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3 Extension Services in Fragile Societies
3 Extension Services in Fragile Societies
Pages 19-28
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From page 19... ...
During the second session of the workshop, three speakers analyzed these challenges and ways of overcoming them. It was clear from these presentations that surmounting barriers to successful extension in fragile societies almost always requires conflict management, which opens multiple routes for peacebuilding tied to extension activities.
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From page 20... ...
. In particular, major components of research, education, and exten Developed US System Developing University Research Private Education Research NGO Extension University Private Extension Tightly Integrated Weakly Connected FIGURE 3-1 In developed countries such as the United States, extension systems are strongly tied to research and education in universities and to the private sector, whereas in developing countries these institutions tend to be largely separated.
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From page 21... ...
BOX 3-1 Desirable Skills for Extension Agents · Team building · Planning · Concept development · Project management · Change management · Facilitation/mediation · Delegation · Priority setting · Conflict resolution · Time management · Communication Successful extension activities require participatory approaches, Bell said. Producers have considerable local knowledge that needs to feed in to the extension process, both because of the way this knowledge interacts with the information an extension agent provides and because of the value of this knowledge to other producers.
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From page 22... ...
Extension officers are expected to speak the local language, which usually means that they are from the area. This contrasts with the practice in the United States, where new extension agents typically work in areas other than their local area so that they do not bring preconceptions or biases to
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From page 23... ...
Potential Roles for Extension in Conflict Mitigation Conley described multiple ways for extension services to contribute to conflict mitigation. Agents can, for example, take steps to promote and reinforce community policing by bringing in experts with the right kind of technical knowledge to foster partnerships for community safety and other safety-enhancing initiatives.
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From page 24... ...
Thus the farmers identified a need and the extension service figured out a way to meet that need. Potential Roles for Extension in Peacebuilding Agricultural extension in South Sudan could mitigate conflict by contributing to social capital through brokering and bridging functions or by providing early warning of emerging conflict through the assessment and monitoring of developing situations.
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From page 25... ...
Unintended Consequences of Good Intentions Nisbet cautioned that efforts by outside groups to prepare extension personnel to undertake peacebuilding activities may not be appropriate or accepted in areas of conflict. In such situations, participating locals in positions of authority have to be excellent politicians, as was true of the agricultural extension officer with whom Nisbet interacted who did not become a victim of the violence gripping the country.
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From page 26... ...
To be effective in improving either agriculture or peacebuilding efforts, extension officers need training, Nisbet stated -- not necessarily in the United States, but perhaps in neighboring countries where they could learn what would work effectively in Iraq. Finally, the agricultural sector needs 21st century technology if it is to achieve its potential.
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From page 27... ...
Finally, Dale Johnson, Principal Agent and Extension Specialist at the Western Maryland Research and Education Center, emphasized the importance of commitment, motivation, and adequate resources. Without motivation, an extension agent cannot be effective.
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