Connect Rural Knowledge Venture

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Connect Rural Knowledge Venture

• Local Information Development, Access and Sharing
• Through a Support Network for Rural Communities
  and Producers

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People closest to problems helping solve the
problems

• and sharing communication processes, tools,
  techniques and information for action

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The Opportunity

• There are vast resources of potentially valuable
  information, at all levels, that are not finding
  their way to the people who need it to make local
  decisions to improve their livelihoods.
• The Connect Rural Knowledge Venture will improve
  capabilities, at all levels, to add value to
  these resources and improve the flow of
  information among farm families, producer groups,
  and information providers.

4
Project Goals

• Improve rural livelihoods / strengthen food
  security and reduce hunger
• Increase access to situation-appropriate and
  practical information
• Add value to existing networks, projects, and
  communication capacity building initiatives

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Rationale - New Paradigm

• Decentralization, privatization, contracted
  extension services and weak public extension
  systems
• Demand/Supply disconnect increased demand not
  matched by supply of appropriate information

Peeling cassava roots - Ghana
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Increasing complexity
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Project Outcomes Year -5

• Sustainable rural knowledge support networks -
  initially in at least 2 countries in a regional
  context in Africa, Asia, and LAC (minimum 6)
• Demand for information met with appropriate
  supply
• Rural households enterprises using information
  to make decisions leading to increased producer
  profitability and income security

Video learning program - Tonga
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Project Outcomes Year 5

• Increased capacity for local adaptation/sharing
  of appropriate information
• Increased responsiveness of rural production
  systems to opportunities (and threats)
• Establishment of new partnerships and alliances
• Incorporated into partner program activities

Farmer benefiting from an irrigation system -
Gambia
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Rural Knowledge Support Network

• Community level households enterprises
• Information providers exchange networks
• National international knowledge partners

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Connect Demand with SupplyCommunity level
households and enterprises

• Up-to-date information on sources, availability
  and cost of agricultural inputs
• Information on market prices, trends, access
• Information on enterprise, farm and natural
  resource management
• Information on techniques and technologies for
  production and post-harvest storage processing

Castor bean plant processing leads to castor
oil, varnishes, paints and dyes
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Connect Demand with SupplyInformation Providers
Exchange Networks

• Analyze client communication contexts
  determine appropriate content media
• Create, access and adapt information
• Share information horizontally vertically
• Support local appropriation of information
  tools, content, processes

Farmer Organization Communication Workshop
Kilosa, Tanzania
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Connect Demand with SupplyNational
International Knowledge Partners

• Orient existing information sources to new rural
  contexts
• Contribute content to information providers and
  users
• Develop and promote practices for dynamic
  information flow
• Share knowledge network experiences, information
  products, and communication processes
• Build capacity of local information
  producers/facilitators

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Approach to Media and Tools

• Building on existing systems and improving access
• Based on context, demand and opportunity

Rural radio popular across Africa
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Media and Connectivity Options

• Face-to-face, theatre, poetry, music,
  newsletters, posters, desktop publishing,
  cd-rom, computer networks, fax, phone, radio,
  video, email, websites, etc .
• Existing connectivity VITA Connect, WorldSpace,
  ISPs, 2-way satellite, telecentres, etc. -
  whatever works

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Sustainability Support Network
Partners/Subscribers

• Producer groups and community organizations
• Donors, International Financial Institutions,
  International/National NGOs, Governments,
  Projects
• National Agricultural Research Systems
• Universities and academic institutions
• Agribusiness
• Advisory services public, private, NGO
• Media and connectivity service providers

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Business model

• Subscription-based service
• Sponsorship of information providers and exchange
  networks
• General sponsorship grants
• Fee for service
• Partnerships with connectivity service providers

Coffee harvesting - Burundi
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Resources

• Bulk of resources directed to local information
  providers and exchange networks
• Focus on capacity building, content,
  strengthening of horizontal and vertical networks

Extension officer at work in Laos
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Key Activities

• Identify partner opportunities and establish
  venture partner group
• Establish Rural Connect management team
• Identify criteria for selecting information
  provider and exchange networks
• Assist network and facilitators with needs
  analysis and communication mapping
• Provide support, resources, guides and training
  materials for local capacity building, outreach
  and network development
• Develop, implement and maintain a continuous and
  participatory evaluation and learning system

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Founding Venture Partners

• Volunteers in Technical Assistance (VITA)
• www.vita.org
• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
  Nations
• www.fao.org
• Sustainable Development Department
• Communication for Development Group
• World Agriculture Information Centre (WAICENT)
• WorldSpace Foundation
• www.worldspace.org
• TeleCommons Development Group (TDG)
• www.telecommons.com