Modernizing Extension and Advisory Services

Transcription

1 Modernizing Extension and Advisory Services Engaging Extension and Advisory Service Providers in Nutrition-Sensitive Agriculture Part I: Focus on Malawi SPRING-MEAS Webinar Arlington, VA October 29, 2014 Dr. Vickie A. Sigman Consultant Senior Agricultural Extension Specialist MEAS, University of Illinois 1

2 Part I: Integrating Agriculture and Nutrition in Malawi TODAY S WEBINAR First in the two-part series About integrating agriculture and nutrition in Malawi within the agricultural extension and nutrition education context. Based on findings from a recent assessment, commissioned by USAID/Malawi, of Malawi s agricultural extension, nutrition education, and integrated agriculture-nutrition programs and systems. 1 2

3 Malawi Assessment Purpose: investigate these different programs and systems with the aim of informing the design of an activity to strengthen extension and nutrition outreach services in Malawi s Feed the Future focus districts. 3

4 Assessment Team Framework: programs and people: 3 types, 3 sectors Methodology: visits, interviews, focus group, review workshop, literature review 4

5 Today s Presentation Key findings: Context Structure and Linkages of Nutrition Delivery Systems Challenges and Possibilities 5

6 Context Key statistics 85% of livelihoods from agriculture Over 50% under the poverty line 47% of under-fives stunted Key policies and initiatives Agriculture Policies 2 Nutrition Policies 3 Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) 4 New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition 5 6

7 Overarching Nutrition Structure & Linkages Donors Office of the President and the Cabinet Department of Nutrition & HIV&AIDS (DNHA) SUN Task Force Tech Working Groups National Nutrition Committee Private Sector Entities (business, farmer associations) Public Sector (ministries, academe, research) Civil Society Sector (NGOs, media) 7

8 Ministry Structure & Linkages National-Level: DNHA District-Level : Ministry of Local Government (District Nutrition Coordination Committee) MINISTRY DISTRICT-LEVEL Staff Coordination FIELD-LEVEL Staff Agriculture & Food Security Nutrition Officer Own Committee Health District Nutritionist Own Committee Ag Ext Dev Officer Health Surveillance Agent Gender, Children & Social Welfare Com Dev Officer Com Dev Ass t Private & Civil Society (NGO) Linkages: Participation on committees or working through or with field level staff. 8

9 Delivery Systems How are farmers and farm families being engaged in nutrition-sensitive agriculture and other nutrition-related activities? Assessment Identifies Various systems Department of Agriculture Extension Services (DAES) Care Groups Farmer Organizations Blended Care Groups/ Farmer Organizations 9

10 DAES (Department of Ag Ext Services) Public sector system largest provider of agricultural extension services has a Food and Nutrition Unit Field-staff Some trained in nutrition (through DAES Food & Nutrition, NGOs, or SUN) typically in crop diversification; six food groups; food preparation, processing, storage, & preservation, cooking demonstrations; other SUN-developed messages) Incorporated as part of their every day work Collaborate with health field-staff Engaged by NGOs to implement NGO-funded nutrition-sensitive agriculture projects, or NGO staff work collaboratively with DAES field staff 10

11 DAES Methods Lead Farmers Respected farmer, trained by ag extension, voluntarily extends to others Mndandandas Contiguous fields, best practices, demonstrated by extensionists and farmers, on different crops Model Village Various service providers from various sectors, assist in overall development, village is then a teaching tool 11

12 Care Groups In Malawi: widely-used by public sector health and NGOs system adopted by SUN tested by NGOs implementing USAID activities Focus: improving maternal and child health and nutrition Characterized: volunteer health educators, neighborhood groups, behavior change, household level Primarily a health and nutrition system; limited agriculture integration 12

13 Care Group Structure 6 CARE GROUPS NEIGHBOR GROUPS COORDINATOR SUPERVISORS PROMOTERS Diagram referenced in End Note #6. 13

14 Farmer Organizations Private-sector approach Two large apex organizations: Farmers Union of Malawi National Smallholder Farmers Association of Malawi (NASFAM) Today s example 14

