Agricultural Services and Digital Inclusion in Africa

FAO and its partners are involved in the development and implementation of digital inclusion initiatives and the scaling up of innovative digital services. Bringing solutions closer to the needs of poor households in Africa and other regions is a direct contribution to poverty reduction and food security. ICTs help maximizing the impact of existing rural advisory services, financial services, social protection programmes. ICTs facilitate access to markets, information and entrepreneurship opportunities. Digital inclusion initiatives address the barriers to mobile internet adoption through infrastructure and policy, affordability, digital literacy and availability of local content. The FAO Digital Services Portfolio faces these barriers, providing digital value added services, complemented with capacity building, using Farmer Field Schools, Dimitra Clubs, Technology Colleges, Smart Villages, Cooperatives, Collection Centers, Mobile Operators and young digital champions as promotors of the FAO Digital Services. The project focuses on the development of four apps that help improve agricultural services and availability of local content. It makes useful data, information and statistics available and accessible as digital services to the rural poor. The applications are developed initially for use in two countries in Sub-Saharan Africa: Senegal and Rwanda. The apps and services can then be adapted for use in other countries as well. A particular emphasis is put on needs of young, self-employed entrepreneurs, female-headed households, breaking down the barriers for access and use of information through digital technologies. This project is part of a broader initiative that leverages the knowledge of FAO and its strategic partners in the mobile world, promoting digital inclusion for smallholders and family farmers.

http://www.fao.org/in-action/africa-digital-services-portfolio/en/

Regional implementation

Regions of implementation

• Africa

Countries of implementation Rwanda, Senegal

Ongoing from 01/01/2017 to 30/03/2018

Republic of Rwanda Republic of Senegal ICT Chamber CTIC Dakar World Meteorological Organization

      * E-agriculture

• Goal 1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere
• Goal 2: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
• Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
• Goal 17: Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development

• Project