is required.

This project seeks to strengthen the capacity of the extension system as a knowledge broker to transfer proven knowledge, information and technology to farmers to boost their productivity and resilience, especially in the face of climate change challenges. Most importantly, the project seeks to integrate equitable and inclusive locally led adaptation strategies into the extension system to ensure that the knowledge, information and technology generated are demand-driven, co-designed and sustained by the local people.

Among its activities, the project will: conduct situational analyses and needs assessments of the key actors, their roles and linkages in the extension systems; co-design and implement targeted capacity strengthening and technical support interventions based on the identified needs of the actors; and create platforms for knowledge sharing, networking and collaboration between and among key actors in the extension system. All interventions will be designed to be gender-responsive, equitable and inclusive.

This project is part of the Step Change initiative, co-funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and IDRC. Step Change is a five-year, CAD28.5-million initiative that aims to accelerate equitable and inclusive locally led adaptation.