jeudi 16 novembre 2017

lundi 7 mars 2016

JOB OPPORTUNITY FOR COUNTRY FORA COMMUNICATION, INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT (KM) FACILITATORS


African Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (AFAAS) is a Continental body that brings National Agricultural Extension and Advisory Services (AEAS) under one umbrella. Its mission is to promote lesson learning and add value to initiatives in agricultural advisory services through sharing of information and increased professional interaction, and its goal is to enhance utilization of improved knowledge and innovations by agricultural value chain actors for improving productivity oriented towards their individual and national development objectives. Currently AFAAS is active in 17 countries. In each of these countries it works through Country Fora (CF) that bring together diverse public and private sector individuals and organizations operating at different levels of the national agricultural innovation systems. These include farmers/ farmers’ organisations, agricultural advisory service providers, policy makers, and the whole range of actors who support value chains. The CF provide all these actors a space to share their experiences, exchange information, providing services to each other and identify opportunities for AEAS-related innovations in their domains of work. AFAAS builds the institutional mechanisms for this to happen.

In the countries where such mechanisms have taken root, AFAAS has embarked on facilitating them to undertake communication, information and knowledge management (CIKM) as a service to the members. The KM activities focus on facilitating and building capacity for: (i) communication and engagement between members, (ii) generation of content that can be shared between members, (iii) adoption of tools and platforms for engagement/communication and content generation, (iv) network sustainability, and (v) governance to ensure that the CF is credible as a knowledge network. The AFAAS Secretariat has put in place mechanisms to support the activities. These include a website, a virtual social networking platform (VSNP) and presence on various social media platforms to support web-based KM. It also supports non-web based KM activities in the CF such as production of newsletters, workshops, conferences and marketplaces for information and services.
AFAAS through the CFs is soliciting services of CIKM Facilitators to help CFs undertake Knowledge management activities at the national, facilitate interactions among stakeholders, and between CFs and AFAAS Secretariat.

II-                  OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The objective of the assignment is to support the Cameroon Forum for Agricultural Advisory Services (CAMFAAS)'s Secretariats in Cameroon and members to undertake KM activities that contribute to the AFAAS mission and goal.



III-                SCOPE OF WORK

1        CF Knowledge Network Governance
a.    Sensitise CF members on the terms and conditions for governance of the CF as a knowledge network;
b.    Ensure tat all CF content that goes out (to the CF network, the general AFAAS network and the public) is appropriately certified through the CF quality assurance mechanisms; 
2        Communication and Engagement
  1. Sensitise members of the CF on the website and VSNP as means for communication and engagement;
  2. Manage the CAMFAAS pages on the website and the VSNP;
  3. Continuously identify areas for improvements and refinements for the website and VSNP and bring these to the attention of the Communication, Information and Knowledge Management Officer at the AFAAS Secretariat;
  4. Conceptualize and manage the CFs Social media channels;
  5. Support the CF Secretariat in carrying out visibility activities at national level and developing publicity information and materials;
  6. Develop a system for managing and sharing information among CFs key stakeholders who include, the Board, implementing partners and development partners;
3        Content Development and management
a.    Identify, collect, collate and curate the information content that CF members have for sharing;
b.    Support the CF Secretariat in managing the processes for enhancing content generation and sharing by the members;
4        Tools and Platforms
a.    Identify the CF members’ needs for tools and platforms that can enhance their efficiency and effectiveness in delivery of services to their clients;
b.    Continuously sensitise the CF secretariat and members on the new tools and platforms and how they can be accessed;
5        Sustainability
a.    Participate in conceptualising, planning and implementing marketplaces through which the CF can generate revenue from the services it provides to members

IV-               DELIVERABLES
  1. High rating of the CAMFAAS as a credible knowledge network by members and external stakeholders;
  2. Enhanced communication, engagement and interactions of CF members online (AFAAS website, VSNP, social media, etc) and offline (workshops, newsletters, conferences, marketplaces, etc);
  3. Enhanced generation and sharing of content by CF members;  
  4. Enhanced awareness and adoption of tools and platforms for increasing effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery by CF members;
  5. Increase in revenue generated by the CF through the services it provides to members;
  6. Increased visibility of the CF at national level and beyond;


V-                 LIAISON AND REPORTING ARRANGEMENTS
The KM Facilitators will work under the supervision of the CF Focal Persons and report to AFAAS Communications, Information and Knowledge Management Officer.