15 NASFAM Structure Farmers Clubs (10-15 farmers) Group Action Centers (10-15 Clubs) Farmer Associations (10-15 Group Action Centers) Innovation & Productivity Center (Associations grouped in a District) Paid extension staff Field officers work at association level, with lead farmers, DAES staff Development entity supports nutrition activities production and utilization of diversified crops nutrition education Lead Farmers/others receive training scaled through clubs and out to community 15

16 Blended Care Groups / Farmer Organizations New system, introduced and tested by USAID/Malawi partner Explicit linkages between the two systems: Care Group and Farmer Association. Example: Promoters are recruited from NASFAM membership - information flows among groups/clubs One example: peanut production for income and home consumption Integration driven by both ag & nutrition concerns 16

17 Challenges and Possibilities Personnel and Related Support Issues Coordination Investments 17

18 Challenges and Possibilities: Personnel and Related Support Issues Coverage Capacity Conditions of Service Incentives 18

19 Challenges and Possibilities: Coverage Challenge: Coverage High-vacancy rates = ratio of 1:2000 to 4000; difficulties recruiting women Health Surveillance Agent numbers also low Possibilities: Coverage Lead farmers Improved transportation More mass media & ICT Strengthen GOM- NGO coordination Hire more agents, moderate expectations 19

20 Challenges and Possibilities: Capacity Challenge: Capacity Numerous subjects including nutrition-sensitive ag Limited refresher training Not all have participated in nutrition training Learning aids lacking Possibilities: Capacity Peer to peer training Self-paced learning modules More ICT Advocate for increased budget for training 20

21 Challenges and Possibilities Conditions of Service & Incentives CONDITIONS OF SERVICE Challenge Sub-standard housing & minimal transport Lack of communication tools Narrow opportunities Possibilities Long-term costed plan Challenge INCENTIVES Conditions of service and training NGO GOM extension; wide-differences Possibilities GOM & NGO develop standards and protocols 21

22 Challenges and Possibilities: Coordination Challenges: Many actors Coordinating structures understaffed; few function effectively Ministries and entities have own set of coordination committees Lack of funds to coordinate at the field level Possibilities Streamline, realign, merge, the various coordinating structures and committees Establish a coordination fund to support field-level coordination across sectors 22

23 Challenges: Investments Challenges: GOM has numerous priorities and limited funds Many systems require investment, but particularly public sector agricultural extension Resources needed to address challenges identified Data to guide investments lacking 23

24 Possibilities: Investments Possibilities: Study cost-benefit of investments in various systems Use resources more efficiently Main contributor is GOM Improve DAES capacity to advocate Some donor contributions to GOM extension; most bi- and multilateral donors finance NGObased and private sector extension and advisory services Given expectations, reconsider trend 24

25 THANK YOU 25

26 End Notes 1 Sigman, V., Rhoe, V., Peters, J., Banda, T, & Malindi, G. (2014). Assessment of agricultural extension, nutrition education, and integrated agriculture-nutrition extension services in the Feed the Future focus districts in Malawi. Urbana-Champaign, IL: University of Illinois, MEAS. Available from 2 GOM/MOAFS (2011). Malawi agricultural sector wide approach: A prioritized and harmonized Agricultural Development Agenda: Lilongwe: GOM/MOAFS. Retrieved from ftp://ftp.fao.org/tc/tca/caadp%20tt/caadp%20implementation/caadp%20post- Compact/Investment%20Plans/National%20Agricultural%20Investment%20Plans/Malawi%20Post%20Compact%20Inv estment%20plan.pdf 3 GOM/DNHA (2009). National nutrition policy and strategic plan ( ). Lilongwe: DNHA. Retrieved from %20Plan% pdf 4 GOM. (nd). National nutrition education and communication strategy, Lilongwe: GOM. Retrieved from 5 DFID. (2013). Country cooperation framework to support the New Alliance for Food Security & Nutrition in Malawi. Retrieved from 6 Food Security and Nutrition Network Social and Behavioral Change Task Force. (2014). Care groups: A training manual for program design and implementation. Washington, DC: Technical and Operational Performance Support Program. Retrieved from 26

27 This presentation was given: By Vickie A. Sigman, on behalf of MEAS SPRING- MEAS Webinar October 29, 2014 Arlington, VA

28 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.