1. Support, services and extension for CSA Federica Matteoli (FAO) GACSA Annual Forum 14-17 June, 2016

2. Outputs for extension under GACSA Knowledge Action Group
Compendium on extension services & approaches for CSA
A review of existing examples of successful index-based insurance for scaling up (Ethiopia, India, Senegal, USA, West Africa)
Web-based knowledge resources on CSA

3. Compendium on extension approaches and services for CSA
Goal: map existing tools as well as knowledge media to support extension services in light of CSA
Team: 20 contributions from 30 authors based in 19 organizations, including international agencies, academia & research institutes, governmental institutions, private sector and NGOs
Outcome: report shows how extension services are contributing to achieve CSA by disseminating climate information as well as technologies & information on production practices for climate adaption through innovative approaches (e.g. plant clinics, participatory video)

4. Preliminary findings & recommendations
Extension providers can play a key role for: * technology development & information dissemination * strengthening farmers’ capacity * facilitation and brokering * advocacy and policy support
Rural Advisory Services have limited resources & relatively limited involvement in climate change adaptation/mitigation (few national providers have specific programs)
Long-term actions * Extension reform is key for effective rural advisory systems
Short-term actions * Establishing local level platforms/mechanisms to improve coordination/collaboration between public sector advisory services & other stakeholders to support innovation processes * Better assist service providers to use ad hoc extension methods/tools

5. Preliminary findings & recommendations
Main gaps
Gaps in long-term series of climate data does not allow accurate downscaling of seasonal rainfall forecast information, with consequences in the quality of climate information provided by extension agents
Lack of extension agents’ capacities for basic tools (i.e. crop modelling, remote sensing, field observations) & new soft skills
Lack of low-cost incentives to reward farmer-to-farmer extension
Local language often a barrier for mass climate information dissemination
Weak leverage of traditional & indigenous knowledge
Gender dimension rarely targeted

6. Preliminary findings & recommendations
A few lessons learned
Farmer-to-farmer extension is effective both in terms of productivity increase and for inclusion of women & marginalized groups in extension roles
Farmers’ organizations/unions can be a key player for R&D, replicating & upscaling of innovations
Different options are available to train extension intermediaries (e.g. product intermediaries, community intermediaries), and need to be further tested
Research shows that synergies can be found with others sectors – e.g. whether climate and weather information could be posted at health clinics and distributed by the health workers.
Regional/International experience sharing works through Community of Practices
Hybridization of communication methods is the best way to ensure that farmers (especially women and marginalized farmers) are reached
Source: Heeb et al Compendium

7. A review of existing examples of successful index-based insurance for scaling up
The document provides an overview of art and practice in the field of index- based insurance for climate smart agriculture, thanks to case studies and a map of global stakeholders, as well as recommendations to advance the field of insurance schemes for CSA.
Product editor: Professor James Adegoke (University of Missouri - Kansas City)
Contributions received
Weather Index Insurance in India: Opportunities and Challenges Pramod Aggarwal (IWMA, CCAFS)
GACSA Weather Index Insurance (WII) – Case Study West Africa Mark Ruegg (Celcius Pro)
The R4 Rural Resilience Initiative (R4) Jim Hansen (IRI)
Status of crop insurance mechanisms in the United States Rebecca Shaw (WWF)

8. Identify existing online knowledge platforms/hubs on CSA
38 resources were mapped
Including Communities of Practices, thematic pages, blogs, knowledge repositories (including data, publications, media)
Adaptation & resilience; Mitigation
Productivity & incomes
Mitigation
Productivity & incomes; Adaptation & resilience; Mitigation
Adaptation & resilience

9. Thank you for your attention!
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