VI-               WORK STATION
The KM Facilitators shall be based at the CFs Secretariat.

VII-             REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
The CIKM Facilitator (individual or organisation) shall be a member or a potential member of the CF with a good understanding of the CF and AFAAS objectives. The required qualifications of the person(s) to undertake the work are:
          i            A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in a field related to Journalism, Public relations, Communication, or Knowledge management.
        ii            Excellent communication skills;
      iii            A track record - spanning at least three years - that shows ability to manage/ use internet-based KM processes/ tools;
       iv            A background in working in agriculture and/or rural development contexts would be an advantage;

VIII-           DURATION OF ASSIGNMENT
The assignment shall run for one year from the starting date.

IX-               Submission procedures

Interested candidate (individual or organization) must submit the following document in English or French:
-          An update CV duly signed by the applicant,
-          Passport size photograph
-          Technical and financial proposition (description of methodology and salaries expectation) no more than three pages
-          All these must be submitted to camfaas.cmr@gmail.com with copy to ngouambe@gmail.com  with subject line “ICKM Officer for CAMFAAS”
-          All application must be submitted no later than March 13th at 23:59 (Cameroon time zone).

-          For further information email to ngouambe@gmail.com or call 00237 679717809/222311289/677624121

samedi 5 mars 2016

Soutenir les jeunes dans l’agriculture pour la sécurité alimentaire mondiale

l'engagement des jeunes femmes dans l'agriculture. (Photo crédit: NGOUAMBE Nestor)

L’Agriculture reste le seul secteur capable de booster la croissance économique en Afrique. Ce secteur contribue pour au moins  20% au PIB de la plus part de pays du continent et absorbe environ 60% de la main d’œuvre active. Au Cameroun, depuis 2006 plusieurs initiatives sont mises en place pour encourager les jeunes à s’investir davantage dans le secteur. Cependant, les mesures accompagnement ne leur permettent pas toujours de s’investir le secteur. on observe un manque d’accès à la terre, une insuffisance des infrastructures de base et une insuffisance des services d’appuis conseil.
Dans le cadre des activités d’YPARD au Cameroun en collaboration avec les autres organisations de jeunes, une stratégie de suivi et d’orientation des jeunes agriculteurs a été mise en place. Ceci permet ainsi de partager les cas de réussites avec les  autres jeunes afin de mieux les inspirer.

Depuis deux ans, une vingtaine de jeunes sont suivi dans la mise en place au quotidien de leurs activités. Les jeunes ont une volonté manifeste de s’impliquer davantage dans le secteur, mais décrient toujours les moyens limités pour l’extension de leur projet. Aussi ils n’ont pas vraiment accès aux semences de qualité pour optimiser leurs facteurs.

 A l’occasion de la troisième conférence du Groupe Consultatif pour la Recherche Agricole et le Développement (GCARD3), une session spéciale est une fois de plus organiser pour permettre aux jeunes porteurs de projet d’exposer leurs idées et créativités.  C’est une occasion pour mieux défendre les intérêts des jeunes et faire un plaidoyer pour leur implication effective dans les décisions mondiale de recherche et de développement de l’agriculture. Mon expérience dans le domaine et mes actions de plaidoyer déjà menées dans au niveau national que  continental, sont des facteurs favorable à ma participation à cette rencontre importante. Parce que les jeunes ont besoins d’orientations et d’encadrement, ils ont besoins d’être inspiré pour développer leur potentiel.


C’est pourquoi un appel est lancé aux dirigeants africains notamment de la sous région d’Afrique centrale, de respecter les clauses des accords de Maputo (PDDAA) et surtout de la déclaration de Malabo sur l’accélération de la croissance agricole. Les jeunes sont le diésel qui fera fonctionner les machines de production agricole pour la croissance économique en Afrique. Une seule chose reste à faire c’est de leur faire confiance et de leur accordé un peu d’attention sur les idées novatrices surtout à cette nouvelle ère de l’agriculture numérique inclusive en Afrique.


samedi 18 juillet 2015

Funding opportunities in Agriculture and related fields

Funding News Bulletin

This is a twice monthly bulletin on available funding opportunities which are posted on thewww.ypard.net website. If you have any comments or questions about this information service, please contact us at info@ypard.net.
This service is provided in partnership with Terra Viva Grants.

