The Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services – Kenya (KeFAAS) was
launched on 22 May 2015 following a two day stakeholder’s workshop in
Nyeri. Members resolved to register KeFAAS as a non- Governmental
Organization. KeFAAS itself is an umbrella organisation of agricultural
advisory services (AAS) providers, actors and stakeholders in Kenya. The
mission of KeFAAS is “to build capacity and empower stakeholders along
agricultural value-chains through knowledge-sharing, resource
mobilization and skills – development for sustainable improvements in
agricultural productivity, food and nutrition security and livelihoods”.
KeFAAS also takes on its goals, “to develop and promote a coordinated,
inclusive and demand-driven agricultural advisory support and service
network in Kenya”.
The KeFAAS overall objectives are to:
- Bring together agricultural advisory services (AAS) actors in Kenya and maintain a directory to the benefit of all stakeholders;
- Promote the development of AAS networks at the regional, national, and district level;
- Linking AAS stakeholders in Kenya with CAADP processes and to other
networks with similar goals such as the African Forum for Agricultural
Advisory Services (AFAAS) and the Global Forum for Rural Advisory
Services (GFRAS);
- To identify opportunities for sharing and promoting AAS experiences and lessons on best practices among stakeholders;
- To closely collaborate with AAS education and training institutions;
- To actively interact with agricultural Research bodies for the
development and dissemination of relevant and proven technologies that
will meet the needs of value-chain stakeholders.
- Setting standards and priorities for agriculture Extension and Advisory services in Kenya.
KeFAAS brings together multiple stakeholders in agricultural and
rural development at the national level and also at local levels
through County and Sub County Chapters. It therefore has the capacity to
provide leadership in development of value chain based innovation
platforms in target Counties. In addition, KeFAAS as an independent NGO
has the potential to partner directly with GIZ to coordinate the
development partners’ efforts and input through its member organization.
The immediate activities/priorities
- Complete review of NASEP (Extension Policy)
- Operationalisation of KeFAAS (CF)
- Building competence on new extensionist
- Policy brief on rethinking extension in Kenya
- Finalize and enforce extension guidelines and standards
- Sensitization on new extensionist concept
- Up-scaling of innovation center concept
- Establish Knowledge Management platform.
The Chairman of the CF is Bob Muchina and the Focal Point Person Richard Githaiga.
