Building Agricultural Extension Capacity in Post-Conflict Settings:

A Collective VolumeAusten Moore

Paul McNamaraMEAS Project

University of IllinoisMEAS Symposium 2015

Background & Rationale

Extension and Conflict:• Extension, via agricultural development, is

linked to conflict– Agriculture-related factors (e.g. poverty and

hunger) contribute to conflict (Lagi, Betrand, & Bar-Yam, 2011)

– Disproportionate number of conflicts begin in rural areas dependent on agriculture (Zaur, 2006)

– Effective extension addresses these factors• Conflict disrupts agriculture more than any

sector– Reduces productivity and compromises food

security– Damages and compromises extension systems

(Collier, 2006)

Background & Rationale

Extension & Post-Conflict Development/Peacebuilding:• Extension is a central post-conflict development strategy

– Addresses poverty, livelihoods, and food security (Wiggins & Leturque, 2010)

– Many MEAS countries are emerging from recent conflict

• Extension promotes stability– Represents a public service targeted at populations most prone to

conflict– Addresses causal factors of conflict (e.g. poverty and hunger)– Demonstrates governmental commitment to the rural poor (Collier, 2006)

• Extension challenges in post-conflict settings are unique

• Literature base requires expansion

Purpose of the Book Project

The purpose of this collective volume is to:a) investigate the experience and issues involved

with rebuilding extension systems in post-conflict settings

b) evaluate the impact of different extension policy approaches and practice in such settings

c) identify the key elements needed to effectively rebuild agricultural extension systems and programs in post-conflict contexts

Approach & Process

1) Conduct literature review to develop background chapters– Provide an overview of the links between extension and

conflict

2) Identify authors to prepare country-specific case studies on post-conflict extension

3) Authors prepare initial chapter drafts4) Coordinate writing workshop5) Engage a expert to synthesize country experiences to:– Determine lessons learned– Generate recommendations

6) Editorial and publishing procedures

Case Study Chapters

Iraq – Afghanistan – Republic of Georgia – Sri LankaMyanmar – South Sudan – Sierra Leone – Liberia

Democratic Republic of Congo

Case Study Authors

Iraq• Dr. Edwin Price• Director• Center for Conflict &

Development• Texas A&M University

Afghanistan• Dr. Chris Pannkuk• Director• International Research &

Agricultural Development• Washington State University

Republic of Georgia• Dr. Anastasiya Shtaltovna• Associated Researcher• Center for Research & Development• University of Bonn

Case Study Authors

Sri Lanka• Dr. Wijaya Jayatilaka• Senior Lecturer• Dept. of Agricultural Extension• University of Peradeniya

Myanmar• Dr. Joshua Ringer• CEO• Indigdev LLC

South Sudan• Dr. Robert Strong• Assistant Professor• Dept. of Agricultural Leadership, Education, & Communications• Texas A&M University

Case Study Authors

Sierra Leone• Dr. Paul McNamara• Director• MEAS Project• University of Illinois

Liberia• Dr. Austen Moore• Post-Doctoral Research Associate• MEAS Project• University of Illinois

Democratic Republic of Congo• Dr. Catherine Ragasa, Dr. John Ulimwengu,

Dr. Josee Randriamamonjy, Dr. ThaddeeBadibanga

• International Food Policy Research Institute

Synthesis Chapter Authors

Role of NGOs in Post-Conflict Extension• S. Walsh, T. Remington, A. Chassy, L. Kamara,

K. Bhattarcharyya, Z. Zewdie, J. Schofield, A. Okecha• Catholic Relief Services

Post-Conflict Extension in a Global Context• Dr. Ian Christoplos• Senior Researcher• Danish Institute for International Studies

Writing Workshop

• Held in February 2015 in Washington, DC• Individual chapter presentations• Designed to:– Produce revisions and recommendations• Written peer review• Group verbal review

– Generate critical questions– Identify emergent themes

Writing Workshop

Workshop Participants

Emergent Themes from the Workshop

• Capacity loss– Weakened institutional capacity• “Brain drain” and attrition

– Decreased individual capacity• Lack of training opportunities and information• “Forgetting by not doing” (Collier & Duponchel, 2013)

• Funding dynamics– Short-term funding “bubbles” vs. long-term

resource constraints

Emergent Themes from the Workshop

• Pluralism challenges & competing priorities– Emergency services vs. capacity development– Circumventing governments vs. collaboration

• Transitional governments and short-term extension bodies– Governments operating without established

policies and/or developing new policies– Short-term non-traditional extension providers• South Sudan Armed Forces agricultural battalion• US-military Provincial Reconstruction Teams and

Agribusiness Development Teams in Afghanistan

Emergent Themes from the Workshop

• Extension must deliberately be conflict-sensitive– Extension for social cohesion• Reincorporation of marginalized and displaced peoples,

former fighters, etc.

– Manage roles of governmental vs. local authorities• e.g. sheiks, warlords

– Consider extension impacts on inequalities and marginalization• Consider land rights in extension

• Safety and security considerations facing personnel

Next Steps

1) Finalize chapters and case studies– Target date: June 2015

2) Analysis and synthesis– Target date: August 2015

3) Editing and refinement– Target date: September 2015

4) Publishing– Target date: January 2016

Disclaimer

This presentation was made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development, USAID. The

contents are the responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.