Latest funding opportunities

Lincoln Institute of Land Policy -- Research on Land Policy and Urban Development in Latin America 2016

Deadline: 
20 Jul 2015
The Lincoln Institute of Land Policy calls for proposals on several themes related to land policy and urban development in Latin America. One of these themes is climate change and environmental risks, such as for populations living on flood plains and steep slopes. The Lincoln Institute will pay for the research project based on the scope of work and the justification of the proposed budget. Most recent projects are under US$30 thousand.

UK Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs -- Darwin Main Projects, Round 22

Deadline: 
20 Jul 2015
The Darwin Initiative funds capacity building, training, research, and education in support of the major conventions on biodiversity -- focusing on the developing world. The program invites applications for main projects, which are normally around £250 thousand to £300 thousand for projects of up to three years. There are no restrictions on the location or nationality of applicants, but projects must benefit biodiversity and local communities in developing countries.

Graça Machel Scholarships for Women

Deadline: 
27 Jul 2015
Graça Machel Trust offers scholarships for Southern Africa’s future women leaders. The application process is the same as for Canon Collins Scholarships for Postgraduate study in South Africa. For further information and to apply, please click here. Are you eligible? To apply for a scholarship under this programme you must be:

Entrepreneurs for Social Change

Deadline: 
30 Jul 2015
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations launched the third edition of Entrepreneurs for Social Change and youth aged 18 to 35 from the Euro-Mediterranean region are invited to apply.

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) -- Agribusiness in Liberia

Deadline: 
31 Jul 2015
USAID-Monrovia invites applications for a 4-year agribusiness development activity as a component of the program "Feed the Future." USAID will promote agricultural inputs and post-harvest handling, processing, packaging, and marketing to raise the incomes of small-holder farmers in Liberia. Eligibility for funding is unrestricted.

Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) -- John Allwright Fellowship 2015

Deadline: 
31 Jul 2015
ACIAR awards the John Allwright Fellowship for university post-graduate studies in Australia. Applicants are citizens of ACIAR's priority partner countries, and engaged in an ACIAR collaborative project at the time of application. Each awardee pursues research at an Australian tertiary institution relevant to the project in which the awardee is engaged prior to taking up the award.

WWF in India -- Small Grants Program

Deadline: 
31 Jul 2015
WWF-India offers grants up to Rs. 400 thousand for conservation research or action projects of up to two years. Grants are made to individuals to be utilized primarily for field activities. Priority is for research and conservation aligned with WWF's program in India.

Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) – Research and Training in Food Security

Deadline: 
01 Aug 2015
The Seed Fund for Research and Training (SFRT) is open to individuals in ASEAN member countries for competitive grants up to US$15 thousand in research and training related to agriculture and rural development.

Scholarships - Master of Integrated Water Management (Australia)

Deadline: 
01 Aug 2015
The International Water Centre (IWC) is currently offering several full scholarships for high calibre international candidates* interested in studying the Master of Integrated Water Management (MIWM) commencing in Semester 1, 2016 at The University of Queensland.

IDRC Research Awards 2016

Deadline: 
06 Aug 2015
This call is open to Canadians, permanent residents of Canada, and citizens of developing countries pursuing a master’s or a doctoral degree at a recognized university OR who have completed a master's or doctoral degree at a recognized university. These research awards may be part of an academic requirement.
Read more

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) -- Pacific-American Climate Fund

Deadline: 
10 Aug 2015
The Pacific-American Climate Fund (PACAM) is a five-year project that provides grants to civil society organizations in the developing countries of the Pacific Islands to support measures for climate change adaptation.

U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) -- Water and Sanitation in Uganda

Deadline: 
10 Aug 2015
USAID-Kampala invites applications for a cooperative agreement to implement its Uganda Sanitation Program. The project will provide a series of contemporary, integrated water and sanitation interventions at community and household levels. Eligibility for this award is not restricted. Funding Opportunity RFA-617-15-000008.

Original source: www.ypard.ne