DIGITAL EXTENSION SHARING LOCAL KNOWLEDGE IN LOCAL VOICES “ PODCASTING” FAO_LWG

1. DIGITAL EXTENSION SHARING LOCAL KNOWLEDGE IN LOCAL VOICES “PODCASTING” FAO_LWG 29 November 2012 Lawrence Gudza lawrence.gudza@practicalactionzw.org

2. “The gift of material goods makes people dependent, but the gift of knowledge makes them free” E.F. Schumacher “The gift of material goods makes people dependent, but the gift of knowledge makes them free …. “ – E.F. Schumacher

3. Main Objective of Practical Answers To contribute to the improvement of livelihoods, by providing knowledge services and facilitating sharing of technical knowledge relevant to development processes and poverty eradication

4. The Problem that we see • “Millions of poor farmers and smallholders around the world are in need of small scale technologies to secure their livelihoods.” • The proposition is that the effective application of appropriate technologies and gaining relevant knowledge will help poor people get out of poverty.

5. Practical Answers Operational Models • Network of global and local nodes • Local node (localised and contextualised knowledge objects) • Global node (diverse global knowledge repositories) • Electronic and traditional means of communication (people + equip) • Knowledge materials: • Relevant (contextualised) • Comprehensible • In appropriate format and language • Created in cooperation with local experts and users • Based on convergence of researched and indigenous knowledge

6. Challenges Facing Communities About 50 years of extension services in Zimbabwe; is this helping transform livelihoods of poor rural communities? What we continue to see/witness: • Extension officers follow their organisation mandates and not the communities’ • Design, formatting, packaging and dissemination of content • Use of brochures and posters • Literacy can become a challenge to understand messages • Roads and communications infrastructure poor or non existent • Brain drain within the formal extension structures as experienced ones seek greener pastures • Lack of adequate resources for effective formal extension services provision

7. Problem Background – Challenges to effective extension services The challenges of development is not necessarily a lack of knowledge, but some of the following: • Coordination: – of activities on the ground • Availability: - of useful knowledge where needed • Awareness: - about and where knowledge is • Relevance: - where available • Language: - often, inappropriate • Formats: - literacy rates often ignored • Channels: - appropriateness?

8. Fighting for Space!! • There can be a total of 7 + extensionists in one community Organisation B Organisation A Organisation G Organisation C Organisation D Organisation F Organisation E COMMUNITIES • Is evaluation done to verify effectiveness of practices?

9. Digital Extension Model PARTNERS Collaborators • KNOWLEDGE REPOSITORY • Local scientific and indigenous knowledge • Livestock / Crops • Health • Environment and DRR • Social Services, etc. Feedback Extensionists / Lead Farmers/Paravets COMMUNITIES

10. Digital Extension Collaboration Model Veterinary Services Other Government partners AGRITEX Livestock Development EMA Other Knowledge Nodes Implementing Partners OXFAM Child Line FAO LEAD CRS MSF SNV CARE KNOWLEDGE NODE Other Development Partners LGDA MoritiOaSechaba Hlekweni DAPP Dabane Trust COMMUNITIES

11. Digital Extension addressing Challenges • Digital Extension offers the following advantages: • Extension agents collaborate on the design, formats and distribution channels of their products • Localised Knowledge Nodes • Knowledge content is in local voices and language • Lead farmers tap into a wealth of indigenous knowledge • Content ownership shifts from experts to communities • Appropriate content becomes accessible 24/7 • Technology has no bad days and is consistent

12. Community Knowledge Sessions- Guruve

13. Community Knowledge Sessions- Mbire

14. Local Content in Local Languages Community of Practice - Gwanda Knowledge Worker - Guruve

15. DIGITAL EXTENSION N ZIMBABWE Project: - PODCASTING • Pilot 2008 – Mbire district Mashonaland Central province • Project Roll Out – Guruve and Bindura districts – Mashonaland Central province • Scaling Up - Gwanda district – Matabeleland South province • Scaling Up – Bulilima, Mangwe, Gwanda and Mwenezi - Mat Sth & Masv Provinces • Local Partners: All government extension departments: AGRITEX, Health, EMA, • Social Svs, Youth, ZINWA, Farmers’ groups • Local development agents (NGOs, CBOs, PVOs & RDCs) • Community Knowledge Needs: - Diverse: Water, Health, Crops, Livestock, WASHE Environment, Markets • Established the first Knowledge hub at LGDA in Guruve • Established second Knowledge hub at Gwanda RDC, Matabeleland South • Established third Knowledge hub at FACT, Mutare

16. Digital Extension in Zimbabwe • Upwards of 150 Knowledge products now accessible on demand • Women now able to: (1) diagnose livestock diseases, (2) treat livestock, and (3) management: e.g. castrations, de-horning, immunisations, food processing, etc • Women now at the forefront of knowledge dissemination e.g., PRP ii, 60% women and 40% men.

17. Impact of Digital Extension in Zimbabwe

18. Impact of Digital Extension in Zimbabwe

19. Community Knowledge Sessions

20. Cost, Numbers, Impact Numbers reached: Numbers_Digital Extension.pptx Podcasting Impact: Impacts_Digital Extension.pptx

21. Digital Extension (Podcasting) Thank you for Sharing