New dates decided for the 15th GFRAS Annual Meeting, scheduled to take place in Senegal. Mark your calendars! Read more about this important update below, as well as about the following other topics:
The Future of Extension – Keynote from Tawanda Hove (BMGF), held for the GFRAS General Assembly, now available online.GFRAS Strategy Task Force Call – Seeking experts to help shape the future of rural advisory services.Africa-Wide Extension Week 2025 – Around 1,000 delegates expected to gather in Lilongwe, Malawi, in May 2025. GFRAS to host a side event on agroecology.FAO Case Study Call – Identifying case studies on pluralistic extension services for ecosystem restoration. Survey link & deadline included.Latin America SHEP Seminar – JICA, RELASER, IICA & IFAD discuss market-oriented agriculture in the region.AERAS Project Showcase – Latest progress on GFRAS’ agroecology project, and farmer advisory support initiatives.IALB/EUFRAS/SEASN Annual Rural Advisors Conference 2025 – June 25-26 in Brussels, focusing on advisory services’ role in agricultural policies. Registration open.AESA Panel Discussion – “Beyond Traditional Roles: Career Options for Extension Graduates” on Feb 27 at 15:30 IST.Nutrition Policy Brief – RELASER & RAS-SEA launch guidance on integrating nutrition into agricultural extension services in Indonesia.Caribbean Survey – University of Florida-led study on extension services in the region, supported by GFRAS. We hope you enjoy this edition of the GFRAS Update!
GFRAS Annual Meeting in Senegal – New Dates Announced
GFRAS is proud to announce the new dates for the 15th GFRAS Annual Meeting, now scheduled to take place from 11-13 November 2025, with side events planned for 10 November. Following a series of discussions on the topic held in 2024, GFRAS is moving forward with a highly anticipated in-person gathering.The new administration in Senegal is actively engaged and strongly committed to the event, and is supported by AFAAS, as the continental extension network, alongside RESCAR-AOC, the West and Central Africa Network of Agricultural and Rural Advisory Services, and ANCAR. The meeting will continue to focus on the professionalization of advisory services, capacity building, and strengthening extension systems to better serve farmers and rural communities. Stay tuned for more details and registration information!
GFRAS Strategic Framework 2026-2030: Join the Task Force!
GFRAS is renewing its strategic framework for 2026-2030. This framework will guide GFRAS in responding to the need for strengthening the agricultural extension and advisory services ability to scale innovations and facilitate the required agrifood systems transformation. It will address the needs of its members, aligning with external opportunities and constraints. The renewal process will be participatory and inclusive, ensuring broad input from all relevant stakeholders. To support this effort, GFRAS is seeking members from its constituency to join the Task Force and Selection Committee. More details can be found in the Terms of Reference (ToR), which outline the procedure and requirements. Applications will be received until March 12, 2025. This is an opportunity to contribute to shaping the future of rural advisory services. Access the ToR
Africa-Wide Extension Week 2025
The Africa-Wide Extension Week (AAEW) 2025 is set to take place from May 12-16, 2025, in Lilongwe, Malawi, bringing together around 1,000 delegates from across the continent and beyond to exchange ideas and shape the future of extension and advisory services. This year’s theme, “Rebranding Extension for Enhanced Public-Private Sector Driven Commercialisation, Industrialisation, and Inclusive Food Systems,” will focus on strengthening collaboration between stakeholders to drive agricultural transformation and sustainable food systems. GFRAS plans to host a dedicated side event at AAEW, bringing together agroecology experts and projects from its network, including the latest developments in the “Empowering Small-Scale Farmers in Agroecology (AERAS) project”. The session will showcase innovative approaches and best practices in agroecology within rural advisory services. Register here
ÆRAS Progress: Empowering Small-Scale Farmers in Agroecology The ÆRAS Project, funded by the European Commission and administered by IFAD, continues to make significant progress in strengthening participatory Rural Advisory Services (RAS) to support small-scale farmers in their transition to agroecology. To date, 5,036 farmers have been engaged across four target countries, reaching 56% of the overall goal of 9,000 farmers.Capacity-building efforts have exceeded expectations, with 33 Master Trainers and 243 RAS facilitators trained, surpassing the project’s targets. Additionally, 30 Peer Learning Teams (PLTs) have been established, and 43 coaching sessions have been conducted to enhance knowledge exchange.National-level learning and sharing workshops have been a cornerstone of the project, fostering reflection and collaboration among stakeholders. Workshops in Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Uganda brought together 244 participants, exceeding initial expectations. These events provided a platform for discussing best practices, addressing challenges, and strengthening synergies with national institutions. As the project continues, a focus on monitoring, evaluation, and adaptive learning ensures ongoing improvements in advisory services and agroecological transitions for small-scale farmers. In the image below, a snapshot from the Ecuador National Symposium on Soil Conservation Strategy, part of the project.
