Agricultural Services and Digital Inclusion in Africa
Details of the organization
Name *
Food and Agriculture Organization
Country *
Italy
Website (URL)
http://www.fao.org
Type *
International organizations
Information about the project
Project title *
Agricultural Services and Digital Inclusion in Africa
Description *
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.
Project website
http://www.fao.org/in-action/africa-digital-services-portfolio/en/
Geographical coverage *
Regional implementation
Regions of implementation
Africa
Countries of implementation
Rwanda, Senegal
Status *
Ongoing
from 01/01/2017
to
30/03/2018
Partners
Republic of Rwanda Republic of Senegal ICT Chamber CTIC Dakar World Meteorological Organization
WSIS information
WSIS action lines related to this project
*
E-agriculture
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to this project
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 type *
Project