Strategic Planning for using ICT in Extension 5th Conference on ICT4D, Accra, Ghana Strategic Planning for using ICT in Extension 5th Conference on ICT4D, Accra, Ghana Md Shahid Uddin Akbar Chief Executive Officer Bangladesh Institute of ICT Development (BIID) MEAS Project

Framework of the presentation Strategic Components Understanding the need Analyzing Existing ICT & Extension And Future (Expected) Scenario Assessing the Capacity Service development & delivery Evaluation and development Trends and Examples Myths and realities Setting objectives & Approach Use of new technologies Missing links Initiatives

Understanding the Need (Demand Analysis) Farmer Awareness and Willingness Social Behavior, Gender, Crops, Environment, Priorities, etc. Incentives & Business Model Technical Status and Readiness Trust, Acceptability and Credibility Information Flows and Institutes

Analyzing Existing ICT & Extension And Expected Future Scenario (Supply Analysis) Analyzing Existing ICT & Extension And Expected Future Scenario (Supply Analysis) Mapping existing services, providers & roles Understand the success factors & causes of failure Identify the incentives (Business Case) Capacity of extension dept. & research institutes Quality and validation of content Need based & trust worthy quality content Packaging (Tool, low cost, access & availability) Market driven and branded services Policy and environment friendliness Expected Future Scenario

Service Providers Institutional : Policy & Resources of Government, Research organizations, NGO’s, Private Sectors to adopt new technology HR : Awareness, Willingness and Understanding Service Recipients Farmers: Access, Awareness, Benefits/Results, Skills Extension : Access to technology, Awareness, Skills, Marketing, Demonstration, Incentives Policy And Regulatory Environment Assessing the Capacity

Localization and customizationValidation of content and qualityUpdate mechanism and incentives User-friendliness of service delivery (Cost & Technology) Demonstration of Impact and Sharing Success CasesFeedback Mechanism and Development Service Development and Delivery

Learning Exchange by The Farmers e-Krishok member farmers from different parts of Bangladesh visit places and share their experiences of usage of ICT and its benefits

Process Were the steps properly followed? How did it work? Take measures to improve the steps Services How beneficial it is?Usage friendlinessMeasuring the impacts Evaluation and Development

Myth vs Reality ICT can solve everything Farmers are not ‘smart’ ICT is for the ‘Elites’ 1. ICT is only a ‘tool’ and can become an effective enabler 2. Farmers have access to new technology 3. Focusing more on services not in ‘technology’ 1. ICT is only a ‘tool’ and can become an effective enabler 2. Farmers have access to new technology 3. Focusing more on services not in ‘technology’ Important

Project Driven Initiatives Business Case is not the Priority Rather achieving no.s Financial and Social (Partially) Sustainability Replication and Scaling Up Innovation (Fancy but not doable) Ownership (Till the Project life) Setting objectives and Approach Market driven approach led by private sector can be a solution to address these issues

Mobilizing and awareness building Problem specific consultation BPs - Recognition of info-centres as source of Info and advice - Trial of services by member farmers - A critical mass of benefited farmers Backend support services like content, promotion, marketing BIID has been facilitating proper usage of the first and only (as of now) private sector driven provision info bank ( of agriculture related information and knowledge. Based on the experiences of piloting in 10 locations in 2008, BIID is now expanding the service as ‘e- Krishok’ nationwide to induce trial of agricultural extension and market linkage service. BIID now introduced short code to offer voice & SMS service e-Krishok: An ICT enabled service

e-Krishok: An initiative of BIID Innovation, Strategy and Business Model (Envisioning the future market of ICT in Agriculture) Inclusive Business Concept (Service & technology adoption, Scaling up)

Mobile Phones – Voice, Transaction VAS (Call Centre, SMS) ICT enabled Shared Access Points Internet – Web : Contents – Social Media : Face Book, Twitter, YouTube – Communication : Community / FM Radio Television Using new Technologies

Missing Links

1.Supply driven approach 2.Lack of integrated and coordinated initiative 3.Gap in understanding local dynamics and social behavior 4.Respect and partnership among relevant stakeholders 5.Relationship between farmers and service providers (Input, Market and Extension) 6.Flow of information between field and research Missing Links

mFarmer: USAID/Gates/GSMA) Four challenge grantees to reach 2M farmers Learning, TA, toolkit FACET – ICT and AG Learning: briefing papers, webinars, toolkit Short term TA Workshops MEAS - Modernizing Extension and Advisory Services Synthesizes lessons learned on extension Disseminates training materials and good practice Assists in analysis and design of extension investments USAID’s Work in ICT and Extension

Thank You

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Disclaimer This presentation was made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development, USAID. The contents are the responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

Consortium Partners SAFE

MEAS Project Objectives: to define and disseminate good extension management strategies that will help establish efficient, effective and financially sustainable extension and advisory service systems in selected developing countries. This is a Leader with an Associate (LWA) Project funded by Goal: to help transform and modernize extension and advisory systems, so they can play a key role in both increasing farm incomes and enhancing the livelihoods of the rural poor, especially farm women.