GFRAS Networks and its Partners
FAO-led Task Force on Best Practices The FAO-led Task Force on Best Practices for the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (UN Decade) is conducting a global survey to identify case studies on pluralistic extension and advisory services for ecosystem restoration. They are aiming at documenting and showcasing good practices, and facilitating knowledge sharing among countries. The best case studies will be published in a compendium and presented at global events to help develop capacities to effectively provide extension and advisory services that integrate ecosystem restoration knowledge and practice. The survey is available in English, Chinese, French and Spanish. The survey will remain open until 15 April 2025. We invite the GFRAS community to contribute with its experiences, and hopefully draw attention to innovations happening at country level. Complete the survey
Towards a Market-Oriented Family Farming Agriculture The International Seminar on the Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion (SHEP) approach brought together over 120 participants from Latin America to explore market-oriented agricultural empowerment. Organized by JICA Bolivia with support from IFAD, IICA, and RELASER, the event highlighted SHEP’s transformation from “produce and sell” to “produce to sell,” enabling farmers to make informed, market-driven production decisions. Experts emphasized empowerment, rural women’s leadership, and innovation, while discussing challenges such as low adoption of technology and limited market knowledge. With reported income increases of up to 70%, the SHEP model is gaining traction across Latin America, aiming to reach one million farmers by 2030. GFRAS and JICA have also worked together on a SHEP online training module. Access it here
Caribbean-Targeted Survey The University of Florida is conducting a survey to gather insights on the current state and future needs of extension services in the Caribbean. This initiative aims to identify challenges, opportunities, and best practices to enhance rural advisory services in the region. We invite extension professionals, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners across the Caribbean to share their perspectives and contribute to shaping more effective and inclusive extension services. Your input will help inform strategies to strengthen knowledge sharing, capacity building, and innovation in agricultural extension. Your voice is crucial in building a more resilient and responsive extension system in the Caribbean.
Last Chance to Register: AESA Panel on Career Options for Extension Graduates There is still one day left to register for the AESA (Agricultural Extension in South Asia) panel discussion on Beyond Traditional Roles: Career Options for Extension Graduates. This session will explore diverse career paths beyond teaching and research, featuring experts who have successfully built careers in the non-public sector. The event will take place on February 27, 2025, at 3:30 PM IST on Google Meet.Interested participants can still secure their spot by registering through the following link: Registration Form. This is a great opportunity to gain insights from professionals shaping the future of extension careers.
IALB/EUFRAS/SEASN Conference The 64th IALB | 14th EUFRAS | 11th SEASN Annual Rural Advisors Conference, is scheduled for 25-26 June 2025 in Brussels, Belgium. This year’s theme is “Strengthening the Role of Advisors and Educators in the CAP – Now and in Future.” Events will be held at the Representation of the Free State of Bavaria to the EU. Registration: Now open at https://eveeno.com/ialb-eufras-seasn-2025. Young advisors under 35 are especially encouraged to attend and can also avail of this discount. For more details, including the event program, visit the conference website. Keynote: The Future of Extension GFRAS is pleased to share the insightful keynote address delivered by Dr. Tawanda Hove from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation at the 2024 GFRAS General Assembly. His presentation explores the future of extension and the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in advisory services worldwide.Dr. Hove highlights how AI is already shaping agricultural extension, improving knowledge delivery, decision-making, and farmer engagement. His address provides valuable insights into how extension professionals can leverage digital innovations to enhance service delivery and meet the evolving needs of farmers.
Showcase: Nutrition Policy Brief
Strengthening Nutrition in Agricultural Extension in Indonesia The Community of Practice (CoP) on Effective Integration of Nutrition into Extension and Advisory Services has launched a new policy brief highlighting strategies to integrate nutrition into extension services. Indonesia faces a triple burden of malnutrition—under-nutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies—making it essential to enhance agricultural practices to improve food security. The policy brief emphasizes the role of extension and advisory services (EAS) in addressing these challenges by leveraging digital technologies, multi-stakeholder engagement, and participatory approaches. It also underscores the need for capacity development, data-driven monitoring, and innovative outreach strategies to promote sustainable agri-food systems. The CoP serves as a knowledge-sharing platform involving extensionists, researchers, policymakers, and civil society. The policy recommendations call for investments in nutrition-sensitive agriculture, strategic partnerships, and improved extension practices to ensure long-term impact.For more details, access the full policy brief. Access the policy brief
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